Other Name(s)
Frank D. Alward Residence
Joseph Pope Barnes Residence
Résidence Joseph Pope Barnes
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2009/12/17
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Frank D. Alward Residence is a two-and-a-half storey Gothic Revival residence located on a residential section of Mount Pleasant Avenue in Saint John.
Heritage Value
The Frank D. Alward Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with Robert Reed, Joseph Pope Barnes and Frank D. Alward.
The Frank D. Alward Residence has heritage value due to its connection with the Robert Reed Estate. The Frank D. Alward Residence was built along with its sister cottages as part of the Robert Reed Estate sometime before 1887 (possibly circa 1880), though the exact building date is unknown. The cottages as a group have been described as having functions as a gatehouse, a gardener's house and a kitchen. Robert Reed (b.1813- d.1893) was a wealthy ship owner during Saint John’s golden age of sail. He was an important citizen with a distinguished military career as well as varied business, charity, and cultural interests, including founding and assembling the collection for the Owens’ Institute of Art in Sackville, founded from a bequest from Amelia Reed’s stepfather, John Owens. In 1854, Reed and his wife Amelia built Reed’s Castle, called Belvedere by them, at the head of Mount Pleasant. Until it burned down in 1912, Reed’s Castle was one of Saint John’s most prominent landmarks.
Joseph Pope Barnes was born in 1866 and began his career in the firm of Daniel and Boyd when his father was a partner in that establishment. He later became a member of Barnes & Murray dry goods. Barnes was prominent in both the wholesale and retail fields of the dry goods business and had been for a number of years a traveling salesperson for important wholesale firms. Barnes was regarded as an authority in the dry goods business and was one of the leaders in the Commercial Traveler’s Association of the Maritime Provinces. Barnes left this property in 1895 and died in 1933.
Frank D. Alward, Saint John Harbor Master, moved here about 1911 and remained here until the 1950's.
The Frank D. Alward Residence has architectural value as one of a set of four Gothic Revival residences of identical plan set close together with a slight setback on the section of Mount Pleasant Avenue that was part of Robert Reed's estate. This style is still evident in such details as the steeply pitched cross-gable roof, the brackets and the peaked attic window.
Source: Planning and Development Department – City of Saint John
Character-Defining Elements
The character defining elements of the Frank D. Alward Residence include:
- placement as part of a group of four sister homes on Mount Pleasant Avenue;
- two-and-a-half storey massing with lateral two-storey flat-topped entrance set back into the gable intersection;
- steeply-pitched central cross-gable;
- single-storey bay window on the cross-gable façade, with paired windows on the second storey and small high peaked window in the attic storey;
- widely-spaced long brackets under the eaves;
- window placement and proportions;
- some remaining vertical sliding wood windows.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
New Brunswick
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (NB)
Recognition Statute
Local Historic Places Program
Recognition Type
Municipal Register of Local Historic Places
Recognition Date
2008/08/18
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
Function - Category and Type
Current
Historic
- Residence
- Single Dwelling
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
n/a
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
1570
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a