Description of Historic Place

Hickson House, also known as “Elmleigh” is located at 133 Pleasant Street in the City of Miramichi. It is a 2 1/2-story Second Empire home situated within a grouping of prominent homes built in 1877.

Heritage Value

Hickson House is designated a Local Historic Place because of its architectural value, being a rare example a Second Empire residence designed by notable Saint John architect D.E. Dunham. It is also recognized for the owners.

The home was initially built for James O. Fish, a businessman who was single. It was built by George Brown of Newcastle in 1877 at a cost of $10,000. Fish sold his interest in a local sawmill to W.A. Hickson in 1886 and the following year he sold his residence to him. Hickson was active in municipal affairs as well as being a prominent businessman, serving on the Board of Trade, Town Council and the Alms House Commission.

The Anderson family acquired the home in 1936. The ownership has remained in the family since that time. The Anderson family has been involved in the merchant business sector, the military and the provincial civil service.

Source: City of Miramichi, Heritage Office Site File #04-22.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements relating to the exterior of the residence include:
- form and massing of a Second Empire residence with ell in rear elevation;
- mansard roof and balanced chimney placement on side elevations;
- two three-storey protruding frontispieces on front elevation centered with mansard styled entrance;
- double doors, glazed and paneled with side lights and elliptical transom lead to vestibule;
- windows on first level are slightly elliptically arched;
- one storey bays on side elevations;
- wide cornice moulding and brackets.