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.  This information resonated with me, and when looking at real estate online, one of the homes on Alexandra popped up and we called our amazing realtor and bought it.  I am glad we did.  On my own site – this site – you can find a complementary blog to the Lost Valley, that talks about our street and our home in particular. 

Every morning I look at real estate online (a perfect opportunity to legally glimpse inside other Saint John homes) and stumbled upon this interior in the north end.  The fireplace surround and its positioning in the room along with the coved ceilings remind me of my own home.  It feels like a Fenton home – though I have not confirmed it is – which got me thinking….how many Fenton homes are out there in Saint John?

We know of many great architects in Saint John.  My personal favourite is G. Ernest Fairweather responsible for 80 Main.  Other notables are Dunham who was responsible for my beloved 66 Coburg; WP Clarke responsible for 354 Main (now 2-4 Douglas Ave.); and Harvey Havelock Mott who designed 202-204 Douglas Ave.   There are countless other homes that are also stunning (130 Princess) that I do not know the architect of and would like to.   I am always interested in what was altered with the home but that takes a lot more work to discover.

I cannot find the records of the Fenton Land and Building Company so I decided to use newspapers, vital statistics, and other records to see if I could compile a list of homes built in Saint John by Fenton.  I have a complementary blog to this one on the way where I detail the inventory I can confirm to date.

I know the Fenton Land and Building Company, Limited was created by passing an act to incorporate in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick which was assented in March 1910.  T.H. Estabrooks was the President and W.I. Fenton was the Managing Director according to company letterhead.   The original shareholders were:  Wakefield I. Fenton, Theodore H. Estabrooks, Alexander P. Barnhill, William A. Ewing, and Charles F. Sanford.  [of interest Barnhill, Ewing, and Sanford was a Saint John law firm].

The first Fenton development was on Alexandra St.  The street itself was created by Fenton and consisted of 5 detached homes and 3 duplexes.  Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – Alexandra Street – new homes being built – Saint John, NB – Item – 1910/09 – P210\2400:

Below you can see more details on the duplex pictured under construction in the image above on Alexandra. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – House for Fenton – House with for sale sign on it by Fenton Land and Building Co. Limited – Saint John, NB – Item – Item – 1911/10 – P210\1756.  I find the drain pipe ending on the porch roof a little odd…but I can clearly see a Fenton for sale sign, people in period clothing on the porch, St. Luke’s spire in the distance, and elegant details like bullnosed stair treads.  I nearly died when I received this pic and realized which home it is.  

The porch columns on the duplex are very similar to mine with some variations and the paint placement was different.  The duplex had lighter columns with dark details while my home had a very similar column design but the paint on the body was dark with lighter details.  This was the genius of Fenton – the Company repeated elements but slightly altered them so there was a connection between exteriors but they were not carbon copies which creates a harmony in the streetscape.  

In 1910, Fenton put a road through connecting Charlotte to Prince St in Lancaster (now the west side) which I believe is Champlain St. Fenton intended to open up 100 lots for development.   

In Nov 1910, Fenton is putting in a water main in Champlain St.  

Below is the “Westmount” development plan for Champlain St. care of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – P211-12163.  I  like the comments about Duke St. and Prince St. Extensions. Additionally, I have found references to Winslow St. extensions attributed to Fenton.  The term “Westmount” comes up a lot.  It is in the newspapers (you will see later in the blog) advertizing the Demonts / Champlain St developments along with being on an architectural drawing for a home at Prince and Champlain. 

In 1912, the newspaper reported that Fenton was putting up about 20 buildings.  This number must have included the initial 5 homes on Demonts St. that were put up for sale in 1913. One sold immediately but even in the early 1920s, 2 were rented and available for purchase.  It is not clear how many homes in total were built on Demonts but I suspect most if not all of the homes on Demonts are Fenton homes.  It seemed that making the case for Demonts St. was a harder sell to Saint Johnners than Alexandra St. as many people had a “natural hesitation” with regard to car service. 

The image below is care of a booklet advertising Saint John held by the New Brunswick Museum’s Archives and microfilmed and available here also.  What I find interesting is that the final homes were not featured in this booklet but the construction instead.  It sends a message – that Fenton was producing quality homes in Saint John and Saint John was open for business.  At least that is my take.  

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – [DeMerits?] street for Fenton – House and street construction – Saint John, NB – Item – 1912/12-1913/01 – P210\1646.

Above is ca. 1913 – below is 28 Feb 2023.

The home below is on Demonts St but not pictured in the image above.  It stands out even now because the stained glass varies a bit from its neighbours.  Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – House for Fenton Demonts Street  – new house constructed by Fenton Land and Building Company Limited – Saint John, NB – Item – 1913/03-1913/04 – P210\642.  Note the Fenton for sale sign.  

I had first thought that it was Carlton Kirk in the background in this image below but I was wrong.  [steeple identified by west side historian and local area expert Grant Kelly – see comment below – as part of Jewett’s Castle].  Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – House for Fenton Demonts Street  – new house constructed by Fenton Land and Building Company Limited – Saint John, NB – Item – 1913/03-1913/04 – P210\642.  Note the sexy diamond shape window and the for sale sign.  

