Description of Historic Place

Captain Thomas Egan House is a prime example of a Gothic Revival dwelling with several additions. It is located on the corner of Queens Road and Main Street, locally called Captain’s Corner, in Sackville.

Heritage Value

Captain Thomas Egan House is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its association with its former owners.

Captain Thomas Egan House is recognized for its architecture. Built in 1892, it is a prime example of a Gothic Revival house with several additions. It is sprawling white clapboard two-story dwelling. The original Gothic Revival house had a distinctive sun porch added. Fred Fisher built an area to house his father-in-law, Rev. C.F. Wiggins, in 1927. The roofline and the many small paned windows of this addition blend well with the earlier structure. This house is part of the streetscape that was established when houses were constructed for the seafarers in the late 1800s.

Captain Thomas Egan House is also recognized for its association with its former owners. In 1891, after a career as the captain of many ships that left the Sackville wharf, prominent shipbuilder and sea captain Thomas Egan acquired this land from Captain Amos Atkinson. He built this house near his shipyard. In the Sackville area, shipbuilding was in decline but Captain Thomas Egan and his sons built many ships in the late 1800s. Fred Fisher, son of W.S. Fisher of Saint John and owner of Enterprise Foundry of Sackville, purchased this house in 1907. In 1931, Fred Fisher became president of Enterprise Foundry Company, a leading stove manufacturer. He was a leading industrialist, who contributed to the advancement of regional trade and was a member of the Canadian Stove Founders’ Association. He had served as a member of the Town Council, Board of Trade and was interested in the Children’s Aid Society and the Boy Scouts.

Source: Town of Sackville, Historic Places File Cabinet, Captain Thomas Egan House File

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe Captain Thomas Egan House include:
- asymmetrical massing;
- steep gable roof;
- numerous additions, including the one in 1927, all in keeping with the original design of the house;
- front façade, facing Main Street;
- front façade door surrounded by sidelights and transom;
- front entrance area with a steeply pitched roof, steep cross gable, highly decorated verge boards, and a long narrow window;
- large two-story side addition with a sun porch on the bottom floor, containing six huge windows each with 35 panes.