CARLETON COUNTY – HISTORICAL DATA:
Revised To: January 27, 2010
HISTORY OF UPPER WOODSTOCK, Page 37, – By Maud
Henderson Miller, Globe Printing Company, Saint John, 1940 –
CHAPTER III. – THE COMING OF THE RAILWAY AND
BRIDGES – IN 1835 the merchants and business men of St.
Andrews got together and held a meeting for the purpose of
organising a company under the name of the St. Andrews and
Quebec Railway. Military engineers were engaged to survey the
route and prove its feasibility. “The Ashburton Treaty of 1842,
however, brought this to a standstill as the projected road was to
have run through the country that was ceded by that Treaty to the
United States. However, in 1860, the road was opened from St.
Andrews as far as Canterbury. In July, 1862, it went as far as
Richmond, four miles from Houlton, and eight miles from
Woodstock.”
“In September, 1868, the branch from Debec to
Woodstock was opened. There was no railroad north of Woodstock
at that date.”
“The name of the company was changed to The New
Brunswick Railroad Company, April, 1870.” “On January 14th,
1872, an agreement was entered into, by which the New Brunswick
Railway Company would build a railway from St. Mary’s (opposite
Fredericton, York County), to Edmundston, Victoria County, on the
eastern side of the river, but to include a bridge across the St. John
River, at Woodstock.” “The first sod was turned at St. Mary’s for
the Riviere De Loup Railway on May 7, 1872. The company was
given 10,000 acres of land for every mile of railroad that they
finished. Counting the Gibson railroad they had 170 miles
completed and they received a grant of land 1,700,000 acres.”
“This railway was built 1872-1876, the line from St.
Mary’s to Hartland passing through the country back from the river.
The trains ran as far as Kilburn, Victoria County, December 1,
1874, and as far as Edmundston in 1876.”
“The railway bridge at Andover, being on the main line
of railway, was built in 1875, and is supposed to be the first railway
bridge to have crossed the St. John River, not excepting Saint
John.”
This Gibson Branch, as it was called, did not reach
Woodstock. It came to Newburg Station, which was just above the
farm of Colonel Wm. T. Baird, and crossed the road that went back
to Newburg, near Enoch Campbell’s house.
There was a ferry-boat running from Woodstock at the
foot of Queen Street, across to the landing just below McElroy’s
mill in Grafton at this time.
“The amended Act passed April 14, 1873, allowed the
company to push on with the main line, and build the Woodstock
bridge, later, on condition that said company would commence
actual construction of bridge, across the St. John river, at
Woodstock, before July 1, 1874, and fully finish and the complete
bridge, fit for running of railway trains, by 1877. This bridge was
completed in 1876, and was built to accommodate passengers
underneath, and trains on top. It was situated some distance below
the present railway bridge, crossing the river from above Hayden’s
mill to the upper end of the Grafton side.”
“The bridge was completed on March 17, 1876. It was
1,000 feet in length; all spans (except the draw, which is fifty feet,
and the one on the western bank) are 165 feet – eight piers. This
was the first bridge for horse and foot passengers between Saint
John and Grand Falls.”
The road to the bridge was the one they use now to go to
the Woodstock Water Works, or Pumping Station, as they call it.
The first floor, level with the road, was used for passengers, walking
or driving teams, and above them was the railroad even with the top
of the hill. This bridge was in a straight line from Peter Fisher’s
house, and on the Grafton side the railway ran over a high trestle
past Archie Hale’s house and through the garden of Colonel Wm. T.
Baird, then on the flat back of his house and barns, up to meet the
Gibson train at Newburg Station.
EXCERPTS FROM THE “CARLETON SENTINEL” – April 28,
1876 –
“In reference to the bridge. In the night there was a thick
run of ice, and it was found that the substance, in its friction with
the piers left startling evidence of its destructive power, having
gnawed through the hardwood casing. People had begun to realize
the convenience of the bridge. A temporary approach had been
made, making it accessible for teams. Coaches had begun to use it
for conveying passengers to and from the depot at Northampton.
Mr. Superintendent Hoben and a force of men, arrived on Saturday,
and on Sunday night they had succeeded in so far repairing the
damage done, as to make the present safety of the bridge secure.
Traffic on the bridge has now resumed.”
August 19, 1876 – “Extract from agreement between Company and
Government: – The said company do agree that the work of
constructing said bridge shall be commenced on or before the first
of July, next, and that the same shall be ready and open to the public
for carriage and foot passenger traffic on or before the 1st of July,
1876.”
March 31, 1877 – “The Railway Bridge. The work of repairing this
structure has, now, nearly reached completion. The work of
securing the draw piers, by piles (crib) and heavy stone filling has
been finished in a thorough manner. A pier of great strength has
been built some 200 feet above the draw piers; between these piers,
on either side, booms are being hung, under the personal
supervision of Honourable W. E. Perley, who is giving careful
attention to the work, which will not only serve to protect the piers
from the effects of lumber and ice, but will, as well, greatly aid in
the running of rafts. Four of the piers have been plated with iron,
monitor style, the plates, made and fitted, having been brought from
England, and placed in position under the skilful direction of Mr. A.
H. Connell. Mr. F. H. Hale was the contractor for the ice-breaker,
and has made a creditable job.”
April 7, 1877 (Saturday) – “One of the most important events in
the history of this town, or rather of the whole up-river district,
transpired on Wednesday morning, (April 4th.), when, for the first
time, trains passed over the Railway Bridge across the St. John
River, here. It was rumoured that the `opening’ would take place at
7:00 a.m., and many of our citizens left their beds at an earlier hour
than usual in order to witness the inaugural ceremonies, but such
were doomed for disappointment, as it was found impossible to get
ready to cross at so early an hour. About ten o’clock, however, all
things being in readiness – a large concourse of people having in the
meantime assembled on either bank of the river, – a light
locomotive carrying the following men: – T. Hoben,
Superintendent; P. Logan, Locomotive Superintendent; H. W.
Phillips, Conductor; E. Howard, Trackmaster, and a stoker, left the
Grafton Station and slowly, but safely, made the transit of the bridge
and returned. Then a heavier locomotive was run over and back;
and in the afternoon a locomotive and a flat car crossed and recrossed. Long and loud were the cheers that went up from the
assembled multitudes, as the first locomotive made the trial trip, and
on her coming to a standstill, many a hand was extended to grasp
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the hand of those who composed the crew.
“The bridge, to all appearances, was unaffected by the
strain put upon her, and there is every reason to believe, as it is
certainly to be hoped, that the structure will now prove to be
permanently secure. We presume it will be but a few days before
there will be a connection made with the N. B. & C. Railway.”
May 12, 1877 – “Twenty years ago Woodstock indulged in
occasional dreams of having railroad connection at some time in the
far future with the outside world. By-and-by the N. B. & C. road
reached Richmond Station and stopped there, and there it was to
stop so said the authorities, until under some fortunate provision of
Providence or strong faithed capitalists, it was pushed onward
further toward its objective point, in the minds of its originators, at
Riviere du Loup. One thing was certain, so the wise engineers said,
that no nearer approach could be made to Woodstock; that was
physically impossible.
“Then came Mr. James Hartley, who presumed to
question the decision of the older and more positive engineers, and
satisfied the Woodstock Railway Company that a practical and
favourable route could be found for a union of the town with the N.
B. &. C. road. The company named, or those gentlemen who
inspired it, set Mr. Hartley to work, and the result was our
Woodstock branch. Meantime the route of the Intercolonial was
being fought on paper, and the terms North, Central and Frontier
became ‘familiar to our ears as household words,’ but the battle
went against our favourite route, and the Intercolonial was carried
by the North Shore, thanks to Peter Mitchell. Well, Woodstock had
intercourse to the sea, and with the west, by rail, and had made up
its mind to be sublimely satisfied with being a terminus. And now
the people of the County learned by experience the lesson they
refused to believe when it was propounded to them by argument –
they learned that, instead of the road to Woodstock resulting in a
monopoly by that town of the advantages, it was the County – the
people in nearly every parish – the people who had grain, or butter,
or meat, or cattle or sheep to sell – that reaped the harvest of
advantage. The road proved a stimulant to the trade in country
produce, and the farmers have grown rich in consequence. Well,
Woodstock and the County were roused from a state of being quite
satisfied into a state of anxiety of expectancy, and friend Whitehead
and the Missing Link came before our public. Then Mr. Gibson’s
fame became a popular theme, and the Narrow Gauge Road, which
he and that energetic railroad creator, E. R. Burpee, proposed
building from Fredericton, upward.
But why dwell upon the ‘what was’. Why dwell among
the speculations and theories which form links in the chain of the
railroad history of the Province?
The men who were the railroad pioneers in this
Province; the men who invested their means, their faith and
enterprise in the St. Andrew’s road, died many years ago, the work
they so ardently advocated, only begun. The man who demonstrated
the feasibility of bringing the track into Woodstock, by its
construction, died also too young – died when there was so much
for him (James Hartley) to do, – so much that few could do as well;
the Intercolonial is running, and promises by its success to satisfy its
advocates and disappoint those who predicted failure. The Missing
Link has been found and put in place; the connection has been
completed, through a considerable portion of Victoria; through the
extent of Carleton, over the river twice; through Woodstock the iron
artery now runs, carrying the productions of the fertile Aroostook,
and of the equally fertile intermediary field to the east or west or
south, wherever the demands of trade invite these productions.
“Not yet complete; still north that artery is being
stretched and not far away is the time, doubtless, when we shall
have an Intercolonial connection at Riviere du Loup. But never
mind that now. Let us today be satisfied with what today gives us,
and join hands with Gibson, Burpee, Osburn, and others, all and
singular, who have contributed to make the railroad connections
now completed at Woodstock.”
September 15, 1877 (Saturday) – “The work of changing gauge of
the European & North American and New Brunswick & Canada
Railway is being proceeded with.”
“Since Wednesday there has been a cessation of traffic,
and passengers have been transferred at such points as has, each
day, been reached by the gangs of men engaged in moving the rails.
By Monday it is anticipated that the work on the first named road
will be completed, and this will be the case on the N. B. & C. road,
probably, from Woodstock to McAdam.”
They built the railroad bridge at Upper Woodstock in the
early 80s. The first railroad built was narrow gauge, but when the
bridge was finished in 1881, they changed to the standard gauge.
This railroad ran right straight up the river from Woodstock to
Upper Woodstock, and over a long, high trestle-work over the
island, and another short bridge on the other side. This trestle-work,
clear across the island, after a few years was filled in with sand and
rock; and the station was changed from down near Bairds, to
Newburg, eight miles above Woodstock. The bridge that we crossed
going to Newburg, over Archer’s Creek, was one of the highest ever
built at that time.
