Formal Recognition Type

Registered Heritage Structure

Heritage Value

John Quinton Limited was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1994 because of its historic, aesthetic and cultural value.

The buildings have historic value because of their association with the Quinton family and their role as merchants in the community. John Quinton Limited serves as a representative example of the roots of outport autonomy, when locals began to set up their own merchant premises independent of larger outside firms. In the late 1800s, these small outport mercantile and provisioning operations concentrating on the salt fish trade began to supply smaller communities, gradually replacing outside agents representing merchants from larger commercial centres. While still participating in the truck system, outport residents now had more choice in terms of the firm they dealt with.

John Quinton Residence has aesthetic value as is a good example of outport merchant-class housing in the late 1800s. The scale and massing of the house set it apart from others in the community and speak to its ownership by an affluent family. This three-storey house is an excellent outport example of Second Empire style housing, with its concave-curved mansard roof, dormers, decorative eaves and symmetrical facade.

The John Quinton Limited Shop has aesthetic value because it is a good example of the reuse of a building for purposes other than which it was constructed. Originally a steep gable roofed residence, a biscuit box like addition was added to the front facade when the structure was used as a shop. This recycling of buildings was a common trait in outport communities where building materials were not always easily assessable.

The John Quinton Fish Store and Salt Store have aesthetic value as they are good examples of intact outport merchant fishing structures in the region. There are few examples of such structures in the area, or the province in general, left in their original shape and condition. Such buildings were designed for practical use and had to endure the rigours of a harsh environment. The use of rough materials, simple design elements and utilitarian construction techniques exemplify these fishery buildings.

The John Quinton Post Office has aesthetic value as it is a good example of a nineteenth century outport post office. This small, unadorned building was constructed to serve a specific function within the community, its practical use taking precedence over the implementation of elaborate design elements.

John Quinton Limited has cultural value as a physical reminder of a specific time and place, particularly of a time when life was intrinsically linked to the sea. The fish and salt stores served a vital purpose in a subsistence economy based on the procurement, curing and storage of fish. Within the walls of the shop, fishermen would collect goods earned from their summer work. Both the shop and the post office would often be the scene of social gatherings where local news was shared and recent events were discussed.

Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador property file “Red Cliffe – John Quinton Limited – FPT 371″

Character Defining Elements

All elements that define the residence’s Second Empire design including:
-number of storeys;
-mansard roof;
-chimney style and placement;
-return on eaves;
-bargeboard on eaves;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-wooden window size, style, trim and placement;
-dormer placement and style;
-dormer window size, style, trim and placement;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-entablature with brackets above front door;
-size and style of veranda on front façade, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of building.

All elements that define the shop’s simple vernacular design including:
-number of storeys;
-combination flat and steep gable roof;
-chimney style and placement;
-return on rear eave;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-wooden window size, style, trim and placement;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-shelf running above door and windows on first storey;
-size and style of steps on front facade;
-wood post foundation;
-original scale and massing of additions, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of building.

All elements that define the fish store’s simple vernacular design including:
-number of storeys;
-low pitch roof;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-wooden window size, style, trim and placement;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-wooden loading doors facing the harbour;
-red ochre exterior colour, white paint on rear;
-overhang on rear facade;
-wooden post building supports;
-original form, scale and massing of fish store, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of fish store.

All elements that define the salt store’s simple vernacular design including:
-number of storeys;
-steep gable roof;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-wooden window size, style, trim and placement;
-size, style, trim and placement of exterior wooden doors;
-red ochre exterior colour;
-wooden post building supports;
-original form, scale and massing of salt store, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of salt store.

All elements that define the post office’s simple vernacular design and original function, including:
-number of storeys;
-steep gable roof;
-return on eaves;
-narrow wooden clapboard;
-wooden corner boards;
-wooden window size, style, trim and placement;
-size, style, trim and placement of wooden exterior doors;
-wood post foundation;
-remains of the post office mail slot on the landward gable end, and;
-dimension, location and orientation of building.

Community

Red Cliffe

Municipality

Not specified (Newfoundland)

Construction (circa)

1840 - 1840

Builder

David Marshall

Style

Rectangular Long Façade