Description of Historic Place

The Michael F. Mooney Property is part of a three property complex of brick construction and Italianate style. It is located on Orange Street, within the Orange Street Preservation Area of the City of Saint John.

Heritage Value

The Michael F. Mooney Property is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and its association with its former occupants.

The Michael F. Mooney Property is recognized as one of a collection of Second Empire, Queen Anne Revival and Italianate buildings that were built after two thirds of the City of Saint John were destroyed by fire in 1877. Michael F. Mooney, along with his father, Bernard and two brothers, Edward and Patrick J., constructed this residence in 1880, in addition to 75 and 77 Orange Street. All four individuals were of the firm B. Mooney & Sons, a company known for several decades as one of the foremost building firms of Saint John. The entire complex is a good example of brick Italianate multi-unit residential architecture from the rebuilding period within the Orange Street Heritage Preservation Area of Saint John. The design and elements in this building represent the will of city to rebuild, as well or better, after the fire. The use of brick sent a message that the city would be more resistant to fire in the future.

The Michael F. Mooney Property is also recognized for its association with the Mooney Family. Although he never lived in this residence, Michael F. Mooney retained ownership of this property for forty years. In 1873, the firm, B. Mooney & Sons was established and began taking contracts. The first contract was for laying the foundation of the customs house in Saint John. The Mooney family was responsible for prominent structures throughout the City and New Brunswick, including Centenary Church, the Saint John Cotton Mill, Saint Peter’s Church, the Hall Terrace, Gibson’s Cotton Mill, the Chatham Pulp Mill, King Edward School, the Bank of British North America, the Globe building, as well as several other public buildings and private dwellings. This residence is thus one of many structures that serve as a memorial to the legacy of this illustrious family business. Michael also made a name for himself outside the family business as the superintendent for the Maritime Sulphite Pulp & Paper Co. and the Miscpec Pulp Mill. He rented out this residence to several prominent Saint John citizens during his proprietorship. One of the first tenants included George McLeod, a prominent lumber dealer and politician who resided here for a short period before he had his own house constructed to the west of this complex. Other tenants included banker, T.C. MacClellan of the private bank, MacClellan & Co., and Frederick T.C. Burpee, manager of the New Brunswick Granite Works. Mooney retained ownership of this address until 1920.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe the Michael F. Mooney Property include:
- three-storey rectangular massing;
- brick exterior walls;
- elaborate gable dormer, crowned with a finial;
- pair of Roman arch dormer windows separated by an inset Corinthian column with elaborate stone lintel above;
- cornice ornamented by a series of stone brackets regularly placed along the front façade;
- stone quoins along edges of front façade;
- tall, narrow, Roman arch and segmented arch windows along the second and third storeys with elaborate stone entablatures and sandstone sills;
- projecting bay with paired Roman arch and segmented arch windows separated by decorative Corinthian columns and elaborate lintels;
- semi-octagonal bay window along first storey ornamented by a wrought iron balustrade and dentils along the cornice.

The character-defining elements that describe the entrance include:
- highly elaborate entablature supported by ornate stone brackets;
- ornate keystones;
- Roman arch transom window over entrance with double wooden doors with glass panels flanked by pilasters with Corinthian capitals;
- stone steps and railing.