In a letter from Mr. T. C. Macnabb, General
Superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway Eastern Division, I
have the following information: “The year that the bridge opened is
correct, 1881, but the records of the New Brunswick Railway
Company, by which Company the bridge was built, beyond stating
this fact are incomplete in detail. For your information, the
Canadian Pacific did not lease this line from the New Brunswick
Railway until 1890, and prior to that date we are, therefore,
dependent upon that Company’s records. It may interest you to learn
that the structure of 1881 consisted partly of several 168-foot timber
truss spans and several short timber flanking spans built over the
main and east channel. The substructure of this bridge apparently
consisted of rock-filled timber cribs. These (1881) spans were
renewed in kind in 1897 and in 1908 the timber structure was
replaced by the present bridge.”
The grades on this road were very steep, both going up
to Newburg Station, and coming out of Hartland, and the Railway
Company changed their roadbed and built it down near the river, all
the way from Hartland to Woodstock, and changed Newburg
Station again, down near the Upper Woodstock bridge. The old
Newburg Station was called Shewen. And the high Archer’s Creek
bridge was dismantled.
The passenger and railway bridge, built in 1876-77, was
not used by the railroad after the Upper Woodstock bridge was
built, but only as a passenger bridge. In 1892, April, the heavy flow
of ice carried away two piers and part of the super-structure, and
then we had to go back to the ferry days, until the new Woodstock
bridge was built. This bridge was demolished, but you can still see
the first abutment on the Woodstock side of the river.
March 12, 1892 – “Tenders for the new bridge across the river, at
Woodstock at the foot of King Street, are advertised for. Plans and
specifications are to be seen at the office of G. W. VanWart.
Judging from the plan, the structure will be a handsome and durable
one.”
April 27, 1892 – “Derricks and other apparatus shipped to
Woodstock, from Gibson, are to be used by Mr. George Kitchen, in
the construction of the Woodstock bridge.”
May 14, 1892 – “The foot of King Street, just now, presents a busy
and attractive place. Hundreds of people visit the spot daily, to
witness the bridge builders at work; operations under the personal
supervision of Mr. Kitchen, one of the contractors, and the engineer,
D. Brown, are being pushed with rapidity.”
Also: “Cement will be furnished by W. F. Dibblee &
Son, who closed a contract with Mr. Kitchen, for one thousand
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barrels. W. F. Dibblee will import direct from London, and it was
shipped on Thursday, the 12th, by steamer to Saint John, and will
arrive here by the first of June.”
This bridge was opened for traffic in 1894.
The bridge at Hartland, opened for traffic May 14, 1901,
was a toll bridge and remained as such until April 30, 1906.
April 13, 1892 – “Captain Duncan and his engineer went to Swan
Creek, on Thursday, April 7th., to prepare the Florenceville for the
season’s work. She will probably be running to Woodstock by the
last of the week.”
April 23, 1892 – “The steamer Florenceville reached here on her
first trip of the season, at an early hour Tuesday afternoon, April
19th. This steamer has been placed in a thorough state of repair, and
looks quite neat.”
“The steel bridge across the Falls in Saint John opened
for railway traffic in 1885.”
I have had a hard search to find the history of the
“Bridges” across the St. John River, so I have copied extracts from
old “Carleton Sentinels” the Librarian of the Fisher Memorial
Library procured for me, for papers wear out and the knowledge is
safer in books.
You will also note some things that are not relevant to
Upper Woodstock and which belong to the early days, and so I am
including them in my history.
Copied from “The Dispatch.” Woodstock, December 19, 1894
THE WOODSTOCK BRIDGE
Completion of the Highway Connecting
East and West.
The Handsomest Structure of the Kind in Canada – Almost Half a
Mile Long – Dimensions of the Spans – Where the Material Was
Made.
“The bridge which was formally opened on Thursday
last is without doubt one of the handsomest structures of the kind in
Canada. Indeed, it is said, not to be equalled in its class. From the
end of King Street it spans the river to a point, slightly higher on the
Grafton side. The total length of the planking on the bridge is 2,025
feet. There are twelve spans of which eight are 183 feet long; one
186 feet; one 225 feet; one 100 feet, and one plate girder 50 feet.
The height at the centre of the long span is 31 feet; at the centre of
none of the spans less than 27 feet. The clear headway of all spans
from the flooring up is 17½ feet, high enough to allow the largest
load of hay and a man standing on the top to pass under. The
estimated weight was 534 tons, while as an actual fact the weight is
537 tons. The cost of the super-structure was $42,487. The iron
used in the bridge was prepared at the works of the Canadian
Bridge Company, Montreal. This company has done much other
work in the Province, notably the next longest iron bridge in the
Province at Hampton. They also built a very large bridge at the
Chaudiere river, between Hull and Ottawa, taking the place of the
old Suspension bridge. This structure is probably the largest singlespan bridge in Canada. The width of the roadway for teams is forty
feet, besides two sidewalks each five feet wide. The span is 240 feet
in length.
“The material for this Woodstock bridge was rolled in
Pittsburg, in Montreal, in England, and in Germany. The heavy steel
floor beams came from Germany; the iron tension members, rods,
etc., came from Montreal and England, and the steel compression
members came from Pittsburg. The steel plates came from
Scotland.
“This material was all fabricated in Montreal, under the
inspection of W. H. Arnold, representative in Montreal of the Ferris
Company. This company had previously inspected the material at
the rolling mills, which went in the bridge, before shipment from
Montreal. The rivets are all of the best iron, and were all driven by
hydraulic rivetting machines. All the work at the shops was painted
with a coat of oil, except the places which could not be reached after
erection, these having a coat of paint. The material was all shipped
from Montreal over the C. P. R. and unloaded at the end of the
bridge with a derrick erected for the purpose. After the erection was
commenced the work was inspected by Mr. John Stulen, another
representative of the Ferris Company. The bridge structure should
have been finished on the 15th of August in this year, but owing to
the rigid inspection of the iron at the works of the Montreal Rolling
Mills, this company threw up the contract after finishing all but the
larger pieces. These pieces were not to be obtained in Canada, as no
mill could guarantee such quality as required in these sizes. They,
therefore, had to be obtained in England, and their delivery was
further delayed by strikes. This allowed the erection to only be
commenced on the 12th day of August, three days previous to the
contract day for completion. As the bridge was actually completed
on November 28th, it must be seen that the contractors could have
had the bridge finished in the specified time if they had not been
delayed by circumstances over which they had no control.
“Albert Brewer was the inspector for the flooring and
the timber generally. The erection foreman was Mr. Alex. Emery,
who has had considerable previous experience in this class of work.
“Of course the great feature, and where the only
difficulty in erection occurred, was the erection of the channel span
in the winter time, when the current was eight miles an hour, and
ice and logs were flowing more or less. The depth of the water, for
the most of the way in the span was twenty-two feet. While a good
many people thought it impossible to put up the falsework, with
such a current, even the provincial engineer being skeptical, this
was done without a hitch, with the exception of two bents of the
falsework being carried away when the corporation drive came
down. After the erection of the bridge was completed two further
coats of the most approved bridge paint were put on. The
contractors for the superstructure say that the work of the
government engineer, A. R. Wetmore, was most thoroughly done,
indeed, his supervision exceeding in thoroughness any inspection to
which they were subject in previous works. The Canadian Bridge
Company, besides, other work in the Province, erected the
Woodstock stand-pipe.
LOCAL CABINET EN MASSE
Visit Woodstock and Declare
the Bridge Open.
An Interesting Event
in the
History of the Town –
Meeting in the Evening –
The Chief Commissioner and
Others Deliver
Orations.
“The new bridge connecting the eastern and western
sides of the river at Woodstock was opened with fitting ceremony
on Thursday last. Although Mr. Blair, the Premier of the Province,
did not put in an appearance, a number of the local Government
celebrities were present. They were: Mr. Emmerson, Chief
Commissioner of Public Works; Mr. Mitchell, Provincial Secretary;
Mr. Tweedie, Surveyor-General; Mr. White, Solicitor-General, and
Mr. Dunn, Minister Without Portfolio.
“Shortly after two o’clock in the afternoon these
gentlemen, Mr. J. T. A. Dibblee, M.P.P., the Mayor and members
of the Town Council, the president of the Board of Trade and others
passed over the bridge in carriages to the Grafton side. When they
arrived at their destination quite a number of citizens were gathered
round about. The Chief Commissioner opened the ball, by inquiring
of the manager of the company, F. E. Came, if the bridge was ready
for public use. Mr. Came responded that it was, and Mr. A. R.
Wetmore, the Government Engineer, gave corroborative evidence,
stating that the bridge was duly completed to his satisfaction. Mr.
Emmerson then made a speech congratulating the people of the
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County on the completion of a bridge unsurpassed of its kind in
Canada. Cheers were called for and given at the mention of the
names of Mr. Emmerson, Mr. J. T. A. Dibblee, Mr. A. R. Wetmore,
and Mr. Came.
“Mr. Hanson, Mayor of Woodstock, made a few
appropriate remarks and on behalf of the people of Woodstock he
thanked the Government for the fine structure they had erected. Mr.
J. T. A. Dibbles, M.P.P., Mr. George L. Cronkite, Honourable Wm.
Lindsay, Mr. H. Paxton Baird and Mr. J. Bragdon made brief
speeches. After the multitude had cheered lustily for Mr. John
Stulen, the Government Inspector, the ceremonial came to an end.
“Graham’s Opera House was the scene of a public
meeting in the evening. The hall was very well filled, and the
speakers were accorded a good reception. As issues in Provincial
politics are not easy of definition, it is not surprising that the
audience displayed no particular enthusiasm one way or the other.
They seemed to appreciate the fact that the bridge is done and that it
is a handsome structure of which the County and town have reason
to be proud.
“On the platform with the Ministers and Mr. Dibblee,
were Mr. Samuel Watts, chairman; John Harper, C. L. Tilley,
Robert Brown, Stephen Peabody, G. L. Cronkite, Mayor Hanson,
John Sutton, Wm. Taylor, S. B. Appleby, P. Corbett, S. Speer, J.
Flemming, Dr. Ross, C. P. Bull and F. E. Came. After the chairman
had opened the meeting and had made a fit reference to the loss the
country had sustained in the death of the Premier, he introduced Mr.
Dibblee, who remarked that he had been the sole representative of
the County for some months during which time he had done his best
to look after the interests of the County. Whether he had succeeded
or not, was for the people to say. They would notice that he was
falling away and that the hair on his head was getting thin
(laughter). He was going to ask the Government to relieve him from
part of his responsibility as soon as possible. The people would soon
be called upon to elect a representative to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Honourable H. A. Connell. Whoever they elected,
he hoped he would work with him and with the Government.