I will soon publish a number of architectural plans by J. Kenneth Gillies (1894-1966 – the biography indicates the names was Jemis but the archival records indicate James) of the Demonts St. homes!!!  These are detailed in an upcoming blog. 

I do wonder if J. Kenneth Gillies was the draftsman of the plans and not the architect.  He would have been making the plans ca. 1910 when he was roughly 16.

I cannot proceed without mentioning the importance of Murray & Gregory – this company supplied the art glass and wood and is mentioned on the drawings.  I come across stamps from Murray & Gregory on wood in my home to day.  

Note the various spelling of Demonts St.  Even at the existing corner of Princess and Demonts.

The Fenton Company made a concerted effort to advocate for the west side and its new development.  Note the word “Westmount” on the advertizing.  

 

Here is an example of a Westmount home found on current day Prince St.  Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – House for Fenton Demonts Street  – Corner Prince and Champlain streets, Saint John, NB – Item – Item – 1911/10 – P210\1756.  There is a for sale sign and a person in the window – I simply swoon!

As of 2023, the City of Saint John is still lamenting its housing crisis and lack of affordable quality housing.  It’s interesting to note that this same concern was felt at the turn of the last century.

In 1913, Fenton reported it had 5 homes completed and 5 under construction.  That same year a two-flat house at 231 Chesley was available for purchase and permits were granted for 3 two-story homes to be constructed on Harris St.  

In 1914, Fenton Land announced it would build 8-10 homes on Seely St. with at least 3 available by the end of the year.  J. Harold Wilson bought 33 Seely and in 1915 William G. Estabrooks bought 19 Seeley St.  Seely St is right across from the Public Gardens and a lovely location. 

Additionally, in 1914, Fenton bought property on Peters St. (now Catherwood?) in Lancaster and signed a covenant to build $5,000 worth of homes in two years and then $1,500 annually until $12,000 was spent.  There was a conflict in 1915 reported in the news on Peter St. when a sidewalk the Fenton Company had built was immediately removed over a dispute with neighbour Fred McCormack and his garden plot.  Of note, in the 1921 and the 1931 census there is a Frederick McCormick/McCormack, who died in 1951, living at 84 Church Ave – which is very near McKiel where Fenton was thought to also build.  Could there be a connection between Peters St and Church Ave in Fairville, now part of Saint John?

Fenton continued to advertise in the newspapers.  I would LOVE to see and share all the building plans Fenton offered.

 

The Fenton Land and Building Company received a lot of positive press surrounding its development efforts.  The creation of Alexandra, Demonts, and Champlain are directly attributed to Fenton along with development plans on Summer, Harris, Edward, Winslow, and Seely streets in this 1914 article.

 

Check out these 3 Fenton beauties on Summer St.   Provincial Archives of New Brunswick – House for W. I. Fenton [?] St. – Newly built homes with for sale sign on them for Fenton Land and Building Company Limited. – Saint John, NB – Item – 1911/09 – P210\1793:

Above is ca. 1914 – below is 28 Feb 2023.

Here is the 25 Nov 1911 newspaper advertizement for these homes.

Not long after I moved to Saint John I wandered up Summer St. and right away I identified these Murray & Gregory stained glass pieces.  Now I know the home was also built by Fenton.  No wonder I felt so akin to this part of the street.

In 1915, a permit was issued to construct a dwelling on [251] Rockland Road for C Magnusson and a house was sold to Maria A Manson wife of JB Manson at 16 Champlain St.  Interestingly, much later Fenton himself had a property built on [207] Rockland Road.

During the war there was a little activity but obviously much less than before the Great War.  There were advertisements for Champlain St. and in 1917 Dr. F X O Comeau took up practice on McKiel St. in a building purchased from Fenton. 

In 1919, after the war, the Fenton Land and Building Company started to advertise for workers and supplies. 

By 1921 there are many adverts to sell various pieces of Company equipment suggesting the Company may have had financial challenges.  Additionally, the Company did buy and sell various plots of land throughout its time.

In 1923, following on my hunch the company was struggling financially, the Fenton property on Douglas was slated for auction by the City to cover taxes and assessments due, along with covering charges for constructing drains and entering the main sewer.

Around 1923-1926 homes on Douglas Ave and Brunswick Place were built according to sewer pipe requests and other documentation surfaced by heritage assessors in records now held by the City of Saint John.

Wakefield Isaac Fenton, the “father of Saint John’s better home campaign” died in Montreal in 1927 while on business.  He is noted as having bought property from his company in 1924 and in 1928 his wife is living on Rockland Road which suggests he built there and really never enjoyed it.  Of note, WI Fenton and family lived at 161 Mount Pleasant before moving to 69 City Line (pic of the house below – taken Mar 2023) where he was for many years before building the Rockland Road home.  

This pic of the family home on City Line was shared by a Fenton gr-grandchild.

Also shared by the gr-grandchild is this amazing pic of the Fenton children.

After WI Fenton died the company kind of limped along.  It paid taxes and sold a few properties.  In 1938 Fenton properties were sold to pay taxes in arrear and the Fenton Land and Building Company disappeared.  

The Fenton Land and Building Company did much to create quality housing for a city in need and for middle class families.  When you are out and about in Saint John, please take a moment to stroll by these homes and admire the work of the original craftspersons.  The Company was prolific – it built many more homes then many of the prominent architects but more interestingly, it created communities.