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George H. MacDonald, who
ranks with the leading architects of the province, has been a resident
of Edmonton for nineteen years and his labors have constituted a most
important factor in the upbuilding and improvement of the city. His
birth occurred at Murray Harbor, North, in Prince Edward Island, in
1882, and his parents were William and Mercy C. (Bears) MacDonald. The
maternal ancestors were natives of England and representatives of the
family later emigrated to America, on the maternal grandmother's side
settling at Boston, Massachusetts, where they were residing at the time
of the Revolutionary war, with other United States Loyalists at that
time emigrating to the Maritime proviflees. In the paternal line William
MacDonald, the grandfather of the subject of this review, was the
immigrant ancestor who established the family in Canada about a century
ago, casting in his lot with the earliest settlers of the Dominion.
Mr. McDonald completed
his education at McGill University of Montreal, from which he was
graduated with honors in 1911, receiving the degree of Bachelor of
Architecture. his first experience along professional lines was obtained
in the offices of P. E. Nobbs and Edward and W. S. Maxwell of Montreal
and for a short time he was associated with his uncles in the
contracting business. He then became a draftsman with the D. I. S.
Company of Sydney, Nova Scotia, and in 1904 he came to this province,
locating at Edmonton, where he has since successfully followed the
profession of architecture. He is now associated with II. A. Magoon,
being senior member of the firm, which occupies a position of leadership
in this field, and on all sides are found evidences of their skill and
handiwork. Among other buildings in which their professional ability has
been called into play are: The designing of the main portion of the
Tegler building; the Agency and Northern buildings; the new public
library; the store of Thompson & Dynes; the Young Women's Christian
Association; the residences of James Ramsey and H. V. Shaw; and the
Woodward, Cattistock, Dominion, Goodridge, H. V. Shaw and Metals, Ltd.,
buildings, all in Edmonton. Thorough technical training, broad
experience and natural talent have brought Mr. MacDonald success and
prominence in his profession and his work represents the highest degree
of skill in architecture, being a source of pride to Edmonton's
citizens.
At Red Deer, Alberta, on
June 17, 1913, Mr. MacDonald was married to Miss Dorothea Enid Huestis,
a daughter of Rev. Charles Huestis, D. D., and Jessie B. Huestis, who
formerly resided in the province of Nova Scotia. Dr. Stephen Huestis,
the paternal grandfather of Mrs. MacDonald, was for many years
prominently identified with the publishing business at Halifax, Nova
Scotia, and at Toronto conducting the Methodist Book Room in the latter
city. He is still living and has reached the venerable age of
eighty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald have become the parents of
five children: William Huestis and Ian Charles, both of whom are natives
of Edmonton, the birth of the former occurring in 1914 and that of the
latter in 1915; Alan Stewart, who was born in Quebec in 1919; Joan
Whitman, a native of Edmonton; and Doris Stephanie, born in Edmonton in
1923.
Mr. MacDonald is a member
of the reserve of militia officers and during nearly the entire period
of the World war he represented the munitions board in the United
States. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church and maintains an
independent attitude in politics, supporting all movements calculated to
advance the interests of good government. lie is an active member of the
Edmonton Art Club and acts as treasurer of the local university
association. During the winter season he finds recreation in figure
skating and he is a member of the Gyro Club. his interests and
activities have reached out along many lines and his is a well-rounded
development. He is recognized as a broad-minded, public-spirited man of
high professional attainments, and Edmonton is proud to claim him as a
citizen. |
