GENERAL
Type / PurposePrivate Residence
11 Gooderich Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
The James Byers Residence is a two-storey Second Empire style house. It has blue wood shingles and a steep mansard roof, and is part of a historic streetscape in Saint John.
The James Byers Residence in Saint John. Built sometime before 1876, this house features fashionable Second Empire architecture that conforms to the 19th century streetscape of the neighbourhood. There is a semi-octagonal tower projection on the front façade and the mansard roof is steeply-pitched and has moulded cornice underneath Later modifications, such as the stained glass transom and bay windows, as well as fishscale shingles, give it a Queen Anne Revival-style flair.
The first known occupant of the house was James Byer, a woodturner. Along with Robert R. Boyer, he owned Byers and Boyer on City Road, where they managed wood turning, moulding, and jig sawing. After he left the house around 1900, the residence was purchased by Henry R. Ross sometime before 1920. Born in Ontario in 1878, Ross moved to Sussex in 1901 to work as an editor for the Maritime Farmer newspaper. In 1907, he left the position to become the manager and director of the New Brunswick Cold Storage Company plant in Saint John, a position he held until his retirement in 1948. Ross is best known for his contributions to the eastern Canadian agriculture sector. He played an important role in developing improved agricultural techniques and opening up new opportunities for farmers in the region. Ross would reside in the house until his 1952 death.
Municipal Register of Local Historic Places (2008/08/18)
ARCHITECTURE
Date of ConstructionPre-1876
- Two-storey Second Empire
- Thin wooden blue clapboard siding
- Very steep shingled mansard roof
- Small semi-octagonal bay window blending into a curved dormer on front façade
- Bay window with fish scale roof on side façade
- Moulded cornice and brackets along roofline
- Wooden door with large oval window
- Sidelights, transom window, and embellished frame around front door
OWNERSHIP HISTORY
Notable Historic OccupantsJames Byer:
Original owner and a woodturner. Along with Robert R. Boyer, he owned Byers and Boyer on City Road, where they managed wood turning, moulding, and jigsawing. Byer left the house in circa 1900.
Henry R. Ross (1878 - 1952):
He acquired this residence sometime before 1920 and lived there until his death. He moved from his native Ontario to Sussex in 1901 to work as an editor for the Maritime Farmer newspaper. In 1907, he left that position to become the manager and director of the New Brunswick Cold Storage Company plant in Saint John, a position he held until his retirement in 1948. He was heavily involved in the eastern Canadian agriculture sector, helping to develop improved agricultural techniques and opening up new opportunities for farmers in the region.
SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS
PhotosCorner view of the James Byers Residence, photographed by the City of Saint John, 2007. Image taken from historicplaces.ca.
Sources Contributors
Gabrielle Byrne