Neil R. Darrach

[3] He moved to St. Thomas as a youth and became involved in construction at the start of the railway boom in the early 1870s.

[4] Simplicity of form and emphasis on symmetry using a central hall plan characterizes most of Darrach's buildings .

[6] Neil would also work on the First United Church, the Grand Central Hotel (subsequently destroyed in the later 20th century), St. Thomas Masonic Hall, Myrtle and Balaclava Street Schools; and several prominent homes in the community in addition to the heritage buildings described below.

[6][7] In 1898 disaster struck the Elgin County Courthouse (which was originally designed in 1854 by John Turner) where a significant portion of the building was destroyed by fire.

This was achieved through Neoclassical Revival style (which now serves as a municipal building extension)adjacent to the city hall.

[10] Later, as more colleges and universities instituted architectural programs, architects could obtain more formal training.

[1] In a brief career that lasted until 1917 (when he returned to Ontario), Darrach's designs also included the Leader Building, Westminster Presbyterian Church (later United(Pictured)) and the Donahue Block.

One of Darrach's more prominent designs. The current design of the Elgin County Courthouse is largely due to his work in the late 19th century after the building was largely destroyed by fire
Wellington Street Public School, photographed in 1905.
Built in 1913, the Westminster Presbyterian, later United, Church in Regina.