Description of Historic Place

Located with Acadia Forest Experimental Station and fronting onto an open nursery field, the Bunkhouse, Building No. 10 of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station, is a modest, single-storey,T-shaped, hip-roofed building constructed of brown painted stucco on block. It has a white painted gable-roofed extension to the rear, and an exterior finished with siding. The entrance is a closed, gable-roofed porch. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Bunkhouse, Building No. 10 of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station at Acadia Forest Experimental Station is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Bunkhouse, as a component of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station (AFES), is part of one of the best examples of early federal forestry station sites and federal forest management. It is also associated with the theme of Depression-era job creation and as a detention camp during the Second World War. The group of buildings initially provided relief for Jewish refugees, and was subsequently used to intern German and Italian prisoners of war. Built by relief camp workers, the Bunkhouse, Building No. 10 of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station was used to house seasonal personnel working at the AFES.

Architectural Value:
The Bunkhouse, Building No. 10 of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station is a good example of a modest, utilitarian style structure. The building was constructed of stucco on concrete block, and of frame clapboard for the later extension. The Bunk House reflects the character of early federal forestry station site planning.

Environmental Value:
The Bunkhouse, Building No. 10 of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station reinforces the present character of its central streetscape setting within the Acadia Park Experimental Station. The Acadia Forest Experimental Station is a well-known symbol within the forestry management sphere.

Sources:
Joan Mattie, Acadia Forest Experimental Station (10 Buildings), Highway 10, Maugerville, New Brunswick. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 95-086; Building No.10 Bunkhouse, Acadia Forest Experimental Station, Highway 10, New Brunswick. Heritage Character Statement 95-086.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Bunkhouse, Building No. 10 of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station, should be respected.

Its design and good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example: the simple T-shaped massing with one-story, hipped and gable roof; the construction of brown painted stucco on concrete blocks; the entrance consisting of a closed, gable-roofed porch; the windows and panelled, multi-paned glazed entrance doors.

The manner in which the Bunkhouse, Building No. 10 of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station reinforces the central streetscape character within its Experimental Station setting and is a strong regional landmark evidenced by: its compatibility to the modest group of buildings that front onto an open nursery field and create a ‘Main Street’ feel; its role as part of the Acadia Forest Experimental Station, a national and internationally known organization.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The following Heritage Character Statement is for five small buildings of similar exterior massing.

The construction dates of the following buildings are as follows: the Superintendents Residence in 1934; the Kitchen in 1935, the Bunkhouse in 1934; the Four Car Garage in 1942, and the Staff House in 1934. All were designed by the Department of the Interior. The buildings serve as components of the Acadia Forest Experiment Station (AFES) headquarters. Natural Resources Canada is the custodian. See FHBRO Building Report 95-086.

Reasons For Designation
The five buildings noted above have been designated Recognized because of their environmental significance and historical associations, as well as for their architectural character.

The complex created by the buildings reflects the character of early federal forestry station site planning and is the best preserved station in Canada. The modest group of buildings create a central streetscape or 'Main Street' which is an important character defining feature of the setting. The AFES has a strong local and international presence through continued use for forestry management activities.

The complex is associated with several themes: depression-era job creation, forestry management, and Second World War detention camps. The construction of these buildings results from the 'relief camps' policy developed during the depression. The complex is an excellent example of the federal forestry program of the early 1900s. The complex is also associated with the internment of Jewish refugees and German and Italian POWS during the Second World War.

The buildings vary in appearance but have simple gable or hipped-roofed forms and a common domestic scale. The designs rely on simple textural and material contrasts and elaboration of details at the entrances to enliven the facades. The irregular massing reflects the utilitarian nature of the buildings and functional modifications contribute to their modest character.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of these buildings reside in their overall form, proportions, construction materials, architectural details, interior planning, and site relationships.

Massing
The massing of the one-storey buildings consist of simple, rectangular forms with hipped gable roofs. The simple massing, profile, and footprints reflect the functional planning. The simple forms are enhanced by the domestic pattern of windows and doors which contributes to the visual interest of the facades. The Staff House, a one-and-a-half-storey mass with a cupola and gabled dormers, has a more complex roof profile. The profiles and forms should be maintained.

Materials
The use of simple details and local materials and details contributes to the utilitarian character of the buildings. Stucco on block with simple window surrounds, and horizontal wood bevel siding in the gables are expressive of rural building practices and local material precedents and should be respected. The stucco requires an ongoing maintenance program, and care in the choice of materials and techniques for repair. Wood shingles with exposed rafter tails and fascias can also be seen in early photographs. The tail rafters are a characteristic feature of the rustic style and should be maintained. The current asphalt roofing does not follow traditional material precedents. Replacement roofing and siding should follow historic precedent for materials and colours.

The Superintendent's Residence
The vinyl siding is a modern material which detracts from the historic character. At the end of its life it should be replaced with a siding based on historic precedent. The fieldstone chimney is a prominent feature which should be maintained.

The Kitchen
The simple stucco finish and the facade proportions create a well-scaled appearance. The simple details should be respected.

The Bunkhouse
The simple stucco finish and the facade proportions with the simple wood trim details at the entrance contribute to the modest design. The later addition is clad in vinyl siding which has an inappropriate wide profile and minimal trim details. Replacement siding should follow historic precedent found on adjacent buildings.

The Four Car Garage
The current vinyl siding of the original building and the addition has an inappropriate wide profile and minimal trim details. Replacement siding should follow historic precedent.

The Staff House
The simple stucco finish, the facade proportions, and the wood trim details at the entry canopies create a well scaled, lively appearance. These details should be respected.

Windows and Doors
Except at the Bunkhouse and Garage, the multi-paned wood sash windows, appear to be original. The wood sash with their relatively heavy members and smaller subdivisions contribute a prominent fine-scale pattern to the window openings and should be maintained. Windows blocked off with solid panels introduce a new material to the facades and compromise the domestic character. Where windows have been blocked off they should be reinstated. The panelled and multi-paned glazed entrance doors appear to be original at the Superintendent's Residence, Bunkhouse, and Staff House and should be maintained. They contribute to the domestic character of the buildings. The modern garage doors at the Four Car Garage should be replaced at the end of their life with doors reflecting historic precedent.

Planning and Interiors
Early interior planning and finishes should be documented and maintained.

Setting
The street-like siting of the buildings fronting onto an open nursery field and the relationship of this whole ensemble to the surrounding coniferous forest should be
maintained. The simple ground plane whether turf grass or gravel, should be maintained. The mature shrubs at the Superintendent's Residence should be maintained to emphasize this building's domestic function, and to distinguish it from more utilitarian structures.