Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Stephen Fergusson Wilson
Designation:  
Born: c. 1874
Died: 1939
Bio Notes: William Stephen Fergusson Wilson was born in about 1874 in Elgin Morayshire, the son of James Wilson, coal merchant and his wife Ann. In 1890 he was an assistant architect working in his home town. No further information is yet known of his early years but he worked in Fraserburgh from about 1902 and came to prominence when he won the competition for the Carnegie Public Library in his native town. He also designed the town's Post Office.

In 1907 Wilson married Mary Watt, daughter of James Watt, farmer, Inverurie.

Wilson emigrated to Canada with his wife and young daughter and son on 20 July 1912. They sailed on the Hesperian from Glasgow to Montreal. He went on to design some churches in Toronto, Ontario, (for example Dentonia Park United Church, Dawes Road at Coleman Avenue, Toronto which cost $35,000, foundation stone laid 31 May 1924; dedicated 2 November 1924. During the 1920s he seems to have abandoned architecture in favour of a post as engineer with the Otis Fensom Elevator Co.

In 1933 he was Secretary at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, University of Toronto. The following year he was appointed part-time Special Lecturer in Architectural Economics at the University.

He died in 1939.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Greyfriars Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1901  
Item 2 of 36, Broad Street, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1904c. 1910 
Item 3 of 3CanadaPrivate/business1912  

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 121902Auction mart, Albert StreetFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 2 of 12After 1902Villas, King Edward Street, Alexandra Terrace and Strichen RoadFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotlandMany villas in this area
Item 3 of 121904Carnegie Public LibraryFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 4 of 121904West UF Church manseFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 5 of 121906Semi-detached housesFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 6 of 121906Shops and housesFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 7 of 12c. 1906Post OfficeFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotlandThe Carnegie Libraries website states that Wilson designed the library and post office in Fraserburgh. However 'Buildings of Scotland' attributes this to Reid & McRobbie.
Item 8 of 121909Houses, Finlayson StreetFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 9 of 121909Royal HotelFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotlandfor additions
Item 10 of 121910House Strichen RoadFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 11 of 121910House, Alexandra TerraceFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 12 of 121910Villa Strichen RoadFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1www.scotcities.com/carnegie www.scotcities.com/carnegie   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Courtesy of Neil DarlingtonInformation sent via DSA website Sent August 2009
Item 2 of 3Courtesy of Robert Hill, CanadaInformation sent to Dictionary Sent February 2014. Some information from Toronto Directories.
Item 3 of 3www.findmypast.co.ukTravel & Emigration records