Description of Historic Place

The Bible Society Building is a three storey brick Italianate-Style commercial building at 115-117 Germain Street in the Trinity Royal area of the City of Saint John.

Heritage Value

The Bible Society Building is recognized by the City of Saint John for the longevity of two organizations, namely the Magee family business and the Canadian Bible Society. James K. Magee founded the prosperous Magee enterprise in the galvanized iron and metal business in 1854. Upon James' death in 1885 his brother Robert took over the business, and in 1886 Robert moved to this building and operated it as a tinsmith shop. The Magee family operated in this building for 30 years, from 1886 to 1916, before relocating to Princess Street.

The Canadian Bible Society obtained the building in 1916 and spent $3,000 altering it from its original industrial use to suit the society’s needs and its function as a religious mission. The Canadian Bible Society had started in 1805 and the New Brunswick District of the Canadian Bible Society has been a not-for-profit ministry since 1819. The building has operated as the Canadian Bible Society for nearly 90 years. The upper floors of this building have always served as apartments.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements that define this Italianate-Style building are as follows:
- window proportions and placement;
- alignment with the other buildings along the streetscape;
- height and width proportions of the building;
- roof-line cornice with end brackets and corbel bands;
- three projecting lines of brick that run end to end;
- original brick;
- eight segmented arch openings;
- projecting sandstone sills.

The character defining elements that define the Storefront of this historic place are as follows:
- overhanging storefront cornice with end brackets;
- recessed entrance with transom window;
- wooden door;
- large plate glass windows and wooden bulkheads;
- cast iron pilastres.