H. C. Patten
Encyclopedia
Henry C. Patten was General Manager of the Toronto Transportation Commission
from 1939 until 1952.
He was born in Boston
, Massachusetts
, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1908 with a degree in electrical engineering. He served in the U.S. Army Engineering Corps for two years during World War I
, and was otherwise employed by the consulting engineering firm of Jackson and Moreland, working on projects involving railways and other utilities.
He came to Toronto
in 1920 as a resident engineer with Jackson and Moreland, who had been engaged by the City of Toronto to assist with the arbitration and valuation of the City's purchase of the property of the Toronto Railway Company
. In November 1923, he left the engineering firm to join the Toronto Transportation Commission
as a Cost Engineer. In May 1924 he was appointed Comptroller.
He was appointed General Manager effective January 1, 1939 following the death in December 1938 of D.W. Harvey. He served as General Manager until 1952.
Mr. Patten also served as President of the Canadian Transit Association
, director of the American Transit Association and director of the Toronto Industrial Commission.
The revenue building at the TTC's Hillcrest Complex is named the Patten Building in his honour.
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
from 1939 until 1952.
He was born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1908 with a degree in electrical engineering. He served in the U.S. Army Engineering Corps for two years during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and was otherwise employed by the consulting engineering firm of Jackson and Moreland, working on projects involving railways and other utilities.
He came to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1920 as a resident engineer with Jackson and Moreland, who had been engaged by the City of Toronto to assist with the arbitration and valuation of the City's purchase of the property of the Toronto Railway Company
Toronto Railway Company
The Toronto Railway Company was the first operator of horseless streetcars in Toronto.Formed by a partnership between James Ross and William Mackenzie, a 30-year franchise was granted in 1891 to modernize transit operations after a previous 30 year franchise that saw horse car service from the...
. In November 1923, he left the engineering firm to join the Toronto Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
as a Cost Engineer. In May 1924 he was appointed Comptroller.
He was appointed General Manager effective January 1, 1939 following the death in December 1938 of D.W. Harvey. He served as General Manager until 1952.
Mr. Patten also served as President of the Canadian Transit Association
Canadian Urban Transit Association
Canadian Urban Transit Association is a trade association for the urban transit industry in Canada.-History:It was originally established in 1904 as the "Canadian Street Railway Association"...
, director of the American Transit Association and director of the Toronto Industrial Commission.
The revenue building at the TTC's Hillcrest Complex is named the Patten Building in his honour.