William George Storm (October 29, 1826 – 1892) was a Canadian architect who designed a number of prominent monuments in Toronto, Ontario.
Early life William George Storm was born on October 29, 1826 in Burton-upon-Stather, Lincolnshire, England, son of Thomas Storm and Mary Hopkins. He and his family immigrated to Upper Canada and settled in York around 1830. He briefly studied at Upper Canada Academy in Cobourg (now Victoria University, Toronto.
Career Storm's father was a prominent contractor who introduced him to the building trade. In 1845, while working with his father, Storm suffered a near-fatal fall from a scaffolding. He apprenticed first under William Thomas and then under Frederick William Cumberland. In July 1852, Storm and Cumberland formed a partnership, and the firm became one of the most prominent in nineteenth century Toronto. The firm won many of the city's most important commissions, including expanding Osgoode Hall, the chapel of St. James-the-Less, the tower of St. James Cathedral, and University College.
Storm and Cumberland's partnership dissolved in acrimony in 1871. Storm also encountered serious health problems that left him without work and confined to hospital. A friendship with Emerson Coatsworth gained Storm commission to design new elementary schools across the city. One of these buildings, today Inglenook Community High School, survives today. He then won a commission to build St. Andrew's Church. Perhaps his most noted building is the Richardsonian Romanesque main building for Victoria College.
Storm was a lieutenant in the 5th Battalion of Toronto militia and a member of the 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles (later the Royal Grenadiers) when it was established in 1862. He was also a life member of the Toronto Mechanics’ Institute.
Storm was a leading Mason and was Master of St. Andrew's Lodge No. 16 in 1858 and 1859. He was also a founder of the local Commandery of Knights Templar. Masonic symbolism is incorporated into a number of his structures. He was also a founding member of the Ontario Association of Architects, and served as its first president from 1889 to 1892. He was a founding member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
He died in 1892, aged of a stroke
Works
BuildingYear CompletedBuilderStyleSourceLocationImage Louis B. Stewart Observatory/Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory 1853–1857 Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm Romanesque W, 15 12 Hart House Circle - University of Toronto - Kings College Circle University College, University of Toronto 1856–1859 Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm; David Dick (1892) Norman Romanesque 15 15 King's College Circle University College, University of Toronto Croft House 1859 Frederick William Cumberland (Design) William George Storm; Norman Romanesque 2 Kings College Circle, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Former Upper Canada College campus (1854); additions to Resident School House, 1856; new Porter's Lodge, Bursar's Office, gates, fences and outbuildings (1857) http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1632 Frederick William Cumberland (architect) 1854-7 Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm Gothic Revival architecture King and Simcoe Streets in downtown Toronto Chapel of St. James-the-Less, St. James Cemetery (Toronto) 1860 Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm (Design) Romanesque 2 Parliament Street, Toronto, Ontario St. Andrew's Church (Toronto) 1876 William George Storm Romanesque 73 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ontario Osgoode Hall wrought iron fence (1865–66); Examination Hall & Classrooms (1880–81); Law School (1890) various William George Storm Romanesque Toronto, Ontario Rotman's Men's Shops 1890 William George Storm Romanesque 350-358 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario Victoria College 1892 William George Storm Romanesque University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Inglenook Community High School 1890s William George Storm Romanesque Toronto, Ontario
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