History of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

1631 - Saint John founded
Oldest incorporated city in Canada.
wikipedia.org

1755 - June 17 - Robert Monckton takes Fort Gaspereau without firing a shot; French abandon garrison at mouth of Saint John River; last French forts in Acadia gone

canadachannel.ca/ todayincanadianhistory/ index.php/ June_17

1762: Establishment of the first British community at St. John.

familysearch.org (Mormon Genealogy Records)
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website

1815 - 500 former slaves from the United States arrive at Saint John and settle in Loch Lomond.

new-brunswick.net/ new-brunswick/ facts.html

1816 - First river steamboat launched at Saint John

www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ namerica/ province/ nbztimeln.htm

1826 - Saint John creates the first paid police force in Canada.

new-brunswick.net/ new-brunswick/ facts.html

Saint John, New Brunswick, had major fires in 1837 and 1839.

The Canadian Encyclopedia

1855 - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception established at Saint John

www.gcatholic.org

1867 - July 1 - European and North American Railway opens from Saint John to Shediac, New Brunswick; becomes part of the Intercolonial Railway on July 1, 1867

canadachannel.ca/ todayincanadianhistory/ index.php/ July_1

1870 - Canada's first YWCA is opened in Saint John.

new-brunswick.net/ new-brunswick/ facts.html

1873
ST. JOHN, a city and seaport of New Brunswick, the commercial metropolis of the province, and capital of the co. of St. John, is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a river of its own name, on a rocky peninsula projecting into the harbor, 190 miles N.W. of Halifax, via Annapolis, or 276 miles, via Intercolonial railway, and 761 miles S.E. of Montreal. Lat. 45° 14 6' N., lon. 66° 3' 30' W. (Partridge Island light.)

The city is regularly laid out and well built It stands on a declivity, and when approach d from the sea has an imposing appearance. The whole of the elevated portion of the city consists of solid rock, which, for the purpose of forming tolerable streets, has had in some places to be excavated to a depth of 30 and 40 feet.

The buildings are chiefly of brick and Stone, and many of the public edifices have an elegant appearance. The principal ones are St. Mary's Cathedral, (R.C.,) Lunatic Asylum, City Hospital, Court House and Gaol, Marine Hospital, Penitentiary,... Read MORE...

1877 - THE ST. JOHN DISASTER. CITY IMPROVEMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION - WIDER STREETS AND FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS - RELIEF FOR THE DESTITUTE.
Special Dispatch to the New-York Times.

ST. JOHN, N. B., June 28. - Business is now proceeding as usual, and there is little to record except the constant receipt of money and provisions and the unsuccessful efforts to recover missing people. It is now known that 14 persons perished and that over 90 received injuries, some proving fatal. Gen. Warner, United States Consul, is working indefatigably in behalf of the sufferers, and other United States citizens, resident here, are foremost in the good work. Mr. Trusdell, Superintendent of the Chicago Relief Society, was before the Executive Committee to-day and explained the workings of the organization. A good system is now being arranged. Stolen goods are being recovered in the suburbs of the town. It is reported that two schooners loaded with stolen goods have arrived at Parreboro, Nova Scotia, and that masters and crews are under arrest.

St. John, June 28, - A public meeting was held yesterday, which was presided over by the... Read MORE...

1878 - A Little Traveler
The passengers by the through Intercolonial train from St. John, N.B. to Montreal, which arrived at Bonaventure Station this morning, was very much interested in a little girl about seven years of age, who was traveling alone, friends having placed her aboard the train at St. John on Tuesday night, and left her to the tender mercies of passengers. She was very neatly dressed, and had a white pasteboard card tightly sewed to the left shoulder of her jacket, upon which was written in a neat, lady-like hand, the following: "Nellie Carr - Please forward to Detroit thence to Lawton by Michigan Central Railway." Carefully pinned in her pocket she carried an envelope inclosing a half-fare ticket "St. John to Detroit." A basket (nearly as large as herself) containing an ample supply of cookies, doughnuts, buns, etc., and a "little dollie" which she very tenderly nursed, completed her outfit. She told your correspondent quite confidentially that she had money enough in the toe of her boot to... Read MORE...

