Item
St. Croix Courier
Jan 18/1984
Editorial: St. Andrews gets glimpse of waterfront development plan by Basic Design Associates of Sussex. Including pedestrian boardwalk. Proposal only.
The Right Honourable Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé
Governor General: 1984 - 1990 Appointed: January 28, 1984 Sworn In: May 14, 1984, Ottawa Born: April 26, 1922, Prud'homme, Saskatchewan Died: January 26, 1993
St. Croix Courier
Feb 1/1984
Loyalists and Schools are Synonymous in St. Andrews. Photo. Shows either first Madras School or lot site. Topp House on Water once lady's private school.
St. Croix Courier
Feb 8/1984
First car in Calais. 1903. Electric. First gasoline car 1904. Second article in series on St. Andrews schools. Intermediate school moved to Parr circa 1912.
St. Croix Courier
Feb 15/1984
"Transportation Bible" of 1868 discusses rail routes of the 1880's. Two photos of McAdam Junction 1889. In CC Archives. Article reproduced from earlier Courier.
McAdam Station always bustling. Historical article. Last two passenger trains taken off 1981.
Courier
Feb 24, 1984
Public input requested into Minister's Island future
Elaine Bateman
What shape Minister's Island development should take will be discussed by local residents at a meeting here Sunday afternoon. While actual development of the historic provincially-owned island is not imminent, the organizers of the meeting feel public input is a natural next-step in the preparation of a draft master plan for island development.
The master plan is part of a training session for provincial and federal parks rangers but in January their master plan was presented to a 10-member local citizens advisory group for reaction and Sunday's meeting is to allow for broader-based input, explained David Palmer, one of the meeting's organizers.
The people from the provincial Department of Tourism's historical resources branch will attend as well as John Turanski, a project leader with the Maritime Forest Ranger School, Palmer said. Public comment Sunday will be directed toward an as yet hypothetical development but a federal and provincial park is in the future for the island and local opinions registered now could affect the eventual planning process.
Palmer said anyone from Charlotte County is welcome to attend the meeting to be held Sunday Feb. 26 at 2 pm at Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center on Water Street.
Courier
Feb 29, 1984
Group wants say in Minister's Island Plan
It was not a wild-eyed citizen's group intent on forming strict plans for Minister's Island who met at Sunbury Shoes here on Sunday afternoon to discuss local involvement into the Island, but it was a group of people concerned with the future of an historic landmark in their midst.
The group, which has been meeting informally since November, called the Sunday meeting to see whether others shared their concern for the island, said Chairperson David Palmer. Although the gallery was not overcrowded, 18 people had interrupted their Sunday afternoon to meet.
"We don't have any idea what is going to become of Minister's Island," Palmer said, adding the group feels it is important to this area that local input should occur. A group of people putting their heads together might bring out a viable proposal which would appeal to governments and would also serve the local interest, Palmer said.
"As I see it, this is a sort of lobbying group," Dick Wilbur told the group. "I think it is imperative that this part of New Brunswick get its act together," he added. "We want to see this thing become more than an academic exercise." In October, a group of parks personnel from both provincial and federal parks throughout the country met in St. Andrews for a Parks Canada training session. The exercise question was what should be done with the island. The conclusions of the training session have been studied by the informal St. Andrews group and Palmer said on Sunday it does fit in with the group's feelings about island development.
Wilbur explained the proposals suggest the wooded northern end of the island remain a wilderness area to be used by scout groups interested in wilderness camping. The middle of the island developed by William Van Horne, the founder of the CP Railways, should be brought back as a farm. In the 1960s an airstrip was built in the central part of the island, but most feel it does not fit with the overall plan. "I think the general agreement is that the air strip should go," Wilbur said.
Both the citizens' group and the Parks Canada exercise proposal suggest thee be no vehicles allowed on the island with either a ferry or a bus taking visitors across the bar. "It would not take very much to get the farm back," he said. The glass has been replaced in one of the greenhouses Van Horne had built, Wilbur said. The farm could be a 12-month operation., he added.
The third area, where the Van Horne home is, could be a centre for the performing arts, Wilbur suggested.
Local businessman Ian MacKay suggested the group design an administrative framework to insure continuing local input into the island. The administration, in addition to local people, would include representatives from the various provincial and federal governments which have an interest in the island. The "corporation" as he called it, would have quarterly meetings for the shareholders, the public at large and at the meetings plans and budgets for development would be approved.
Although there were some differing view expressed by members of the audience as to how the island should be developed, the consensus was that people are interested in insuring local involvement.
As a next step, at the invitation of Mayor Bev Lawrence, the group will present ideas to council at a special meeting. Lawrence told the group that its important to have the support of the municipal government when working with other levels of government.
Walter Kozak, a town councillor, suggested the group set up a meeting with federal and provincial authorities outlining the concerns and the concept of a joint administrative framework. It is expected that meeting will be arranged.
Telegraph Journal
March 10, 1984
St. Andrews Supports Tourist Scheme
Town Council has decided to lend it support to a citizens' advisory group which would like to see the development of Minister's Island as a cultural center and tourist attraction. At a special session, spokesman for the group, Dick Wilbur, explained the work which has been carried out to date. It all began, he said, about two years ago when the group involved with Ballet East wanted to make use of the Island as a cultural centre.
