Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History No. 24

Second Empire Style in Canadian Architecture

by Christina Cameron and Janet Wright

Preface

The Canadian Inventory of Historic Building is a computerized data system created to record Canada's architectural heritage. When the programme was established in 1970, its primary purpose was to provide a sampling of building across Canada that would serve as a comparative basis for assessment by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Phase 1 identified and recorded the exterior details of buildings from selected parts of Canada. A sampling (not to exceed 10 per cent) of Phase 1 structures was then chosen for Phase 2 examination which involved the recording of interior detail. Within the sample areas, a cut-off date was assigned: pre-1880 in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic provinces; pre-1914 in northern and western Canada. This was necessary to accommodate the survey to available resources, but it was recognized that eventually the Canadian Inventory of Historic Building would have to update its record to include post-1880 buildings in the east. To date, Phase 1 has 180,000 recorded structures, and Phase 2 has 2,000 recorded buildings.

This present study is a pilot project which attempts to identify, analyse and interpret the architectural data stored in the Canadian Inventory of Historic Building computer. Following a preliminary research phase, during which secondary and accessible primary sources were consulted, the mansard roof was identified as an essential part of the Second Empire style. The Canadian Inventory of Historic Building computer then produced printouts of all buildings recorded as having mansard roofs, separated by building use (residential and non-residential). The results of the visual screening of the photo cards identified in the computer search allowed the formulation of certain hypotheses about the Second Empire style in Canada. These ideas were tested against archival photographs of demolished buildings (for these are obviously not recorded by the Canadian Inventory of Historic Building if they disappeared before 1970), and documentary research to produce the present study. It is hoped that the findings will make a useful contribution to our understanding and appreciation of Canada's architectural heritage.

A collection of slides of Second Empire buildings in Canada is being prepared in conjunction with the National Film Board.