Description of Historic Place

The Former Head Office of the Fédération des Caisses populaires acadiennes is a 1 1/2-storey vernacular Classic Revival commercial building located on St-Pierre-Ouest Boulevard, near the parish church in Caraquet.

Heritage Value

The Former Head Office of the Fédération des Caisses populaires acadiennes is recognized for its role in the financial sector and for its architecture.

The Former Head Office of the Fédération des Caisses populaires acadiennes is recognized first for its association with the Fédération des Caisses populaires. It was in this building that the first offices of this financial institution were opened in 1945, and it continued to serve as its home for 10 years. The Caisse populaire de Caraquet was also located here during that period.

The Former Head Office of the Fédération des Caisses populaires acadiennes is also recognized for the fact that it was built by Fruing, a firm from the Isle of Jersey, circa 1870 and served as a retail store for the company. The building serves as a good example of vernacular Classic Revival commercial architecture from this period. Although a new foundation was built and renovations were carried out, the building still exhibits the traditional rectangular plan, gable roof and symmetrical storefront design of this style. Purchased by Marie-Louise Blanchard in 1918, the building was used as a craft workshop. It was moved from the northeastern corner of the intersection of St-Pierre-Ouest Boulevard and the street on which the church stood to its current site.

Source: Caraquet Town Hall, Historic Places files, “Fédération des Caisses populaires acadiennes”

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe the Former Head Office of the Fédération des Caisses populaires acadiennes include:
- 1 ½-storey rectangular massing;
- symmetrical arrangement of the windows, door and storefront on the front façade;
- window entablatures;
- gable roof;
- wood shingle siding with cornerboards.