History of Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada

In 1866 Grand Falls was a community with approximately 55 families: included the settlement of Colebrooke: PO 1851-c1870

archives.gnb.ca

1873
GRAND FALLS, or COLEBROOKE, a post town of New Brunswick, capital of the co. of Victoria, pleasantly situated at the head of navigation of the St. John river, and on the route of the Fredericton and Riviere du Loup railway (in course of construction), 202 miles from St. John, 116 miles from Riviere du Loup. It contains, besides the county buildings, several hotels, 8 stores, a tannery, and saw and grist mills. In the immediate vicinity the River St. John falls precipitously a height of 180 feet. Over this fall is a handsome suspension bridge. The sur-rounding scenery is exceedingly beautiful. Pop. 700.
Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873

Grand Falls was incorporated as a town in 1890

archives.gnb.ca

1895 - Grand Falls
Grand Falls, or Cole'brooke, a post-town of New Brunswick, capital of the co. of Victoria, on the St. John £er, and on the Fredericton & Rivière du Loup Railway, 202 miles N.W. of St. John, and 116 miles S.E. of Rivière du Loup. It contains, besides the county buildings, several hotels, 3 stores, a tannery, and saw-and grist-mills. In the immediate vicinity the river St. John fails precipitously a £ht of 180 feet. Over this fall is a handsome suspension bridge, Pop. 700.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1899 - Grand Falls Legend
About one hundred and forty miles above Fredericton are the Grand Falls. Although only half as high as Niagara, they are quite as overwhelming. This is be cause their surroundings are so dark and gloomy that Niagara, by contrast, appears bright and joyous. The St. John River narrows at this point from one quarter of a mile to three hundred feet, and then plunges eighty feet into a dark gorge . A suspension bridge hangs above the river a few feet below the cataract, and there on moonlight nights the view is beautiful.

Many legends cluster round the Grand Falls ; but the most interesting story of all has an Indian girl for the heroine. She was of the tribe of the Melicites, who lived in the region of the upper St. John. From a child she had known all the windings of the river, and its falls and cataracts, as well as you know your way home from school. She could steer and paddle a canoe almost as well as a young Indian brave.

The Mohawks were the deadly enemies of the Melicites.... Read MORE...

In 1904, Grand Falls was a port of entry, a station on the Canadian Pacific Railway and a town with 15 stores, 3 hotels, 1 sawmill, 1 grist mill, 1 cheese factory, 1 butter factory, 3 churches and a population of 1000.

archives.gnb.ca

1916
Grand Falls, or Colebrooke, a banking post-town and outport of New Brunswick, capital of the co. of Victoria, on the St. John River (near the great falls of that river), and on the Canadian Pacific R., 202 miles NW. of St. John, It contains several saw-, grist- and lumber-mills. Pop. in 1901, 644.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1973 - Ron Turcotte of Grand Falls wins horse racing's Triple Crown riding the legendary Secretariat.

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

Grand Falls
Grand Falls (or Grand-Sault), NB, incorporated as a town in 1890, population 5706 (2011c), 5650 (2006c). The Town of Grand Falls is located 228 km up the SAINT JOHN RIVER from Fredericton at the point where the Canada-US boundary begins to be designated by the river. It is the only officially bilingual town in New Brunswick.

The cataract from which the town's name originates was the site of overnight encampments from the time of the MALISEET. Grand Falls had a brief stint as a military post at the time of the boundary dispute with the United States. The initial surge of settlement, however, came through the entrepreneurial efforts of Sir John Caldwell, who brought settlers in to run his around-the-clock sawmill operation in the late 1830s. The surrounding area was settled by farmers in the ensuing decades, and with the completion of railway links in the 1870s, the town began a period as a tourist and resort attraction in the vein of Niagara Falls. In the 1920s a dam and electrical... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Grand Falls:
1. Grand Falls Gorge: Start your visit with a trip to the Grand Falls Gorge, the town's most iconic attraction. This natural wonder features a breathtaking waterfall cascading through a narrow gorge. You can explore the gorge via well-maintained walking trails and suspension bridges, offering spectacular views of the falls and the surrounding rock formations.

2. Zip Line Adventure: For an adrenaline rush, check out the zip line adventure at Grand Falls Gorge. Soar above the gorge and the rushing waters of the falls, taking in panoramic views of the scenic landscape. It's an exhilarating experience that provides a unique perspective on the natural beauty of the area.

3. Potato World: Discover the fascinating world of potatoes at Potato World, a quirky and educational museum dedicated to the humble spud. Learn about the history of potato farming in the region and its importance to the local economy. Don't forget to try some delicious potato-based snacks at the museum's café.

4. ... Read MORE...