Item
Standard
Feb 5/1862
Western Inn corner Water and Adolphus destroyed by fire. Mr. McGee owner.
Standard
March 6, 1862
View of St. Andrews and Harbour. The illustrated London News of the 1st Feb. contains views of our town, Harbour and Bay. The R. M. Steamship Delta with troops on board steaming up to Gove Wharf. The view of the town hardly does justice to its size, as the houses are huddled together—whereas they cover a mile in extent. Accompanying it is a letter press description of the disembarking of the troops, etc., on the 1st January, written by a gentleman who is well and favorably known here, to whom the inhabitants will feel indebted for his able and truthful account of their landing, as well as for his neat sketch of our Town, Harbour and Bay. We trust that the next sketch will be taken from another point and show the Railway station, Workshops, and locomotives leaving for Woodstock.
Article on March of Troops to Canada.
Standard
March 12/1862
Battle of Merrimack and Monitor. St. Andrews perpetually alarmed and indignant about attention given Intercolonial Railway.
Standard
May 14, 1862
St. Andrews has at least three military companies, though some are composed of little more than mere children. New of these companies last few months. The first company formed short time ago has left for the Canada, leaving the town temporarily without arms, hence the new companies.
Standard
June 4/1862
New buildings being erected corner Water and King for stores and offices. Old house on Water Street east side C. Bradley pulled down. Frame came from Halifax.
Standard
June 9/1862
Grand Opening, on 10th, of RR line to Woodstock and Houlton. Boat racing, public dinner. Cheap excursion. Account July 16. Volunteer Rifle Companies of St. Andrews and St. Stephen present.
Standard
June 29/1862
Many editorials on New Brunswick and C RR. The Civil War has caused Britain to need to fortify Canada, but it has not taken an active interest in using this RR. Rather, is considering another.
Standard
July 16, 1862
Opening of the Line to the Woodstock Road—Volunteer Review—Regatta, Dinner, Etc.
The morning of the 10th was ushered in with a glorious sunshine, giving promise of a fine day and genial temperature, and dispelling all doubts and fears as to the probable state of the weather on such an occasion, and those who had expressed themselves in a prophetic and not very encouraging manner with regard to any coming train on account of the wind being in a certain quarter, were most satisfactorily silenced. We could not help being reminded of the chorus in a celebrated glee:
Up route ye now ye merry, merry men
For it is now our opening day.
The townspeople were all astir and unusually fidgety at an early hour making hasty preparations in the external decorations of the principal stores and buildings, and in suspending lines of flags from house tops across the main street; the vessels in the harbour also came out in their true colors, the most noticeable being the American Vessel "Eastern Star" Captain Ackley, which flaunted a beautiful streamer, of almost indefinite length, and a host of signal flags; we can assure the captain that this compliment and his own courtesy is fully appreciated by the community. Before the arrival of any newcomers the town presented a lively and stimulating appearance, and the savage breast was soothed by the melodious strains of a barrel organ under the conductorship of an itinerant Italian or some other kind of foreign Irishman, who was accompanied by a precocious young monkey properly trained in the art and practice of professional begging.
The Country people came rolling in from all quarters, and with them a goodly supply of quarters of lambs for sale. In a short time all the available stables near were besieged with horses and wagons, and our streets were fast thronging with pedestrians. About 10 o'clock a whistle from the steamer Queen gave notice of her approach, and a general rush was made to the wharves to see the Calais and St. Stephen visitors come ashore. The St. Andrews Volunteers now mustered, formed Company and marched to the Steamboat landing with Lieut. Col. Boyd who was mounted during the day, to receive them and Milltown Companies who were attended by their banks; the Queen having come to at the wharf, disgorged herself of the crowd of passengers that swarmed her decks. The Volunteers were the last to disembark, and having formed in line the companies presented arms, the bands playing the national anthem; they next marched off in fours to a lively air, through some of the principal streets to the great delight and amusement of the old and the young.
The excursionists from Magaguadavic were now eagerly looked for; they were seen crossing the bay in a schooner in tow of the Bradbury steam tug. The captain of the Queen very kindly steamed his boat out to meet them and by way of hastening their arrival, instead of throwing them a line, went alongside and took them on deck and returned to the wharf. We take this opportunity of according to Captain McAllister our hearty recognition of his services as a Volunteer on this occasion; Captain Wetmore and his company were received in the usual manner with military honors; the bands again struck up and all went off in marching order. The next expected arrivals were the visitors from Woodstock and Houlton by Railway. The Superintendent Mr. Owen Jones had taken the first down train through with Tobin's express in the previous evening in four hours running, and as the bills set forth that the excursion train would leave the upper terminal seven o'clock the time of its arrival could be closely ascertained; during the interim and the anxious waiting moments, the Regatta Committee of Management were making active preparations for the forthcoming rowing matches; a boats crew had arrived from Campobello, the Indian squaws, their Governor and chief, had also arrived from Pleasant Point, with their canoes, and the pilot boat Tormentor, Capt. Cline, with her gig and crew had come up from Little river, while on the previous Monday a Saint John boat had been forwarded by steamer to enter for the race. The committee issued programmes of the various matches and the prizes to be awarded, and all gave promise of a good day's sport.
