Description of Historic Place

The Provincial Bank Building consists of a 1910, 3-story brick and stone commercial structure in French Renaissance style that fronts Main Street in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Heritage Value

The Provinclial Bank Building Local Historic Site was designated for its Renaissance Française architecture and its significance in Moncton’s economic history. Commissioned in 1909 by the Provincial Bank of Canada to be its Maritime Provinces headquarters, this building was occupied by the bank from its opening in 1910 until 1973. It was the 5th bank to open in Moncton, signifying further economic and industrial growth for the city. Local architect René Arthur Frechet and contractor Philip N. LeBlanc completed the structure in less than 6 months. Although a restaurant façade now covers the arched Cocagne freestone of the ground floor, the Roman brickwork of the second and third stories remains an example of the French Renaissance style as originally designed by Mr. Frechet.

When the bank opened its doors to the public on February 8, 1910, it was the first commercial institution in Moncton to have a completely bilingual staff, signage, forms and other printed material. This was significant foresight, as Moncton would become the first officially bilingual city in Canada 92 years later.

In 1996, the Provincial Bank of Canada Building was designated a Heritage Property through the City of Moncton Heritage Preservation By-Law #Z-1102.

Source: Moncton Museum, Moncton, New Brunswick - second floor files – “696-698 Main Street”

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements relating to the exterior of the building include:

- typical French Renaissance three window fenestration;
- 2 Roman arch and 1 elliptical arch window openings span 2nd and 3rd stories;
- decorated spandrel panels and blind arched transoms on 2nd and 3rd story windows;
- Doric brick pilasters;
- voussoir trim on arches;
- continuous moulded sills;
- moulded stringcourse between 1st and 2nd stories;
- wide frieze separates moulded architrave and protruding plain cornice;
- 3 diamond vents in fascia;

The character-defining structural elements include:

- rectangular massing;
- stretcher bond imported Roman brick;
- finished Cocagne freestone under storefront façade;
- Flemish stretcher bond on red-bricked east façade;

The character-defining elements relating to the interior of the structure include:

- ground floor and basement vaults;
- coffered embossed tin ceilings on second and third floors;
- tin moulding;
- 3rd floor living quarters:
- original hardwood floors;
- door entablatures;
- wainscoting in kitchen and bathroom;
- segmented arch windows on south side;
- wide window stools with moulding.