This jointly Second Empire/Queen Anne Revival wood frame duplex dwelling is situated at 837-839 Charlotte Street between Church Street and University Avenue.
Heritage Value
George E. Fenety, who was a great benefactor to the City of Fredericton during and after his terms as mayor, was the driving force behind the installation of the City Hall clock in 1878 and the Phoenix Square Fountain in 1885. Mayor Fenety also made valuable contributions to the built landscape with the construction of six double tenements located on Charlotte and George Streets. Fenety commissioned architect J. C. Dumaresq to design this double tenement in 1883. Robert McElvaney was the contractor. Only two of the original six duplexes remain standing, and this dwelling is not only a reminder of Fenety’s generosity but represents an important phase of late 19th Century Fredericton housing development.
J.C. Dumaresq, an architect from Halifax, helped rebuild the City of Saint John after the Great Fire in 1877. Mr. Dumaresq also left a considerable architectural imprint on Fredericton as well. The Legislature (1882), Charlotte Street School (1885) and the York Street School (1893) are Dumaresq designs.
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements associated with the double dwelling located at 837-839 Charlotte Street include:
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Fusion of Second Empire and Queen Anne Revival architectural styles
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2-storey wood frame duplex construction
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Multiple siding and trim treatments
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variety of roof lines including gable, mansard and pyramid
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octagonal corner tower
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gabled roof dormer
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large, rectangular windows with single-hung sashes
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double front entrance
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central flagpole at the gable roof peak