Leslie Raymond Fairn (June 25, 1875 – August 13, 1971) was a Canadian architect whose career is notable for its longevity and for the range of styles it encompassed, including Beaux Arts and Modernism. Most of his work was completed in the Maritimes.
He was born in Waterville, Nova Scotia, the oldest of three children of W. H. and Laura (Lyons) Fairn. His father was a schoolteacher.[1] He was married twice, first to Bessie Maude (Tupper) Fairn (1880–1918 ) who died of Spanish Influenza[2][3] and second to Ethel Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Fairn (1900–1982).[4] He had two daughters from his first marriage and five children from his second.
He attended Acadia University and later studied architecture in Boston, later apprenticing with Edward Elliot in Halifax.[5] Beginning about 1901, he earned a living as Principal of Drawing and Manual Training at Horton College (Acadia University) in Wolfville. One of his first commissions was the Kings County Courthouse, completed in nearby Kentville in 1903, and in 1904 he moved to Aylesford where he began to practice full-time.[1] He became a charter member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) in 1907 and was made a Fellow in 1939.[6][7]: 261 He was also a founder of the Nova Scotia Association of Architects (NSAA).[5]
In 1932 he moved to Wolfville where he continued to practice until his death at the age of 96. Meanwhile, around 1946 he opened an office in Halifax which was managed by his son Laird L. Fairn. This company handled large projects and was known as Leslie R. Fairn & Associates.[7]: 262
His career lasted 65 years, earning him the unofficial title of dean of Nova Scotia architects.[7]: 261 His style ranged from Beaux Arts to Richardsonian Romanesque to Classical Revival and Modernism.[7]: 262 [8]
His brother, Clifford William Fairn, also practiced architecture, partnering with Charles Hay and designing several schools in Calgary between 1911 and 1914.[7]: 197
Notable projects
Nova Scotia
Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building at Dalhousie University.
Northumberland County Courthouse (Richardsonian Romanesque, 1913)[16]
Highfield Street United Baptist Church, Moncton, New Brunswick (English Gothic and Greek, 1923)[17]
Prince Edward Island
Robertson Library, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown (1973, completed posthumously)[18]
References
^ abHistory of Nova Scotia, "Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of the Old Families", Halifax, A. W. Bowen & Co., 1916
^"Bessie Fairn, 39, Aylesford, 17 Dec. 1918, Annapolis Spectator, 26 December 1918, page 1 (Mrs. Leslie R. Fairn)" from List of Nova Scotians who died during the Influenza Pandemic, Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia
^"The People of Western Kings 1785 to 1901" (genealogy)
^ abcdeMaud Rosinski, Architects of Nova Scotia, Halifax: Province of Nova Scotia Publications, 1994.
^Wayde Brown, "Modernism and Regionalism: Themes in the Work of Leslie Fairn," Journal of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada 14/1 [1989], 14-18.
Wayde Brown, "Modernism and Regionalism: Influences on the Work of Leslie Fairn". Mar. 1989 (14:1), p. 14-18.
Wayde Brown, "Modernism and Regionalism: Themes in the Work of Leslie Fairn," Journal of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada 14/1 [1989], 14-18.