“Mr. Emmerson made quite a lengthy speech, defending
the action of the Government in respect to the bridge. He claimed
that it was almost impossible to bring any work to a finish without
some extras being found necessary. The tenders for the substructure
of the bridge varied from $60,000 to $107,000. The average offer
was $90,000 and this average offer was made by practical men. It
would be found that, all extras and rebuilding of piers included, the
cost of the substructure did not exceed the average tender. With
regard to the superstructure delays had occurred which were
regrettable, but unavoidable. The Government could rightly claim
credit for the thorough system of inspection they had carried out
with respect to the substructure. Every piece of iron which went into
the work was inspected before it left the machine shop. The
estimated weight of the superstructure was 534 tons, and the
contract weight was 537 tons, so that the bridge was just three tons
stronger than required in the contract. He gave credit to the engineer
in charge, Mr. A. R. Wetmore, for the thoroughness with which he
did the work, and to Mr. John Stulen, the government inspector, for
the capable way in which he had performed his duties.
“Mr. White also spoke at considerable length. In
bringing his address to a close he referred to the registrar of wills
and deeds. He had held an investigation into a charge made against
that gentleman, and the conclusion he had reached was such as he
was sure any candid man would reach who read over the shorthand
report. And anyone was welcome to read it over if they wished to do
so.
“Mr. Mitchell said he was one of those who at first
opposed the location of the bridge. However, he had consulted with
many practical engineers afterwards and they had said to him that
whatever complaints the people might have to make with regard to
the bridge they had no reason to complain that it was not properly
located.”
——
NEWS CLIPPINGS
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 26 – Tuesday, July 16,
1850 – REPORT ON THE NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER ST.
JOHN – GRAND BAR – Survey No. 9 – Seven miles from
Woodstock the River divides into two channels to the right and left
of a half sunken Island, 1¼ miles in length, called Grand Bar; the
channel on the right is contracted and rendered dangerous for the
passage of large boats by reefs of rocks, which project into its bed;
that on the left is the one generally used; has a comparatively
smooth bed, formed of coarse gravel, with deep water until it
crosses the foot of the bar. This section of the River exhibits most
unequivocal traces that its stream has cut its course through an
alluvial deposit; from the form &c., it seems probable that the oldest
and only water-way was the channel on the right, at which period
the Island (or bar) formed a tract of intervale along the left bank,
remnants of which are still visible at A and B. It does not appear
that any new deposit takes place at this bar; the current is rapid,
without eddies, and sufficiently strong to carry forward any stones
and gravel transported hither by the stream; the depth of water
where the channel crosses the bar is thought by the pilots to less
than formerly; but this seems to be the effect of the water spreading
over a wider space by the gradual erosion of more elevated portions
of the foot of the Island; under such circumstances the remedy to be
applied is to endeavour again to contract the water of the River
where it is shoals, and which is considered can be effected in the
readiest way by a dam from the left bank, opposite the foot of the
Island, stretching obliquely 500 yards with the stream, towards the
right bank; also to weather the foot of the Island with a protecting
embankment. Should this prove insufficient, the flow down the right
channel at low water should be stopped by a dam across it from the
head of the Island, GH. The probable cost of the dam, CD, and
embankment, EF, will be £140.
DIBBLEE’S BAR – Survey No. 10
The appearance of the country for 3 miles below
Woodstock, betokens most undeniably, that the stream is
continually cutting passage for itself through the alluvial deposit of
one of the chain of Lakes which at a former epoch existed; one if
these passages has separated Fraser’s Island from the main Land;
this Island will itself probably in the course of time be swept away
by the action of the stream, or be converted into a barren mound,
resembling the Grand Bar, (last described) covered with shingle and
gravel; thus has been already formed the sunken neck of land at its
lower extremity, called “Dibblee’s Bar,” the current having been
deflected towards Fraser’s Island, has excavated through the soft
soil a deep winding channel, which is now generally preferred for
the passing of boats, in consequence of having a soft even bottom;
whilst the bed of the old channel which follows the right bank, is
extremely rough and uncertain, as well as being full of sharp
projecting points of rock; this new or left channel has from 10 to 6
feet of water through its whole extent, except where it crosses the
narrow strip of Dibblee’s Bar, where only 2 feet 9 inches is found
during dry seasons. Complaints are made by Pilots of the very
sudden turn in the channel, and of the danger experienced of being
carried by the current, before they can bring the boat round, against
some large detached masses of rock situated closed to the right
bank. The two most advanced of them should be removed, and the
course of the channel improved by forcing the stream against the
west point of Dibblee’s Bar, by means of a jettee, a b, 130 yards in
length, in order to cut a straighter passage for itself, and which at
the same time will have the effect of protecting the foot of the
Island, c d, from erosion. The growth of bushes and brushwood
should be encouraged as much as possible on the sloping bank of
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Fraser’s Island, to diminish the erosion of the current; the probable
cost of the works proposed will be £135.
BELVISOR’S BAR – Survey No. 11
The accumulation of ice below Cronkite Island, (where
its packs against the left bank,) has caused a deposit of stones,
gravel, &c., brought down the stream during the period of the
Spring Freshets, and formed a bar from the foot of the Island
obliquely across to the right shore, where its spreads into a large
bank of shingle, known as “Belvisor’s Bar.” The water is deep
down the branch of the River, on the right of the Island, until the
channel, in crossing to the left bank, cuts a passage through the
narrow neck of the Bar, where it shoals from 5 feet to 2 feet 3
inches, but deepens again quickly, giving soundings of 3, 4, 5 and 6
feet within a short space; a sufficient depth can be obtained in this
channel, by stopping the spread of the water over the bar by means
of an embankment composed of stones, brush and gravel, extending
from the foot of the Island about 500 yards down with the stream;
the danger to be apprehended at this section of the navigation, is
that after passing the bar, the current sets directly towards the steep
bank, on the left, carrying the boat very towards several large
detached rocks, two of which are situated immediately in its course;
when these are removed, there is a free and deep channel for more
than a mile, when a bar formed of stones are coarse gravel and
caused in a similar manner to the one described, crosses the River
near a large cubical rock, called the “Governor’s Table.” The water
shoals here to 3 feet 3 inches, in the average dry season, but the bar
is not considered at present an obstruction to the navigation; in the
event of the accumulation increasing, a greater force of current
should be directed against it, by stopping the flow of water through
the masses of rocks found above the Governor’s Table, A A A. The
probable cost of the dam at the foot of Cronkite Island, and the
removal of rock, below Belvisor’s Bar will be £250.
——
Fredericton, Head Quarters, Page 2 – Wednesday, June 1, 1859
– The Woodstock Journal ridicules the penchant for altering names
of places in Carleton and Victoria. Thus Hardscrabble has become
Upper Woodstock, Butternut Creek has been changed to
Florenceville, Little Falls to Edmundston, and it is now proposed to
change McKenzie Corner into Havelock. The Editor then expresses
his horror at the bare possibility of the name of Grand Falls being
changed, in the following language:–
“By and bye we shall have some soft-headed and kidgloved degenerate burlesque upon humanity, – who would probably
faint if you unadvised and rashly used in his presence the words
MEN and WOMEN, instead of GENTLEMEN and LADIES, – proposing
to change the apt and appropriate name of ‘Grand Falls’ into some
rose-coloured, lavender-scented, romantic, sentimentally-struck,
lackadaisical, die-away designation. Should such a horror ever
occur, – which the Lord in his goodness forbid! – we do hope and
trust and pray that the Fall itself will, in utter disgust, refuse to FALL
a moment longer, and that it may disappear from the face of
creation, and refuse longer to exhibit its spectacle of beauty and
sublimity to the eyes of a degenerate people.”
Now the Editor of the Journal ought to have known that
what he deprecates so much was perpetrated several years ago,
when the village at the Falls was named Colebrooke. If he will take
the trouble to call at the Crown Land Office he will find no modern
plan of the Grand Falls, but he will find a plan of the town-plate of
Colebrooke.
——
Woodstock, NB – The Carleton Sentinel, Page 98 (2) –
Saturday, April 6, 1861 – INQUEST – Com. – An Inquest was
held in the parish of Brighton, on Tuesday, 26th day of March,
before Wm. L. Drier, Esquire, Coroner, on view of the body of John
Swim, who was killed at the bridge near Samuel Dickinson’s
Esquire. It appears from the evidence produced, that he was
engaged with a number of persons putting up the stringers of a
bridge now in the course of erection across the Becaguimec at that
place, one of which fell upon him, causing instant death. The Jury
found a verdict in accordance with the above.
——
Woodstock, NB – The Carleton Sentinel, Page 118 (2) –
Saturday, May 11, 1861 – COLONIAL NEWS – A New Colony in
New Brunswick – Greenock Advertiser – The barque Irvine of
Yarmouth, (NS) 500 tons register, now lying in Victoria Harbour,
has been chartered to carry 150 agricultural emigrants to Glassville,
a new distant granted for colonization purposes by government, and
situated about 150 miles from the mouth of the river St. John, NB.
It is a rich pastoral district, and has been named after the Reverend
Mr. Glass, who is now in this county promoting the emigration
movement.
——
Saint John, The Telegraph-Journal, Reader, Page 5 –
Saturday, June 25, 2005 – June 26, 1861 – Over 130 Scottish
immigrants arrive at Partridge Island on board the “Irvine.” They
left the port of Greenock on May 9, destined for the new settlement
of Glassville.
——
Fredericton, Head Quarters, Page 2 – Wednesday, January 29,
1862 – MILITARY MOVEMENTS – Woodstock Journal, Thursday,
January 23 – The arrival of troops in Woodstock, and their
forwarding to Canada, continue to be the principal objects of
interest in the Town. On Friday last an additional number of teams
were put on the route from Woodstock upwards, and since that time
about one hundred and sixty men, with the proportionate number of
officers have left each day. The last of the 62nd. left on that day, and
since the detachment of the 16th., which the Persia failed to land at
Bic, and which consequently passed over this route, has been
passed through; after which came the 1st. Battalion of the Rifle
Brigade, the last division of which left this morning. On Monday
evening over one hundred of the Military train arrived by way of St.
Andrews. On Tuesday the first detachment of the Grenadier
Guards, one hundred and four, arrived from Fredericton, and last
evening brought a second instalment of about the same number.
Last evening a company of the Royal Artillery came by way of St.
Andrews.
