Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
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B. Napier Simpson, Jr. 1925-1978
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted May, 2005
Photo from Google Street View ©2015 Google - Posted February, 2015
Plaque Location
The County of Haliburton
Township of Algonquin Highlands
In Maple Lake, at St. Peter's Church on St. Peter's Road
2 km north of Highway 118
Coordinates: N 45 05.240 W 78 41.032 |
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Plaque Text
A prominent Ontario architect, Simpson was born and educated in Toronto. After graduating from university in 1951, he established a thriving private practice and soon became involved in public restoration projects. An expert in this field, Simpson undertook commissions throughout the province, playing a significant role in the development of Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto and Century Village near Peterborough. Through his work with various heritage groups and his efforts to preserve individual structures such as St. Peter's Church where he is buried, he helped heighten public awareness of the value of heritage conservation. Widely recognized for his achievements, Simpson was appointed to the Ontario Heritage Foundation and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, remaining active in these organizations until his death.
Related Toronto plaque
Simpson House
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Architects
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Algonquin Highlands Plaques
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted April 18, 2019
Having learned of the plaque, I made a point, years ago, of detouring while on a trip to Haliburton so as to check it out. I was moved to see that he had been relatively young at the time of his death. Being a great amateur admirer of his designs, I've spent many an hour, over the past 40 years, exploring the greater-Toronto area in search of examples. Where I could, I took photographs. It's disappointing to find out that some of his commissions are being changed or torn down. I'll always remain a fan.
Flora Nydam
> Posted July 21, 2018
My husband met Napier Simpson at the Mill house in Canton Ontario near Port Hope where he was doing renovations for the owner. He told my husband that he had doodled a t-shaped Gothic house and that he would send the plans to him. Thanks to him we now have a beautiful Napier Simpson home down the road.
Susan Earle
> Posted September 28, 2016
Napier Simpson was a highly respected historical architect and a colleague and friend of my father (Prof. Maurice Careless). I remember getting the phone call saying that one of the three planes carrying the Historic Sites Board members just outside St. John's had crashed...and Napier and other wonderful colleagues were killed. It was such a tragedy, such a loss. My dad was on another plane. He lost a lot of good friends that day, including Napier.
Andrea Careless
> Posted April 8, 2010
He was a great man who shall be remembered not only as the finest georgian architect ever, but as a wonderful family man whose faminly continues to thrive because of him. Life eternal! Nice job Nape! Bil Patterson
> Posted February 2, 2009
Wow! I didn't know that Napier Simpson had his very own plaque. He was my great uncle, but he died before I was born. - Courtney Simpson
> Posted October 4, 2008
Many of B. Napier Simpson's architectural drawings of renovations and developments can be found at the Archives of Ontario.
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