Bank of British North America Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bank of British North America Building |
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| Location | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Area | 7,653.45 km2 (2,955.01 sq mi) |
| Founded | 1849 |
| Governing body | College of the North Atlantic |
| Official name: Former Bank of British North America National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1990 |
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The Bank of British North America Building is a historic building in St. John's. It was built in 1849 for the British Bank of North America. This was Newfoundland's very first commercial bank.
The building was designed by David Stirling, an architect from Halifax. It was built after a big fire in St. John's in 1846. The building has a special look called the Italianate style. This style became very popular in Canada later on.
A Home for Banks
The British Bank of North America started in 1835. They opened their first branch in Newfoundland in 1837. Soon, they had branches in many other places. These included New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Yukon, and even California.
Over the years, the building was home to several different banks:
- From 1849 to 1857, it housed the British Bank of North America.
- From 1857 to 1894, the Commercial Bank of Newfoundland took over. During this time, the original roof was changed to a mansard roof. This is a special type of roof with slopes on all sides.
- In 1895, the Bank of Montreal moved in.
- Two years later, the Newfoundland Savings Bank used the building. This was the only Newfoundland bank that survived a big financial crash in 1894.
- In 1962, the Bank of Montreal bought the Savings Bank. They got the building back again.
- The Bank of Montreal used the building until 1985.
Surviving Fires
The building has seen a lot of history, including two major fires in St. John's.
- It was built after the devastating St. John's fire of 1846.
- In 1892, it was damaged again in the Great Fire of 1892. This fire caused a lot of destruction in the city.
- Luckily, the Bank of British North America Building was one of the few structures that survived.
- After the 1892 fire, it was rebuilt by William Howe Greene. He also built other important landmarks in St. John's. These include the Supreme Court House and Cabot Tower.
Today's Use
In 1985, the Bank of Montreal gave the building to the City of St. John's. Today, the building is home to the Anna Templeton Centre. This centre is part of the College of the North Atlantic. It's a place where people can learn about crafts and arts.
A Protected Landmark
Because of its long history and unique architecture, the building is very important.
- In 1990, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a place of national importance.
- On May 3, 1991, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador also recognized it. They named it a Registered Heritage Structure.