These movements have given our Town for the past
week an exceedingly lively appearance. The streets are alive with
the men and officers of some four or five different branches of the
service. We have had at one time the dark and sombre dress of the
Rifle Brigade, the bright scarlet of the 62nd. and Grenadier Guards,
the showy blue and scarlet of the Artillery, and blue and white of the
Military train, with a sprinkling of the Commissariat Staff Corps.
The weather has been very bright and fine, and, with the
exception of a day or two, very mild. Some idea may be formed of
the amount of stir when we say that each morning the contractor,
Major Tupper, dispatched upwards, about thirty teams, and each
evening from fifteen to twenty arrive from Fredericton; beside
which there is an occasional arrival of about the same number from
Canterbury station. In the last seven days one hundred and ninetytwo teams have left Woodstock for Little Falls. The horse power of
Carleton has been largely called upon; nevertheless we are informed
that there are more applications to the contractor from teamsters
than he can accept, and that he is prepared to forward men and
stores in greater number and quantities than has yet been asked by
the authorities.
——
Fredericton, Head Quarters, Page 2 – Wednesday, February 5,
1862 – The Carleton Sentinel says, that the unfinished building
rented of Mr. Connell for the accommodations of the troops, for a
sum exceeding £600 sterling, would have been, if finished, worth a
£1,000 a year to the owner. Who would have thought unless told,
Carleton - 5
that property in Woodstock was about as valuable as property in
Cheapside, London! The Sentinel also says, “that there mere
question of rent is an object of no moment to the Government,
provided they have the accommodation they require.” Of course,
that is the general opinion, and people lay it on when they have a
chance, but we do not believe that the British Government is
unnecessarily lavish of the national income, and is indifferent to the
amount of the sums it pays away. The Sentinel also says, “that any
sane man must admit that even double rent is scarce an adequate
remuneration for the use of the buildings for barracks.” This
appears to us very like an admission that the £600 sterling, and
more, was more than twice the rent that would have been asked
under ordinary circumstances, and a refutation by its own hand, of
the statement that the building if finished would have been worth a
£1,000 a year.
——
Woodstock, NB, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday,
February 11, 1865 – LOCAL – We learn that Honourable Charles
Connell has been requested to address a public meeting at
Florenceville on public questions, and that he has consented to do
so. Due notice of the time of meeting will be given.
——
Fredericton, New Brunswick Reporter, Page 2 – Friday, June
19, 1868 – TRIP TO TOBIQUE – O for the pencil of Port Crayon,
and O for the pen of Dickens, to picture and portray all the delights,
the pleasures, the enjoyments of the now famous trip to Tobique.
Bewitching to the eye, entrancing to the heart, pleasurable to all the
noble emotions, was the scene presented on that occasion by the
ever winding, onward flowing St. John; its banks new clothed with
impenetrable verdure of forest trees and rich dark coppices; where
the fir, the pine, the cedar, the elm, the maple, the spruce, and the
giant hemlock, lift their proud summits to the sky, weird watchers
of the verdure-giving stream; and now breaking away into smiling
landscapes of fruitful fields, pleasant meads, and happy homes. All
these we could see and greet, and rejoice that the noble river which
gave life and sustenance to them all, was
OUR OWN ST. JOHN
“They may talk of the rivers of other lands,
Of the Danube and noble Rhine,
Where fought of yore the undaunted bands
From Alps to Appenine.”
“While others sing of the pleasant Seine,
Or the mighty Amazon,
We’ll raise our voice in as proud a strain,
In praise of the broad St. John.”
A merrier crew than that which left Fredericton on
Tuesday morning, 9th instant, on board the “Ida Whittier,” bound
for the Tobique and Grand Falls, never kept holiday, and having set
out for a pleasant time, they resolved to make the most and the best
of it. Spring had displayed her wealth and beauties all around; every
prospect was pleasing; wealth and beauty in the forest and fields,
wealth and beauty on the bosom of the water, wealth in the finny
tribe beneath, everything conspiring to our pleasure and satisfaction.
On board were a number of Wesleyan clergymen, about to join in
district conference prior to the general conference, shortly to be held
in our city and none more than they seemed to enjoy the ever
revolving scene of the picturesque and beautiful. As we steamed
past Government House, the romantic Nashwaaksis, and the Islands
so quietly sleeping in the calm waters of the St. John, one asked,
“can we possibly see a prettier prospect than that?” Not prettier,
perhaps, but many bolder, grander, where art had never laid her
fingers, where nature appeared in all her wild unadorned
magnificence.
OUR FIRST STOP
was at Spring Hill, near Murray’s saw mill, one of the smartest and
steadiest on the river, with its dangerous looking chimney,
apparently defying the natural laws of gravitation, and reminding us
of the wonderful leaning tower of Piza, pictured on the books of our
modern geographers. Here we took on board a quantity of rafting
gear, and one of the skull-oars not receiving the most polite
attention from the hands of the boat, its owner became furious, and
continued gesticulating wildly, and threatening annihilation, a la
Cyclops, until the steamer and its passengers had passed out of sight
and hearing. Above this the river’s margin is fringed with green,
and the cultivation in the back-ground is unseen until we approach
Crock’s Point, and the fertile ranges of the Keswick and
Mactaquack are seen in the distance. On the right, the fields display
all the various shades of green blending like a skilfully woven
carpet, upon which the eye looks unwearied. Now we spy the Indian
Village, with its thirty or forty rude habitations, and here and there a
dusky son of the forest moving listlessly among the wigwams; but
civilization(?) in the shape of rum and dissipation has set its mark
upon them, and in a few years a rude cross with its rough-chiselled
numbers, will be all that shall remain to tell of the once powerful
Milicetes who lighted their council fires and followed the warpath
along the wilderness banks of Ouangoudey.
FRIEND LONG
The nest place of interest above this is Long’s Creek to
the left, thickly settled with industrious well-to-do farmers.
Prominent on a beautiful site, is the residence of Chas. Long,
Esquire, fronting a rich interval sweeping down to the river. Here
might be seen the bluff old residenter himself, having given up
hotel-keeping in Fredericton, busily superintending his favourite
avocation, in which he so industriously excels. Recognizing our old
friend we give him three hearty cheers, which were returned in
cheery solo by the jovial farmer.
POQUIOCK
We now approach two important feeders of the St. John
– the Nackawic entering from the North, the Poquiock from the
South. At the mouth of the latter there is quite a little village, and
here are the mills so lately the scene of an accident whereby tow
young men lost their lives. Here also is one of the prettiest falls in
New Brunswick; high precipitous banks flank the stream on either
side, and through a rocky gorge the water foams and dances along
until finally dashing over a rocky precipice in a lovely “apron” or
waterfall, it mingles noisily and irritably with the waters of the St.
John.
We next come to Shogomock stream and mills, situate
like the Poquiock on the South bank of the river, and here all the
surrounding scenery is very fine; a pretty little village nestles at the
mouth, and vies with the richly cultivated banks on the opposite
shore in richness of cultivation and forest verdure. Here the tide
runs swiftly at the rate of about ten miles an hour, and we find it a
rapid current until we reach Eel River.
NOT BUTTERMILK
In the meantime we pass the pleasantly situated
residence formerly occupied by Mr. I. Atherton on our right, and
stop at Hillman’s on the same side, for wood. At one of the houses
“mine host” of the Barker House, a jolly good fellow treated the
“crowd” to some deliciously sweet milk, and on his remarking in
compliment to the agreeable lady of the house, that it was not much
like buttermilk, the somewhat deaf and obtuse grandmama gave
“that young man” distinctly to understand that they “didn’t sell no
buttermilk there, and if he didn’t like it be best not drink it.”
Explanation followed, however, and mine host and grandmama
became the best of friends until the wooding up was accomplished.
EEL RIVER
We nest approach Eel River, in the parish of Canterbury,
and the dividing line between the counties of York and Carleton;
this is on the left. Just below we are in view of the residence of a
thrifty farmer named Moores, who for the last thirty years has
planted an interval acre of land with corn, and this same acre year
Carleton - 6
after year still yields its wealth of corn abundantly. Eel River, where
we stop to land two passengers and take in more wood, is about
twelve miles below Woodstock, and has its rise some thirty or forty
miles in the interior of the country. There is no saw mills to be seen,
but a grist mill owned by Mr. Dow finds profitable employment.
There are a number of buildings here, prominent on a commanding
elevation, the residence of Mr. C. Grosvenor, with tastefully kept
premises, a fine garden, green house, and all the accessories of
horticultural keeping. As a specimen we took on board an elegant
fuscia and some handsome geraniums for the Bazaar at Tobique.
WOODSTOCK
Approaching Woodstock, cultivation became more
extensive, fields of newly sown grain reaching on either hand the
very bank of the river; the islands also begin to re-appear, and we
have evidence from the spires in the distance that we are
approaching “no mean city.” Arrived, and leaving our baggage in
charge of the ever attentive steward, the party wended their way,
satchel in hand, to the Cable House, never dreaming that that large
pretending looking brick building, of which we have heard so much
in praise of its good appointments, must shut its doors on such an
august company as our own; but the proprietor who seemed to be
doing a thriving business with another class of customers,
courteously informed us that his house was full; “sorrowful but not
in anger” we were obliged to tramp, and as we marched in irregular
procession through some of the principal streets a sorry looking
company, seeking in vain for lodgings, a young urchin, “unkindest
cut of all” piped out,”
“Hark, hark, the dogs do bark,”
laying a peculiar emphasis on the nominative in the succeeding line
of the couplet.
At last we were obliged to break up in parties of twos
and threes, and found among the kind citizens of the town that
hospitality which we failed to secure at the hotels.
Woodstock is quite a lively, bustling place, and boasts
manufacturies more than two or three, the principal of which are
situated on the Meduxnekeag, a stream running through the centre
of Woodstock, and turning two saw mills near its mouth. The
Messrs. Davis are the principal manufacturers. Down the
Meduxnekeag a great quantity of lumber is driven, the principal
operators Messrs. Grosvenor (of Eel River), Eton, Kennedy and
Long; Mr. Lindsay, M.P.P., is also extensively engaged here in
milling operations.
On the afternoon of our arrival, the Roman Catholics
were holding a Bazaar or Festival as a kind of farewell salute to
their esteemed Parish Priest, Mr. Connolly. He had resided among
them for a number of years, and was now leaving amid the regrets
of all classes in the community.
There are several very pleasant residences in
Woodstock, especially those on “Connell Row,” including the
residences of Colonel Tupper, Mr. Edgar, Mr. Watts of the Sentinel,
and the really fine grounds and dwelling of the Honourable Mr.
Connell. A number of our party availed themselves of the kind
invitation to visit the gardens, and we ourselves had the pleasure of
enjoying the boundless hospitality of the honourable gentlemen.
