Description of Historic Place

The John H. Harding Complex is a two-and-a-half storey brick Second Empire complex that consists of two residences. It forms part of a larger residential complex. The complex is located on Queen Street in the Trinity Royal Heritage Preservation Area of Saint John.

Heritage Value

The John H. Harding Complex is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and its association with its former occupants.

The John H. Harding Complex is recognized for being one of a collection of residential and commercial Italianate and Second Empire buildings that were built between 1877 and 1881 after two thirds of the City of Saint John were destroyed by fire in 1877. This building and the adjoining building formed the largest residential complex constructed in the re-building of this city. Built circa 1878, it is a two-and-a-half storey brick Second Empire building that consists of two residences. The elements and design of the John H. Harding Complex demonstrate that the city was going to be rebuilt as well or better than the city that was lost.

The John H. Harding Complex is also recognized for its association with its former owner and occupant. John Harding, merchant, lumber baron, and ship owner was appointed Provincial Agent of the Department of Marine and Fisheries in 1870 where he served until 1894. Harding passed away in 1905 and members of his family divided the building into separate lots.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements that describe John H. Harding Complex include:
- square two-and-a-half storey massing;
- mansard roof;
- brick exterior walls;
- rectangular vertical sliding wood windows;
- Roman arch dormer windows with dentils;
- short pilasters supporting the entablatures over the dormer windows;
- corbel bands below the roof-line cornice;
- square crosses consisting of white bricks dividing each corbel band at the cornice;
- unique brick design in the spandrel panels between the first and second storeys;
- segmented arch headers over the window and door openings with keystones, supported by brick pilasters;
- continuous sandstone window sills;
- brick pilaster at end of front façade separating these two residences from the adjoining building that fronts Germain Street;
- two sets of wooden paired doors with glass panels;
- large transom windows over the entrances.