Loyalist House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loyalist House |
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The facade as seen from the north side of Union Street
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| Location | New Brunswick, Canada |
| Nearest city | Saint John |
| Built | 1810-1817 |
| Original use | Private residence |
| Current use | Museum |
| Architectural style(s) | Federal Architecture |
| Governing body | New Brunswick Historical Society |
| Website | https://loyalisthouse.com/ |
| Designated | 1961 |
Loyalist House is a cool museum and a special historic place in Saint John, Canada. This beautiful old house was once the home of the wealthy Merritt family. They lived there from when it was finished in 1817 until 1958. Today, the New Brunswick Historical Society takes care of it. You can find Loyalist House at 120 Union Street.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Loyalist House
The Merritt Family's Journey
The Merritt family were United Empire Loyalists. This means they were people who stayed loyal to Britain during the American Revolution. They originally came from Rye, New York, in the United States. In May 1783, the Merritts arrived in Parrtown, New Brunswick. This area is now the south end of the city of Saint John. About 6,000 other Loyalists also came with them, all escaping the war.
Thomas Merritt (1729–1821) was the head of the family in Saint John. He lived there with his wife and seven children. Even though they started with "modest circumstances," meaning they didn't have much money, the family soon became very important in the city. The next generation of Merritts became very rich.
Building a Grand Home
David Daniel Merritt was one of Thomas's sons. He was a rich shop owner. David bought the land where Loyalist House now stands. Construction on the house began in 1810. It took a long time to build, finally finishing in 1817. This delay was probably because of the War of 1812.
At that time, the house was just inside the city limits. Union Street was the northern edge of the city until 1889. Because of this, there weren't many buildings around the house. This allowed the Merritts to keep farm animals like livestock on their property for many years.
How the House Changed Over Time
When the house was first built, it was at street level. But as Saint John grew, the city dug down the streets. This made it easier for draught horses to pull carts up Germain Street. This digging made Loyalist House look like it's on a raised platform, as you can see in the picture.
The Merritt family owned the house until 1961. They lived in it on and off until Louis Merritt Harrison passed away in 1958. After that, Mr. Harrison's housekeeper lived there for a short time. In 1961, the house was sold to K C Irving and a partner. That's when the New Brunswick Historical Society turned it into a museum.
Exploring the Architecture of Loyalist House
A Survivor of the Great Fire
Loyalist House is often said to be the oldest building in Saint John that hasn't been changed much. Many other old buildings were destroyed in the terrible Great Fire of 1877. This house survived!
The house was built in the New England Federalist style. This style was popular where the Merritt family came from. The building has two and a half floors. The western side of the house was built on a strong stone and mortar basement.
Inside the Merritt Family Home
The two main floors were where the family lived. They have almost the same layout and are very balanced. These floors had the living and dining rooms, the kitchen, a study, and four bedrooms. There were also many hallways for the family and servants.
The living areas had special features. There was a main staircase and a separate staircase for servants. The house also had a central bell system to call servants. There were four chimneys, each with two fireplaces, and 31 large windows. The house even had gas lighting at one point, but the family later stopped using it.
Servants' Quarters and Other Spaces
The top floor of the house was for the servants. It had five rooms. People think one of these rooms might have been a dining room and lounge for the servants. Next to it is a small room with shelves, connected by a window, almost like a bar. While this floor now has skylights added later, it originally had no windows.
There is also a carriage house on the property. It used to be twice as long as it is now. It held the Merritt family's carriage, sleigh, and even their livestock. The Loyalists used a heated frying pan to keep warm at night!
In 2017, Loyalist House had a big makeover. About $600,000 was spent to fix it up.
Visiting the Loyalist House Museum
The Loyalist House museum uses most of the two main floors of the house. Other parts are used for offices and storage. The museum is filled with beautiful old furniture. These pieces are from the Georgian and Victorian eras. They come from the collections of the New Brunswick Historical Society, the New Brunswick Museum, and Kings Landing Historical Settlement.
The museum is open during regular hours from Loyalist Day (May 18) until early September. It also opens for cruise ship visitors well into the autumn. You can take guided tours of the house at any time. These tours teach you all about the Merritt family and what life was like for wealthy people in Saint John in the 1800s.
Connections and Partners
Loyalist House works with many heritage groups in New Brunswick. These include the Fundy Heritage Zone. It also partners with the federal and provincial governments.
See also
