WITTON, William Palmer (1871-1947) was the son of Henry B. Witton, a prominent Hamiltonian and local Member of Parliament. Born in Hamilton in 1871 he attended public school in that city and served his architectural apprenticeship both in Hamilton and in Chicago where he worked for two years with the renowned firm of Adler & Sullivan, Architects in 1893-94 (Spectator [Hamilton], 15 July 1896, 9). He returned to Hamilton in 1895 and opened an office there in March (C.A.B., viii, April 1895, 53) and within a few months had received a major commission to dramatically transform the old Royal Hotel into an opulent Beaux-Arts landmark with marble staircases and a skylit foyer surrounded by open galleries. His keen interest in the monumental qualities of the Beaux-Arts style was also evident in his elaborate design for a Triumphal Arch to commemorate the visit of the Duke of York to Toronto, which Witton submitted in competition in 1901 and for which he received Third Prize (C.A.B., xiv, Aug. 1901, 151, descrip. and plate illus.). One of the staff members in his office who was employed as a draftsman during the period of 1902 to 1904 was W. Grayson Brown (City of Hamilton Directory, 1902, 189).
In April 1904 he and Walter Stewart formed a partnership in Hamilton (see list of works under Walter Stewart & Witton). They opened a branch office in nearby Brantford (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 April 1904, 1). They developed a specialty in designing school buildings in Hamilton and in surrounding communities. The untimely death of Stewart, who was killed in action in WWI, led to the dissolution of the firm in April 1917, and Witton continued to work on his own until June 1920 when he invited William J. Walsh, a draftsman in the firm of Stewart & Witton, to form a new partnership with him. They continued to work together until 1927, but Witton's debilitating problems with increasing deafness may have led him to terminate their relationship and close their office. He continued to work under his own name until 1932, then formed another partnership with William H. Holcombe. Witton retired in 1937 and sold his share of the business to Holcombe.
Witton was a passionate bibliophile who amassed a substantial collection of over 500 rare books on art, architecture and Canadian history. After his death a portion of this collection was sold to the City of Montreal and remaining portion was donated to McMaster University (Spectator [Hamilton], 15 Oct. 1948, 7 & 12). Witton died in Hamilton on 9 June 1947 leaving an estate valued at $107,448 (obituary in The Spectator [Hamilton], 10 June 1947, 7; R.A.I.C. Journal, xxiv, July 1947, 258; Dictionary of Hamilton Biography, iii, 1992, 227-28; inf. Arthur Wallace and Robert D. Hamilton, Hamilton, Ont.)
W.P. WITTON (works in Hamilton unless noted)
HAMILTON STEAMBOAT CO., James Street North, offices and wharf in Hamilton Harbour, 1895, demol. (Evening Times [Hamilton], 13 Sept. 1895, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HANNAH STREET WEST [now Charlton Street West], between MacNab Street and Park Street, residence for John N. Park, 1896 (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 April 1896; damaged by fire February 2022, but structure still standing at 52 Hannah Street in December 2023; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HANNAH STREET WEST [now Charlton Street West], between MacNab Street and Park Street, a large pair of two attached houses for Robert Hobson, at 56 and 64 Charlton Street West; 1896; still standing in 2023 (Spectator [Hamilton], 30 April 1896; Evening Times [Hamilton], 30 April 1896, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MARKLAND STREET, near Hilton Street, pair of semi-detached houses for Richard Tope, builder, 1896; still standing at 133-135 Markland Street in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 23 May 1896, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
GROVE STREET, brick residence for an unnamed client, at 32 Grove Street, 1896; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 23 May 1896, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
ERSKINE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Pearl Street at Morden Street, a Sunday School, 1896; interior alterations to the church, 1902 (C.R., vii, 4 June 1896, 3, t.c.; and xiii, 12 Feb. 1902, 2, t.c.)
SPECTATOR BUILDING, James Street South, a 6 storey office building for the Hamilton Spectator newspaper, 1897-98 (C.R., viii, 25 Feb. 1897, 4; Spectator [Hamilton], 9 April 1898, 9 and 12, illus. & detailed architectural descrip.; C.A.B., xi, Feb. 1898, 27)
ROYAL HOTEL, James Street North, addition and major alterations, 1897-98 (C.R., viii, 30 Sept. 1897, 2; C.A.B., xii, Sept. 1899, 177, descrip. and plate illus.)
GEORGE E. TUCKETT & SON, Queen Street North, a 3 storey addition to factory, 1898 (Spectator [Hamilton], 25 July 1898, 8, t.c.; and 27 July 1898, 8, descrip.; C.R., ix, 3 Aug. 1898, 2, t.c.)
CHATHAM STREET, residence for George Clapham, 1899 (Spectator [Hamilton], 18 May 1899; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HERKIMER STREET, at Caroline Street, residence for William Malcolm, 1899 (Spectator [Hamilton], 28 June 1899, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HAMILTON GENERAL HOSPITAL, Barton Street East at Victoria Avenue North, The Billings Wing for Outdoor Patients, 1900 (Spectator [Hamilton], 2 April 1900, 5, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xi, 3 Oct. 1900, 3, t.c.)
HENDRIE NURSES' HOME, Euclid Avenue at Barton Street East, 1902; with addition, 1908-09; and another addition 1910 (C.R., xiii, 26 March 1902, 2; Spectator [Hamilton], 28 April 1902, 8; and 5 Nov. 1908, 1; and 26 March 1910, 24, t.c.; and 13 April 1910, 4; Evening Times [Hamilton], 16 April 1902, 8; and 28 April 1902, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
WALKERTON, ONT., Bruce County General Hospital, 1902 (C.R., xiii, 4 June 1902, 1, t.c.)
