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. It is a sandstone rectangular massing featuring 12/6 pane windows on the upper level and 16/12 pane windows on the lower level and it is 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. In 1842, he joined the House of Assembly political ballot. He won, but his victory was soon voided because of intimidations during the "open election process". At the subsequent by-election in 1843, a riot broke out and a thrown rock killed a voter. The incident became known "The Fighting Election of 1843". Williston ultimately 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.
 
In 1872, the Crown purchased and renovated the property. 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 in 1982 when a group of citizens petitioned the government to fix the property. In the present, it has been converted into an Irish pub called O'Donaghue's Irish Pub.