I have identified dozens of buildings constructed by the Fenton Land and Building Company. Not all of the buildings still exist and I do not yet have a comprehensive list. I see some homes, like the one below on Demonts St. where the columns, scale, roofline, and windows just scream Fenton but I have not…
Author: Carrie Stevenson
Finishing Our Attic Utilizing Historic Materials – bringing together will and skill at 5 Alexandra St.
I have noticed that when we discuss architectural heritage issues in Saint John, like replacing heritage doors, people immediately assume that being historically sympathetic and or using historical materials is astronomically expensive and certainly they assume it is more expensive than buying a new mass produced item like a door. This assumption is rarely challenged…
Fenton Land and Building Company, 1910 – ca. 1938 : Saint John’s answer to affordable quality housing through an historic better home campaign
We proudly own a home built by the Fenton Land and Building Company in 1910. I read this great blog on the Lost Valley site and learned a lot about the Fenton Land and Building Company, its aesthetic, and commitment to what was a modern style of home at the turn of the twentieth century. …
Count de Bury’s Castle in Saint John’s north end
The de Bury home, or the Castle, as some locals call it sits on the high corner of Main St and Douglas Ave in Saint John. It is an imposing building with sweeping views down to the harbour and overlooking the north end. A second empire loyalist home, it has a stunning tower and mansard…
325 Main St – home and business of Daniel Jarvis Purdy who earned local and provincial recognition
I am interested in the history of the North End of Saint John, called Portland before it amalgamated with Saint John in 1889, particularly the old North End. I have developed an appreciation and manic love for the history of this area. At the turn of the last century there were mills, boats, commerce, beautiful…
Who knew? the unexpected and random connections between Fred W. Munro and George W. Hoben, druggists and Saint John northenders
During another pandemic related lockdown, I decided to stretch my mind and do some research. I had no idea that by investigating something random, I would uncover a connection to my own home at 5 Alexandra St. Staring at this map for close to a year, this weird little slip (or Slipp – pun intended…
Munro Family Recipes – culinary adventures brought to you from 5 Alexandra St. (caution – there is a cuss word)
The former owner kindly gave us this beloved recipe box he found when he bought 5 Alexandra in 2014. This was in the Munro family and clearly used by sisters Nancy Munro Walls and Mary Munro Colter and perhaps their mother Maude. I am in love with the art deco recipe box. I use it…
Fixing the Front Façade – restoring our 1910 house exterior one side at a time at 5 Alexandra St.
Where to begin? We have only completed the front façade of our home so far – it’s a lot of work. This blog shows how we went from a simple front (which was perfectly nice) to the restoration of the original 1910 look. It’s been a process! We have been blessed by the wisdom of…
Porch Restoration – bringing 1910 details back to life at 5 Alexandra St.
When we bought our home we knew that the porch, which we now know the Fenton Land and Building Company called a veranda, had rot problems that had to be addressed. The porch was fine, see the pics below, but the rot was not. The previous owner had given us some photos – one from…
Munro daughters at 5 Alexandra – Mary Munro Colter and Nancy Munro Walls
I have a strong sentimental feeling for Fred and Maud’s daughters Mary (1924-2011) and Nancy (1927-2014). Both women lived their entire early lives in 5 Alexandra St. and in the case of Nancy, she lived her entire life in this house. Mary Frederica Munro was born 9 Feb 1924. She appears to be named after…