Description of Historic Place

Corbett Residence is located on Douglas Avenue in the Douglas Avenue Preservation Area in the City of Saint John. It is a two-storey brick Italianate dwelling built in the late 18th/early 19th century.

Heritage Value

Corbett Residence is designated a Local Historic Place because it is one of many elegant late 18th Century and early 19th Century homes on Douglas Avenue in the City of Saint John. It is a good example of brick residential Italianate architecture. The dentils under the wide cornice, the narrow pillars between windows and the pillared veranda with balcony all suggest the influence of this style.

The heritage value of this multiple dwelling residence is also made significant in terms of the individuals that lived here: Charles Wasson, Fletcher Peacock and Robert Corbett. From 1918 to 1922, the Corbett Residence was occupied by Charles Wasson, founder of Wasson's Drugs. From 1926 to 1932, Fletcher Peacock lived in this house when he was the principal at the Saint John Vocational School which opened in 1926. From 1932 until his death in 1947, Robert A. Corbett lived in this house. He was founder and president of R. A. Corbett & Co. Ltd.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements that describe this Italianate dwelling include:
- proportioned building's height and width;
- proportioned windows;
- projecting cornice;
- dentils;
- fascia band;
- two storey bay window;
- two triple set windows in the bay with small columns separating each one;
- three bays all have different set-backs;
- rows of sandstone run horizontally through lintels, sills, and through mid portion of some windows;
- balcony has cornice and dentils;
- five pillars supporting the balcony;
- wooden door with sidelights and transom window.