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McAdam Railway Station

92 Saunders Road, McAdam, New Brunswick, E6J, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2008/10/21

West side of the station; McAdam Historical Restoration Committee
McAdam Railway Station
Photo of McAdam Railway Station circa 1905 taken before extensions; McAdam Historical Restoration Committee
McAdam Railway Station
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Other Name(s)

McAdam Railway Station
CPR Station and Hotel
Gare ferroviare et hôtel Canadien Pacifique
McAdam CPR Station and Hotel
Gare ferroviare et hôtel Canadien Pacifique de McAdam

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1900/01/01 to 1901/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2008/11/19

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

McAdam Railway Station, built in 1900-1901, is a magnificent three-storey Chateauesque granite building. This former Canadian Pacific railway station and hotel is situated on an elevated portion of land on Saunders Road in McAdam.

Heritage Value

McAdam Railway Station is designated a Local Historic Place for its architectural grandeur and for its symbolism with respect to a past era when railroading was predominant in McAdam.

At the time of the construction of the McAdam Railway Station, McAdam was a thriving and prosperous railway junction centre and a gateway to Atlantic Canada. The station is one of the few remaining structures showing the importance of the railroad and its significance to the history of Canada. Commissioned by Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, it was designed by Edward Maxwell and W. S. Painter and built by Joseph McVey in 1900-1901 (original central section). It was expanded in 1910-11 during a time of rapid expansion and prosperity of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. It was one of only three and the last surviving station that included a first-class five-star hotel. It maintains all of its Chateauesque architecture from this era. Serving 16-18 passenger trains a day, it immediately became the showpiece of a thriving railroad industrial village, whose very existence was the result of rail and whose history mirrored the rise and fall of railroading in Canada.

Source: McAdam Historical Restoration Commission c/o McAdam Village Office, Historic Places File “McAdam Railway Station”

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements relating to the architecture of the McAdam Railway Station include:
- pavillion three-storey massing;
- locally-quarried massive granite exterior;
- steeply pitched multi-levelled Chateau-style roof with 18 stone dormers;
- wide overhanging eaves over the walkway and entrances.

The character-defining elements relating to the original interior and spatial arrangement of the building include:
- former first-class five-star hotel;
- functioning original dining room and lunch counter, currently used for community events;
- general waiting room and separate ladies waiting display area;
- former Canadian customs and immigration offices;
- express, baggage and mail rooms;
- railway police office and jail;
- ticket and telegraph office;
- carmen, yard and road-master offices;
- third floor dormitories for male and female staff.

The character-defining elements relating to the location of the station include:
- adjacent to working freight rail line;
- adjacent to 6 acre man-made lake used to water steam engines.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

New Brunswick

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (NB)

Recognition Statute

Local Historic Places Program

Recognition Type

Municipal Register of Local Historic Places

Recognition Date

2008/10/21

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

1910/01/01 to 1911/01/01

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Communications and Transportation
Building Social and Community Life
Community Organizations

Function - Category and Type

Current

Leisure
Tourist Facility
Leisure
Historic or Interpretive Site

Historic

Commerce / Commercial Services
Hotel, Motel or Inn
Commerce / Commercial Services
Eating or Drinking Establishment
Transport-Rail
Station or Other Rail Facility
Government
Customs Building

Architect / Designer

Edward Maxwell

Builder

Joseph McVey

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

McAdam Historical Restoration Commission files, McAdam Village Office

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

1294

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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