GENERAL
Alternate TitlesChatham Customs House & Post Office, Dominion Building
Former private residence, current pub
1696 Water Street, Miramichi, New Brunswick
The John T. Williston House is a gray two-story building with four windows on each story and a recessed doorway. It is notable for its age and its high-quality sandstone construction.
Constructed in 1824, the John T. Williston House is among the oldest buildings in Miramichi. It provides a good example of the Georgian architecture favored by the wealthy at the time, being a sandstone rectangular massing topped with a hipped roof.
The building was first used as a residence by John T. Williston, a prominent lawyer and businessman. Williston had a rather intense political career and was one of the main parties in the notorious "Fighting Election of 1843." In 1842, Williston joined the House of Assembly political ballot. He won, but his victory was soon voided because of allegations that his party had unfairly used intimidation to influence the election process. At the subsequent by-election in 1843, political tensions flared between him and his rival, John Ambrose Street of Newcastle, as well as between their supports. Eventually, a riot broke out amongst the voters. During the brawl, local tavern owner James Ryan was killed by a thrown rock, and reportedly as many as forty more people were injured. In the end, Williston lost the by-election but was able to secure the seat of Deputy Treasurer of Customs for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1850. After losing that position in 1854, Williston was appointed Deputy Treasurer of Customs and remained as such until his passing in 1865.
Following Williston's death, the Crown purchased and renovated the property in 1872. They converted the building into a customs house, post office, and Dominion Savings Bank in one. It gradually fell into a period of neglect, only to be restored again in 1982 when a group of citizens petitioned the government to fix the property. In the present, it has been converted into O'Donaghue's Irish Pub.
Historic Sites Protection Act – Protected (1999/05/25)
Municipal Heritage Preservation Act (2005/04/28)
ARCHITECTURE
Date of Construction1824
]- Location within the Water Street Provincial Historic District
- Symmetrical front façade, barring one-storey side wing with identical construction to the original building
- Four full-length 16/12 windows with wooden box panels on first floor
- Four 12/6 front windows on second floor with two more on side extension
- One-storey side wing, bearing identical construction to the original building
- Hipped shingled roof
- Recessed central doorway with a pediment on top
- Even sparrow pecked sandstone used in front façade
- Uneven coarse sandstone for other three sides
- High-quality sandstone trim, belt course, and batted quoins
- Three flue chimneys at each side of the of the roof, with the chimneys at the south side having decorative terra-cotta pots
Andrew Currie (mason)
OWNERSHIP HISTORY
Notable Historic OccupantsJohn T. Williston
SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS
Links/Related Content Photos![](https://ahnb-apnb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/John-T-Williston-House-e1722014846286.jpg)
2004 photograph by the Province of New Brunswick, taken from the Canada's Historic Places website
Sources
Historic Places: John T Williston House
Historic Places: John T Williston House (alternative article)
My New Brunswick: John T Williston House
Gabrielle Byrne