At 11: 13 the whistle of the Engine informed us of the arrival of the excursion train, and the vast concourse of people then in the streets trod their way to the Station; the cars were filled, and we presume that a great number of the visitors on this occasion had made their appearance at our seaboard for the first time, amongst the arrivals we noticed the provincial Secretary, the Chief Commissioner of the Board of Works and Mr. Lindsay M. P. P. ;ex-attorney general Fisher was also in town from another direction and was also Mr. Grimmer M. P. P. ,one of the county members. We observed that the Houlton people did not muster as strong as we expected, and more particularly also, the somewhat questionable absence of the Editors of the Woodstock press; we cannot account for this but peradventure they will. Our "little devil," on hearing the fact, says "they oughter," nor were we favored with the August presence of the recipient of the latest telegrams to Calais, the Proprietor of the St. Croix Herald, but we can better bear with this when we recollect that he once disappointed (at least it was so said) a Lieut. Governor at the dinner table. During the reception of the Woodstock Company military and civil, or perhaps to be more civil, read vice versa, the Regatta commenced with a three mile rowing match between the Campobello boat "Bluenose" pulled by the Parker crew, and the Saint John boat "Atalanta" manned by Cline's crew; we think the betting was in favor of the former, as she was five feet longer and of a better build; to the astonishment however of nearly everybody, the pilots, after a well contested race of twelve minutes duration came off the victors by a few lengths. Excitement caused by this match was intense.
The next match on the list was a canoe race, and as soon as the Volunteers and the accompanying crowd had reached the wharves, where every available place was soon occupied; wideawake people were standing upon a pile of sleepers, and other people up to their elbows among hackmatac knees, not to mention anything about the contact of hoops and futtocks, oh dear! the start was given and away they paddled against a strong headwind over a two mile course; they indeed paddled with a vengeance, and the run home was of the most vigorous and excitable character, the race being won by half a length only.
The visiting Volunteers were now invited to luncheon, and marched off to recruit the inner man; the next race fame off soon after between the Wetmore "Magaguadavic boat and the Tormentor's gig, the former winning the race in good style. At this state of the proceedings the Town bell rang out the 1 o'clock dinner hour; that touch of nature which makes the whole world "kin", a touch that not only reaches the heart occasionally but likewise the stomach, moved the vast assemblage of people to one purpose and to one occupation. We can only express our hope that they found sufficient accommodation and were provided with a good dinner, at all events with a hearty meal; we are aware of our deficiency in public accommodation to meet occasions of this kind, but do not feel bound by any other admissions to criminate ourselves in this respect. Our Railroad was not built in a day, and sufficient for the day will be the Hotel thereof.
The Public dinner was announced to take place at two o'clock but it was fully half an hour later before the guests were seated; it was given in the large centre store of Mr. Charles Gove, who very kindly offered the use of it to the company officers - the decoration was most tastefully carried out by the St. Andrews Volunteers, with evergreen festoons and flags; there were in all eight tables capable of accommodating over three hundred people; the dinner was of a sumptuous character and was provided by our townsman Mr. John Bradford upon whom it reflects much credit.
[list of toasts here and speeches here]
After the dinner, which occupied but a very short time for a public one, the Volunteers formed into Companies and marched to the review ground where they marched past Lieut. Col. Boyd in show and quick time, then came to a front and presented arms. Lieut. Col. Boyd addressed them previous to dismissal, but we were not within hearing distance. We cannot take leave of the review, without a passing mark of congratulation to our friend the Lieut. Col. It is a long time back since the good old days when he was in command of the Militia and wore his uniform and we will venture to say that all his friends who were present at the volunteer review felt gratified to see their old and faithful county member one more on the saddle, not it is true, in the full vigor of life at the age of seventy but in the fullness of his heart of the cause of our Volunteers.
It was now approaching the hour for the departure of the train from St. Andrews, and our Woodstock and Houlton friends pressed forward to the Station—the cars were soon filled—the band played "auld lang syne" and as the train moved off at 5:15 pm three lusty cheers were given by the hundred who had assembled to give them a parting honor; we afterwards learned that they arrived at Woodstock at 9:30 pm—surely this is good travelling.
