On March 26, 1896 Mr. Carrie married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Elliot at Donald B.C. They settled in Nelson and raised their family. Mr. Carrie was not only a Pioneer, a family and businessman, but also a distinguished and contributing member of the City of Nelson. Today the Carrie descendants reside in Nelson, Western Canada and the United States of America.
A talented and prolific architect, Mr. Carrie's career spanned over 52 years in Nelson and the Kootenays. He designed and completed hundreds of structures, both commercial and residential in the region. He was chosen by architect, Francis Rattenbury, to be his architect Clerk of the Works for the Nelson Courthouse in 1906. A position of some distinction. Mr. Carrie designed the Nelson Power Plant at Bonnington Falls, officially named the "Alexander Carrie Hydro Plant," being dedicated by the City of Nelson on August 12, 1994.
The Alexander Carrie Hydro Plant as it appears today.
Mr. Carrie's last blueprint was completed on July 21, 1947. He died on July 29, 1947, bringing to a close one of the most prolific architectural careers the area has ever witnessed. His buildings have withstood the test of time. It is no stretch of the imagination to call him the area's most prolific architect.
K.W.C. Block (only turret left on Baker St 488-498 Baker Street)
Lawrence Hardware Store (446 Baker Street)
Customs House (on Post Office) Supervising Architect
McCulloch Block (371-377 Baker Street)
Masonic Block (321-329 Baker Street)
Gilker Block (546 Baker Street - KC Restaurant])
Eagles Hall (639 - 641 Baker Street)
Tremont Block (King's Family Restaurant, 652 Baker Street)
City Garage (561 Josephine Street, now Nelson Home Furniture)
CPR manager's House (end of Baker Street, 420 Railway Street)
Kerr Apartments (514 Victoria Street)
C.W. Busk residence (now Kokanee Park)
Red Fish Grill (479 Baker Street)
YMCA, with swimming pool & bowling lanes (Royal Canadian Legion)
*Fundraising Photograph to the left, 1909.
McDonald Jam Factory (305 Vernon Street)
Bank of Commerce - supervising Architect (CIBC - 459 Baker Street)
Land Registry (403 Vernon Street)
Burn's Block with Arthur E. Hodgins (556 Baker Street)
Courthouse - Clerk of the Works - Architect, for Francis Rattenbury (320 Ward Street)
Hume Hotel - Supervising Architect (422 Vernon Street)
Nelson Congregational Church (702 Stanley Street)
St. Paul’s Trinity United Church (602 Silica Street])- rebuild
Presbyterian Church (He completed work begun in 1892, 602 Kootenay Street)
Nelson Baptist Church
Central School
Trafalgar School
Hume School
Nelson Cenotaph
Nelson Cenotaph
Burden Green Building (The Express Offices)
Net Idea Building - A. Macdonald Warehouse, Front Street
City Municipal Offices, Kaslo, B.C.
Court House, Kaslo, B.C.
Willow Point Lodge
Edgemere, Queen's Bay
Court House, Kaslo, B.C.
Willow Point Lodge
Edgemere, Queen's Bay
As the Commanding Officer of the Rocky Mountain Rangers
This short posting is by no means complete and does not do justice to Mr. Carrie. This multi talented gentleman served the City of Nelson in so many capacities that I have yet to complete my research. As an example he was elected to the City Council in 1910 and served as their Municipal Works Officer.
His photograph hangs on the wall of City Hall. As well, his daughter, Elizabeth, served on City Council for many years and her photograph hangs nearby.
Photograph of the 1910 City Council courtesy of the Shawn Lamb Archives, http://www.touchstonesnelson.ca/ ; family photographs courtesy of the Wallach Family.
