kids encyclopedia robot

Saint John City Market facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Saint John City Market
SaintJohnMarketExterior.jpg
Market exterior in 2007
Location New Brunswick, Canada
Nearest city Saint John
Established 1785
Built 1876
Website www.sjcitymarket.ca
Designated 1986

The Saint John City Market is a very old and special market in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. It's the oldest farmer's market in Canada that has been open without stopping since it started. Its history goes all the way back to 1785! You can find this market at 47 Charlotte Street.

History of the Market

Before the market was built where it is today, Saint John had other public markets. For example, there was a fish market on Water Street. There was also a hay market at the top of King Street.

The first two buildings for the market were made of wood. Sadly, both of them were destroyed by fires. The building you see today was finished in 1876. It was designed by architects J.T.C. McKean and G.E. Fairweather. This building has a style called Second Empire.

Surviving the Great Fire

The market building was very lucky! It just barely escaped a huge fire in 1877. This fire, known as the Great Fire of 1877, destroyed about 40% of the city's buildings. The market building stood strong.

Unique Design Features

The current market building has a very special roof. It looks like the bottom of an upside-down ship! This roof is made of wooden trusses. People say that unemployed ship carpenters built it back then.

Another interesting thing about the market is its floor. It slopes downwards, following the natural shape of the land.

Long-Standing Businesses

Some of the shops and businesses inside the market have been open for more than 100 years! This shows how important the market is to the city.

The market faces Kings Square. It is also connected to the city's indoor walking paths, called the pedway system. This makes it easy for people to visit, even in bad weather.

National Historic Site

In 1986, the Saint John City Market was given a special title. It was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a very important place in Canadian history.

Images for kids

  • St. John City Market (21713520090)

    Inside the Saint John City Market

  • City Market, Saint John, New Brunswick 1910

    Market interior (1910)

  • Saint John City Market (21714657379)

    Exterior detail

  • SaintJohnMarketInterior

    Market at Christmas

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Saint John City Market Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.