A 6 o'clock the Calais and St. Stephen party took their departure in the Queen amidst a great ovation, and at a later hour the Magaguadavic Schooner and tug got under weigh on their return; as may be readily imagined our town had now the appearance of being strained of a large quantity of the milk of human kindness; and we may further add of the cream of fashion; however, a great number of the excursionists remained behind with the intention of prolonging the visit. As the shades of evening were closing upon us the sports of the day were resumed and we witnessed three excellent foot races by Indian and a wheelbarrow race, the men being blindfolded; this was a side-splitting affair and had not the street in which the race took place, been well fenced in, it is almost impossible to say where the blind with their barrows would have turned up—as it was they turned over several times at which everybody was cruel enough to laugh their loudest.
Unfortunately for the better effect of our illuminations which followed at a later hour the moon could not be influenced to "keep dark." Still, the effect was very pretty, especially the store of Mr. J. S. Magee which was decorated with variegated oil lamps, and Chinese lanterns of rich devices—rockets, serpents, blue balls, etc. were flying about in all directions and so the spirit of the day was upheld until at last "tired nature" wearied; but yet rejoicing lay down and slept.
it is our pleasure to record the general feeling of very great satisfaction and even astonishment that pervaded the whole assemblage throughout the day; our very ears tingled with the frequent and reiterated expressions of unmingled delight—not only with the days' celebration, the speed made on the railroad, but with the position of our town and the town itself. We heard many good wishes for its prosperity, and we hope that our merchants will now be enabled to open a good trade with our friends in the interior.
Standard
July 23/1862
Excursion Week. St. Andrews to Woodstock and Woodstock to St. Andrews, united by the iron bands of the New Brunswick and Canada Railway. The celebration of this union was kept up with great spirit during the past week. Our respected friends of Carleton County, who have patiently waited for many years for a breath of pure sea air—and a bath in its strengthening waters enjoyed the benefit of both last week. On Thursday evening the streets were filled with visitors from the upper St. John, and from their frequent expressions of gratification we feel satisfied they were pleased with their visit. They admired our streets, drives and beautiful scenery, and spoke in the highest terms of the Railway, the Management, the rapid travelling, the courtesy and attention of the employees, and above all the feeling of perfect safety while on the cars—not a single accident occurred from the opening, up to the present time, just one fortnight. It affords us pleasure also the learn that new business arrangements have been entered into. A fair share of the upriver trade will now flow into St. Andrews; and the Aroostook people will have all their supplies brought over the Railway. Goods may now be shipped on Monday morning at Boston and arrive at Woodstock and Houlton on Tuesday evening, at less cost than by any other route. Our harbour will also present a more lively appearance than it has done for many years, as several vessels are being loaded with supplies at the westward for the upper country. We are informed that the Woodstock Iron Company, will, during the present season, get out several thousand tons of iron and send it by the railway to this port for shipment to great Britain; we have heard of other new trades springing up which will give employment to our Railway.
Upwards of three hundred persons from this County and adjoining districts visited Woodstock on Wednesday last, the St. Andrews Volunte- ers, Capt. Whitlock with several others having taken the train the day previous. In consequence of the rain at Woodstock on Wednesday morning the parade of the St. Andrews and Woodstock Volunteers did not take place until the afternoon, when they were inspected by Lieut. Col. Boyd. The excursionists speak in the highest terms of the hospitalities and attention of the Woodstock people. Our Volunteers were much admired and they deserve to be, for a better drilled and nobler set of fellows, we are not enrolled in the Province. The Western Companies as the Charlotte Volunteers are called, are soldiers in the technical sense of the term.
Standard
July 30/1862
The Railway—several tourist and pleasure seekers, are availing themselves of the safe and rapid mode of travel by the Railway from Woodstock to St. Andrews. As a change and for diversity of scenery, rapid conveyance and cheap travelling, they select this route. (Great fishing route.)
Standard
Aug 6/1862
New steamer New England for International St. Stephen Co. "Her saloons are large, her sleeping compartments airy and comfortable, and her arrangements generally such as will give satisfaction to the travelling public." 230 feet long, 36 wide. 853 tons. 1600 horsepower.
Standard
Aug 27/1862
O'Grady's Hotel, St. Stephen
Standard
Sept 10/1862
New Church
The Baptist denomination in this town, have purchased ground and purpose erecting a Church during the present season. The design for the building is of the Gothic order, and we have no doubt from the energy and zeal of our friends that their building will be an ornament to our town.
A. J. Smith resigns as Attorney-General of New Brunswick.
Standard
Sept 24/1862
E. J. Russell, artist and photographer, in town taking views to illustrate historical and topographical work on New Brunswick. Panorama from Chamcook Mountain; also from Catholic steeple. To be exhibited at Railroad Hotel. Also views of public and private dwellings, if desired. Well-known in New Brunswick and England.
Standard
Nov 12/1862
Charlotte County Hotel, Water Street, St. Andrews. Near steamboat landing, few rods from railway depot. "Large and commodious house, lately occupied by Angus Kennedy." Thomas McVay