Description of Historic Place

The Eaton Residence is a one-and-a-half storey Second Empire home with a mansard roof, three ornate dormers and an off-centre entrance. It is located on Horsfield Street in the Trinity Royal Preservation Area of the City of Saint John.

Heritage Value

The Eaton Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with George Eaton.

The Eaton Residence is one of a collection of residential Second Empire buildings that were built between 1877 and 1881 after two thirds of the city was destroyed by the Great Saint John Fire in 1877. Constructed circa 1880, this residence is a good example of Second Empire architecture from the rebuilding period in Saint John. This style is evident in such details as the mansard roof, elaborate dormers and the scrolled brackets under the cornice and the entablatures. The elements and design of this building as well as the rest of the collection demonstrate that the city was going to be rebuilt as well or better than the city that was lost.

The Eaton Residence is recognized through its association with George Eaton. George was a prominent ship broker in Saint John. He passed away before 1888 and his daughter Harriet lived here until the mid 1890's.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements that describe the Second Empire architecture of the Eaton Residence include:
- one-and-a-half storey rectangular massing;
- symmetrical fenestration;
- mansard roof;
- clapboard siding;
- elaborate design of the three gable dormer windows;
- bracketed entablature over the ground floor windows;
- rectangular 2 over 2 vertical sliding wood windows;
- cornice with elaborate scrolled brackets;
- entablature with elaborate scrolled brackets over the off-centre entrance;
- segmented arch transom window over paired wooden doors;
- brick foundation.