Description of Historic Place

The Bernard McDermott Residence, a two-and-a-half storey wooden Second Empire double residence, is located at the corner of Broad Street and Wentworth Street in Lower Cove in Saint John’s South End.

Heritage Value

The Bernard McDermott residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its architectural value. It is a good example of a plain wooden Second Empire style building constructed in the Saint John's South End in the wake of the Great Fire of 1877 to house working families. The Lower Cove neighbourhood housed workers such as seamen, labourers, teamsters, and merchant's assistants.

The Bernard McDermott residence is also recognized for its association with the stevedore trade in Saint John’s nearby port. Bernard McDermott was a long-time resident here. Born in Ireland, he spent his career in Saint John as a stevedore. The 1870’s were a time of divisive, turbulent and violent labour disputes on the working wharves of Saint John. Irish immigrants like McDermott were generally identified as being pro-labour at the time, but there were prominent Irishmen on both sides of the disputes.

Source: Planning and Development Department – City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of this Second Empire style residence include:
- mansard roof with dormers;
- brick chimneys;
- cornice with elaborately scrolled brackets and dentils below roofline;
- symmetrical proportions;
- central dual entranceway with paired wooden doors, divided rectangular transoms and ornamental brackets supporting shared entablature;
- square, two-and-a-half storey plan with rear ell.