They are great politicians in Woodstock, Mr. Connell
being a sot of oracle among them.
OFF AGAIN
On the next morning, summoned by the shrill reveille of
the steamboat whistle, our party re-assembled on board the “Ida,”
having obtained important additions at Woodstock, including
Honourable Mr. Perley, Captain Allan, Mr. Watts, of the Sentinel,
and Mr. C. Grosvenor of Eel River, with their ladies. Mr. Grosvenor
soon became a leading spirit among the younger members of the
party, and contributed in no small degree to the enjoyments of the
trip. We must not forget to mention also that the Woodstock brass
band was on board, and formed another very pleasant
accompaniment.
HARDSCRABBLE, Wednesday morning.
Our first stop this morning was at Hardscrabble, (we beg
that lady’s pardon,) Upper Woodstock. Here are the Iron Works,
silent for some time, but shortly to hum again with the busyness of
industry, and here we took on board a further addition of ladies and
gentlemen, and any amount of Beater pressed hay, designed for the
drives on the upper section of the St. John; this, we thought was like
taking coals to Newcastle. Conspicuous among the new arrivals was
a lady with an enormous and costly gold chain, which she delighted
to display to admiring crowds; we learned that it was the
remembrance of an indulgent husband who had visited the Paris
exposition, and bought his lady this substantial proof of his nonforgetfulness.
On board all was “mirth and jollity:” flirtations were
quite ordinary occurrences, and the “flopping around,” as one lady
styled it, was quite amusing to the unsophisticated.
Between Woodstock and Tobique the principal feeders
to the St. John are the big and little Presqu’isle, and River de Chute
on the left, as you ascend the river, and the Shiktehawk and
Munquart on the right bank of the St. John; at their mouths we
generally find pretty little villages, and in the back-ground extensive
cultivation; we learned also that in this section of the country, 14
new villages had sprung up within the last 15 years. From almost
any point we can now look upon more extensive farms and clearings
than can be seen from the most commanding view of Fredericton,
the capital of the Province. How is this! An American once
remarked, heartlessly enough we admit, “when you have had about
six splendid funerals, this city will begin to improve.”
FLORENCEVILLE
The principal town or village between Woodstock and
Tobique is Florenceville, about midway between the two. It cannot
be views from the river, a lofty hill, Mount Moriah they called it.
rising up abruptly from the river and intervening between us and the
city. This is a regular depot for the shingle business, which is
prosecuted extensively in the interior, and as the steamer stopped to
discharge and take in some freight, we climbed the precipitous
banks of Mount Moriah and after a toilsome march found ourselves
on one on the most commanding elevations on the river Saint John,
with a view which amply repaid the toil of the journey, and the
perils of the descent. The village is now seen with its churches,
chapels, buildings, stores, and all the indications of thrift and
prosperity. Presently the whistle sounded, and the stragglers came
tumbling down the hill, lads and lassies in sad disorder, breathless
from their rapid descent down Mount Moriah.
SURVEYING PARTY
At a placed called Hartland, on the right, we found Mr.
Hartley’s surveying party, returned from their unprofitable survey.
In the best of faith, and will all the energy of their might, they had
met and overcome difficulty and difficulty, until an excellent way
was found over the back-bone of the province, and then obtained
their reward in the consciousness that their labour had been all in
vain, their mission a sham and a delusion.
TOBIQUE
At length we are approaching Tobique; we can see “the
home of the Beveridges” gaily dressed with flags and streamers, and
a crowd of holiday keepers surrounding what we suppose to be the
Bazaar; but we shall not land to-day, it might be wearisome to the
reader and we shall reserve Tobique and Grand Falls for our
succeeding issue.
The following is kindly furnished by Mr. Wm. Lemont:–
There are several quite large streams or rivers emptying
into the river St. John between Fredericton and Grand Falls. First
comes the Keswick, a beautiful stream, which turns out about six
millions feet of logs. Then there is the Nackawick on the right side
going up; which turns out this year about four million of lumber; the
Carleton - 7
Pokiok, about four millions, mostly pine, and is cut at Bradbury’s
mills just above the falls. They are certainly a wonderful freak of
nature – the water passing through a gorge of the rock some sixty
feet high, rising perpendicular on each side of this fissure. Next
comes the Shogamock, on the left, four miles above the Pokiok,
which turns out about five millions, Ingraham’s mill is situated on
this stream. Next comes Eel River, which turns out about ten
millions, but John McAdams & Sons, and Jas. Murchie & Sons
have mills on this river which cut about nine millions, which is
shipped by rail down to St. Stephen, thus leaving but one million,
which comes out at the river St. John. Between Woodstock and
Tobique, the lumber rivers are Beckagumick, eleven miles above,
on the right, which turns out about ten millions. Next is Little
Presqu’isle, one mile above, turns out one million, mostly cut by
mills on the stream. Next is Big Presqu’isle, eleven miles above,
there is a variety of lumber cut on this stream, such as spruce, pine
and birch timber, mostly from the American side. About one million
is cut by the mills on the stream above, also about one thousand
tons of birch and five hundred tons of pine comes out. A large
quantity of cedar shingles are cut by the mills, and there are
considerable quantities of shaved shingles, which are hauled into
Florenceville. Next are the Big and Little Shiktehawk, some six
miles above on the right. There are also large quantities of shingles
cut by the mills near the mouth of this stream and above; also of
shaved shingles made in the woods, and hauled to the banks of St.
John. Next comes the Munquart on the right, – turns out one quarter
million spruce, fifteen thousand tons birch, and large quantities of
sawn shingles. Next above is River de Chute on the left. Mr.
Workman’s mills are situated at the mouth of this river; about one
million spruce and three millions cedar shingles, cut by this mill.
Next comes the Tobique, fifty miles from Woodstock, a big stream
and long, lumber being driven some ninety miles; there are about
fifteen millions turned out of this river; with the exception of the
Aroostook this is the finest branch of the river St. John, being
farmed some forty miles up, and the land being excellent for
farming. Next above comes the Aroostook.
——
Sackville, The Chignecto Post, Page 2 – Thursday, September
22, 1870 – LOCAL & OTHER MATTERS – The St. John River has
not been so low since the Miramichi fire in 1825, as it is at the
present time.
——
Fredericton, The Colonial Farmer, Page 2 – Monday, February
5, 1872 – MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS – Richmond Corner –
Woodstock Sentinel – Few parties, from Richmond, were tried
before Justices Jacques & Dibble, on Wednesday last, on a charge
of selling liquor without license. One was acquitted, three fined
$8.00 each, and one $10.00. The temperance people of Richmond
appear determined to put a stop to the sale of liquor in that Parish.
——
Woodstock, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, April 4,
1874 – BENTON – Some fifteen years ago the place known
familiarly as Rankin’s Mills, was the site of three or four shanties
for the accommodation of the few persons engaged in and about the
saw mill of Mr. Jas. Rankin. When the New Brunswick & Canada
Railroad reached the place a new day dawned upon it; its very fine
water power attracted the attention of John McAdam, who
purchased the old mill, rejuvenated it, and gave to “Eel River,” by
which name it became thereafter known a decided character.
Subsequently J. Murchie & Sons erected a large saw mill, and still
later, Mr. S. J. Parsons a tannery – Mr. David Thomas had
previously engaged in this last named enterprise – and as a result we
have “Benton” – that is the new name of the locality – presenting a
marvellous contrast to the “rough, rude and immature” Rankin’s
Mills, of the period first above referred to. We, in response to an
invitation, visited Benton the other day, and had the pleasure of
meeting and addressing a large and very intelligent audience on the
Temperance question, and had not only the evidence of growth and
moral progress presented in the very good hall and good audience,
but still more pointedly in the musical exercised by a choir of good
voices, accompanied by an organ, well manipulated by young
ladies, resident. Of this meeting we need only further say that it was
under the auspices of a prosperous body of British Templars, who
have thus far preserved Benton from the rum traffic, and exercised
in the community those gracious civilizing and elevating influences
that belong to the organization; that pertinent remarks were made by
the chairman, Mr. S. J. Parsons, Reverend Mr. Bell, Wesleyan and
Mr. Murray.
We now give a few statements showing the material
advancement made in this community.
There is a Church building, open to all denominations,
and to the use of any minister in good standing with his
denomination; a school house – the school is at present taught by
Mr. Laverty, and has, if our memory serves us, 70 pupils, and we
may here add that the school law is popular with all the people – a
public hall, three stores, 75 dwelling houses, occupied by 500
inhabitants; two
SAW MILLS
That of J. McAdam & Sons has two gangs, edger, cut off, two lath
machines – one a gang, a shingle and clapboard machine. These cut
6,000,000 feet long lumber, 6,000,000 lath, 2,500,000 shingles,
500,000 clapboards.
The mill of J. Murchie & Sons has one gang and one
rotary saw, and a lath machine – cuts 5,000,000 feet long lumber
and 5,000,000 lath.
THE TANNERY
was built in 1872 and is, we believe, the only establishment in the
Province devoted entirely to the production of sole leather. It is laid
out and finished in the latest and most approved plan, similar to like
establishments, those of Messrs, Shawm for instance, in Eastern
Maine. It has a bark mill of the Bangor patent, a Salem hide mill,
powerful leather roller, each run by separate wheels. For elevating
and conveying the liquors used, the arrangements are most perfect
to prevent waste of time and material; two of Heald & Fisco’s force
pumps are ; these will throw 350 gallons of water per minute; there
is also another force pump with 100 feet of hose always attached;
this in case of fire, can be put in action instantly.
There is an immense copper heating pan, 2 leaches 16
feet diameter 9 feet deep, 2 junks – coolers – tanks, soaks, pools,
sweat vaults, 45 lay away and dry loft. The capacity is to tan 15,000
sides of sole leather per year. Last year, 7,642 sides were tanned,
using some 700 cords of bark.
Of course we could not fully appreciate the various
arrangements or technicalities of detail in this establishment, but are
informed by experts who have visited it that it is the most complete
for its capacity of any in the Province, and the character of the work
produced is such as to render its demand eager and constant.
We are very glad to put on record this testimony to the
success thus far that has attended Mr. Parsons’ energy, and trust the
future will greatly reward him.
LIFE PRESERVER
Mr. Poole, the inventor and patentor of a Life Preserving
Dress, of which our readers may have seen dome notice, favoured
us with an exhibition, novel in its character. He put on the dress,
and committing himself to the stream some distance above the
bridge, floated down the turbulent waters for a quarter of a mile or
so. We cannot give a detailed description of the make up of this
dress. It is made of rubber or oil cloth, covers the entire person
except the face, and while it brings the body upon the surface,
leaving the arms and legs free, preserves it form the effects of the
water, the under clothing and skin being perfectly dry and warm. It
is a remarkable invention, and should command a large demand
Carleton - 8
from sea-going persons. A company for the manufacture and sale of
these dresses has been formed, its office being at Benton.
