The genesis of our project was an earlier effort. In 1970 a team from National Historic Sites Branch in Ottawa rushed in and photographed 1,041 buildings in Saint John, many of which later fell to the phased demolitions in the North End. They worked fast and as a result there were errors to be corrected. In 1979 the Feds found it more cost effective to train local university students to do a second survey. My own family had a home expropriated in the valley (purchased in 1903, it had three flats), so I was keen to take on the C.I.H.B. project. Our sponsor was David Ross, then Director of the N.B.M., and something of a mentor to me.
I kept my office set of the file cards for the 1970 Saint John survey and also a duplicate set of our 1979 findings. In 1970 each home was recorded with three 35mm B&W images, but in 1979 we sometimes recorded additional features. One of our goals was to determine how much of 19th Century construction incorporated mass produced elements and what percentage was custom work - such as intricate brickwork or scroll work. In a future blog I will publish an example of a typical recording done in 1970 - 3 photo and card, resurrecting a house fallen to the bulldozers.
For now I am posting an old story, originally published July 4, 1979 to describe our work. Local media coverage essential as we had constantly to encroach on private property. CBC Radio for example did two segments, explaining the importance of the project to Saint John residents. As you read it, note in particular Mike Murphy's comment about home owner fear of further property expropriation by the City.
The Evening Times Globe, Wed. July 4, 1979
[no Byline]
[no Byline]
"STUDENTS LOOK AT OLD CITY STRUCTURES
If you own an old home in the Saint John area, chances are that you will be paid a visit by a group of students who are doing a survey of historical structures in the area.
Seven university students have been hired for the summer by the Canadian Inventory of Historic Building to locate and record all of the historic structures in the city that were built in the 1800’s or early 1900’s.
The students locate and map each building, record all of the structures exterior features and then photograph the building from all angles. The material is then categorized and sent to Ottawa to be placed in a computer bank. Once there, the data can be retrieved in printout and catalogue form.
Ronald Jack, a second year major at the University of New Brunswick is the project co-ordinator for the group. He said that a similar survey was conducted in the Saint John area in 1970 by the National Historic Sites Service. At that time only 1041 houses were recorded for Saint John, but Mr. Jack is optimistic that his group will be able to double the previous findings.
“The first thing we are doing is to verify all of the information from the previous study: that is we will verify existing structures, correct any mistakes in addresses and ownership and make note of any structures that have been demolished.”
So far the students have located 250 buildings in the last two weeks. Mr. Jack said that each team, which is made up of two students – one recorder and one photographer, records approximately ten buildings per day.
The job of the recorder is to fill in a 75-point questionnaire about each structure. The obvious geographical information is noted along with the date it was built; the original owner, if available; the current owner; and the name of the architect who built the house.
“We try to answer most of these questions, but in a lot of cases, like the original owner and the architect, the information is just not available,” said Mr. Jack.
He guessed that most of the older houses in Saint John were built sometime between 1850 – 1860, although there are a few that are even older. “Most of the older ones have been demolished for urban expansion.”
And the fact that Saint John had so many fires in its past shows that a great number of historic houses would have been destroyed.
Mike Murphy is one member of the survey group. His job is to photograph the buildings they locate. He said that so far most of the people they have talked to have been very co-operative, but some people chase them away.
“I guess some people think we are asking questions about their homes for the city. They’re afraid that their houses will be torn down.”
“But most of the people I talk to are very friendly. We get some people who love to talk and will tell you their family history. Others say this is a waste of government money”, he said.
Eva Weeks is another member of the survey team. She has no complaints about citizen co-operation in the area.
If you own an old home in the Saint John area, chances are that you will be paid a visit by a group of students who are doing a survey of historical structures in the area.
Seven university students have been hired for the summer by the Canadian Inventory of Historic Building to locate and record all of the historic structures in the city that were built in the 1800’s or early 1900’s.
The students locate and map each building, record all of the structures exterior features and then photograph the building from all angles. The material is then categorized and sent to Ottawa to be placed in a computer bank. Once there, the data can be retrieved in printout and catalogue form.
Ronald Jack, a second year major at the University of New Brunswick is the project co-ordinator for the group. He said that a similar survey was conducted in the Saint John area in 1970 by the National Historic Sites Service. At that time only 1041 houses were recorded for Saint John, but Mr. Jack is optimistic that his group will be able to double the previous findings.
“The first thing we are doing is to verify all of the information from the previous study: that is we will verify existing structures, correct any mistakes in addresses and ownership and make note of any structures that have been demolished.”
So far the students have located 250 buildings in the last two weeks. Mr. Jack said that each team, which is made up of two students – one recorder and one photographer, records approximately ten buildings per day.
The job of the recorder is to fill in a 75-point questionnaire about each structure. The obvious geographical information is noted along with the date it was built; the original owner, if available; the current owner; and the name of the architect who built the house.
“We try to answer most of these questions, but in a lot of cases, like the original owner and the architect, the information is just not available,” said Mr. Jack.
He guessed that most of the older houses in Saint John were built sometime between 1850 – 1860, although there are a few that are even older. “Most of the older ones have been demolished for urban expansion.”
And the fact that Saint John had so many fires in its past shows that a great number of historic houses would have been destroyed.
Mike Murphy is one member of the survey group. His job is to photograph the buildings they locate. He said that so far most of the people they have talked to have been very co-operative, but some people chase them away.
“I guess some people think we are asking questions about their homes for the city. They’re afraid that their houses will be torn down.”
“But most of the people I talk to are very friendly. We get some people who love to talk and will tell you their family history. Others say this is a waste of government money”, he said.
Eva Weeks is another member of the survey team. She has no complaints about citizen co-operation in the area.
“I find that when you get involved with houses you meet a lot of very nice people who will take you inside to show you their houses. Some people have beautiful bottle collections,” she said.
Mr. Jack said that some of the other things his group looks for include the material the roof is made of, the type of front door and the type of glass in the windows.
But besides houses, the group is also interested in any historic structure. They will be photographing the original foundations of the reversing Falls Bridge and three existing horse troughs that have remained in the city since the 19th century.
One interesting thing that Mr. Jack has noted from talking with his survey teams is that everyone in Indian Town in the north end of the city can tell you in which house actor Walter Pidgeon grew up.
By the end of this week, Mr. Jack said he hopes to have his group working in the North End. Mr. Jack and his group have offices located at the New Brunswick Museum. Further information can be obtained by calling them at 603-1196 Extension 61.
The other members of the survey team include: John Cooper, Ping Chow, Caryn Thompson and Faith Jennings."
Mr. Jack said that some of the other things his group looks for include the material the roof is made of, the type of front door and the type of glass in the windows.
But besides houses, the group is also interested in any historic structure. They will be photographing the original foundations of the reversing Falls Bridge and three existing horse troughs that have remained in the city since the 19th century.
One interesting thing that Mr. Jack has noted from talking with his survey teams is that everyone in Indian Town in the north end of the city can tell you in which house actor Walter Pidgeon grew up.
By the end of this week, Mr. Jack said he hopes to have his group working in the North End. Mr. Jack and his group have offices located at the New Brunswick Museum. Further information can be obtained by calling them at 603-1196 Extension 61.
The other members of the survey team include: John Cooper, Ping Chow, Caryn Thompson and Faith Jennings."
Photo of one of the recording team's on my crew in May - September 1979. C.I.H.B. staff from Ottawa trained us to sleuth out interesting structures in Saint John, and how to record the wealth of detail required for the national inventory. I interviewed many students before choosing the six whom I felt had the appropriate skills. Three had to have sufficient photography experience to make a reliable permanent record of the heritage that was disappearing all around us.
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