CAROLINE STREET NORTH, at Wood Street, residence for William Frank, 1902 (Spectator [Hamilton], 6 Nov. 1902; inf. Robert Hamilton; C.R., xiii, 12 Nov. 1902, 2)
ABERDEEN AVENUE, between Bruce Street and Caroline Street, residence for James Gardiner, 1903 (Spectator [Hamilton], 23 April 1903, 10; inf. Robert Hamilton)
PARK STREET SOUTH, between Bold Street and Duke Street, residence for Ernest D. Watkins, 1903 (Spectator [Hamilton], 5 June 1903, 10; inf. Robert Hamilton)
HUGHSON STREET SOUTH, between Hunter Street at Augusta Street, three detached houses for George T. Tuckett, 1903; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 24 June 1903, 10; Evening Times [Hamilton], 24 June 1903, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
JOHN STREET NORTH, between Barton Street and Robert Street, two pairs of semi-detached houses, and a detached house, for George T. Tuckett, 1903; still standing in 2022 (Spectator [Hamilton], 24 June 1903, 10; Evening Times [Hamilton], 24 June 1903, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
CANNON STREET WEST, between Caroline Street and Hess Street, four houses for George T. Tuckett, 1903; demol. (Spectator [Hamilton], 24 June 1903, 10; Evening Times [Hamilton], 24 June 1903, 1; inf. Robert Hamilton)
MARKLAND STREET, near Bay Street South, auto garage at the rear of 90 Markland Street, for Stuart E. Malloch, 1903; still standing in 2023 (Evening Times [Hamilton], 27 Aug. 1903, 8; inf. Robert Hamilton)
WITTON & WALSH (works in Hamilton unless noted)
HAMILTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL, Wentworth Street North near Cannon Street, major addition of offices, auditorium, gymnasium and art wing, 1920; Motor Mechanics Dept. addition, 1924 (C.R., xxxv, 29 June 1921, 42, t.c.; xxxvi, 20 Dec. 1922, 13, illus. in advert.)
PICTON STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL, major addition with 8 classrooms, 1920 (News Record [Kitchener], 6 March 1920, 15, descrip.)
LONG & BISBY BUILDING, Sanatorium Road, 1921, a Nurse's Residence on the Brow Site of Mountain Sanatorium (Ann Gillespie, "Hamilton's Health Care Heritage" in ACORN [Toronto], Vol. 46 No. 1, Spring 2021, 26-27, illus. & descrip.)
WEST AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL, major addition, 1921 (C.R., xxxv, 2 Feb. 1921, 56)
PORT NELSON, ONT., residence for Mr. Patterson, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 21 June 1922, 58)
McILWRAITH PUBLIC SCHOOL, Murray Street West, major addition, 1923-24 (Hamilton Public School Board Minutes, 4 Oct. 1923; Const., xvi, Oct. 1923, 378)
CHRIST CHURCH ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL, James Street North, chancel addition, 1924-25 (Christ Church Cathedral Hamilton 1835-1935, 54, illus.)
LLOYD GEORGE PUBLIC SCHOOL, Beach Road at Agincourt Avenue, major addition, 1924-25 (Hamilton Public School Board Minutes, 11 Dec. 1924)
ST. CLAIR AVENUE, residence for Robert Kerr, 1925 (C.R., xxxix, 29 April 1925, 52, t.c.)
DUNDAS, ONT., residence for Dr. D.M. Livingstone, King Street, 1925; demol. c. 1955 (C.R., xxxix, 29 April 1925, 52, t.c.)
GEORGE R. ALLAN PUBLIC SCHOOL, King Street West at Bond Street, major addition, 1926-27 (Hamilton Public School Board Minutes, 21 April 1926)
W.P.WITTON (works in Hamilton unless noted)
LLOYD GEORGE PUBLIC SCHOOL, Beach Road at Agincourt Avenue, major addition, 1928 (Hamilton Public School Board Minutes, 1 March 1928)
HAMILTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL, Wentworth Street North near Cannon Street, girls gymnasium and shop wing, 1929 (Hamilton Public School Board Minutes, 11 Feb. 1929)
(with Thomas H. Wiley) ST. CATHARINES, ONT., Lincoln & Welland Counties Sanatorium, Merrittville Road (now Glenridge Road), 1929 (C.R., xliii, 17 July 1929, 59; E. Julian et al, St. Catharines: Our Built Heritage, 2005, 151, illus.)
GEORGE R. ALLAN PUBLIC SCHOOL, King Street West at Bond Street, major additions, 1929-30; 1939 (Hamilton Public School Board Minutes, 1929; 1939)
MOUNT HAMILTON HOSPITAL (also called Mountain View Hospital), Mountain Park Avenue, maternity ward, 1932; power house, 1933 (C.R., xlvi, 7 Sept. 1932, 998, 1017, illus. in advert.; xlvii, 4 Jan. 1933, 32; Mark Osbaldeston, Unbuilt Hamilton, 2016, 86-87, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at OA, Souter & Lenz Coll., roll 496)
MOUNTAIN SANATORIUM, Ancaster Road, nurses' home, 1932 (C.R., xlvi, 6 Jan. 1932, 45)
ST. CLAIR AVENUE, residence for Ralph Cooper, 1932 (C.R., xlvi, 6 April 1932, 58)