Caretaker's Cottage
303 Odell Avenue, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B, Canada
Formally Recognized:
2008/12/08
Other Name(s)
n/a
Links and documents
n/a
Construction Date(s)
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2009/07/20
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
Built around 1882, this one-and-a-half storey Gothic Revival-inspired wood frame dwelling is situated on the west side of Odell Avenue in the south east corner of Wilmot Park. The building had originally stood near the front gate of Old Government House, opposite Wilmot Park, but was moved to its present location in 1918.
Heritage Value
The heritage value of this dwelling resides both in its original function as the Gatehouse for Government House and in its subsequent identity as the Wilmot Park Caretaker’s Cottage.
In 1882, John Stewart Jarvis, who had been hired as caretaker of the Government House grounds, moved into the newly constructed gatehouse with his family. Even after Government House officially closed in 1893, Mr. Jarvis continued to occupy this dwelling for the next two decades. When the former caretaker moved from the dwelling, the gatehouse stood vacant on the grounds of Government House for five years.
The former gatehouse had renewed purpose when it was moved from the Old Government House grounds to Wilmot Park. A daytime caretaker, who lived off-site, had long been employed by the Wilmot Park Board, but concerns had surfaced about the Park’s vulnerability at night. To ensure that the Park was properly guarded, the Board insisted that a dwelling be provided for the caretaker. The Board suggested moving the now empty, former gatehouse rather than construct a new structure. The former Government House gatehouse, which was moved to Wilmot Park in the fall of 1918, had housed caretakers in both locations.
Source: City of Fredericton, Historic Places Files, “Caretaker's Cottage, 303 Odell Avenue”
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements related to the Caretaker’s Cottage include:
- manicured lawn;
- one-and-a-half storey wood frame dwelling;
- medium-pitched roof with decorative bargeboard trim;
- finial at roof peak;
- enclosed entry porch with medium pitched gable roof ornamented with bargeboard trim;
- large rectangular windows;
- dormer window on south facing façade.
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
2008/12/08
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
- Building Social and Community Life
- Community Organizations
- Peopling the Land
- Settlement
Function - Category and Type
Current
Historic
- Residence
- Single Dwelling
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
n/a
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
City of Fredericton, Historic Places File, "303 Odell Avenue"
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
1720
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a