Chatham, New Brunswick: A Place Of Mystery

Chatham, New Brunswick, is an urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, Canada. It is a geographic parish in Northumberland County, which is divided between the city of Miramichi and the Greater Miramichi rural district. Chatham was an incorporated town from 1896 until 1995, when it became part of the newly incorporated city of Miramichi. The town is located near the mouth of the Miramichi River, which is quite wide, salty, and tidal. The river was important for shipping and provided access to wharves, making Chatham an ideal location for lumbering and fishing. The town's early political and business life was dominated by Joseph Cunard, of the famous shipping family, who controlled most lumbering and shipbuilding interests. Today, Chatham is known for its annual Irish Festival and has become a retirement community.

Chatham's history as a town

Chatham, New Brunswick, was a town from 1896 until 1995 when it became part of the newly incorporated city of Miramichi. The settlement was named around 1800 by its founder, Francis Peabody, after William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham and Prime Minister of England. The town's early political and business life was dominated by Joseph Cunard, of the world-famous shipping family, who controlled most lumbering and shipbuilding interests until his bankruptcy in 1847.

Chatham's location on the Miramichi River was ideal for lumbering and fishing. The river banks were well-suited as a location for wharves, and the deep channel close to the shore allowed the largest ships in colonial times to approach. The area was heavily forested, with stands of eastern white pine that were especially valued for ships' masts. The river teemed with fish, including the most prized Atlantic salmon.

In its early days, Chatham was a bustling and confident town, attracting prominent figures such as Maritime lawyer Richard Bedford Bennett, who later became Prime Minister of Canada. The town held its first elections for Town Council in 1896, and Bennett was elected by one vote. Chatham was also a centre for lumber mills, shipbuilding, and exporting fish and forest products to the British Isles and later to the United States.

Chatham played a significant role during World War II with the establishment of RCAF Station Chatham, which provided an economic stimulus for the town. The base was used for training navigators for flight crews serving in the European Theatre and intercepting Soviet nuclear bombers that entered Canadian airspace.

Chatham reached its peak population of 8,600 in 1961, but the town began to decline with the loss of St. Thomas University, which moved to Fredericton in 1964, and the closure of CFB Chatham in 1996. Today, Chatham is known for its annual Irish Festival and has become a retirement community, offering affordable and good-quality housing.

The Miramichi River

The river is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and anglers. The Miramichi River Road Trip, a 5-6 day adventure, offers fishing, tubing, and other outdoor activities. The region is known for its fly-fishing, with anglers coming from all over to try their luck at catching the renowned Atlantic salmon. The river is also lined with cosy wood cabins, perfect for those seeking a quiet retreat.

Chatham's founding and naming

Chatham, New Brunswick, is an urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, Canada. It was founded in 1800 by a successful businessman named Francis Peabody, who settled in the location that became Chatham, which was then known as The Spruce, after a large spruce tree. The Miramichi River is nearly a mile wide at this point, and its channel comes very close to the shore, making it a natural place to build wharves.

The town's name, however, is believed to have come from an earlier event. In 1765, the troop transport ship Pitt, named after William Pitt, the 1st Earl of Chatham, was shipwrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. One of the ship's boats, named the "Chatham", washed up near the Miramichi River, and so, the town was named.

Chatham was incorporated as a town in 1896, and in its early days, it was bustling and full of energy, attracting many prominent figures, including the Maritime lawyer Richard Bedford Bennett, who later became Prime Minister of Canada.

Chatham is located in Northumberland County, along the south bank of the Miramichi River, and it played a significant role in the history of the region. The geography of the area greatly influenced its development, with the wide and tidal Miramichi River providing easy access for ships from the British Isles, making it a hub for lumbering, fishing, and shipbuilding. The surrounding lands were heavily forested, providing valuable resources for ships' masts, and the river was abundant with fish, particularly the prized Atlantic salmon.

Chatham's favourable geography, natural resources, and industrious settlers contributed to its growth and prosperity, making it an important centre for industry and trade in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Chatham's economy and industry

Chatham's location on the Miramichi River played a crucial role in its early development. The river provided easy access for ships from the British Isles, making it a favourable location for trade. The surrounding lands were heavily forested, providing an abundant supply of eastern white pine, which was highly valued for ship masts. The river also teemed with fish, particularly Atlantic salmon, further contributing to the town's economic activities.

In addition to the timber and fishing industries, Chatham also had a thriving agricultural sector. The river banks, which were well-suited for wharves, supported the cultivation of potatoes, root crops, and apple trees. This made Chatham an ideal location for lumbering and exporting various products.

However, Chatham's economic landscape changed significantly over time. The removal of the Roman Catholic St Thomas University to Fredericton in 1964 and the closure of CFB Chatham in 1995-1996 dealt severe blows to the local economy. Despite these challenges, Chatham remains a significant settlement, now known for its annual Irish Festival and its retirement community.

The Catholic Church in Chatham

Chatham, New Brunswick, is an urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, Canada. It is a predominantly Catholic town, with a large Roman Catholic church, St. Michael's Basilica, at its centre. This neo-Gothic structure was formerly a cathedral and is one of the largest churches in Eastern Canada.

The Catholic Church has played a significant role in the history of Chatham. From 1860 to 1938, the town was the centre of a large Catholic diocese covering the northern part of New Brunswick. The Diocese of Chatham was moved to Bathurst in 1938, and local residents petitioned to become part of the Diocese of Saint John, New Brunswick, instead of Bathurst. This history has left a mark on the town, with a circle around the Parish of Chatham designating it as part of the Diocese of Saint John.

St. Michael's Basilica, built between 1903 and 1921, is a prominent feature of the town and a source of community for Catholic immigrants of various ethnic origins. The church has a historical connection to the Irish Catholics who immigrated to New Brunswick before the Great Famine. It served as a way for them to maintain their unique identity and band together during a time when they faced barriers and marginalisation in Canada. The parish associated with St. Michael's also had a long history of providing priests for the area and sending them to foreign missions or Western Canada.

In addition to St. Michael's Basilica, the Catholic Church in Chatham also established a Catholic hospital (Hotel Dieu) and associated nursing home, as well as a large elementary and secondary school (St. Michael's Academy). These institutions were run by a Catholic religious order, the Religious Hospitaliers of St. Joseph. The church was a major employer in Chatham, especially after the mills began to close, and it contributed significantly to the town's economy and development.

Frequently asked questions