Historic Mount Allison: Second Men's Residence (1900-1941)

The Second University Men’s Residence was built on the site of its predecessor, which had ben destroyed by fire in June 1899, only five years after it had opened. Work began almost immediately and the new building opened in September 1900.

Situated at the corner of York and Salem streets, the Second Men’s Residence was 217 feet long, five storeys high, and had towers on the centre front and centre north. The main body of the residence contained large well-lit rooms for students while the ell contained the Eurhetorian Hall and YMCA offices on the second floor, kitchens and storerooms on the ground floor, with baths and a spacious dining room in the basement. Students gazing out of the fifth floor windows would have held commanding views of the Owens Art Gallery, Ladies’ College buildings, and the town of Sackville beyond. It served as the only men's residence for decades, until the building was destroyed by fire on 16 December 1941. This was the only time in the history of the institution that a building fire resulted in the loss of life.