Description of Historic Place

R. B. Emerson Residence is a two-storey stone Italianate residence with an elaborate entrance crowned by a stone balustrade. It is located on Germain Street within the Trinity Royal Preservation Area of the City of Saint John.

Heritage Value

R. B. Emerson Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with R. B. Emerson.

Many of the buildings in the residential district of Germain Street were constructed in the latter part of the 19th century or early 20th century as all the older buildings were destroyed in the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. Built in 1883, R. B. Emerson Residence is a good example of Italianate architecture from the rebuilding period in Saint John following the fire. Although a large portion of the Italianate buildings rebuilt during this period used brick, this two-storey residence employed stone. The Italianate style is evident in the elaborate entrance crowned by a stone balustrade, the triple windows and the wide stone cornice with brackets.

R. B. Emerson Residence is also recognized for its association with the Robert B. Emerson, who took up residence at this Germain Street address in 1891. Emerson established a manufacturing business in 1870 that primarily produced and dealt in slate and wood mantles, grates, stoves, tinware and hardware. Eight years later, in 1888, he entered into a partnership with W. Shives Fisher and the firm took on the new name of “Emerson and Fisher”. The presence of the firm in the city until 1985 testifies to its enduring legacy. Emerson remained at his Germain Street residence until his death in 1921. The building remained in his estate until 1938.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements that describe the Italianate architecture of R. B. Emerson Residence include:
- rectangular two-storey massing;
- stone exterior walls;
- moulded stone cornice supported by decorative, stone brackets;
- vertical sliding, one over one, wood windows with sandstone lintels and sills;
- slim bands of sandstone joining the sills of the first storey windows;
- elaborate entablature with thick, scallop ornamented brackets over entrance, crowned with a stone balustrade;
- two ornate stone pilasters on either side of central entrance;
- rectangular transom window above paired wooden doors with glass panels in the upper half;
- sandstone steps descending from entry;
- sandstone plinth band.