Formal Recognition Type

City of St. John's Heritage Building, Structure, Land or Area

Heritage Value

The Church of England Institute CEI Club as been designated a municipal heritage building by the City of St. John’s for its aesthetic and historic values.

The Church of England Institute CEI Club is a fine example of a Second Empire designed public building with its concave mansard roof, pedimented dormer windows, and decorative eaves bracketing.

The Church of England Institute CEI Club was once the home to the Methodist Orphanage. Orphaned Methodist girls from all areas of Newfoundland were sent here for care. Some funding for operations was provided by the government, but most of the funds came from Methodist churches throughout the island. After the orphanage closed, the Church of England Institute (CEI) took over the building. This was a social club for members of the Church of England and sponsored community sports teams. In the 1950s it dropped its association with the church and opened its membership to people of other denominations.

Source: City of St. John’s Archives municipal designation file.

Character Defining Elements

All elements of the Newfoundland interpretation of the Second Empire style, including:

-the concave mansard roof, pedimented dormer windows, and decorative eaves bracketing:

-shape, size, decoration and placement of windows;

-narrow wood clapboard which covers the building;

-the slightly projected tower with its hip roof located in the front facade with its pedimented dormer window with trim which flares out at its bottom, dentils and decorative wood shingles; and

-building height, number of storeys, dimensions, and massing.

Notes

A slightly projected tower with a hip roof is located in the front facade. This tower contains a pedimented dorimer window with trim which flares out at its botton and decorative wood shingles The dorimer windows on the front facade have multi-paned windows The first floor windows on the front facade have 3/1 panes

Community

St. John's

Municipality

City of St. John's

Civic Address

181 Hamiltion Avenue

Construction (circa)

1900 - 1901

Builder

Unknown

Style

Rectangular Long Façade