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Armstrong Building

074 Prince William Street, Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2004/01/01

This image shows a full contextual view of the building showing the recessed brick courses on Grannan Street and the relationship the building has with the neighboring building on Prince William Street; City of Saint John 2004
Contextual view of the building
Image showing the storefront and illustrating the cast iron pilasters, end columns, cornice, windows, and entrance; City of Saint John 2004
Corner storefront of the building
Photograph showing the upper stories and illustrating the windows, recessed brickwork, sandstone ledge, cornice, corbel bands, and sandstone courses; City of Saint John 2004
Upper stories of building

Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1877/01/01 to 1881/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/08/13

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Armstrong building is a four storey brick commercial building with Greek elements on the corner of Prince William and Grannan Streets in uptown Saint John. The building is located in the Trinity Royal area and was recognized in the City of Saint John Preservation Areas Bylaw in 1982.

Heritage Value

This building is significant as one of a collection of Italianate and Second Empire style commercial buildings that were built between 1877 and 1881 after two thirds of the City of Saint John was destroyed in the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. In the mid nineteenth century, more than 150,000 Irish immigrants, escaping the potato famine in Ireland, landed in Saint John. Among the immigrants were many Irish merchants who found the city and its seaport ideal for new businesses. After the Great Saint John Fire of 1877, the Armstrong Building was built for prominent Irish merchant John Armstrong and the Italianate building is an important symbol of the influence of Irish merchants in the City of Saint John in the mid nineteenth century. This building serves as a reminder of the strong will of the Saint John merchants to rebuild the city after the fire. The brick and stone architecture sent a message that the city would be more fire resistant in the future. The elements and level of design demonstrate that the city was rebuilt in grander fashion. Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The architectural elements relating to the Italianate style of the building include: The Storefront - three cast iron columns in centre of storefront; - two Doric columns at end; - two storefront windows with one and one horizontal transom windows above. The Upper Storeys - all windows have sandstone sills and headers; - recessed brick above 2nd and 3rd floor window headers; - decorative mold in second floor window headings; - sandstone rows run the width of the building from the returns of the window headers; - brick ledge in line with 3rd floor window sills; - 4th floor windows have flat undecorated headers; - 4th storey windows are subdivided by cast iron pillars; - metal cornice; - dentils and corbel band under the roof cornice. Grannan Street - five brick courses of recessed brick and one course of projecting brick; - corbel band and dentils wrap around from the front façade.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

New Brunswick

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (NB)

Recognition Statute

Community Planning Act

Recognition Type

Local Register

Recognition Date

2004/01/01

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

1877/01/01 to 1877/01/01

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Trade and Commerce
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
Architecture and Design

Function - Category and Type

Current

Commerce / Commercial Services
Eating or Drinking Establishment

Historic

Commerce / Commercial Services
Shop or Wholesale Establishment

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

Foss, Snow, Schooler & Co.

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

129

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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