Description of Historic Place

The Benjamin S. MacDonald House is a modest two-story wood-frame house with two front gables, set back from the street.

Heritage Value

The Benjamin S. MacDonald House is valued for its age, architectural form and cultural history.

Built in 1936, this is a good example of an inter-War house, and is one of only seven 1936 houses left in the Queen's Park neighbourhood. It is a good example of a smaller, more affordable and modest home built in the traditional English cottage style.

Architecturally, the house is valued for its scale, front gables, side arch and hipped-gable roof, which all contribute to its cottage-like feel.

It is valued for its cultural history, in particular for its association with Benjamin S. MacDonald, purported to have been the Chief Keeper of the B.C. Penitentiary.

Source: City of New Westminster Planning Department

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the Benjamin S. MacDonald House include its:

Siting, Context and Landscape
- location on Second Street, with wide boulevard
- set well back from the street, with boulevard, sidewalk, retaining wall and front lawn

Architectural Elements
- wood-frame construction with stucco exterior
- front-gabled roof form on the front facade, with a hipped side-gabled roof on the main house
- archway and a second gable over the entry
- recessed front entryway with arched opening
- brick chimney
- wood-sash casement windows