ROY, Victor (1837-1902), an ambitious and talented architect who practiced in both Canada and the United States. He was active in the following firms:
Victor Roy, Montreal, 1860-61
Fowler & Roy, Montreal, 1861-1870 (see list of works under Alexander G. Fowler)
Victor Roy, Chicago, Ill., 1871-72
Roy, Deforest & Fisher, Chicago, Ill., Sept. 1871- Feb. 1872
Roy & Resther, Montreal, 1875-76 (with Jean B. Resther)
Victor Roy, Montreal, 1877-80
Poitras & Roy, Montreal, 1880-85 (see list of works under Joseph R. Poitras)
Victor Roy, Montreal, 1886-1890
Roy & Gauthier, Montreal, 1890- 31 Dec. 1896 (with Louis Z. Gauthier)
Roy & Contant, Montreal, January 1897-98 (with L. Alphonse Contant)
Roy & Daoust, Montreal, March 1899 to ? (with Theo Daoust)
Victor Roy, Montreal, 1899-1900
Roy was born in Quebec City, P.Q. In 1837, but his family moved to Montreal in 1845 and he studied at the College of the Christian Brothers. In 1854, at age 17, he obtained a job as an apprentice in the office of John Ostell and William Footner, both of whom were leading architects in Montreal. In his testimony given in February 1859 at the Court of Queen's Bench in Montreal, Roy stated that he was “..a student bound with Mr. Ostell, but had all my directions from Mr. Footner”, and that he worked on the plans for the new Court House and that he “...made most of them under the supervision of Mr. Footner” (NAC, MG 24, B14, Vol. 52, part 2, transcript of court case between William Footner and Jacob Henry Joseph).
With this background and training under two of the most experienced architects in Montreal, Roy launched his career in Canada in 1859 when, at the age of 22 years, he submitted an entry in the architectural competition for the Governor General's Residence in Ottawa, part of the Parliament Hill complex of government buildings in the newly designated capital city of Canada. Despite the complexity of the programme and conditions for this building, Roy was one of 18 architects from the United States and Canada who submitted plans for the Vice-Regal residence, but his design, presented in the “...ornate Elizabethan” style, was not a finalist.
Roy continued to live and work in Montreal for the next decade in partnership with Alexander G. Fowler (see list of works under Fowler & Roy), but in 1870 Roy made a decision to leave Canada and move to Chicago, Illinois where he joined a contingent of expatriate Canadian architects who were living there, including Cyrus P. Thomas of Montreal, John Tully of Toronto, and Horsey & Sheard of Ottawa. This was a fortuitous decision for Roy, and led to his selection as the architect for the magnificent Palmer House Hotel (1870-71). Designed for Mr. Potter Palmer, this sophisticated 10 storey landmark was a remarkable essay in the Second Empire style,. The hotel opened on 26 September 1871, and may rightfully be considered one of the most important works by Victor Roy during his entire career. Tragically, the entire hotel burned to the ground just 13 days later during the Great Chicago fire of October 8-10, 1871. Palmer vowed to rebuild, but, for unexplained reasons, Roy was passed over as the architect for the new fireproof building, and John Van Osdel of Chicago was appointed as architect of the second Palmer House hotel which stood until 1923 before being replaced by the third Palmer House Hotel (built 1923-25).
Undeterred by this loss, Roy remained in Chicago to help with the rebuilding efforts, and the following year he was one of 59 architects who entered the competition for the new Chicago City Hall & Court House complex. It was a strong endorsement of the talent of Roy that he was selected as one of 6 finalists, and although he did not win, it was a boost to his career and he remained in Chicago until late 1874. Roy then moved back to Montreal and continued his successful career, working under his own name, and moving in and out of a succession of partnerships with other Montreal architects including Jean B. Resther, Joseph R. Poitras, Louis Z. Gauthier, L. Alphonse Contant, and Theo Daoust. From his office in Montreal he completed a wide variety of ecclesiastical, institutional, commercial, and residential commissions throughout Quebec province, in eastern Ontario, and in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Wisconsin, USA. He was a highly respected professional who was elected as President of the Province of Quebec Association of Architects in 1892. He also served as the first President of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce.