1888 - On the 24th Joseph Barberie, George Edward and Laurance McHugh were drowned near St. John, N.B., by the upsetting of a boat.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
September 29, 1888

1888 - Merchants in Canada were preparing on the 17th for the enforcement of the retaliation measures by ordering winter shipments via St. John and Halifax.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
September 22, 1888

1888 - There were three fatalities in this vicinity yesterday.
St. John, N.B., Oct. 11 - Thomas Wallace, a young man under the influence of liquor, lay down on the railway track and was found with his arms horribly mangled, and other injuries which will cause death. George Golding, 60 years of age, fell on a rotary saw in Jordan & Stetson's mill, and was almost cut in two. Death was instantaneous. An 18-year-old boy named Irvine was drowned in Milford river.
The Brandon Mail
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
October 18, 1888

1895 - Saint John
Saint John, a city and seaport of New Brunswick, commercial metropolis of the province, and capital." co. of St. John, is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a river of its own name, on a rocky peninsula projecting into the harbor, 190 miles N.W. of Halifax, and 761 miles S.E. of Montreal. Lat. 45° 14' 6" N.; lon. 66° 3' 30" W. The city is regularly laid out and well built. The buildings are chiefly of brick and stone, the principal public edifices being St. Mary's cathedral (Roman Catholic), lunatic asylum, city hospital, court-house and jail, marine hospital, penitentiary, almshouse, male orphan asylum, academy of music, dramatic lyceum, mechanics’ institute, skating-rink, barracks, and the 34 places of worship. The educational institutions comprise a grammar-school, a Madras school, and a number of public and private schools. St. John has a number of religious and charitable societies, a public library, 2 banks and 2 branch banks, a savings-bank, an efficient fire-brigade,... Read MORE...

1899 - Saint John
I want first to show you St. John Harbor. right hand, as we sail slowly up the river St. John, we see low, steep hills. On these hills is built the city of St. John . The houses are of gray stone, red brick , or wood painted a dark brown. Often a thick, gray mist hangs over the town, blotting houses and streets from sight ; but to -day the sunshine has burned away the mist, and you can plainly see the colors of the houses, the straight streets running up and down the hills, the jingling street cars, and the busy people.

Down by the wharves the city is busiest. Great steamers from all parts of the world lie near the wharves to take in their cargoes of lumber. site bank of the river is bordered with sawmills, whose shrill sound can be plainly heard. The harbor is filled with craft of every description . Sailing vessels are on all sides of us ; some moored, with their masts rising naked and bare ; others, under clouds of white or yellow canvas, scudding hither and thither. Here is a... Read MORE...

1906
Saint John, a city and seaport of New Brunswick, the commercial metropolis of the province, and the capital of the co. of St. John, is picturesquely situated at the mouth of the St. John River, on a rocky peninsula projecting into the harbor, 190 NW. of Halifax, on the Intercolonial, the Canadian Pacific, and the New Brunswick Southern Rs... The city is regularly laid out and has a number of substantial buildings, - St. Mary's cathedral (Roman Catholic), Trinity Church, provincial insane asylum, city hospital, court-house and jail, marine hospital, penitentiary, custom house, almshouse, Wiggins's and state orphan asylums, sailors' home, public library, masonic temple, mechanics' institute, and academy of music. The chief business street is King Street, which leads off from King Square, near the centre of the city limits. The harbor of St. John is capacious, safe, and never obstructed by ice, being the only harbor of the Atlantic coast N. of Baltimore that enjoys this condition. Its... Read MORE...

New Brunswick musicians made history in May of 1907 at the Nickel Theatre in Saint John. They were the first to accompany silent moving pictures in North America.

new-brunswick.net/ new-brunswick/ facts.html

Saint John
Saint John, NB, incorporated as a city in 1785, population 67 575 (2016c),70 063 (2011c), 68 043 (2006c). The City of Saint John, the second largest city in New Brunswick, is located at the mouth of the SAINT JOHN RIVER on the Bay of FUNDY.

Saint John's earliest known inhabitants were the MI'KMAQ and later the MALISEET. Samuel de CHAMPLAIN arrived at Saint John Harbour on 24 June 1604 - the feast of St John the Baptist - and gave the river its name. No permanent settlement was attempted until 1630 when Charles de LA TOUR constructed a fort (Fort La Tour) at the site of present-day Saint John.

In 1701 the newly appointed French governor of ACADIA, Jacques-François de Brouillan, destroyed the fort and consolidated his forces across the bay at PORT-ROYAL. Not until the 1730s did Acadians from other parts of the Bay of Fundy begin resettling along the river.

By 1749 ownership of the territory surrounding Saint John was in dispute between England and France, and in the ensuing... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Saint John:
Reversing Falls: Witness the awe-inspiring Reversing Falls, a natural phenomenon where the tides of the Bay of Fundy force the Saint John River to reverse its flow. You can take a boat tour to get up close to the falls and experience their power.

Saint John City Market: Explore Canada's oldest continuing farmers' market in the heart of the city. The market is a great place to grab a snack, shop for local products, or simply soak in the lively atmosphere.

New Brunswick Museum: Dive into the history and culture of the region at the New Brunswick Museum. It houses a diverse collection of artifacts, art, and exhibitions that tell the story of the province.

Saint John Through Time Walking Tours: Join a guided walking tour to discover the city's history, architecture, and stories. You can choose from a variety of themed tours, including historic and ghostly adventures.

Irving Nature Park: For outdoor enthusiasts, this park offers hiking trails, beaches, and opportunities for... Read MORE...