Memorable Manitobans: Ralph L. Smith (1874-?)

Architect.

Born in the United States in November 1874, he came to Canada in 1907 and worked in Winnipeg as an architect, specializing in schools. His design for St. John’s Presbyterian Church, prepared in 1914, was never fully executed. The foundations and basement were constructed but work halted at the outbreak of the First World War. The remainder of the building was later designed by J. H. G. Russell and completed in 1923. It is believed that Smith left Winnipeg sometime after 1914.

Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:

Building	Location	Year	Status
Warren Consolidated School No. 740	Warren, RM of Woodlands	1911	Destroyed by fire (19 November 1956)
First English Lutheran Church	484 Maryland Street, Winnipeg	1911-1913
First Lutheran Church	580 Victor Street, Winnipeg	1912
St. John’s Presbyterian Church (foundation)	250 Cathedral Avenue, Winnipeg	1914

Sources:

Advertisement, Manitoba Free Press, 10 November 1909, page 13.

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950 by Robert G. Hill, Toronto.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 1 January 2025

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!