Description of Historic Place

The Old Kingston Hall comprises a two and one-half storey wood frame building and lot located on a knoll on Main Street in the Village of Rexton.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Old Kingston Hall resides in previous use as the community hospital. As such, many of residents of Rexton and the surrounding area were born there. The small 15-bed facility served the community as its only hospital for the years 1946-1976.

The land, owned by William Bowser (father of a former premier of British Columbia of the same name) and his wife, was transferred to the trustees of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in 1880 who built the building for the purpose of a church manse. In 1945 it was sold and through shares to members of the community the Kingston Hall opened as a hospital. The hospital closed in 1976 and the building was turned over to the Village of Rexton who currently use a portion of the building for the municipal office.

Source: Village of Rexton Local Historic Places File #2004-7.

Character-Defining Elements

The key elements of the Old Kingston Hall include:
- its location on a knoll permits views of the Richibucto River and the church it was once associated with;
- two and one-half storey building with double bay windows extending from the bottom floor to the top of the second floor;
- small veranda with decorative tracery spandrels;
- original window size openings on bay windows and most other windows;
- two storey rear section of building;
- original narrow double interior doors and hardware at main entrance.