Sydney Morgan Eveleigh

Sydney Morgan Eveleigh (1870–1947) was an English architect particularly associated with the urban development of Vancouver in the early decades of the twentieth century. With Noble Hoffar and William Dalton, and then subsequently in sole practice, he was responsible for numerous commercial, residential and institutional buildings in the City. He was also active in Vancouver's civic affairs and was instrumental in the establishment of the Carnegie Library in the city.

Early life Eveleigh was born in Bedford, England on 24 September 1870, the son of Robert Eveleigh. He was educated at Bedford Modern School and also received instruction in architecture from Rev. Frederick Croxall Boultbee, then Vicar of Melchbourne. Boultbee had relatives in Vancouver, and through them Eveleigh managed to secure a position in the Vancouver office of Noble S. Hoffar in May 1888. He returned to England for two years of further study before once again resuming practice in Vancouver this time with William Dalton in 1895, with whom he went into partnership from 1902.

Work

With Hoffar he worked on the design of new office blocks on Cordova Street and served as Clerk of Works on the construction of Vancouver's New Court House. In partnership with William Dalton, Eveleigh built up a thriving practice. The population of Vancouver grew from 25,000 to well over 100,000 in the first two decades of the twentieth century and Dalton and Eveleigh secured commissions for many of the new buildings in the city's commercial centre; in particular they enjoyed the patronage of Harvey Haddon, a wealthy English merchant and property developer in the city.

Personal life Eveleigh was married to Mary Florence (née Southcott) with whom he had one son, Robert, and two daughters, Mrs R. E. Walker of Vancouver, and Mrs L. O. Tiffin of Montreal. At the time of her death in 1939 they had five grandchildren.