The Harvey Community Hall, which has apparently been restored sometime in the not too distant past, has a sign over the entrance indicating its year of construction to be 1884. The architecture of First Harvey Baptist definitely makes it a contemporary, or even a predecessor of the hall. The "Four spires with Widow's Walk" feature seen on this church was already losing favour among architects by the 1880s, with very few built post 1889.
Quite typical of churches of the era, it is a simple rectangle in the meeting house style, but having a small square steeple/bell tower at the peak of the gable roof. The flat roof of the tower has a small spire at each corner with a spindled railing running between the spires. Below is an overhanging eave, below which are dentils on a wood moulding. The Roman arched belfry vents are covered with what appears to be a metal baffle with fine horizontal slats. Like the rest of the building, it is covered in wood shiplap siding. The main entrance, centred in the front elevation, consists of a single wood door flanked by sidelights done in the same Roman arched theme as all windows in the building. Above is a triple window, while to the sides are two more tall, slender windows. All around the building under the eaves are dentils which match those of the belfry.
Down the road in Alma, NB is another baptist church which shares a few architectural features with First Harvey Baptist, such as windows and transoms with hoods and faux keystones. The Alma church employed Gabled windows and transoms, this church Roman arches, another indication that it is the older of the two. Incidentally, this church's sign notes that it was established in 1841, which would be a viable age for the building, though not necessarily so. Harvey Parish itself, one of six parishes in Albert County, is only slightly older, having been created in 1838. The area was initially settled in 1763.
In 1866 Harvey was a farming settlement with approximately 50 resident families: in 1871 Harvey was a station on the European and North American Railway and had a population of 200: in 1898 Harvey was a port of entry with 1 post office, 3 stores, 1 hotel, 2 churches and a population of 260. Harvey had a post office from 1839 to 1951.
From the New Brunswick Archives