Description of Historic Place

Hanington and Hanington Law Office is a small two-storey brick Italianate commercial building located within the boundary of the Trinity Royal area in the City of Saint John.

Heritage Value

Hanington and Hanington Law Office is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture, for its association with the Hanington family and for its uninterrupted delivery of professional services.

Hanington and Hanington Law Office is one of a collection of commercial Italianate buildings that were built after two thirds of the city was destroyed by the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. Constructed in 1893, this building is a good example of Italianate architecture from the rebuilding period in Saint John. This style is evident in the arched openings, the triple window on the front façade and the wide cornice. The use of brick and the quality of the workmanship in this residence represent the will for the city to rebuild, as well or better, after the fire.

Hanington and Hanington Law Office is also recognized for its association with the Hanington family. The law firm of Hanington and Wilson occupied the building when it was constructed in 1893 but by 1896 Augustus H. Hanington and R. W. Hanington were partners here. Charles Stanley Hanington was admitted to the bar of New Brunswick in 1898 and he entered law practise in this building with his father Augustus. When Augustus died in 1917, Charles continued his practise here still under the name of Hanington and Hanington until 1939. The present owners, barristers Teed and Teed, closely related to the Hanington family, purchased the building in the mid 1990's.

Hanington and Hanington Law Office is also recognized for having uninterrupted professional services and has only housed lawyers, insurance agents and real estate agents for 112 as of 2005. Hall and Fairweather Insurance, and the Provincial Insurance Agency shared this building from the 1940's to the 1960's.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements that describe the Italianate architecture of the Hanington and Hanington Law Office include:
- tall and narrow two-storey massing;
- brick exterior walls;
- decorative brickwork;
- small stepped parapet above a wide cornice;
- large segmented arch, with decorative brick design, over a triple window;
- rectangular vertical sliding wood windows;
- continuous sandstone lintels and sills;
- large plate glass window partitioned by small cast iron pilasters;
- off-centre entrance with large rectangular transom window, sidelights and a wooden door with a glass panel.