Memorable Manitobans: Frank Robert Evans (1865-1949)

Frank Robert Evans Click to enlarge

Architect.

Born in North Wales on 13 November 1865, son of Robert Evans and Eleanor Nye, he attended Dulwich College of England then Dublin University, graduating with an Arts degree from the latter in 1884. He then went to London and studied architecture with his father, working with him until 1888 when he emigrated to Canada and settled first at Winnipeg then at Regina, Saskatchewan. In 1901 he returned to Winnipeg and established an architectural practice with offices on Pacific Avenue. He retired in 1934.

On 28 May 1894, he married Margaret Hamilton (1869-1948) at Regina, Saskatchewan. They had five children: Victor Hamilton Evans (1895-?), Frank Robert Evans, Eleanor Marion Evans (1898-?), Harold S. Evans (1904-?), and Evelyn Margaret Evans (1907-?). He was a member of the AF & AM (King Edward Lodge), Conservative party, and Presbyterian church.

He died at Brandon on 9 May 1949 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery.

Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:

Building	Location	Year	Status
Foley, Lock and Carson Biscuit Company Warehouse	181-189 Market Avenue, Winnipeg	1903	Demolished (?)
Great West Saddlery Factory (addition)	112 Market Avenue, Winnipeg	1903
Leland Hotel (expansion and renovation)	222 William Avenue, Winnipeg	1904
Paulin-Chambers Building (expansion)	311 Ross Avenue, Winnipeg	1904
Brydon Chambers	150 Rupert Avenue, Winnipeg	1904	Demolished (?)
West Kildonan School No. 8	West Kildonan	1905	Demolished (1953)
Orris Block	305 Elgin Avenue, Winnipeg	1905	Demolished (?)
Chambers House (John H. Chambers)	Kennedy Street, Winnipeg	1905
Elm Creek School No. 812	Elm Creek, RM of Grey	1905	Demolished (?)
Municipal Hall	Sanford, RM of Macdonald	1905	Demolished (?)
Grandview School No. 1065	Grandview	1906
Headingley School No. 9	Headingley	1906	Demolished (?)
Shoal Lake School No. 458	Shoal Lake	1906	Demolished (?)
Somerset Block	294 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg	1906
Baskerville House (Charles A. Baskerville)	Donald Street, Winnipeg	1906
Robinson House (expansion) (Reuben Simon Robinson)	157 Rupert Avenue, Winnipeg	1906	Demolished (?)
Tabernacle Baptist Church	Burrows Avenue at Charles Street, Winnipeg	1906	Demolished (?)
Ackland Wagon Factory Warehouse	Higgins Avenue, Winnipeg	1907	Demolished (?)
Stonewall School No. 108	Stonewall	1907	Demolished (1980)
Kirkfield Park School (expansion)	3085 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg	1907	Demolished (circa 1949)
McOuat House (Duncan D. McOuat)	Balmoral Place, Winnipeg	1907
Leslie Storage Warehouse	83 Kate Street, Winnipeg	1909
Paulin-Chambers Biscuit Company Warehouse	Ross Avenue, Winnipeg	1910
Darlingford Consolidated School	Darlingford, RM of Pembina	1910
Johnstone Block	209 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg	1910
Clement Block	907 Rosser Avenue, Brandon	1910	Demolished (1989)
Municipal Hall	RM of St. Andrews	1910	Demolished (?)
Enright Block	189 Jarvis Avenue, Winnipeg	1911
Aikins House (Gordon H. Aikins)	69 Langside Street, Winnipeg	1911	Demolished (?)
Long House	111 Middle Gate, Winnipeg	1913
Portage Masonic Hall	52 Tupper Street South, Portage la Prairie	1913
Sutherland Hotel (expansion)	785 Main Street, Winnipeg	1913
Kilmarnock Apartments	459 Balmoral Street, Winnipeg	1913	Demolished (?)
Brant Consolidated School No. 1703	Argyle, RM of Rockwood	1914
Basswood Consolidated School No. 1252	Basswood, RM of Saskatchewan	1916	Demolished (?)
Victoria School	32 Fifth Street SE, Portage la Prairie	1916
Exchange Hotel	Main Street, Winnipeg	1917	Demolished (?)
Manitoba Gypsum Company Warehouse	St. James Street, Winnipeg	1917	Demolished (?)
Brandon YWCA Building	148 Eleventh Street, Brandon	1917
R S R Building	11 Martha Street, Winnipeg	1919
Gregg Building (addition)	52 Albert Street, Winnipeg	1922
Downing House (Miss V. Downing)	Fourth Street, Tuxedo	1926
American Hide and Fur Building	150 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg	1927
Odd Fellows Hall (renovation)	72 Princess Street, Winnipeg	1930

Sources:

1901 and 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.

“Tenders,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 August 1904, page 10.

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

Who's Who and Why, Volumes 6 and 7, 1915-1916, page 626.

“Constructional Activity,” Contract Record and Engineering Review, 22 September 1926, page 49.

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Retired architect F. R. Evans dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 May 1949, page 34.

Winnipeg Building Index.

Johnstone Block (Kuo Min Tang Building), 209 Pacific Avenue, City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings and Resources Committee, May 2019.

Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950 by Robert G. Hill, Toronto.

We thank Nathan Kramer and James Kostuchuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 23 March 2023

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!