Description of Historic Place

239/241 St. George St., Annapolis Royal is a brick commerical building, built ca.1886 in the Classic Revival style. The property is located in the center of the downtown commercial district. The designation includes the building and surrounding property.

Heritage Value

The value of the building, as recognized by its municipal designation, is its association the Cunningham family; its Classic Revival style, and brick building materials.

The 239-241 St. George Street was built ca. 1886 for Arthur Cunningham who operated his drug store and dental office on this site for many years until a fire in 1885 destroyed the original building. Cunningham rebuilt and continued his practice. Following his death in 1891 his son, William, continued his father’s apothecary business until 1927. William also served as Councillor and Mayor of Annapolis Royal. The building survived the 1920 and 1921 fires and is thought to be one of the oldest commercial buildings in the town.

The building is also valued for its Classic Revival commercial style, which is unique in the town, and for its brick building materials, which were no doubt chosen by Cunningham following the loss of his first building. While it is not the only brick commercial building in Annapolis Royal, it is uncommon and is a direct reflection of the response of local merchants to the numerous fires that repeatedly destroyed much of the town’s wooden building stock. It continues today to be used commercially.

Source: Heritage Property Files, Map #239, 239-241 St. George Street, Annapolis Historic Society.

Character-Defining Elements

Character-definfing elements of 239-241 St. George Street relate to its commerical use and Classic Revival style and incude:

- two storeys;
- brick building materials;
- second storey double hung wooden windows with stone sills and decorated stone lintels;
- continuous decorative brick belt course on façade;
- continuous window frontage with continuous trim;
- recessed bay main door with decorative matching pilasters;
- brick pilasters with decorative trim on main façade;
- decorative brick dentils.