Roy died in Montreal on 23 July 1902 when he accidentally drowned in the Lachine Canal while walking near his home (obituary La Presse [Montreal], 25 July 1902, 5; obit. & port. Montreal Star, 25 July 1902, 7; biog. and port. W. Cochrane, Canadian Album: Men of Canada, Vol. 2, 1893, 147; biog. P.G. Roy, Fils des Quebec, 1933, 157-58). An early photographic portrait of Roy taken c. 1875 was published in the Canadian Architect & Builder [Toronto], iii, Dec. 1890, plate.
VICTOR ROY (works in Montreal)
(with William Spier) PINE AVENUE WEST, 'Ravenscrag', a mansion for Sir Hugh Allan, 1861-63 (Canadian Illustrated News, vi, 30 Nov. 1872, 339; with correction 7 Dec. 1872, 355; Montreal, Les Residences, 1987, 18-25, illus.; H. Kalman, History of Canadian Architecture, 1994, 609-11, illus. & descrip.)
VICTOR ROY (works in Chicago)
CHICAGO, ILL., U.S.A., [The First] Palmer House Hotel, State Street at Monroe Street, for Potter Palmer, opened 26 Sept. 1871 and burned to the ground just 13 days later in the Great Chicago Fire of 8-10 October 1871; new hotel was rebuilt on the same site 1871-72, to a design by John Van Osdel of Chicago (Chicago Tribune, 3 March 1872, 8; Chicago Evening Mail, 7 March 1872, 4)
CHICAGO, ILL., U.S.A., Ballard Block (later called the Ely Block), South Wabash Avenue at East Monroe Street, 1873; demol. 1912 (Frank A. Randall, History of Chicago Buildings, 1949, 81)
ROY & RESTHER (works in Montreal and Quebec Province)
ST. DENIS STREET, two houses for J.B. Allard, each 2 storeys with French roof, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
ST. JOSEPH STREET, two houses with retail stores, for O. Genereaux, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
ST. MARY STREET, houses and retail stores for Richard Pearce, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
ST. LAWRENCE MAIN STREET, two houses with retail stores for Edward Charles Parizeau, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
DUFRESNE STREET, a double tenement house for Amedee Archambault, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
DUFRESNE STREET, two houses for John Robb, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
HOCHELAGA, a group of detached cottages for the Building Society of Quebec, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
ST. LAURENT, a hotel on the Trustees' Road, for Maxime Lebeau, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.)
ST. ROBERT, QUE., Roman Catholic Church, "....in pure Gothic style", 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1, descrip.; La Minerve [Montreal], 28 May 1875, 2)
ST. JOHN'S, QUE., large building for Mr. Eshier, 1875 (Evening Star [Montreal], 20 April 1875, 1)
ST. JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU, QUE., rebuilding of commercial buildings on Richelieu Street after the fire of 1876 (H. Archambault & S. Tanguay, 'Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu', in Continuite, No. 50, Summer 1991, 54)
MONTREAL, QUE., Provincial Exhibition Grounds, Bleury Street north of Mount Royal Park, grandstand, restaurant pavilions, judging pavilion, sheep pens and poulty house, 1876 (Gazette [Montreal], 2 Aug. 1876, 3, descrip.; Canadian Illustrated News, xiv, 2 Sept. 1876, 124, illus.; 126, descrip.)
ST. HYACINTHE, QUE., Market Hall, Ste. Anne Street at St. Antoine Street, 1876 (L. Voyer, St. Hyacinthe, 1980, 100-01, illus.)
VICTOR ROY (works in Montreal)
NOTRE DAME STREET, near St. Gabriel Street, commercial block for Joseph Valois, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 9 April 1886, 3; 17 Aug. 1886, 5, descrip.)
ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER STREET, at St. Sacrement Street, commercial block for Judge J.A. Berthelot, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 16 Feb. 1886, 3; 17 Aug. 1886, 5, descrip.)
ST. BRIGIT'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Maisonneuve Street at Dorchester Street East, addition of tower and steeple, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 19 March 1886, 3)
DORCHESTER STREET EAST, at Sanguinet Street, house for Octave Bernier, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
RACHEL STREET, at St. Denis Street, residence for L.E. Gingras, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
DORCHSTER STREET WEST, at Drummond Street, residence for Dr. James J. Guerin, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
JOSEPH ROBERT & SONS, Papineau Road, factory, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
ST. HUBERT STREET, two houses for Joseph Robert, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
NOTRE DAME STREET, between St. Gabriel Street and St. Jean Baptiste Street, two retail stores for Joseph Valois, 1886 (Montreal Daily Star, 10 April 1886, 6, descrip.; Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
STE. CUNEGONDE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONVENT, St. Antoine Street at Vinet Street, for the Sisters of Ste. Anne, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
RACHEL STREET, house for P. Terreault, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
PARK AVENUE, residence for T.L. Deslauriers, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
ST. JEAN BAPTISTE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Sanguinet Street, major addition, and a new sacristy, 1887 (Montreal Daily Star, 28 March 1887, 4, descrip.)
