GENERAL
Alternate TitlesMansfield House
Store, Private Residence
2803 Main Street, Hillsborough, New Brunswick
Hillsborough Fashions is a two-storey vernacular Italianate residential at 2803 Main Street, Hillsborough with a hipped roof and recessed entrance with large display windows.
Hillsborough Fashions is a good example of a building that has had multiple roles throughout its history.
Initially, this house was constructed by W. D. Mansfield, who owned it while it was still being built. The home was intended to attract people who had been drawn to Hillsborough thanks to business brought on by the new nearby plaster mill.
Once the house was completed, Mansfield sold it to Dr. Randall, who used the residence's second floor as his living area and its first floor as his doctor's office and waiting. After Dr. Randall's death, the house was acquired by his daughter, whose husband, Dr. Dash, continued to use the residence-office setup. Dr. Dash would practice medicine here right up until his passing in 1944.
In 1947, Dash's widow sold the residence to Fred and Myrtle Estabrooks, who proceeded to repurpose the building as an upscale clothing store. They engaged in multiple modifications to the building, such as removing the leak-prone widow's walk and adding a recessed entrance with large display windows. This was a difficult period for Hillsborough merchants, as the increasing importance of automobiles and roads in the post-war era caused many shoppers to spend their money at the more expansive shops in nearby Moncton. However, despite the stiff competition, the Estabrooks managed to turn a profit for thirty before selling the store to a new set of owners, under which it remained in operation for over thirty more years before closing sometime after 2011.
Local Historic Place (municipal) (2010/02/01)
ARCHITECTURE
Date of Constructionc. 1875
- Rectangular two-storey massing
- Hipped roof with a flat top
- Partially enclosed wrap-around roofed veranda with treillage balustrade and square columns with carved bracketing
- Wide eaves with carved bracketing
- Wooden clapboard siding
- Recessed entrance with large display windows
- Cement steps with wrought iron railing
Originally, this building had a widow’s walk on top of the roof. When the Estabrooks acquired the house, they had it removed as it caused leaking issues. They additionally modified the entrance to be recessed with large display windows to fit the building's new purpose as a store.
OWNERSHIP HISTORY
Notable Historic OccupantsW. D. (Cliff) Mansfield:
Builder and original owner, though he only owned the residence until it was completely built. He had this residence erected as part of a project to attract newcomers interested in the new plaster mill.
Dr. Randall:
The first true owner, Randall, would use the residence's second floor as his living area and its first floor as his office and waiting. After his death, the residence was given to his daughter and his son-in-law.
Dr. Dash (???? - 1944):
Randall's son-in-law. He was a friendly man who had grown up in Barbados. He continued to use the residence-office setup like his father-in-law. Dr. Dash would practice medicine here right up until his passing in 1944.
Fred and Myrtle Estabrooks:
Acquired the residence in 1947 from the widowed Mrs. Dash. They converted the residence into Hillsborough Fashions, a luxury clothing store. They ran this shop for thirty years, after which they sold it to a new set of owners who continued to operate the store.
SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS
PhotosPhotograph by the Village of Hillsborough, taken from the Canada's Historic Places website
Sources Contributors
Gabrielle Byrne