Description of Historic Place

73 Highfield Street consists of a 2-storey Queen Anne style residence with a rounded 2-storey veranda capped with a “witch’s cap” at its southwest corner. It is located on the east side of Highfield Street, just north of Gordon Street in Moncton.

Heritage Value

73 Highfield Street is designated a Local Historic Place for its Queen Anne architectural style and for its association with its original owner, the widow of Oliver Jones, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones.

This property is located in a rare concentration of high-end Queen Anne residences near the corner of Highfield Street and Gordon Street. This residence exhibits several distinctly Queen Anne elements. Replacing the full tower is the rounded corner of the 2-storey open veranda topped with a cantilevered “witch’s hat”. In keeping with the Free Classic subtype of Queen Anne architecture, the Doric porch columns are paired and raised on coffered bases to the railing level of the spindle work balustrade.

The interior contains well-preserved original elements. Both levels exhibit mitred hardwood floors throughout. Original woodwork, like moulded baseboards and window aprons, are in excellent condition.

73 Highfield Street is also designated for some of its prominent tenants and owners over the years. Elizabeth Jones, widow of one of Moncton’s largest landowners and prominent businessmen in the city’s early history, secured a lifetime lease for this property. This residence would eventually become the home of R. N. Wyse, a noted dry goods salesman.

Source: Moncton Museum, Moncton, New Brunswick - second floor files – “73 Highfield St.”

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements relating to the architecture of 73 Highfield Street include:
- 2-storey rectangular massing;
- stone foundation;
- 1- and 2-storey rounded open veranda with “witch’s hat”;
- lath veranda ceiling;
- hipped roof running front to back;
- Doric pillars on coffered bases;
- spindle balustrades;
- patterned glazed wide rectangular transom windows;
- hipped roof 1-storey bay windows;
- shingle siding;
- “fish scale” shingles in gables;
- gable dormers;
- canted wooden lug sills;
- window entablatures;
- irregular fenestration of rectangular windows;
- corbel brick chimney.

The character-defining elements relating to the architecture inside the house include:
- narrow servant’s stairway;
- original pantry nook;
- ceiling medallions;
- moulded woodwork throughout;
- lath and plaster walls and ceilings;
- original staircase with square newel posts, round tops, turned spindle balusters;
- wide rectangular transom windows with patterned glazing;
- mitred hardwood floors throughout;
- original brick fireplace with tile hearth, wooden mantelpiece entablature with festoon appliqué;
- single glazed paneled doors;
- original radiators;
- stained glass piano window;
- original door hardware.