Located at 38 Waterloo Row in Fredericton, The Royal Oak Inn was managed by Gabriel Van Horne from 1787 until his death in 1818. History shows that the inn was run by Thomas Lee in 1847, and by 1865, Mark Neville was operating a tavern and grocery store there, still under the Royal Oak name.

James Howie took ownership of the building in 1868 and hired George Hazen, a builder, to enlarge the property to accommodate two families. This modification likely included the uniquely placed multifaceted tower.

Along with the buildings at 12-14 Waterloo Row, The Royal Oak Inn stands as a testament to Fredericton’s initial commercial hub. The commercial nucleus eventually relocated several blocks “upriver” to what is now known as the downtown area, beginning in the early 19th century.

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