NOTRE DAME STREET, near St. Gabriel Street, store for G.H. Cadieux, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
ST. LAURENT BOULEVARD, two stores and apartments for Napolean Prefontaine, 1888 (ANQM, L.O. Hetu, Notaire, 9 Jan. 1888, No. 11771)
BARSALOU BLOCK, Ste. Catherine Street at Plessis Street, a large 3 storey block of six stores and dwellings for Joseph Barsalou & Co., 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1889, 2). A photographic plate of this building, together with a history of the company, appears in the publication called Dominion Illustrated: Special Number Devoted to Montreal, 1891, 72.
ERNEST STREET, residence for Victor Roy, architect, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1889, 2)
BERRI STREET, tenement for J.H. Jeannotte, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1889, 2)
ST. DENIS STREET, near St. Emery Street, residence for F.H. St. Charles, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1889, 2)
VICTOR ROY (works elsewhere in Quebec Province and Ontario)
ST. CANUT, QUE., Roman Catholic Church, 1886 (inf. from Raymonde Gauthier, Montreal)
L'ASSOMPTION, QUE., addition of an assembly hall at the College, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
ST. HILAIRE, QUE., cottage for C. Corneille, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
STE. JULIENNE, QUE., interior decoration of the Roman Catholic Church, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
ST. SCHOLASTIQUE, QUE., residence for Dr. J. Jette, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
ST. THERESE, QUE., oratory or chapel at the College, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
STE. CLOTHILDE, QUE., interior decoration of the Roman Catholic Church and a presbytery, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
MARIEVILLE, QUE., addition to the College, 1886 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1887, 2)
CHAPEAU, QUE., St. Alphonse de Ligouri Roman Catholic Church, 1886-87 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
PEMBROKE, ONT., addition of a vestry and steeple to the Roman Catholic Church, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
CLARENCE CREEK, ONT., Roman Catholic Church, 1888 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
ST. JOACHIM, ONT., Roman Catholic Church, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
ST. ESPRIT, QUE., presbytery for the Roman Catholic Church, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
ST. JEAN BAPTISTE, QUE., chapel for Rev. Auclair, 1887 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
ST. GABRIEL, QUE., presbytery for the Roman Catholic Church, 1888 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1888, 2)
CALIXA-LAVALLEE, QUE., Ste. Theodosie Roman Catholic Church, 1888-90 (Quebec, Calixa-Lavallee-Repertoire d'Architecture Traditionnelle, 1977, 66, illlus.)
THURSO, QUE., Roman Catholic Church, 1889 (Gazette [Montreal], 17 Jan. 1889, 2)
MATTAWA, ONT., Ste. Anne's Roman Catholic Church, 1889-90 (Catholic Record [London], 31 Aug. 1889, 6)
ROY & GAUTHIER (works in Quebec Province, Ontario and the U.S.A.)
MONTREAL, QUE., E. Lepage & Co., a commercial block of stores and offices for the Estate of F.X. Beaudry, St. Laurent Boulevard at Ste. Catherine Street, 1890 (C.R., i, 5 July 1890, 2; Gazette [Montreal], 8 July 1890, 3; list of works in obituary in the Montreal Star, 25 July 1902, 7)
MONTREAL, QUE., a presbytery for Saints-Anges-de-Lachine Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph Boulevard, 1890 (Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 440)
MONTREAL, QUE., St. Louis de France Roman Catholic Church, Laval Avenue at Roy Street, 1890-93; burned 12 Jan. 1933 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 Jan. 1933, 3, descrip in historical article on the original church)
ST. MICHEL, QUE., Napierville Co., facade for the Roman Catholic Church, 1890 (inf. from Raymonde Gauthier, Montreal)
HULL, QUE., interior decoration of Notre Dame-de-Grace Roman Catholic Church, begun in 1888 by L.Z. Gauthier and completed by Roy & Gauthier in 1890-92 (Ottawa Free Press, 29 July 1890, 4, descrip.; Andrew Waldron, Exploring the Capital: An Architectural Guide to the Ottawa-Gatineau Region, 2017, 190-91, illus. & descrip.)
