Description of Historic Place

The Highfield Street Pumping Station consists of an early 20th century square red brick Italianate industrial building located on Thanet Street adjacent to the north end of Highfield Street in Moncton.

Heritage Value

The Highfield Street Pumping Station was designated for its Italianate architectural style as it is applied to a utilitarian civic structure and for its importance in facilitating Moncton’s population growth at the turn of the 20th century.

When supplied and installed by Canada Foundry Co. of Toronto in 1913, the Moncton Water Works pumping station was only the second separate water system in the area. The design demonstrates the City’s developing desire for aesthetics when designing municipal service-related buildings.

In 1983, the Highfield Street Pumping Station received Water Landmark designation by the American Water Works Association.

Source: Moncton Museum, Moncton, New Brunswick - second floor files – “5 Thanet”.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements relating to the use of the Highfield Street Pumping Station as a water facility include:
- original brass and wood gauges, dials and barometer;
- original pumping equipment and boiler;
- traveling equipment crane;
- original Venturi water flow meters;

The character-defining elements relating to structure and design include:
- flat roof;
- square massing
- symmetrical and paired fenestration;
- Roman arch window openings;
- brick hood moulding;
- arched transom lights;
- oculus windows with brick trim;
- date stone “MWW 1913”;
- herringbone lath ceiling;
- hardwood floors.