Description of Historic Place

The Old Chatham Post Office consists of a 2 ½ story Romanesque Revival government building of monochrome sandstone situated on Water Street, Miramichi New Brunswick.

Heritage Value

Old Chatham Post Office is designated a Provincial Historic Site for being an example of architect Thomas Fuller's Romanesque Revival architecture that symbolised federalism in Canada.

Completed in 1895, it is one of 78 buildings built under Canada’s chief architect Thomas Fuller, who defined federal architecture in Canada. Built in an architectural style identified with the federal government, these post offices symbolize the promotion of federalism in Canada. The Old Chatham Post Office presents the same typical characteristics as the other post offices built according to Fuller’s plans. Still visible are such identifying Fuller characteristics as picturesque massing and corbie gables. Some of the interior details from the original plan still exist.

Source: Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch, Site File # 105.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Old Chatham Post Office with respect to the Romanesque Revival style include:
- quarry-faced sandstone construction;
- Roman arch door and window openings;
- double entrance, two and a half floors, pediment;
- wide voussoirs above the doors and windows;
- hipped roof;
- corbie gable on roof of rear façade;
- mansard-type dormers;
- interior walls covered in lathwork on the lower part and in plaster on the upper;
- original doors, radiators, woodwork, and banisters;
- inscriptions on main façade.