CLARENCE CREEK, ONT., St. Joachim Roman Catholic Church, c. 1890 (list of works in obituary in Montreal Star, 25 July 1902, 7)
MONTREAL, QUE., commercial block of two stores for Mdm. Adelaide Catherine Aubert de Gaspe, 1891 (ANQM, L.O. Hetu, Notaire, 16 March 1891, No. 12180, 12313, 12326, 12343)
MONTREAL, QUE., residence for Alexander Dube, Dorchester Street West at Sussex Street, 1891 (C.R., ii, 17 Oct. 1891, 2)
OTTAWA, ONT., Roman Catholic Separate Schools for the Dalhousie Ward and for St. George's Ward, 1891 (Ottawa Free Press, 28 Oct. 1891, 1)
SHEFFORD, QUE., Roman Catholic Church, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
STANBRIDGE, QUE., Roman Catholic Church, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
PAKENHAM, ONT., St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Dalkeith Street at Renfrew Street, 1892; restored in 1992; still standing in 2022 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
ST. ALBERT, ONT., Roman Catholic Church, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
ST. PRUDENTIENNE, QUE., Roman Catholic Church, 1892 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
FITCHBURG, MASS., U.S.A., St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Plymouth Street at Woodland Street, 1892; still standing in 2022 (C.R., iii, 23 April 1892, 2)
MONTREAL, QUE., brewery and bottling plant for John Labatt Ltd., Delorimier Avenue, 1892 (C.R., iii, 11 June 1892, 2)
AYLMER, QUE., interior decoration of the St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, Eardley Road, 1892-93; burned June 2009; portion of front facade left standing as a ruin, 2020 (Le Prix Courant, xi, 2 Dec. 1892, 11; Gazette [Montreal], 23 Nov. 1901, 16, legal action against Roy & Gauthier for design of church)
GUYENNE, QUE., presbytery for the Roman Catholic Church, 1893 (C.R., iv, 9 March 1893, 1)
MONTREAL, QUE., tenement for John B. St. Louis, St. Denis Street, 1893; 1894 (Le Prix Courant, xii, 24 March 1893, 11; xiv, 27 April 1894, 264)
OTTAWA, ONT., interior decoration of Sacre Coeur Roman Catholic Church, Laurier Avenue at Cumberland Street, 1893 (Le Prix Courant, xii, 24 March 1893, 11)
CURRAN, ONT., Roman Catholic Church, Cartier Street near McDonald Street, 1893; still standing in 2022 (Le Prix Courant, xiii, 3 Nov. 1893, 286; La Minerve [Montreal], 23 March 1895, 1)
SOREL, QUE., orphanage, 1894-95 (C.R., v, 17 May 1894, 2)
WATERBURY, CONN., U.S.A., Ste. Anne's Roman Catholic Church, South Main Street at East Clay Street, 1894 (Le Prix Courant, xiii, 5 Jan. 1894, 530)
SOREL, QUE., cottage for Philomene Beauchemin, 1894 (Le Prix Courant, xiii, 5 Jan. 1894, 530)
MONTREAL, QUE., cottage for Anselme Labrecque, Sherbrooke Street East near St. Hubert Street, 1894 (Le Prix Courant, xiv, 13 April 1894, 200)
GRAND CALUMET, QUE., Roman Catholic Church, 1894 (Le Prix Courant, xiv, 13 July 1894, 586)
SARSFIELD, ONT., St. Hugues Roman Catholic Church, Sarsfield Road, 1894; still standing in 2022 (C.R., v, 30 Aug. 1894, 1)
VINTON, QUE., St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, Church Road at Mountain Road, 1894; still standing in 2022 (C.R., v, 30 Aug. 1894, 1)
MONTREAL, QUE., St. Louis-de-France Roman Catholic Church, Roy Avenue at Laval Avenue, designed 1890 by Roy & Gauthier; built 1895-96; completed by Roy & Contant, 1897; burned 1933 (La Minerve [Montreal], 26 Feb. 1895, 1, descrip.; 9 Sept. 1895, 4; 22 May 1897, 3, descrip.; Montreal Daily Star, 22 May 1897, 16, illus. & descrip.; Gazette [Montreal], 24 May 1897, 2, descrip.; 13 Jan. 1933, 3, descrip. with historical article on the church)
EGANVILLE, ONT., St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Highway 60, 1895-97; still standing in 2022 (C.R., v, 17 May 1894, 2; Catholic Register [Toronto], 3 Oct. 1895, 2, descrip.; 8 July 1897, 1, descrip.)
