Armstrong Building
074 Prince William Street, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L, Canada
Formally Recognized:
2004/01/01
Other Name(s)
n/a
Links and documents
n/a
Construction Date(s)
1877/01/01 to 1881/01/01
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2004/08/13
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Armstrong building is a four storey brick commercial building with Greek elements on the corner of Prince William and Grannan Streets in uptown Saint John. The building is located in the Trinity Royal area and was recognized in the City of Saint John Preservation Areas Bylaw in 1982.
Heritage Value
This building is significant as one of a collection of Italianate and Second Empire style commercial buildings that were built between 1877 and 1881 after two thirds of the City of Saint John was destroyed in the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. In the mid nineteenth century, more than 150,000 Irish immigrants, escaping the potato famine in Ireland, landed in Saint John. Among the immigrants were many Irish merchants who found the city and its seaport ideal for new businesses. After the Great Saint John Fire of 1877, the Armstrong Building was built for prominent Irish merchant John Armstrong and the Italianate building is an important symbol of the influence of Irish merchants in the City of Saint John in the mid nineteenth century. This building serves as a reminder of the strong will of the Saint John merchants to rebuild the city after the fire. The brick and stone architecture sent a message that the city would be more fire resistant in the future. The elements and level of design demonstrate that the city was rebuilt in grander fashion. Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John
Character-Defining Elements
The architectural elements relating to the Italianate style of the building include: The Storefront - three cast iron columns in centre of storefront; - two Doric columns at end; - two storefront windows with one and one horizontal transom windows above. The Upper Storeys - all windows have sandstone sills and headers; - recessed brick above 2nd and 3rd floor window headers; - decorative mold in second floor window headings; - sandstone rows run the width of the building from the returns of the window headers; - brick ledge in line with 3rd floor window sills; - 4th floor windows have flat undecorated headers; - 4th storey windows are subdivided by cast iron pillars; - metal cornice; - dentils and corbel band under the roof cornice. Grannan Street - five brick courses of recessed brick and one course of projecting brick; - corbel band and dentils wrap around from the front façade.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
New Brunswick
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (NB)
Recognition Statute
Community Planning Act
Recognition Type
Local Register
Recognition Date
2004/01/01
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
1877/01/01 to 1877/01/01
Theme - Category and Type
- Developing Economies
- Trade and Commerce
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
Function - Category and Type
Current
- Commerce / Commercial Services
- Eating or Drinking Establishment
Historic
- Commerce / Commercial Services
- Shop or Wholesale Establishment
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
Foss, Snow, Schooler & Co.
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
129
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a