Frank Rankine Residence and Henry Rankine Residence

GENERAL

Type / Purpose

Private Residence

Location

210-212 Germain Street, Saint John, New Brunswick

Description

The Frank Rankine Residence and the Henry Rankine Residence are a pair of conjoined brick Italianate residences in the Trinity Royal Preservation Area of Saint John.

Heritage Value

The Frank Rankine Residence and the Henry Rankine Residence are an adjoining pair of brick residences in Saint John. On the left side at 210 Germain Street is the Frank Rankine Residence, which has a black door, while the Henry Rankine Residence on the right is at 212 Germain Street and features a brown door. The twin residences are good examples of the sort of brick Italianate architecture that had exploded in popularity following the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. They are currently a part of the Trinity Royal Preservation Area, a historic district where many of Saint John's heritage buildings can be found, and continue to be used as private residences.

The residences were built for and occupied by brothers Henry and Frank Rankine. The brothers played an important role in the business world of Saint John. Though exact details differ between the sources, it is known that their grandfather, Thomas Rankine Sr., founded his biscuit-making business, T. Rankine and Sons, in 1826, a few years after coming to Canada from Scotland. His sons, Thomas A. and Alexander, joined him, with the former being Henry and Frank Rankine's father. After the death of Thomas A. in 1907, older brother Henry became president of the firm, while younger brother Frank assumed the position of vice president. Shortly afterwards, the business was incorporated as a joint stock company and quickly proved successful. Their best-known creation was a circular design with a floral pattern in the centre that was turned into a cookie mould that was used by the Girl Guides of Canada. This motif was later copied in the cast iron fence and gate in front of the Rankine properties.

Henry left 212 Germain Street after his retirement in 1920 (having given the position of president some time before to his other brother Allan, who in turn passed it onto Frank's son H. Fielding Rankine), while Frank Rankine remained in his residence until his death in 1922. In the present, the homes are a part of the Trinity Royal Preservation Area, and they are still used as private residences.

Heritage Recognition

Municipal Heritage Preservation Act (1982/03/18)

ARCHITECTURE

Date of Construction

1886

Character Defining Elements

- Brick Italianate architecture
- Mirrored exteriors, creating symmetry between the residences
-Mismatched wooden doors, with a black door on the left side and a brown door on the right
- Segmented arches over entrance
- Single window above each door
- Wide cornice with dentils
- Stone end brackets with gargoyle carvings
- Multi-paned two-storey bay windows on either end of front facade
- Protruding stone sills between stories
- Sandstone front steps
- Sandstone plinth band with basement level windows
- Stone lintels over basement windows, sporting same floral design as surrounding gate
- Iron-crested gating on front lawn designed to match cookie mould created for Girl Scouts

OWNERSHIP HISTORY

Notable Historic Occupants

Frank Rankine (210):
Younger brother of Henry and vice president of the biscuit-making business T. Rankine and Sons. Lived at 212 Germain Street until his death in 1922.

Henry Rankine (212):
Older brother of Frank and president of the biscuit-making business T. Rankine and Sons. Left 212 Germain Street following his retirement in 1920.

SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

Links/Related Content Photos

2005 photograph by the City of Saint John, taken from the Canada's Historic Places website

Sources Contributors

Gabrielle Byrne

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