Mount Royal Club, Additions and Alterations(7/1902, 11/1902 [1902-3])
1175 Sherbrooke Street West [and Stanley Street], Montreal, QC, Canada
Recreational, Club [addition: basement: 3 store rooms, wine room, refrigerator room, cook's pantry; ground floor: dining room, serving pantry; first floor: card room, lavatory, palm room; second floor: 4 bedrooms; attic: 1 bedroom, servants' sitting room]; brick; wall bearing

Client: Mount Royal Club
Architect: E. & W.S. Maxwell

Description: The Mount Royal Club Group purchased the urban house on Sherbrooke Street, belonging to Sir John J.C. Abbott, a former Prime Minister of Canada (1891-1892) and the head of the Law Faculty at McGill University from 1855 to 1880. The Maxwell brothers were assigned to do additions and alterations to this house to convert it into a recreational club. The major changes were done by the Maxwell brothers in collaboration with the New York-based architects McKim, Mead and White. The asymmetrical brick façade was turned to a more formal symmetrical elevation by creating a bay window opening in the club room at the right and introducing a new bowfront lounge to the left side. Both these elements, which were treated with fine Beaux-arts details ran the entire length of the building and terminated with a finely decorated pediments at the roof level. The building underwent many changes during 1902 and 1903. In 1904 the fire destroyed most of the interior and eventually it was replaced by a new building designed by McKim, Mead and White in 1905.

Holdings: Club (addition: basement: 3 store rooms, wine room, refrigerator room, cook's pantry; ground floor: dining room, serving pantry; first floor: card room, lavatory, palm room; second floor: 4 bedrooms; attic: 1 bedroom, servants' sitting room); brick; wall bearing
82 Drawings: 59 ink on linen; 9 pencil on paper; 10 watercolour on linen; 3 watercolour on paper; 1 blueprint
6 Development drawings: floor plans, elevations
9 Working drawings: floor plans, elevations
62 Detail drawings: floor plans, ceiling plans, dining room, palm room, billiard room, ladies' reception room, hall, kitchen, serving pantry, washroom, entries, structure, mechanical, stairs, fireplace, mantelpieces, chimneys, flue, windows, dormer, bays, oriels, doors, radiator screens, fittings, finishes, ironwork, stonework, coping, cornice, balustrades, railing, roof garden, landscaping
5 Consultant drawings: floor plans, structure
Comment: The Maxwells' work at the Mount Royal Club comprised several stages, beginning with alterations to the former John C. Abbot House commenced by Edward in 1899 and including major additions and alterations in 1902-3 by Edward and W.S. Maxwell, apparently done in collaboration with the New York firm of McKim, Mead and White. In 1904, this building was seriously damaged by fire and was replaced by the present club, designed by McKim, Mead and White, and completed in 1905. 4 drawings by McKim, Mead and White, and 1 by an unidentified architect, dated 11/1902, are included.

Comments: The Maxwells' work at the Mount Royal Club comprised several stages, beginning with alterations to the former John C. Abbot House commenced by Edward in 1899 and including major additions and alterations in 1902-3 by Edward and W.S. Maxwell, apparently done in collaboration with the New York firm of McKim, Mead and White. In 1904, this building was seriously damaged by fire and was replaced by the present club, designed by McKim, Mead and White, and completed in 1905. 4 drawings by McKim, Mead and White, and 1 by an unidentified architect, dated 11/1902, are included.