Description of Historic Place

C. D. Thomson House consists of a one and half-story Second Empire residence with a straight mansard roof and box massing. It is located at the corner of Alma Street and Botsford Street in Moncton. This street was formerly known as Faulkner Street and, later, School Street.

Heritage Value

C. D. Thomson House is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with its former occupants.

C. D. Thomson House is recognized for its well-preserved Second Empire residential architecture. The decorated dormers and three one-story bay windows help to break up the overall rectangular massing of the building. The originally open veranda was enclosed very early on in the 20th century. The interior elements have survived well after years of use as a nursing home and as rental apartments.

C. D. Thomson House was also recognized for its association with its first occupant, C. D. Thomson. Thomson, along with his wife and four children, arrived in Moncton from Saint John in 1876 when he was transferred by the Intercolonial Railway (I.C.R.) to work as cashier. His residence, which was built for him in 1878 on land he purchased from Bliss Botsford, represents the prominence associated with employment at the I.C.R. The home stayed in his family until it was sold by his second wife in 1919. From 1921 to 1970, the residence stayed in the family of Alvan Lutes, a C.N.R. engineer who would eventually become Yardmaster.

Source: Moncton Museum, Moncton, New Brunswick - second floor files – “184 Alma St. – C. D. Thomson House”

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe the exterior of C. D. Thomson House include:
- mansard roof;
- wide eaves with moulded cornice;
- plain and scrolled brackets under eaves;
- 1-storey bay windows;
- horizontal clapboard siding with corner boards;
- hip roof dormers;
- 5-light transom window;
- 6-light sidelights;
- enclosed 1-story veranda with multiple-light windows and octagonal bay;
- 2 corbel brick chimneys;
- 1 over 1 windows with plain entablatures and plain trim;
- canted trim board under final clapboard;
- 1 ½-storey box massing;
- stone block foundation.

The character-defining elements that describe the interior of C. D. Thomson House include:
- brown-glazed tin wainscoting with egg-and-dart, foliage and shellfish motifs;
- cabled tin chair rail;
- panel doors with original hardware;
- original staircase with spun balusters, carved newel posts and handrail;
- original hardwood floors;
- original woodwork throughout;
- sliding pocket doors;
- original pair of 2-panel, 1-light wooden front doors with rectangular transom light;
- brass doorbell;
- built-in glass door cabinet with drawers;
- original painted marble fireplaces;
- lath ceiling under veranda roof;
- lath wainscoting throughout veranda.