Municipal Heritage Designation (Part IV)
Shanahan House
City of Brantford, Ontario
Also known as 98 William Street
Of note are the arched white shutters.
Photo: City of Brantford, nd.
- Built
- 1879
- Recognized
- 2000
- By
- Local government
The register’s text, word for word
Description
The Shanahan House is located at 98 William Street, on the west side of William Street, north of Richmond Street, in the City of Brantford. The two storey, brick residence was constructed in circa 1879.
The property was designated, by the City of Brantford in 2000, for its cultural heritage value, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, By-law 83-2000.
Heritage value
The Shanahan House reflects the culture and structure of the community of Brantford. The neighbourhood was an average middle-class neighbourhood, the residents for this dwelling having included a bookkeeper, a clerk, a Constable, an assistant City treasurer and a bartender from the Park Hotel. The building is known as the Shanahan House because Jessie Shanahan, a widow of H.L. Shanahan, was the first known resident of the dwelling.
The Shanahan House is a unique example of the Italianate style, an otherwise common style in the William Street neighbourhood. The intent was not to imitate the recognized style but, to embellish the building with exaggerated features. These include the window hoods, the cornice, the brackets supporting the main entrance canopy and the chimney corbelling. All of these details display a high degree of craftsmanship, and speak to the artistic merit of the builder.
SourceCity of Brantford By-law Number 83-2000.
Character‑defining elements
Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of the Shanahan House include its:
- two storey brick exterior
- square footprint
- medium sloped hip roof
- plain wood soffit and fascia
- single brick chimney with corbelling
- off-centre door with a shaped transom
- small canopy supported by brackets above the entryway
- double hung windows with one-over-one sashes
- segmented heads and brick voussoirs
- shutters
End of the register’s text
Location
98, William Street, City of Brantford, Ontario, Canada
43.14467° N, 80.27288° W
Get directions (opens in a new tab)Being on the register doesn’t make a place open to visitors. Many are private homes or businesses; please view them from the street.
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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.