Canadian Architectural Photos: Saint John

Because of an economic downturn that lasted for much of the Twentieth Century, there was very limited incentive for new construction in Saint John for many years. Consequently, many of the beautiful old Victorian-era buldings have survived. Many of the commercial buildings now standing were built in the years imediately after the the Great Fire of 1877 that devestated much of the business district.

There are several excellent websites with historic (and some contemporary) photos of Saint John:

Houses:





	This house is located on Princess Street, in the Uptown area.
	This house is located on Douglas Avenue, close to the (old) New Brunswick Museum.
	While this building in the Trinity Royal heritage district looks to be very old, it was actually built ca. 2001! It blends nicely with the surrounding heritage buildings.
	My Parents' (former) house, located in the Forest Hills district. The whole sub-division was built in about the early 1970s.
	My Grandfather lived in this house (middle flat) when he moved to Saint John in about 1924.
	The Castle This house was built about 1875 for Count Robert Visart De Bury of Belgium.
	Merchant Manor This house was built in 1892.

Churches:

	Calvary Temple This building was built in 1919 as St. David's Presbyterian Church. That congregation joined the United Church of Canada in 1925, and merged with St. Andrew's United Church in 1962. The building was acquired by the nascent Pentecostal congregation of Calvary Temple in 1965.
	Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception The cathedral was constructed between 1853 and 1885.
	Congregation Sharrei Zedek This synagogue was formerly a church, but I do not know the history of the building.
	Douglas Avenue Christian Church The building was constructed in 1900; it was expanded in 1953.
	Forest Hills Baptist Church
	Grace Presbyterian Church This church was built in 1963.
	Portland United Church
	St. George's Church This former church is now closed, and used as a commercial building.
	St. James (Anglican) Church This church is located in Lakewood in East Saint John, on the road to the airport.
	St. John's (Stone) Church This church was built between about 1823 and 1828, using various types of stone that had been brought over from England as ballast. It is one of the earliest Gothic Revival churches in Canada.
	St. Luke's (Anglican) Church
	Trinity Church This church was rebuilt between 1878 and 1880, replacing the original that had been destroyed in the Great Fire of 1877.

Commercial Buildings:

	These structures were built as warehouses in the late 1870s, and redeveloped in the early 1980s.



	The City Market building was constructed between 1874 and 1876. The bulding underwent a major restoration in 1987-1990. The original architects were J. T. C. McKean and G. E. Fairweather.

	Trillium House
	I rather like how this building curves to closely fit the shape of the corner lot.
	Archways are a far too uncommon architectural feature. They can interest to an otherwise undistinguished building.
	Maritime Singer Building This building was built in 1912 as a factory. It now houses the offices of an architectural firm.

Miscellaneous Buildings:

	The vibrant colours of Acadian artist Claude Rouselle's abstract sculpture have faded somewhat since the new City Hall building opened in 1970.
	The roof details above this entrance to the McAllister Mall are very reminiscent of Second Empire architectural style. This part of the structure was later demolished in May 2019.
	This is the old Carnegie Public Library building, one of only a very few of this type remaining in Canada. Consrtucted in 1904, it is no longer used as a library.
	The Union Club was established in 1884.
	Beaverbrook House This building was originally built for Saint John businessman F. P. Starr as his residence. From about 1954 through 1959 this building housed the UNB Faculty of Law.

	Fundy Line Motel sign