We do not know that there is a house for public
entertainment here, but Mrs. D. R. Thomas has the accommodation
and the heart to make the occasional visitor like ourselves welcome
and happy.
——
Woodstock, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, June 6,
1874 – A fire occurred at Richmond Station on Wednesday night,
by which several buildings, we are informed, were burned.
——
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, May 1, 1875
– Messrs. Curry Brothers’ Steam Saw Mill, at Richmond, was
destroyed by fire on the evening of Tuesday last. The origin of the
fire is unknown. Loss about $2,000; no insurance.
——
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, May 22,
1875 – The name of McCaffery Settlement, Parish of Simonds, has
been changed to that of St. Thomas. A Post Office has also been
established there for the first time, and Mr. Dennis McCaferty
appointed Postmaster. The people of St. Thomas feel grateful to Mr.
Appleby for his efforts in securing the establishment of this office.
——
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, May 22,
1875 – We are requested to state that milk will be received at the
Jacksonville Cheese Factory, commencing on Tuesday next.
——
Woodstock, Carleton-Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, July 10, 1875
– TROOP TRAIN – On Monday morning Woodstock presented the
appearance of a Garrison Town. If there was no
“Marching in hot haste
And madly forming in the ranks of war,”
there was a hurrying to and fro of men clad in the sanguinary
colours of Mars, all apparently having, however, an objective point
of view, to-wit, the railway depot.
The simple fact is that Monday was the day fixed upon
for the embarkation of the up-river contingents for the Camp at St.
Andrews, and all this flaunt of red, this roll of cannon on the streets,
this flashing past of officers, this burst of martial music, was in
accordance with that fixed fact and to carry out the order in that
direction from our War Office at Ottawa.
Well it took some 19 cars in all to hold the men, horses
and munitions, and these were divided into two trains, one being
devoted entirely to the Battery; the first train, that carrying the
Infantry, left at the usual hour, the other was dispatched some hours
later. At Debec (Debeck) Junction Captain Hoyt’s company joined
the train, and at McAdam’s Junction several cars, occupied by the
York County contribution, was switched on and added to the now
very long train. McAdam, during the interval of waiting for the
western train, was very lively, but the crowd was, on the whole, well
behaved, although there were too many, though but few, instances
in which a spirit more potent than even that of military ardor, was
evident.
The number of men who came from the three up-river
counties was some 420 rank and file. Ten companies – 8 from
Carleton; 1 from Victoria, and 1 from Madawaska.
The officers were Lieutenant Colonel Upton, in
command; Majors Lieutenant Colonel Raymond and R. B.
Ketchum; Paymaster Major J. D. Ketchum; Adjutant, Lieutenant J.
D. Baird; Surgeon, C. P. Connell, M.D.; Assistant Surgeon, T. B.
Beveridge, M.D.; Bridge Quarter-master, Captain Emery, had gone
down on Saturday.
Following are the numbers, officers in command, and
localities of the several companies:
1. Captain Bourne, Woodstock.
2. Captain Adams, Tracy Mills.
3. Captain Hoyt, Richmond.
4. Captain Boyer, Victoria.
5. Captain Burpee, Waterville.
6. Captain Bosse, Grand Falls.
7. Captain Baker, Little Falls.
8. Captain Hartley, East Florenceville.
9. Captain Carville, Lakeville.
10. Captain Vince, Brighton.
The Woodstock Field Battery comprised 75 men, 39
horses, and 4 guns – 3 nine pounders and one 24 pounder. The
officers accompanying were Lieutenants Raymond, Dibblee and
Kearney, and Surgeon S. Smith, M.D.
The staff of the Camp are, Brigade Lieutenant Colonel
Maunsell, D.A.G.; Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Inches;
Supply Officer, Captain A. G. Beckwith, 71st.; Camp Quartermaster, Captain Emery, 67th.; Brigade Musketry Instructor, Quartermaster Hogg, 71st.; A.D.C. Lieutenant Tompkins, 67th..
We hope the Camp will prove very successful, and that
all connected with it will return to their homes improved, in
whatever respect improvement is a legitimate feature and result of
such gathering, after having enjoyed at their country’s expense a
prolonged visit to the salubrious air of St. Andrews Bay.
——
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 ! Saturday, April 7, 1877
– The opinion has very generally prevailed that the better quality of
spruce had all been cut or destroyed. This opinion is proved
incorrect by the operations along the line of the New Brunswick &
Canada Railroad, where may now be seen immense brows of the
best logs we have seen for a many a year.
——
Woodstock, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 ! Saturday, May 5,
1877 – HARTLAND ITEMS – Upwards of five million of lumber,
chiefly owned by Messrs. Randolph and G. H. Connell, will be
rafted at the mouth of the Beckaguimic stream the present season,
under the superintendence of John Bubar, Esquire.
——
Woodstock, Carleton-Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, November
10, 1877 – EAST FLORENCEVILLE ITEMS – We have a steam
ferry boat plying between this and the western shore of the St. John,
which is proving a source of much satisfaction to the travelling
public.
——
Woodstock, Carleton-Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, November
17, 1877 – UPPER BRIGHTON ITEMS – J. Bubar, Esq., has gone
to the Meduxnakeag to make great slaughter of the spruce tribe. He
wants to cut about two millions.
——
Woodstock, Carleton-Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, November
17, 1877 – UPPER BRIGHTON ITEMS – Four trains daily over the
New Brunswick Railway keeps up pretty well blowed up. What a
boom! twice daily we can receive stock; twice daily we can send
away our products. Thanks to the enterprising company of New
Brunswickers.
——
Woodstock, Carleton-Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, November
17, 1877 – UPPER BRIGHTON ITEMS – We often hear the
travelling public speak of the way the platform of the Station House
at Hartland is lumbered up with casks of Molasses and paraffin, by
which the dress of persons taking passage from said platform often
becomes more or less injured.
——
Woodstock, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, March
1, 1879 – JOTTINGS – We notice that Mr. Connell has been
appointed on a number of House of Commons Committees; among
others on that if Railways, Canals and Telegraph – one of the most
Carleton - 9
important committees.
——
Woodstock, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, April
12, 1879 – HARTLAND ITEMS – Under the superintendence of Mr.
Z. Currie, a substantial wharf has been built where the land-slide on
the New Brunswick Railroad occurred last week, so that the trains
resumed their regular trips on Monday.
A man named Pickard, of Gibson, unfortunately broke
his ankle by jumping off the wharf on Friday. He was attended to by
Dr. White, and returned to his home same day.
——
Fredericton, NB, The Reporter, Page 2 – Wednesday, August 6,
1879 – BATH HOTEL FIRE – A hotel occupied by John Giberson
in Bath, County of Carleton, was destroyed with its contents on
Monday morning. His loss is heavy, and he had no insurance.
——
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, May 15,
1880 – JOTTINGS – Ten immigrants, who came out in the
“Moravian,” went up to New Denmark on Monday.
——
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, June 12,
1880 – JOTTINGS – A new Post Office has been established at
Kilfoil, in this County, with John Kilfoil as postmaster.
——
Woodstock, Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, June 19,
1880 – JOTTINGS – The wire for the Ferry at Hartland, was landed
on the spot Wednesday and laid across the river on Thursday.
——
Moncton, The Daily Times, Page 3 – Friday, September 24,
1880 – LOCAL & GENERAL – The “Saratoga” of New Brunswick
– Fredericton Capital – It may not be generally known that about 8
miles from Bath Station on the New Brunswick Railway, there are
mineral springs, which have become famous for their cures of
rheumatism, scrofula, and similar diseases. These springs have been
visited by hundreds and all testify to the benefits to be derived from
a use of their waters. The springs are now neglected. There is no
suitable accommodation in the vicinity, visitors having to camp out.
It is hard to have to acknowledge, but if these springs were in any
part of the States, large hotels would be up in their vicinity, and ere
long the neighbourhood would “blossom as the rose.”
——
Woodstock, Carleton-Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday, October 16,
1880 – NEW INVENTION – Manufacture Exhibition – Mr. R.
Kirkpatrick attracted much attention and warm commendation from
his exhibited new stump and rock and rail lifters. Of these the Globe
says:- Mr. R. Kirkpatrick, of Debec Junction, Carleton County,
N.B., in Machinery Hall, makes an exhibit of two valuable
inventions which are worthy of valuable mention. The machines are
a stump and rock lifter. These machines were patented by Mr.
Kirkpatrick, who invented them, and they were never before shown
anywhere before this Exhibition. The rock lifter consists of a centre
bar between two parallel ratchet bars suspended from a tripod, and
worked by a double lever. The machine is very simple and will lift a
weight of ten tons. The track lifter is made similarly. It is now in use
on the New Brunswick & Canada Railway, and is highly
recommended by Mr. Stewart and Mr. Osburn, the managers of the
road.
——
Woodstock, N.B. – The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Saturday,
May 19, 1883 – JOTTINGS – The new Station House, to replace
the one burned a few weeks ago at Debec, is almost finished.
——
Moncton, The Daily Transcript, Page 2 – Thursday, April 17,
1884 – DEBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK – A Startling State of Affairs –
Debec, April 16 – Conductor Atbridge, of the New Brunswick
Railway, who was savagely assaulted a few days, though in a
critical condition on Sunday last, is considered by the attending
surgeon, Dr. Gaynor, to be out of danger to-day. Evidence is being
accumulated which goes to show that Johnson, his assailant, came
behind the conductor and without warning struck him on top of the
head with a blacksmith’s hammer. The first blow felled the
conductor to his knees, the second stupefied him and both inflicted
dangerous wounds, Johnson then kicked the prostrate man in the
body, struck him twice in the face with a set of steel knuckles and
finally tried to throw him over the bridge into the mill stream.
Several persons about the railway station knew that Johnson had
threatened to murder Conductor Atbridge on that particular night
and fearing that they would be beaten, too, if they opened their
mouths about it did not possess sufficient manhood to tell Atbridge
of the danger which menaced him. Johnson is still at liberty, and no
adequate attempt has yet been made to capture him. This is certainly
a disgraceful state of affairs, and the query is whether the
Woodstock authorities are unable or unwilling to make the arrest.
The air of Debec is full of threats. Dr. Gaynor has already been
warned that he will have his head knocked in so as to render him
unable to give evidence should Johnson be taken. The station agent
at Debec is afraid to sleep at nights for fear he will be burned out
and night engineers are on the watch for obstructions on the track. It
is about time that the constituted authorities show their hands in an
earnest and intelligent manner.
