Old Crosby House

GENERAL

Type / Purpose

Private Residence

Location

28 Gondola Point Road, Rothesay, New Brunswick

Description

The Old Crosby House at 28 Gondola Point Road in Rothesay is a yellow, two storey house with a beautiful arched entryway and arched windows on the ground floor to one side.

Heritage Value

The Old Crosby House, found on Gondola Point Road in Rothesay, neighboring the Rothesay Common. The Old Crosby House was named after its first resident, former Mayor of Rothesay Fred Crosby. Outside of politics, Crosby was also a president of Crosby Molasses which helped boost the town of Saint John’s economy after it moved there in 1897 from Nova Scotia. Crosby Molasses is still putting delicious molasses on grocery store shelves to this day.

The house itself, constructed from 1912 to 1913, is recognized as one of 32 houses in a series by architect Joseph Henderson. Henderson was a master builder with a talent for creating high-quality and classic designs. This house exhibits Italianate architecture, which was somewhat unusual in early 20th century Rothesay constructions. The style is notable for its symmetrical, square design, the wide eaves of the hip roof, and the spectacular arched entrance with a rounded transom window.

Heritage Recognition

Municipal Register of Local Historic Places (2006/10/10)

ARCHITECTURE

Date of Construction

1912-1913

Character Defining Elements

- Squarish two-storey massing
- Symmetrical front façade
- Medium-pitched hipped roof with overhanging eaves and decorative bracketing
- Wooden clapboard siding
- Arch over entrance
- Rounded transom on door
- Variously-shaped trimmed windows

OWNERSHIP HISTORY

Notable Historic Occupants

Fred Crosby:
Original owner, who was the former Mayor of Rothesay and the president of Crosby Molasses.

SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

Links/Related Content Photos

Photograph by the Rothesay Living Museum, taken for the Canadian Register of Historic Places

Sources Contributors

Gabrielle Byrne

Copyright 2023