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January 13, 2023
leslie, fairn, leslie, raymond, fairn, june, 1875, august, 1971, canadian, architect, whose, career, notable, longevity, range, styles, encompassed, including, beaux, arts, modernism, most, work, completed, maritimes, administration, building, acadia, universi. Leslie Raymond Fairn June 25 1875 August 13 1971 was a Canadian architect whose career is notable for its longevity and for the range of styles it encompassed including Beaux Arts and Modernism Most of his work was completed in the Maritimes Administration Building Acadia UniversityContents 1 Biography 2 Notable projects 2 1 Nova Scotia 2 2 New Brunswick 2 3 Prince Edward Island 3 References 4 Further readingBiography EditHe was born in Waterville Nova Scotia the oldest of three children of W H and Laura Lyons Fairn His father was a schoolteacher 1 He was married twice first to Bessie Maude Tupper Fairn 1880 1918 who died of Spanish Influenza 2 3 and second to Ethel Elizabeth Hutchinson Fairn 1900 1982 4 He had two daughters from his first marriage and five children from his second He attended Acadia University and later studied architecture in Boston later apprenticing with Edward Elliot in Halifax 5 Beginning about 1901 he earned a living as Principal of Drawing and Manual Training at Horton College Acadia University in Wolfville One of his first commissions was the Kings County Courthouse completed in nearby Kentville in 1903 and in 1904 he moved to Aylesford where he began to practice full time 1 He became a charter member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada RAIC in 1907 and was made a Fellow in 1939 6 7 261 He was also a founder of the Nova Scotia Association of Architects NSAA 5 In 1932 he moved to Wolfville where he continued to practice until his death at the age of 96 Meanwhile around 1946 he opened an office in Halifax which was managed by his son Laird L Fairn This company handled large projects and was known as Leslie R Fairn amp Associates 7 262 His career lasted 65 years earning him the unofficial title of dean of Nova Scotia architects 7 261 His style ranged from Beaux Arts to Richardsonian Romanesque to Classical Revival and Modernism 7 262 8 His brother Clifford William Fairn also practiced architecture partnering with Charles Hay and designing several schools in Calgary between 1911 and 1914 7 197 Notable projects EditNova Scotia Edit Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building at Dalhousie University Kings County Courthouse now Kings County Museum 1903 9 Digby County Court House 1910 10 West Highlands School Amherst 1911 11 Annapolis Royal Town Hall Memorial Building Classic Revival 1922 12 Administration Building Acadia University Wolfville 1924 Dominion Public Building Amherst Beaux Arts 1936 13 Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital Sheet Harbour 1949 Halifax Memorial Library 1951 Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building Dalhousie University Halifax 1951 with E W Haldenby 14 Killam Memorial Library Dalhousie University Halifax 1971 15 New Brunswick Edit Northumberland County Courthouse Richardsonian Romanesque 1913 16 Highfield Street United Baptist Church Moncton New Brunswick English Gothic and Greek 1923 17 Prince Edward Island Edit Robertson Library University of Prince Edward Island Charlottetown 1973 completed posthumously 18 References Edit a b History of Nova Scotia Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of the Old Families Halifax A W Bowen amp Co 1916 Bessie Fairn 39 Aylesford 17 Dec 1918 Annapolis Spectator 26 December 1918 page 1 Mrs Leslie R Fairn from List of Nova Scotians who died during the Influenza Pandemic Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia The People of Western Kings 1785 to 1901 genealogy Obituary of Ethel Elizabeth Hutchinson Fairn a b Grant Wanzel and Karen Kallweit Fairn Leslie RaymondCanadian Encyclopedia RAIC Fellows as of 2009 Archived 2011 07 25 at the Wayback Machine a b c d e Maud Rosinski Architects of Nova Scotia Halifax Province of Nova Scotia Publications 1994 Wayde Brown Modernism and Regionalism Themes in the Work of Leslie Fairn Journal of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada 14 1 1989 14 18 Kings County Museum Artefacts Canada Database Courthouses of Nova Scotia Archived 2013 10 17 at the Wayback Machine Canada s Historic Places West Highlands School Amherst Nova Scotia Canada s Historic Places Town Hall Memorial Building Annapolis Royal Nova Scotia Canada s Historic Places Amherst Dominion Public Building Amherst Nova Scotia The Buildings of Dalhousie University Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building Archived 2007 12 10 at the Wayback Machine Dalhousie University The Buildings of Dalhousie University Killam Library Archived 2010 12 16 at the Wayback Machine Dalhousie University Canada s Historic Places Northumberland County Courthouse Miramichi City New Brunswick New Castle Canada s Historic Places Highfield Street United Baptist Church Moncton New Brunswick UPEI Robertson LibraryFurther reading EditWayde Brown Modernism and Regionalism Influences on the Work of Leslie Fairn Mar 1989 14 1 p 14 18 Wayde Brown Modernism and Regionalism Themes in the Work of Leslie Fairn Journal of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada 14 1 1989 14 18 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leslie R Fairn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leslie R Fairn amp oldid 1019168275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
