The building at 167 Prince William Street, UPTOWN Saint John has a proud commercial heritage dating back well over 135 years. Not the fanciest building, but a useful building visited over the years by thousands of Saint John residents, buying insurance, getting accounting advice,grabbing a restaurant meal, and many of the day to day services needed to live life uptown.
Approximately 10 years ago the building left the caring ownership of the Bruce Family and headed down a road of arms length ownership that eventually led to full vacancy, loss of heat in the building, and finally in January 2014 the City of Saint John was forced to issue a work order to remedy dangerous conditions. In spite of the efforts of City officials, and others; the order was ignored by the building owner and now a demolition order by the city is about to be executed and there will be another gaping hole in our history and in Trinity Royal Preservation area.No one is pleased with this outcome.
Folks, I am no less sad, frustrated, and impatient with the deterioration of historic properties in Saint John. I have, however, after MANY years of direct involvement with the neighborhood and its structures, come to great clarity on the issue.
It is quite simple..it boils down to economic sustainability. So, until enough SJ'ers make a deliberate decision to support these buildings in some DIRECT and TANGIBLE way, they will continue to be lost. You may ask what constitutes direct and sustainable support. Its as simple as doing one or more of the following things on a regular basis:
- Invest in one by buying it, get good advice, have a plan, and don't over pay.
- eat in a restaurant located in a heritage building
- meet friends for drinks in a heritage building
- have you hair cut or styled
- buy shoes or fashion
- hire an accountant, lawyer, or other professional whose office is in a heritage building
- rent your next apartment
- buy your next condo
- recommend heritage inns to out of town visitors
Here's what Heritage Canada reports on the history of the building.
http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=9302&pid=0 describes the functional history:
The Armstrong and Bruce Building is one of a collection of commercial and residential Italianate buildings that were built after two thirds of the city was destroyed by the Great Saint John Fire of 1877. Constructed circa 1879 and remodelled in 1913, this building is a good example of Italianate architecture from the rebuilding period in Saint John. This style is evident in the decorative brickwork under the cornice, the segmented arch window openings and the rectangular massing. The use of brick and the quality of the workmanship in this building represent the will for the city to rebuild, as well or better, after the fire.
The Armstrong and Bruce Building is also recognized for its original use and for its association with its former occupants that conducted business here. The original occupants of the north side of the building were W. H. Olive and his son Chipman Ingersoll Olive. They were manufacturers’ agents and ship brokers. In 1892, Chipman moved next door and this building was converted into Lang's Restaurant.
From the time of construction until 1892, the southern end of this building was Teresa Flanagan's liquor store. The upper quarters of this building were used as a boarding house. One noteworthy resident, from 1893-1906, was Oscar Silberstein, a cigar maker from Brooklyn, New York. His factory was on the corner of Prince William Street and Church Street in Saint John.
The Armstrong and Bruce Building is also recognized for its long time association with the insurance agency of Armstrong and Bruce. Beverly Robinson Armstrong and Robert Hugh Bruce formed a partnership in 1911. They first occupied this building in 1924 and a branch of this firm carried on business at this location for approximately 81 years; they are now carrying on business just across the street. Armstrong was a decorated veteran of the Boer War and the First World War. Bruce served in the First World War as well.
