Celebrating Built Heritage (and other flights of fancy) in Saint John, New Brunswick
As discussed in a previous post, day staff were expected to assist in day to day activities in 5 Alexandra, i.e. cooking and shopping. We heard that one of the Munro sisters used to have someone come in and prepare her meals while she was at work. I had not thought much about this until…
As mentioned in the first post, 5 Alexandra St was one of five homes built at the exact same time by the exact same builders with the exact same floor plan. Our homes were meant to be modern which meant they had electricity, water, cement foundations, and were not intended for live in staff but…
The first home I fell in love with in Saint John is 66-68 Coburg. Over a socially distanced drink I would be happy to share why we did not go ahead with making an offer. This home remains the one that got away from me. It may not be spectacular to look at outside now…
Edith Floyd Clark, Alexandrina Clark’s [future inhabitant of 5 Alexandra] step-daughter, living at 69 Adelaide Road, died 29 Nov 1905. Edith’s cause of death is not noted on her death registration, which I found odd, but it is noted in Brenan’s Funeral Home records which indicate Edith died from “abortion by Dr. Preston” and “Dr….
Robert Gaskin and Mary Quigley married 1876 in Saint John. Robert Gaskin was named after his father Robert Gaskin. Mary Quigley was the daughter of John Quigley and Leah Anne Walker Quigley. We know a bit more about the Winter / Gaskin families and their migration from England to Canada due to entries found in…
Frederick William Munro, born 1877, was the son of Ship Captain James Munro and his German wife Katherine Fredericka [aka Catherine and Frederica] born to Catherine Baach and Fritz Wanzer [also spelled Watson in records]. Fred, as he was known as, lost his father in 1881, according to the Saint John Globe. “A telegram to…
In a Jun 1922 ruling of the New Brunswick Supreme Court, Appeals Division, Catherine Austin, sister of Alexandrina Clark a widow who died intestate on 1 March 1920, and six others [including George Haggart, Christina Lyman, and R.B. Walker] successfully won the appeal where they argued that Revered McCaskill and his wife Frances D C…
Alexandrina Haggart Clark lived with Reverend JJ McCaskill, his wife, and son at 5 Alexandra and is one of the first inhabitants of the house. Alexandrina Haggart [sometimes spelled Haggard], was born ca. 1858 to James and Catherine Haggart and was raised in Barney’s River, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Alexandrina’s father died in May 1871…
The first owner of 5 Alexandra St, Saint John, NB was Reverend John James McCaskill. McCaskill was born to Hugh and Catherine McCaskill in Little Narrows, Nova Scotia on 26 May 1871. His name was registered as John J McAskill and his parents noted as being married 13 Apr 1858 in Middle River, NS. McCaskill…
5 Alexandra St is located in a part of Saint John, New Brunswick historically part of Portland Parish until 1889 and now officially part of the North End of the city. Five houses were built at the same time on the same street – 1, 3, 5, 7, and 25 Alexandra St. with the exact…