——
Fredericton, N.B. – The Semi-Weekly Reporter, Page 3 –
Wednesday, September 30, 1885 – LOCAL & GENERAL – Out
Of Season – The Woodstock Press mentions the fact that one of
those unaccountable freaks of nature, which puzzles the naturalist,
may be noticed in F. P. Sharp’s new orchard. One of the trees set
out last fall is now in quite full efflorescence, four months behind its
neighbours. Most of the tress bore a good crop of apples this season
in spite of being transplanted. The one now in blossom did not bear
fruit this summer, and is evidently attempting to perform its
neglected duty yet, ere the season passes by.
——
Woodstock, NB, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – July 18, 1891
– JOTTINGS – The following from the Fredericton Gleaner recalls
an important fact in connection with settlement in Carleton County,
and we are glad to be able fully to endorse the Gleaner’s estimate of
the character and value of the settlers referred to:“Thirty years ago this month marked the arrival of the
last sailing emigrant vessel from the mother country that ever came
into the port of Saint John. She was the barque Irving, with Scotch
emigrants brought out by Reverend Mr. Glass, from Scotland, many
of whom settled at the place now known as Glassville, Carleton
County. They were some of New Brunswick’s most intelligent and
energetic settlers and they and their descendants are among the most
enterprising residents of their county. The children on board the
Irving were suffering from measles on her arrival and the vessel
was quarantined.
——
Hartland, Hartland Advertiser, Page 3 – Saturday, December
25, 1897 – AN OUTSIDER’S VIEW – Mr. Editor In regard to Board
of Trade for Hartland, I presume the business men of your village
are in business for the money they derive; the writer can remember
when the difference in the carload rate of certain class freight
between Saint John and Woodstock and Saint John and Hartland
was only 3 cents per 100 lbs., while now the Woodstock man gets
the same freight 6 cents per 100 lbs. less than the Hartlander, this
means $12.00 on a carload of 10 tons, now if you people at Hartland
had a board of trade you possibly could get a reduction in freight
that would bring the difference down to the old basis at least, or
better perhaps.
If my advise is good for anything I would say get your
merchants together and get down to business or you will be left.
Carleton - 10
Yours truly
Nackawic.
——
Hartland, Hartland Advertiser, Page 3 – Saturday, December
25, 1897 – TWO BURNING QUESTIONS – Mr. Editor – This
Hartland bridge question is one that interests me, and I am safe in
saying it interests almost everyone on either side of the St. John
River within a radius of five or six miles from here, so therefore I
presume to say a few words on this burning question through your
very much needed and well edited paper “The Tiser.” Now to be
plain I claim that we are being duped fully as well as the young
fellow was who allowed a confidence man to make him believe he
was his friend until he got all his cash. We are allowing ourselves to
be represented in Provincial Parliament by men whose interest it is,
and also for the town and village in which they live to never give us
a bridge for it will take trade directly away from them. I am safe in
saying that since the ice began to run that there has been two
thousand dollars of trade from the west side of the river gone to
Woodstock and Florenceville that should and would have come to
Hartland had there been a bridge. Now, Residents of Hartland and
Somerville this is simply a case of dollars and cents for us and it is
enough so to make us kick clear over the traces and make this
question the only one for us in the future until we get a bridge. I
suggest as a beginning that when opportunity offers that we have a
man on the ticket from Hartland to represent us in Provincial
Parliament; one whose personal interest is at stake, as well as the
general for that is all we are getting now, and have a bridge or fight.
Why it would be very much cheaper for all on the west side to be
taxed directly in some way for a bridge than to be as they are now,
and it would be just as good for all in Hartland also. I see
Woodstock getting outspoken with their jealously of Hartland as a
trading point for farmers; and also that they are organizing to direct
trade away from us. And now is the time for us to act in this matter,
and to act unitedly and take care of interests that our rightly ours;
interests for which we have to thank ourselves. When once this
trade is started away from us towards other points it will not be so
easy to turn it back. I suggest the organizing of a Board of Trade at
once to discuss these questions and get them worked up to a red hot
heat, then we can get something we ask for and have some weight
as voters and not be as we are now, just some folks with a handle on
for others to use as they chose. And by-the-way, I am looking every
day for someone to come to our green town and get a hold of this
handle and make it turn at their will again. I have said only a little
yet on this question and not at all fully discussed this from every
stand point. There is a great deal to say yet, but will close for this
time and ask someone to write this question up as it should be.
Thanks Mr. Editor
What is it? Bridge
Hartland, December 22nd.
——
Hartland, Hartland Advertiser, Page 2 – Saturday, January 1,
1898 – Work on the Acker Creek Bridge is near completion.
——
Hartland, Hartland Advertiser, Page 5 – Saturday, January 15,
1898 – A correspondent to the Fredericton Gleaner writes:
Hartland is agitating for a bridge across the river, and are pressing
their claims upon the government. We are not in sympathy with the
custom of bridge promising at election times., but this is certainly a
case of long standing injustice that a place of Hartland’s size and
business importance should be deprived of this facility of trade. The
bridge must come.
——
Hartland, Hartland Advertiser, Page 5 – Saturday, January 15,
1898 –
CARLISLE – HOTEL
Formerly Wilbur House
Main Street, Woodstock, N.B.
C. J. TABOR, Proprietor
Good Sample Rooms: Thoroughly Equipped Bath
Room; Electric Lights; Electric Bells.
Coaches in attendance at all trains. Livery Stable
Attached.
——
Hartland, Hartland Advertiser, Page 5 – Saturday, January 22,
1898 – The Railway News is a weekly paper published at New
Glasgow, NS, by E. Lawrence, the spectacular adjuster. A late issue
speaks thus favourable of our town: “Hartland is a live go ahead
town, has a good weekly paper, a bank, good waterworks, good
hotels, and now intends forming a Board of Trade. Hartland
merchants are alive and are trying to induce people to go into the
town to do business. No restrictions are put on trade there and the
results can be easily seen by the bustling business the merchants
do.”
——
Hartland, Hartland Advertiser, Page 4 – Saturday, February 5,
1898 –
COMMERCIAL – HOTEL
A. RIDEOUT, Proprietor
OPPOSITE STATION, HARTLAND, N.B.
Transient and Permanent Board at right prices. Special
accommodations for the travelling public – large sample room and
no expense for truckage. Horses to let.
——
Woodstock, NB, The Carleton Sentinel, Page 2 – Friday,
November 7, 1913 – PASSED INSPECTION BUT BRIDGE FELL
– Structure Goes Down and Two Men Narrowly Escape Death –
Hartland Observer – On Monday Gorge Tedlie and Marshall Chase
of Lower Brighton had a narrow escape from a terrible death when
the Downey Creek bridge on which they were working fell, carrying
them with it a distance of 35 feet to the gulch below. Chase had
three ribs broken and was badly shaken up. Mr. Tedlie escaped
miraculously with nothing more serious than many bad bruises and
a general shaking-up, sufficient however, to lay him up for a time.
This bridge is located at the turn of the road a short
distance below the site of the old Newburgh Junction. Repairs had
been ordered to the superstructure, which was placed on six bents of
four timbers each. These bents had recently been examined by
Superintendent Jackson and were passed as being in good condition,
needing no repairs. While the men were at work, however, the
entire supporting structure of six bents went crashing down.
It will be sometime before even a temporary work can be
erected, while an entirely new bridge will have to be built.
The river Bridge at Hartland has also passed inspection
and is considered “safe” for several years yet.
——
Woodstock, L. P. Fisher Library – LETTER WRITTEN JUNE 15,
1898 BY WILLIAM TAYLOR, OF LOWER BRIGHTON,
CARLETON COUNTY, NB, TO HIS FRIEND, WENTWORTH
DOW, IN WISCONSIN: – Dear Friend Wentworth Dow,
I will now attempt to write to you hoping these lines will
reach you finding you and family well as I am at present though
feeling the effect of old age. I was 80 years old the 4th. of last
September. My wife was 69 the 2nd. of last May, a few months older
than you are. We both have been living with our daughter Annie
Evelin who is married to George E. Tedlie, son of William Tedlie
who married Adeline, one of George Robinson’s daughters. George
Tedlie owns the old Esquire Noble place with the one owned once
by Elder Joseph Noble. He has a large house standing on the same
ground old father Noble’s house stood when you first came to
Brighton. George and Annie have three children, the eldest a girl
Tessie, 13 years old tomorrow, next a boy Donald F., 8 the 6th. of
last January, the youngest Raymond, 6 the 29th. of this month. They
Carleton - 11
are all smart nice children. I have two sons, the elder Wilmot, 34 the
21st. of July next, who is a shipper of goods in Lowell, MA, married
first George Gray’s daughter, granddaughter of Mr. Nat & Ruth
Gray. She died in Lowell 8 years ago leaving a daughter only a few
days old, who has lived with George Gray, her grandfather, ever
since. Her name is Eugene, the name of her mother, who is much
loved by her grandparents. Wilmot married the second time, Mabel
Hamilton, granddaughter of John and Ruth Keys. He has two
children by her, a boy 6 years old, and a very young daughter.
My second son, Charlie S. Taylor, age 32 the 20th. of last
April, is not married. He is at present, and has been for 8 years,
brakeman, and sometimes in the baggage car, on the express train
running from St. Stephen to Presque Isle, passing here every day.
He gives me daily papers every time he passes. He has been running
on different trains 12 years the 22nd. of last April, sometimes as
conductor. The railroad from Woodstock crosses the river at Upper
Woodstock, or Hardscrabble, runs to Newburg road where there is a
Station, called the Newburg Junction because one branch goes up
the Acker Creek and continues several miles from the River St.
John till it reaches Gibson, opposite Fredericton, where a train
called the Gibson train runs to Woodstock and back to Gibson and
Fredericton every day. The other branch continues up the River St.
John, close to it, to Grand Falls, Edmundston, and on to Quebec. At
the mouth of Aroostook River a branch runs up the Aroostook River
to Presque Isle, and trains run from there through Maine to Bangor,
Boston, as well as from Woodstock to St. Stephen and Boston.
The railroad crosses the mouth of Acker Creek over a
bridge 160 feet high, passes just a short distance east of the grave
yard (near the old house where I taught school 55 years ago this
summer). It continues on the bank of the river, on the west of the
houses where we lived when you was home last (time), on the bank
of the river over McGee’s front, crosses the Deep Creek close to the
river, following the shore till it strikes the flat in front of Bradleys,
Grays and Nevers.
