Description of Historic Place
Hewett House is located on a spacious, open landscape overlooking the harbour at Royal Military College, facing the city of Kingston. This three-storey brick building has a low-pitched hipped-roof, with gable-roofed projections added later to each side. The front elevation features paired entrance doors and a central tower with a mansard roof. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Heritage Value
Hewitt House is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.
Historical Value
Hewitt House is a very good example of a building associated with the opening of the Royal Military College in Kingston. This institution was established to train Canadian army officers and contributed significantly to the development of Canada’s national military system. In addition, the community of Kingston was greatly enriched by the development of the College.
Architectural Value
Hewitt House is valued for its good aesthetic quality. The design is an interesting illustration of Victorian eclecticism, combining an overall Italianate design with Second Empire influences. Demonstrating a good functional design, the adaptation of the house into two residences was sympathetically realized and the original balance and symmetry of the design was retained. The polychrome exterior, and interior filling and joinery, were well-crafted to impress the incoming British Commandant.
Environmental Value
Hewitt House is compatible with the institutional character of its setting and is a familiar building at the Royal Military College Campus.
Sources:
Martha Phemister, Hewitt House, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, Federal Heritage Building Review Office Building Report 89-080; Hewitt House, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, Heritage Character Statement, 89-080.
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements of the Hewitt House should be respected.
Its Victorian style which combines an Italianate design with Second Empire influences, functional design, good materials and quality craftsmanship, for example:
-the three-storey, symmetrical massing consisting of a hipped roof structure with gable roofed projections on each side;
-the asymmetrical front elevation which is balanced by the centrally-located, four-storey, mansard roofed tower;
-the elements of the Italianate style such as the low-pitched roof, the paired entrance doors, the polychrome segmentally-arched window surrounds, and the projecting eaves;
-the elements of the Second Empire style, including the single windows and roof dormers;
-the red brick construction with yellow brick dressings set on a limestone foundation;
-the irregular interior and Victorian room arrangement;
-the elegant staircases, carved moulding, Italianate marble fireplaces and wrought-iron radiator covers;
The manner in which the Hewitt House is compatible with the character of its institutional setting at Royal Military College and is a familiar landmark, asevidenced by:
-its Victorian style with an Italianate design and Second Empire influences which harmonizes with the surrounding buildings at the campus;
-its highly visible, prominent location in a spacious, open landscape, facing Kingston and the harbour, which complements its environment and makes it a neighbourhood landmark at the college.
