Formal Recognition Type

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

Heritage Value

The Observatory, is designated a municipal heritage building by the City of St. John’s because it has historic and aesthetic values.

The Observatory has historic value due to its age and association with first owner, John Delaney. Irish-born Delaney (1811-1883) was the owner of The Observatory from the time of its construction circa 1878-79 until his death in 1883. He came to Newfoundland with his wife Elizabeth (and possibly some children) circa 1831. Delaney was door-keeper of the House of Assembly from 1835 to 1843. He was elected as member of Placentia-St. Mary’s in the House of Assembly from 1848-52 and 1855-56. He was appointed Postmaster General in 1860 and oversaw improvements in the mail service. His interest in meteorology led, in effect, to the development of a local meteorological service under the auspices of the Meteorological Service of Canada. A regular informant to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society in 1873. He is also significant for having made and operated the first telephone in Newfoundland in 1878. His home on Bonaventure Avenue (variously listed as being on Harvey Road and Military Road) was equipped with an observatory when it was constructed. It was a two-storey structure attached to the rear addition but has since been demolished. It was from this structure, and the attached house, that Delaney studied meteorology.

The Observatory is aesthetically valuable because it is a beautiful example of Second Empire Design, having survived the Great Fire of 1892. This wooden, two-storey house has a Mansard roof with a projecting central tower, itself with a mansard roof. The Observatory has returned, moulded eaves and arched one over one windows. Above the main façade windows are moulded brackets supporting wide shelves, and this is reflected around the front door. This house stands alone in its decoration, as it is the only single dwelling in the immediate area.

Source: City of St. John’s Archives

Character Defining Elements

All those elements that embody the Second Empire style, including:

-mansard roof;

-arched 1/1 windows;

-bracketed shelves;

-returned moulded eaves, and;

-projecting central tower.

Community

St. John's

Municipality

City of St. John's

Civic Address

1 Bonaventure Avenue

Construction (circa)

1878 - 1879

Style

Rectangular Long Façade