HAWKESBURY, ONT., St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church and sacristy, Main Street East opposite John Street, 1896; still standing in 2022 (Le Prix Courant, xviii, 6 March 1896, 28)
PRESCOTT, ONT., addition to St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, Edward Street South at James Street West, 1896 (Le Prix Courant, xviii, 6 March 1896, 28)
BELOEIL, QUE., Roman Catholic Church and sacristy, 1896 (Le Prix Courant, xviii, 26 March 1896, 28)
MONTREAL, QUE., residence for E.L. De Belleveuille, St. Hubert Street near Ontario Avenue, 1896 (Le Prix Courant, xviii, 15 May 1896, 536)
STANDFORD, WISC., U.S.A., Roman Catholic Church, 1896 (Le Prix Courant, xviii, 14 Aug. 1896, 1080)
ROY & CONTANT (works in Quebec Province)
MONTREAL, QUE., a house for the Estate of Duncan Macdonald, Radegonde Street, 1897 (C.R., viii, 1 July 1897, 3)
MONTREAL, QUE., residence for Arthur J. Martin, Plymouth Grove Street, 1898 (C.R., ix, 18 May 1898, 3)
CHAPEAU-ILES-AUX-ALLUMETTES, QUE., interior decoration of the Roman Catholic Church, 1898 (C.R., viii, 20 Jan. 1898, 2, t.c.)
VICTOR ROY (works in Quebec Province)
MONTREAL, QUE., Hotel Cecil, St. Gabriel Street, major additions and alterations, 1900 (Le Prix Courant, xxvii, 19 Jan. 1900, 237)
ST. JACQUES-DE-L'ACHIGAN, QUE., convent for the Sisters of Ste. Anne, 1900 (Le Prix Courant, xxviii, 1 June 1900, 731)
STE. MARIE, QUE., branch of the Quebec Bank, 1900 (Le Prix Courant, xxix, 7 Sept. 1900, 790)
MONTREAL, QUE., residence for Helen A. Ratter, Sherbrooke Street East, near St. Timothee Street, 1900 (Le Prix Courant, xxx, 16 Nov. 1900, 263)
COMPETITIONS
OTTAWA, ONT., Governor General's Residence, 1859. Roy was among eighteen competitors from the United States and Canada who submitted plans for one of three buildings in this competition (NAC, RG 11, Letter Books, Vol 131, Letter 29189; Carolyn Young, The Glory of Ottawa: Canada's First Parliament Buildings, 1995, 117). His entry was designed in an 'ornate Elizabethan' style, but it was not premiated. The winner of the competition for the Vice-Regal Residence was Cumberland & Storm of Toronto, but their design was never built.
CHICAGO, ILL., City Hall and Court House, 1871-72. During his practise in Chicago after the Great Fire of October 1871 Roy was one of fifty-two architects who submitted designs for the new City Hall. His scheme was placed among the six finalists (Gazette [Montreal], 6 March 1875, 1, Letter to the Editor from Victor Roy; W. Cochrane, Canadian Album-Men of Canada, ii, 1893, 147)
CONCORD, MASS., State Prison, 1874. Roy submitted an entry in this competition from his office in Boston, but his scheme was not premiated (Gazette [Montreal], 6 March 1875, 1, Letter to the Editor from Victor Roy; W. Cochrane, Canadian Album-Men of Canada, ii, 1893, 147). The winner was George C. Ropes of Boston, and his scheme was built in 1875-78 with the assistance of William G. Preston of Boston.
MONTREAL, QUE., Windsor Hotel, 1874. Roy was among several competitors from the USA and Canada who submitted drawings in this competition (Evening Star [Montreal], 3 March 1875, 1, Letter to the Editor; Gazette [Montreal], 6 March 1875, 1, Letter to the Editor from Victor Roy). Roy strongly objected to the fact that his plans for the new Windsor Hotel were passed over in favour of those by an American architect William Boyington of Chicago.