Description of Historic Place

Originally built as a branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia, 6 Howard Street now serves as a private residence. It is situated near other heritage homes on a tree lined street. The designation includes the building's exterior and parcel; it does not include the building's interior.

Heritage Value

The building at 6 Howard Street is valued for its association with the early economic history of the Village of Victoria; for its well preserved Foursquare architectural influences; and for its contribution to the Howard Street streetscape.

It was constructed in 1925 as a branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia, signifying the economic significance of Victoria as a coastal trading port. A 1934 photograph clearly shows the sign band across the west elevation of the building. The business entrance was on the west side. The bank manager and his family had a six room apartment on the second floor reached via a private entrance on the south elevation.

As transportation methods changed into the 20th Century with the improvement of roads and the use of trains and trucks to move goods - shipping precipitously declined. When the new Trans Canada Highway bypassed Victoria and passed through nearby Crapaud instead, the Bank of Nova Scotia made the decision to close its Victoria branch.

Protests from the community forestalled the closure until a fire in 1957 hastened the transfer of accounts to the bank's Crapaud branch. The building was soon repaired and became variously a residence, ice cream parlour, and a dentist's office. Today, it is a well maintained residence.

The Foursquare style of the building and its architectural elements remain remarkably intact. The overall massing is square with a hipped roof. The fenestration has not changed as most of the windows and doors are original. Interesting features of the building include the two bracketted canopy porches which have decorative elements common to the Arts and Crafts movement in Britain.

An interesting building with important historical associations, 6 Howard Street greatly contributes to its streetscape.

Source: Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
File #: 4320-20/V3

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements illustrate the Foursquare Style heritage value of 6 Howard Street:

- The overall massing of the home with a full second storey
- The square shape of the building with its low-hipped roof with deep overhanging eaves
- The original roof boards and cedar shingles under the present asphalt
- The symmetry of the front façade
- The wooden clapboard siding
- The design and placement of the gabled roof dormer and its window
- The two decorative canopy porch entrances on the south and west faces
- The style and placement of the doors, particularly the front off centre door
- The style and placement of the chimney
- The contrasting trim used throughout the exterior
- The decorative lintels and hood mouldings over the windows and doors
- The six over two windows which are original
- The large picture style window on the west elevation

Other character-defining elements of 6 Howard Street include:

- The building's prominent location on the corner of Main Street and Howard Street making it an important aspect of the overall Victoria streetscape