York Street Audio Tour - Early 20th Century Houses and Fredericton Alms House

Continuing south, the five houses on York Street between Victoria and Dundonald Streets are worth a mention. They show us examples of the kind of housing that was needed in the very early 20th century as the town expanded. Houses numbered 451, 455, 467 and 479-481 were built between 1900 and 1910. Number 475-477 was built just after the Second World War, in 1947.

Eastwards across the intersection of York and Dundonald Streets is one of the City’s fire stations. But from 1823 we would have seen the Fredericton Alms House. It was a large structure built with stone from the property. The fire escape for the upper floors was a giant metal tube clinging to a side wall. After the doors opened in 1823, the place was soon filled with the poor, the aged, the sick, and the mentally ill. Children were sent there too as well as adults. By 1950, it was called the Municipal Home, then the Hillcrest Home, before it was demolished in 1970 for the fire station. Under the street pavement, we are told, lie the remains of some of the poor people who had to live in that House.

Video - Early 20th Century Housing

Video - Alms House

Audio - Early 20th Century Housing

Audio - Alms House

More info - Five houses between Victoria and Dundonald Streets

More info - Alms House

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