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James William Hawker
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Born at Brighton, England on 16 March 1870, he began his architectural career there, working from 1900 to 1913 when he emigrated to Canada via the United States. During the First World War, he served as an officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In April 1921, he requested membership in the Manitoba Association of Architects (MAA), serving as its President (1930-1931). He worked as a draughtsman for James Chisholm before setting up his own architectural practice, designing homes and apartment blocks from 1922 to 1935.
He and wife Edith Mary Habens (1872-1940) had two children: Kenneth Mervyn Hawker (c1902-?) and Beryl Florence “Babs” Hawker (c1913-?). The family lived at 827 Jubilee Avenue, Winnipeg. He was active in the Winnipeg Little Theatre and played the role of Major Von Bracktman in the Nancy Pyper production of “The Joy of Living" (1932). On a visit to England in late 1935, he decided to stay there, living at Brighton.
He died on 5 June 1941 at Adanac, Henfield, Sussex.
Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:
Building
Location
Year
Status
City Dray Garage
276 Rupert Street, Winnipeg
1923
Demolished (?)
66 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg
1927
295 Dromore Avenue, Winnipeg
1928
185 Vaughan Street, Winnipeg
1928
115 Park Boulevard, Winnipeg
1928
317 Furby Street, Winnipeg
1928
1719 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg
1928
198 Furby Street, Winnipeg
1929
230 Hugo Street North, Winnipeg
1930
8 Keewatin Street, Winnipeg
1930
30 Spence Street, Winnipeg
1930
71 Kennedy Street, Winnipeg
1930
380 Assiniboine Avenue, Winnipeg
1931
830 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg
1931
340 Vaughan Street, Winnipeg
1931
415 Stradbrook Avenue, Winnipeg
1931
Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.
1921 Canada census, Ancestry.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
“Permits for 14 homes taken within weeks,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 April 1923, page 6.
“Beautiful residence on Dromore Street,” Manitoba Free Press, 12 May 1928, page 36.
Obituary [Edith Mary Habens Hawker], Winnipeg Tribune, 23 January 1941, page 5.
“Major J. Hawker dies In England,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 July 1941, page 2.
Raleigh Apartments (340 Vaughan Street), City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee, January 1997.
We thank Jordan Makichuk and Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Robert Hill.
Page revised: 23 May 2024
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