Description of Historic Place

The Hayes Building is located on Ellen Street, overlooking Queen Elizabeth Park in the City of Miramichi. It consists of a late 19th century 2-1/2 Gothic Revival commercial building with a ground level storefront façade and decorative bargeboards.

Heritage Value

The Hayes Building is designated as a Local Historic Place because it is a good example of Gothic Revival architecture and its association with its occupants.

Built in 1875 by Joseph Hayes to house a grocery business, it is situated to fit the acute angular corner lot. The key Gothic Revival features that it exhibits include steeply pitched roof, ornate wooden detailing, ground floor storefront façade and overall massing.

The designation of the Hayes Building is also related to some of its occupants. As well as Joseph Hayes, other notable grocers later occupied the building, including George Stables and Thomas Russell. The upper flats were often occupied by lawyers or doctors and dentists who would visit Newcastle on the circuit. Ole Larsen operated a photography studio from the second level of this building for a time. Much of his extensive collection is now the property of NB Archives.

Source: City of Miramichi, Heritage Office Site File# 04-13.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements relating to its Gothic Revival architecture and its use as a commercial space include:
- massing, intricate detail, and colour scheme;
- two and a half storey with steep pitched roof;
- decorative bargeboards with pinnacles and cornices under the eaves;
- recessed entryway flanked by nine pane storefront windows;
- elaborate entablatures over second level windows;
- decorative corner boards.