Description of Historic Place

Wood Block is located on Bridge Street in Sackville. It was built in 1914-1915 after the Music Hall Block was destroyed by fire. It consists of a Romanesque Revival building that reflects the commercial and cultural life of the community of Sackville at the beginning of the century.

Heritage Value

Wood Block is designated a Local Historic Place because of its Romanesque Revival architectural style, designed by Amherst Architect J. Leander Allen and its association with local businessman, Lieutenant Governor and Senator, Josiah Wood.

In 1914, the Music Hall Block was destroyed by a fire. The building was rebuilt in 1914-1915 as Wood Block by Josiah Wood. He turned over the management of his business interests to his son William T. Wood. The building included the Imperial Theatre, which remained in operation until the 1940s as home to a movie theatre, stage shows, public lectures and graduations. In 1963, the Town Hall used the space on the ground floor for the courtroom and fireman’s rooms. Traditionally, the storefront space has been used for restaurants, bookstores, banks, and telegraph offices. The second floor, on the eastern end, was home to the Chignecto Club, a private men’s club. In 1994, Wood Block was declared a Provincial Heritage Site.

Source: Town of Sackville Historic Places Files-‘Wood Block’ file

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements of Wood Block that relate to its architectural style include:
- light brown or yellow stone, from Henry Read’s Rockport Quarry, found on the face of the building for the “shoddy” work;
- medium grey or red sandstone from Henry Read’s Woodpoint Quarry for the trimming;
- foundation made of local stone that was used to enlarge the basement of the Music Hall which had burned down in 1914;
- main roof features mansard section;
- elaborate cornice and soffit;
- dormer and arched windows, offset with decorative stone trim of the Romanesque Revival style;
- storefront level display windows with base panels, transoms, columns, and cornices;
- recessed doorways.

Character-defining elements of the second floor where the theatre could be found include:
- eight hundred seat theatre;
- main floor, stage, ticket booth and balcony;
- large, ornate, circular bronze medallions;
- plaster and golden-painted mouldings supporting the balcony;
- large, deep stage fly gallery on the side of the stage and a grid iron located above the theatre;
- two dressing rooms behind the stage and one to the right of the stage, hidden in the wall.