Formal Recognition Type

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

Heritage Value

The Delgado Building has been designated a Municipal Heritage Building by the City of St. John’s for its aesthetic and historical values.

The Delgado Building is aesthetically valuable as an example of a turn of the 20th century mercantile/residential building in downtown St. John’s. The first storey of this building was traditionally used for mercantile premises and the remaining storeys were used as a family residence. The use of the building as a commercial building is evident through the traditional store front that features large glass windows and a recessed doorway. Furthermore, the brick construction of this building is typical for downtown St. John’s buildings built after the fire of 1892. This building, like several others built in the downtown during this era also features some elements of classical revival such as dentils and pilasters.

The Delgado Building is historically valuable because of its association with Andrew Delgado. Delgado, an Italian immigrant, came to Newfoundland as a young man and had established a business in the mining town of Tilt Cove, Green Bay. After the mine closed in 1880, he relocated to St. John’s and set up his first fruit store on Water Street, west of Prince’s Street. After the 1892 fire, he relocated to this building at 169 Water Street. From this store he sold a variety of goods, but is best known for the moderate to expensive tea which you could purchase from him. Society matrons would only buy Delgado’s best blend; what they did not know is that all the tea sold came from the same tea chest.

Source: City of St. John’s Archive, unnumbered property file, St. John’s – Delgado Building

Character Defining Elements

All elements that define the building’s commerical venacular design including:

-large glass windows;

-recessed doorway;

-size, shape, decoration and placement of windows;

-2 one storey bow windows located on the second storey front facade;

-the left gable corner of the building with its rounded end in which windows are set;

-pilasters which decorate the third and fourth storeys;

-decorative mouldings on the first, second and fourth storeys;

-friezes located above the first storey windows -dentils with decorate the eaves;

-the name ” Delgado Building” located over the fourth storey windows;

-size, location and dimensions.

Community

St. John's

Municipality

City of St. John's

Civic Address

169-173 Water Street

Construction (circa)

1892 - 1893

Builder

Unknown

Style

Other