46 Victoria Street West
46 Victoria Street West; Amherst, Amherst, Nova Scotia, B4H, Canada
Formally Recognized:
1987/08/17
Other Name(s)
46 Victoria Street West
Lusby House
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2007/11/22
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
46 Victoria Street West is a two-and-a-half-storey Maritime Vernacular home built circa 1884. This north-facing home sits on the main street of Amherst, Nova Scotia, in an older residential area near the downtown commercial district. The residence is slightly set back from the sidewalk and is surrounded by mature trees and bushes. The building and property are included in the municipal designation.
Heritage Value
46 Victoria Street West is valued as an unusual example of a decorated Maritime Vernacular home. Also valued is its association with the Lusby family, which was an important family in the history and development of Amherst.
Architectural Value: Maritime Vernacular buildings were practical, functional structures built for the purpose of shelter or storage. They had clean lines with little or no ornamentation, so this house is made unique by the decorative brackets and distinctive scrollwork under the eaves that contrast sharply with the straight lines of the house. The Vernacular style is also evident in its symmetrical box-like appearance, the large central door, and the balanced placement of its windows and two chimneys.
Historical Value: The house was built circa 1884 for John C. Lusby, and is believed to be the third house on this site. This lot of land came into the hands of John C. Lusby’s grandfather, Thomas Lusby, in 1783. The elder Lusby lived on this site, operated the first gristmill in Amherst, and was a member of the Legislature for the Amherst Township until 1801. The gristmill operated until the 1920s, and the Lusbys owned this piece of land until the 1950s.
Source: “Heritage Properties Amherst, 46 Victoria West” File, Cumberland County Museum
Character-Defining Elements
Character-defining elements of 46 Victoria Street West include:
- decorative scrollwork and brackets under the eaves;
- architecturally balanced chimneys.
Character-defining Maritime Vernacular elements of 46 Victoria West include:
- typical box-like shape;
- symmetric placement of windows;
- central entrance.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
Nova Scotia
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (NS)
Recognition Statute
Heritage Property Act
Recognition Type
Municipally Registered Property
Recognition Date
1987/08/17
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
- Peopling the Land
- Settlement
Function - Category and Type
Current
Historic
- Residence
- Single Dwelling
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
John Embree
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
"Heritage Properties Amherst" File, Cumberland County Museum and Archives, 150 Church St, Amherst, NS B4H 3C4
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
12MNS0001
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a