Flower Sellers in the City Market

By Connor DeMerchant - 5 August 2026

The sale of flowers in the Saint John City Market has changed considerably over the years. By the late 1930s, flower selling at the Market had become a specialized business rather than simply a seasonal sideline for local growers. The best-known establishment was Fowler’s for Flowers, built over two decades by Sarah May (Floyd) Fowler (1880-1973), referred to as “Mrs. E. E. Fowler” in contemporary newspapers. It opened in the fall of 1937. 

What had begun as a modest stall at the centre of the Market specializing in sweet peas and gladioli gradually expanded into a full-service florist, reflecting changing customer expectations. Rather than purchasing flowers only when they were in season, customers increasingly sought arrangements for weddings, funerals, anniversaries, and other occasions throughout the year.

The shop showcased a wide variety of fresh flowers and floral arrangements, making it one of the Market's most attractive displays. When the business opened in 1937, it was managed by William Brandt (1900-1981), a Danish-trained florist who brought extensive international experience to Saint John. Brandt had apprenticed in Odense, Denmark, before operating his own florist shop there. After immigrating to Canada in 1929, he worked for his sister and brother-in-law's flower gardens in Red Head before briefly returning to Denmark to continue his professional training. Before settling permanently in Canada, he also studied with the prestigious royal florist L. Abel, whose firm served the Danish royal family, and gained experience with one of Scandinavia's largest floricultural firms. In 1938, after just months with Fowler’s, Brandt joined the staff of Keirstead’s Flower Shop, a family-owned business which continues to operate. 

At the time Fowler’s opened, Brandt was assisted by local florist Doris Rockwell (1915-2006), ensuring that the business combined international expertise with local knowledge. The shop also became Saint John's only florist affiliated with the Florists' Telegraph Delivery Service, allowing customers to send flowers almost anywhere in North America through an international wire network. This connection expanded the reach of a Market business well beyond the city and reflected the increasingly professional nature of the floral industry.

Despite its growing sophistication, the business remained closely tied to local horticulture. The Fowlers made a point of purchasing locally grown flowers whenever possible, while many of the cut flowers and bedding plants sold in the Market came from the family's greenhouses in Hampton, where skilled gardeners cultivated a wide range of seasonal stock.[1]

In later year’s Fowler’s was operated by Paul Corcoran (1940-2026) of Paul’s Flower Shop, and then Lina Sylvia (Bennett) Reynolds (1934-2008). The shop was in operation into the 1980s. 

In addition to Fowler’s, Keirstead’s also sold flowers in the Market on an informal basis. In the 1970s there were no less than four flower shops operating in the market. Alongside Fowler’s, which by this time was being managed by other florists, vendors included Lina Reynolds who operated Reynold’s Flowers, Sunshine Flower Shop, and Eleanor’s Flower Shop. 

[1] “Expands Business in City Market.” The Evening Times Globe. 19 November 1937, Pg. 9. 

Photos: (above) Reynolds Flowers, c. 1970s (PANB P225\11948) and (below) Fowler's For Flowers in 1937