Gardner Building

The Gardner building is a four storey brick building on Prince William Street in the commercial district of the City of Saint John. The building is located in the Trinity Royal area and was recognized in the City of Saint John Preservation Areas Bylaw in 1982.

This building is significant as one of a collection of Italianate and Second Empire style commercial buildings that were built between 1877 and 1881 after two thirds of the City of Saint John was destroyed in the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. The Italianate style building was built for merchant Samuel Gardner who had formerly been in a partnership with John Ennis under the name of Ennis and Gardner. By 1884 the building was occupied by the organizations of three other people; William Dudley (book-binder), George F. Simonson (paper box manufacturer), and W. T. McLeod (manufacturers agent).

This building serves as a reminder of the strong will of the Saint John merchants to rebuild the city after the fire. The brick and stone architecture sent a message that the city would be more fire resistant in the future. The elements and level of design demonstrate that the city was rebuilt in grander fashion.

Source: Planning and Development Department - City of Saint John

The architectural elements relating to the Italianate style of this building include:

The Storefront

- two end columns and four supporting cast iron columns displaying a circular design;

- wooden base panel;

- four storefront windows with multiple pane transom windows;

- some pilasters and columns have Corinthian entablatures;

- storefront cornice has decorative pulley and rope design bracket;

- leaf and shell design through frieze and cornice;

- recessed entrance with a single door topped with by a transom window.

The Upper Storeys

- all windows are two over two topped with roman arches;

- all windows have roman arch headers with sandstone keystone and ends;

- windows have sandstone sills;

- projecting metal roof-line cornice with heavy brackets.