My step-son, Fraser Richardson, built a large house on
the David Kimball place, which he bought, and is still living there.
He has four daughters, all single, no sons. He has for twenty years
been largely engaged in lumbering. He was 50 years old last March
11th.. His wife was Melissa Birmingham, old name Brumingham.
His brother Willoughby married a girl in Lowell where he was
working. He is now trading, store keeping, at Hartland, the town on
the flat at the mouth of the Becaguimec. He owns several buildings
there and is doing very well. He has two children, son Chester, 16
years old, and daughter 10. George, the other brother, now 44 years
old, has a wife, and one son 19 years old, Arthur, living at Fort
Fairfield, boot & shoe maker, doing good business. Their sister,
Lizzie Richardson, married Jesse, one of old Uncle Jesse Shaw’s
sons. She is now 49 years old. They live at Hartland, have 4
children, one son & 3 daughters, all doing well.
I have endeavoured to give you the particulars of our
family. I will now try and write something about your old
neighbours. Birmingham owns your Uncle John Dow’s, Jimmy
Jones, and the Nat Gray farms. George McGee’s son William, who
married Reuben Robinson’s daughter Susan, is living on the old
homestead with nice new buildings. They have two sons, the elder,
Willie, married Joseph Robinson’s daughter, granddaughter of Asa
Robinson; the younger, Judson, lives home, single.
Darius Nixon’s son, Robert Nixon, married Annie,
daughter of George Stickney, lives on the lower or south part of the
old George McGee farm. Richard, brother of Darius, who married a
daughter of Ellihea & Margaret Cogswell, lives between William
McGee and Darius.
Your nephew Alva, son of William, lives on a part of the
old James McGee farm. Reuben Robinson Senior and his wife
Rebecca are still living on the old homestead. He will be 80 if he
lives to the 5th. of November next. She was 75 last April. Their son
Reuben married Elisha Gray’s daughter. They are living with the
old folks, will own the farm.
I need not write about your brother William, or Charles
Richardson, as you have all the information from him. The old
William Richardson farm is divided, Charles Richardson owning
the upper half and William Tedlie the lower. William Tedlie’s son
Henry, who married Davis Phillips granddaughter, lives on the old
Tedlie homestead. The youngest brother, Fred, is learning to be an
engineer in Woodstock. William Tedlie owns the Uncle Robinson
place. William Robinson, who married Rebecca, William Gray’s
daughter, lives in Windsor ten miles or more from the mouth of the
Becaguimec. He was visiting here last week. He is doing and
looking well. Most of his family are married.
Robert Nixon was killed by logs falling on him, which
he was hauling on the Aroostook, eleven years ago last March. His
widow Jane, and son Stephen, who married one of John Tedlie s
daughters, live on the old homestead. John Nixon, Robert’s brother,
died five years ago next December. His widow Ann, and two sons,
John (who married Richard McKinney’s daughter, whose mother
was Lisann, granddaughter of old father Noble), and George Nixon,
are living on the John Nixon homestead. Old Uncle George Noble
died seven years ago last April. His wife Nancy died five years
before. Their son David, who married Gilbert Brown’s daughter,
lives on the old homestead.
Robert Dickenson, my wife’s brother, who married
Sarah Ann Hale, Martin Hale’s daughter, lives on the old David
Noble place, north of and (facing) where we are living. Gilbert
Brown and wife still living. He was 79 last March, same age of
George Stickney. Daniel Brown died twenty nine years ago last
February. His widow Susan, and two sons, Byron and Bruce, are
living on the old homestead. Jonathan, Daniel’s brother, who
married Emma, daughter of Uncle Duncan Dickinson, died last
November, leaving a widow and one son, Norris, who is near dying
with the consumption. The three old brothers, Daniel, Gilbert and
Jonathan, had the old Brown farm divided among them. Daniel has
five sons and one daughter living. Gilbert has four sons and two
daughters living. Jonathan left two sons (one in the States), and one
daughter.
Benjamin Richardson died eight years ago last February.
His daughter Louise, who married Adolphue Willet, and her brother
Robert Peel, are living on the old homestead. Richard Dickeneon
(my wife’s brother who married Benjamin Richardson’s youngest
daughter), died four years ago next December, leaving a widow and
seven children, three young men who live and own the place joining
Daniel Brown on the south.
Old Mr. Thomas Ackerson and wife have been dead
some years. His only son, Nehemiah, who married Amelia, a sister
of my wife, live on the old homestead. My wife’s father, Darius
Dickinson, has been dead thirty years last September. His widow
died twenty years ago, leaving five sons and six daughters, all living
but two sons, John and Richard. James lives in Carlisle, ten miles
back of Hartland. Samuel owns and lives on the Asa Robinson
place. David Kimball, who married my wife’s oldest sister, now 77,
died a year ago last September. She is in Lowell, MA, with her two
sons and daughter. All the old James Dickinson family who lived in
Newburg, children I mean, are living, except two, Harvey, and
Mary, Joseph Robinson’s wife, who died a year ago last January.
Asa Robinson has been dead twenty three years. He left four sons,
two (-----) preachers in a distant land, Joseph, a widower on the
homestead. Your mother will be dead six years the 31st. of August
next, aged 84. She died a Christian, as others I have mentioned.
George Robinson (brother of Asa and Reuben), has been dead over
thirty years. His widow, Esther, William Tedlie’s wife’s mother,
died five years ago last April. None of their family are living on the
old homestead. Downey sons live on the old place. No one is living
on your father’s old place out Havelock.
Carleton - 12
Dear friend, I have been very particular, as you see, in
endeavouring to give you all the information I can respecting the
changes which, in many cases, have taken place since you left. This
may appear very or not interesting to your children to read, but
judging you by myself, I know how interested I am to hear the
particulars of the places and persons I was familiar with in my
youthful days. I cannot hear much from my old friend in your
country. I heard last summer that your Uncle William McKeen was
still living. It seems but a short time when you first went to school
to me in the old log school house between Garret curries and
Solomon Goods, though it will be sixty two years the first day of
August next. I little thought then that one of my scholars, Zebulin
Currie, would build several bridges across St. John River, which he
did before he died. He has one son who takes his father’s place in
that occupationary. Another scholar who learned his letters with me,
4 years old, Nehemiah Esty, has a son located just above, at
Hartland, as medical doctor. You remember when you, William,
and John L., tried to play truant one day in Kingsclear. My old
Uncle Enoch and Aunt Hannah, and William, Henry, Phelon and his
wife, have been dead many years. Mary Ann and Maria are still
living not far from Houlton. I have not been there for over twenty
years.
We are having a fine spring and summer so far, with
every appearance of fine crops of hay, grain and fruit. I would
dearly like to see you and talk of old times. William Richardson has
been dead twenty-two years. His widow Sarah is living with her
daughter, Melissa, who married Sam Hayden for her first husband
and Mr. Boone for her second. She and her mother are both widows
now (you see I omitted that where I ought to have mentioned it). My
wife and family join in sending our love and respects to you and
your family, hoping to receive a letter from you, hearing that you
and family are well, that you have received this letter. Where is
Sylvester Dow and his brother William?
I remain your old true friend,
William Taylor.
Post script: A
I will write a few lines now to let you know about our
church. There have been two meeting houses built here since you
was home. The first 23 years ago on the upper line of Jonathan
Brown, opposite Daniel Browns house, large and suitable enough to
accommodate all in the district. But a division among the church
members took place about eight years ago, some holding to a
second blessing to be obtained after conversion, called entire
Sanctification, the old Weslyan doctrine which caused a separation
in 1886, and the building of another church in 1886 on the front of
David Noble’s farm where his father George lived. Charles
Richardson and William McGee are the deacons of this old Free
Baptist church or denomination. Leonard Brooks, son-in-law of
John Tedlie, and Byron Brown, are the deacons of the lower house
called the Reformed Baptist church. Reverend Joseph Noble, now
83 years old the 4th. of next August, is still able to attend and hold
meetings. Old Elder Hart has been dead 31 years last winter. Old
Elder McLeod, editor of the Religious Intelligencer, died about the
same time. His son Joseph is the present editor, title Reverend Dr.
McLeod.
Charles Richardson has three sons in or near British
Columbia, one son and three daughters home with him. Three
daughters married, Jane to Jo Wires, living beyond Houlton, Hattie
to your cousin Adam Robinson, living two miles back of Wm.
Tedlies, and Marada to Beecher, Richard McKenny’s son, living on
Richards homestead. William Hale, who married Ester Tedlie, died
five years ago leaving a widow and five children, children all
married. Nancy Tedlie, who was married to James Dickinson, has
been dead 26 years, leaving two daughters, the eldest the wife of
Benny, son of Esq. Ben Richardson, living now next lot south or
below us. Fred Dickenson, son of Uncle Duncan, is living on the old
homestead over the river. I think I have written more than you will
care about reading. I would have written before but could not get
your address.
William Taylor
Post script: B
Great improvements since you left. Carriages, horses
and finery pass here every few minutes, equal to the streets in
Fredericton sixty years ago. The roads have been so changed and
improved that there are no hills to obstruct. There are two bridges
crossing the river St. John at Woodstock, the railroad bridge
crossing Sharp’s Island and the waggon & foot bridge crossing the
head of Bull’s Island ending at the old English Landing, one
thousand yards long, steel bridge costing over two hundred
thousand dollars, built three years ago. There are two bridges across
the same river at Florenceville (old Buttermilk Creek), a railway and
foot, two at Perth at Tobique River, and two at Grand Falls, two at
Fredericton and two at Saint John.
The Brighton side of the river has gone far ahead of the
Wakefield or western side for the improvement of travelling and
roads. Uncle Ned (Robinson?) has been dead nearly forty years. His
widow died eleven years ago. Their grandson Haley and their
daughter Susan, widow, live on the old homestead. T(emleia) live
on the old McKenny place. Frank Taylor is living in Eu St. Clair
(Eau Claire) with his family. I do not know where Tom is. Henry is
around working in different places some steadier than he was.
David, William and George Kimball are dead, John living back of
Hartland. Will Kimball’s widow lives on the old Kimball place
below Acker Creek. My father died 38 years ago last May. Lucy his
widow died 7 years ago. I do not know as you can read my writing. I
have cramps in my fingers when I write any time. Excuse what
deficiencies you may see. I started to number the pages but got
entangled after the 6. I will close on this, calling number “B,” the
other side number “A”. June 15, 1898, very heavy west wind and
cold.
William Taylor
Compiled by: George Hayward, 29 Leeds Drive, Fredericton, NB,
E3B 4S7 (506) 457-1306, November 12, 1987; Revised December
16, 1988.
——
J. A. Clowes
Carleton - 13
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