Description of Historic Place

Built prior to 1914, the Frederick P. Elkin Residence is a two-storey wooden Queen Anne Revival residential building located between Wentworth and Pitt streets in Saint John's Central Peninsula.

Heritage Value

The Frederick P. Elkin Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its architectural value and for its early association with Frederick P. Elkin.

The Frederick P. Elkin Residence is an excellent example of a Queen Anne Revival style townhouse. It was one of the more fashionable multi-family homes built in the city. The primary Queen Anne Revival feature is a full-height semi-octagonal tower culminating in a shingled roof with finial. The roofline features a short decorative bell-cast mansard roof with end brackets, broken by the central bay window. An attractive feature of the property are the cornices that exist above each storey and a third for the base of the pinnacle roof. These cornices consist of dentils and wide decorative frieze bands. The property shares a similar setback with the neighbouring properties along the streetscape.

The Frederick P. Elkin Residence is also recognized for its early association with Frederick P. Elkin. Frederick Purdy Elkin moved into this double home prior to 1914 and remained here until 1921. He was identified with the shipping industry at the port of Saint John for many years and was president of the prominent ship broker firm of RC Elkin, which was founded by his father. He became associated with his father in 1907. RC Elkin Ltd. owned and operated a number of sailing vessels which carried on an extensive trade with Maritime products to the West Indies. This company was operated by Fred's son and grandson and existed until 1979.

Source: Planning and Development Department – City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of this Queen Anne Revival style home include:
- shallow setback in common with street face;
- window placement and proportions;
- central two-storey tower with an octagonal roof topped with a finial;
- decorative medallions and dentils on fascia at two levels;
- sloped hood above fascia bisecting whole building width at top of first storey;
- short decorative bell-cast mansard roof with end brackets broken by the tower;
- small pediment over one upper-storey window;
- upper-storey window with a bracketed lintel;
- central window in lower storey of the tower with decorative pilasters in the casing.

The character-defining elements of the entranceway include:
- shed roof supported by decorative brackets;
- ornamented pilasters flanking the doorway;
- rectangular transom;
- unique wood door with elaborately leaded stained glass light and dentil-like ornamentation.