Description of Historic Place

Flavien Doucet Residence is a large 2-storey house in the Queen Anne Revival style located on King Avenue in downtown Bathurst.

Heritage Value

Flavien Doucet Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its association with the former occupants and its architecture.

Flavien Doucet Residence is recognized for the importance of the person who built and occupied it. Flavien Doucet (1875-1933) was a well-known and respected teacher. He was the first Acadian to receive a teaching certificate from the Normal School and was also the first Acadian to be appointed New Brunswick school inspector for the counties of Gloucester, Northumberland, Restigouche, Madawaska, and Victoria.

Flavien Doucet Residence is also recognized for the work of another important figure from the region, Albany M. Robichaud (1903-1974). Albany Robichaud, who purchased the property in 1935 and lived there until his death in 1974, was a famous person in the area. Admitted to the New Brunswick Bar in 1927, he was appointed a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of N.B. in 1958. He was elected MP for Gloucester in 1952. Mr. Robichaud also worked within certain Acadian institutions in a number of roles, including president of the Association Acadienne d’Éducation, director of Imprimerie Acadienne, printer of L’Évangéline, and member of the General Council of La Société l’Assomption.

Flavien Doucet Residence also has heritage value related to its architecture. Built in 1905, this residence is good example of early 20th century properties built in the Queen Anne Revival style, with its octagonal tower and its veranda spanning two sides.

Source: Bathurst Heritage Trust Commission, Inc.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe Flavien Doucet Residence include:
- downtown location;
- asymmetrical 2-storey massing;
- hipped roof;
- dormer on the main façade;
- octagonal tower;
- veranda spanning two sides;
- significant amount of interior wood trim;
- glazed doors and panel doors;
- main staircase and its original handrail;
- secondary staircase;
- stained-glass window.