Built around 1861, the William S. Torrie House provides a rare example of a Second Empire building in the Moncton region.
 
The residence is notable for two of its inhabitants. The residence's first owner was soap and candle manufacturer William S. Torrie. Torrie was a successful businessman, and the factory he had erected near this house is often credited with bolstering the land development of what was then the western boundary of the city. He is also credited with coining the name of Bonaccord Street, on which this building is located. Supposedly, the name comes from the settling of a land dispute between Torrie and his business partner, Oliver Jones, with "Bon accord" being a French phrase meaning "good agreement."
 
The residence was later acquired by Ethel "Queenie" Murphy, who lived there until 1922. Murphy was the first ever woman to graduate from Dalhousie University and spent some fifty years as an educator in Moncton. Shortly after Murphy left the building, it was converted into a hotel. Initially called the “Bonaccord House," it was later renamed the “Bonaccord Hotel." The hotel remained in operation until 1974, at which point it was sold to Design Workshop Ltd., who later gained recognition from Heritage Canada for their restoration of this property.