Description of Historic Place

The Thomas Johnson Residence is a wooden two-storey Italianate multi-family residence with a central double entrance. It is located at on Orange Street within the Orange Street Heritage Preservation Area of Saint John.

Heritage Value

The Thomas Johnson Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with its former occupants.

The Thomas Johnson Residence as one of a collection of residential, 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. Orange Street consists of four blocks and displays many fine Victorian homes. Many of the residents on this street were connected to Saint John’s lucrative mercantile history or were connected to the sea. This residence is an example of a wooden Italianate multiple residence from the rebuilding period in the Orange Street area in Saint John after the fire.

The Thomas Johnson Residence is also recognized for its association with the past occupants of the home. This home was built as a three-family home for teamster/cartman Thomas Johnson. He lived in this residence until 1894. A teamster/cartman was a driver of (horse-drawn) vehicles for transporting goods. Cartmen were often employed by railway companies for local deliveries and collections of goods and parcels like a modern day van driver.

John M. Robertson, who was a cabinet maker, and later a machinist, occupied this residence from 1888 into the 1930's. Salesman Frederick L. Hea moved in it in 1882 and members of this family resided here into the 1920's. Alice and Annie Hea were organists and piano teachers and taught piano lessons in this building.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe the Thomas Johnson Residence include:
- similar set-back with neighbouring buildings;
- rectangular two-storey massing;
- overall symmetry of the front façade;
- ornate bracketed cornice;
- rectangular vertical sliding 2/2 wooden windows with ornate bracketed entablatures;
- single entablature with ornate brackets over the two central entrances;
- transom windows over the entrances;
- double two-panel wooden doors in both entries;
- brick foundation.