Edward L. Jewett Residence

GENERAL

Type / Purpose

Private Residence

Location

13 Queen Square North, Saint John, New Brunswick

Description

The Edward L. Jewett Residence is luxurious two-storey wooden Italianate residence in the Trinity Royal Heritage Preservation Area in Saint John. It features two prominent two-storey bay windows, large ornate brackets on the roof and entrance, and a symmetrical front façade.

Heritage Value

The Edward L. Jewett Residence is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and its association with its former occupants.

The Edward L. Jewett Residence is one of many Italianate residences erected in the aftermath of the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. This particular building, erected in 1880, is part of a group of five residences that were built on Queen Square North for Saint John's upper-class citizens.

The Jewett family had made their fortune in the railroading and lumbering industries in Maine. Upon establishing in Saint John, they erected five new lumber mills around the city. One family member, then 16-year-old Edward, came to Saint John to become associated with his uncle, E. D. Jewett, in the lumbering manufacturing business of E. D. Jewett & Company. Edward would eventually become a lumber manufacturer at a mill in Millidgeville (then a suburb of Saint John) and additionally owned a tugboat business. He eventually passed away in 1914.

Edward's wife, Bethiah (Baizley) Jewett, is notable in and of herself. Along with her mother Margaret Baizley, Bethiah helped lay out and beautify the land for Riverview Memorial by Douglas Avenue, where a memorial honouring the veterans of the South African (Boer) War was to be erected. The mother-daughter pair were also involved in the promotion of the North End Library and advocated for educational, patriotic, and welfare programs in Saint John. She lived in this house until her death in 1936.

The son of Edward and Bethiah, Leonard Jewett, is also important. After graduating from Harvard University in 1890, Leonard returned to this residence to continue the lumber business. He played a number of societal roles over the years, at times being the director of the Fredericton Boom Company, a United States vice consul, and deputy consul at Saint John. He was also involved in horseback riding as a jockey. His death in 1948 brought his bloodline to an end, as he never married or had children, and all his siblings died in infancy.

Heritage Recognition

Municipal Heritage Preservation Act (1982/03/18)

ARCHITECTURE

Date of Construction

1880

Character Defining Elements

- Two-storey rectangular massing
- Symmetrical front façade
- Shingle siding
- Twin semi-octagonal two-storey bay windows with quadruple window sets on each storey
- Wide cornice with large ornate brackets and a frieze band
- Wide corner boards, including on bay windows
- Central entrance with entablature, large brackets, finials, a transom window, and a sidelight on the left side of the door
- Brick foundation

OWNERSHIP HISTORY

Notable Historic Occupants

Edward Jewett (???? - 1914):
At 16 years old, Edward travelled from his family home in Maine to become associated with his uncle, E. D. Jewett, in the lumbering manufacturing business of E. D. Jewett & Company. He ventually became a lumber manufacturer at a mill in the Saint John suburb of Millidgeville. He also owned a tugboat business on the side.

Bethiah (Baizley) Jewett (???? - 1936):
Edward's wife. Engaged in a number of public efforts alongside her mother Margaret Baizley, such as promoting the North End Library, advocating for educational, patriotic, and welfare programs in Saint John, and laying out and beautifying the land for the Riverview Memorial, which honored veterans of the South African (Boer) War.

Leonard Jewett (???? - 1948):
Edward's and Bethiah's only son. A Harvard graduate, he returned home in 1890 to continue the family lumber business. He was director of the Fredericton Boom Company, a United States vice consul, and deputy consul at Saint John, and outside of work had a passion for horseback riding. Leonard never married or had children.

SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

Photos

Photograph by the City of Saint John, taken from the Canada's Historic Places website

Sources Contributors

Gabrielle Byrne

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