At that time, he said, their plans were to hold two music camps on the island so they approached the Historical Resources branch of the provincial government, custodian of the island, for permission. The department was unable to let the group knows decision before the deadline at the end of October, so the camps will not be held there this summer. Mr. Wilbur said a local equestrian group made a similar request and it will be holding an equestrian school on the island this summer.
Mr. Wilbur said it seems evident that the provincial government is fairly receptive to the idea of making the island a cultural and performing arts center. Also, he said, the New Brunswick Federation of Agriculture would like to reactivate the farm on the island to use as a model farm. With this in mind, he said he was asked to put together a group of local citizens to see what they would like done with the island.
The group has studied a draft master plan prepared by the federal-provincial parks officers course Maritime Ranger School in October, 1983, which outlines various proposals to develop the island. If such developments is carried out, Mr. Wilbur said the group would like to see a citizens' group look after the island, rather than it be a strictly parks operation. "We realize it is government owned, but fee the people who are most concerned about it are those closes to it and they have had the closest association with the island," he said. This group, which would be made up of interested people with representatives from council, would then make presentations to the provincial and federal authorities.
Mr. Wilbur said that 1985 will be the National Parks centennial and it is seeking worthwhile heritage and conservation projects to support. Minister's Island is a tailor-made project for them, he added.
What the group would like to see, said Mr. Wilbur, is the island have some public use while still maintaining its heritage and present conditions. On no account, he said, would they like to see general vehicular traffic on the island.
While they cannot lost sight of the fact that the island is Crown property, Mr. Wilbur said if a citizens' group is involved it would be able to tap private resources for contributions to the island's development. . . . At present there is no public use of the island.
The purpose of the draft plan was to protect the island's significant historical resources and unique natural features and to encourage public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of these resources.
If developed the island would enhance the area's tourism potential and would provide benefits for the local economy. The development would provide, through interpretation and education, appreciation of the natural and cultural resources of the island and surrounding area.
Courier Weekend
March 10, 1984
Council supports group concerned with Island
Town council here agreed Thursday night to support a group interested in developing Minister's Island. Speaking at a special council meeting, dick Wilbur, representing the group interested in Minister's Island, said the group would like to see the island used as a cultural center and also restored as a model farm.
"We'd like to see a citizen's group look after the island instead of the government. We realize it is a government island, but government is the people, Wilbur said.
The Minister's Island group thinks a private group should run the island because they could tap private resources the government could not, have much less overhead and still be able to receive crown money, Wilbur said. In October 1983 provincial and federal parks personnel from all over Canada met in St. Andrews for a Parks Canada training session. They were given an exercise to see what should be done with Minister's Island. May of the conclusions the training session came up with are in line with the thinking of the citizen's group, Wilbur said.
The training session suggested the middle of the island developed by William Van Horne should be restored as a farm using the equipment of 1910, when Van Horne was on the island.
Part of the island should also be used as a cultural center, Wilbur said. Two music camps—one from Rothesay and one from Saint Mary's University in Nova Scotia—looked at the island as a potential place to hold music camps this summer and a submission was made to the New Brunswick government. However, the music camps needed to know by October and the government did not respond quickly enough, so the music camps will not be runs this summer, Wilbur said. However, the government responded favourably to the idea of establishing the island as a cultural center, he said.
Among the other suggestions, the Parks Canada training session said there should be no public access to the island by car, but only by bus and ferry. An airstrip built on the island in the 1960s should be removed, and visitors to the island should be able to see the farm activity without interfering with the farm's activities.
Wilbur said a suggestion that the Van Horne home on the island be furnished with period furniture would be too expensive and almost impossible, as most of the furniture was auctioned away. Instead, the citizen's group suggested that there should be a short-term goal to furnish the house so that it is serviceable.
"Our goal is to get the island into public use while maintaining it as a heritage centre in its present condition," Wilbur said.
The citizen's group representative said the group would have proposals prepared to submit to the National parks Centennial Committee before the committee's April 1 deadline concerned with renovating the island. As part of its centennial celebrations, National Parks is sponsoring projects that provide a natural heritage legacy and could fund a great deal of the island's renovations, Wilbur said.
Two St. Andrews council members, Chris Flemming and Walter Kozak, agreed to sit on the citizen's advisory group to represent the views of the council.
Courier Weekend
March 10, 1984
Permission to use Minister's Island not granted
[see cartoon "prepare to repel public boarders" this date]
No groups have yet received permission to use facilities on government-owned Minister's Island, according to Ralph Whitehead, the director of historic sites for the provincial department of historical and cultural resources.
Rumors had been circulating around St. Andrews that the Algonquin Hotel was seeking permission to hold one of the hotel's annual summer festivals, Hawaiian Night on the island. Whitehead said as far as he was aware, no such application has been received.
"If they had applied, it has not filtered down to my level," Whitehead said. As well, it was thought that the area pony club had been granted permission to hold a clinic on the island this summer. Whitehead said while the club has asked for permission, the permission has not yet been granted.
Whitehead said there had been a proposal to hold a music camp on the island. However, after the Fire Marshall surveyed the buildings, the former home of William Van Horne, it became evident that the cost of placing adequate fire protection devices made music camp use of the building unfeasible.
"It's going to take a fair number of dollars to put things (fire protection equipment) back in order," Whitehead said. He said there had been fire hydrants around the buildings which will be put back in service eventually.
Whitehead said that although the province would like to make the island accessible to visitors, at the moment there is too much danger and risk of fire for people to be allowed on the island.
The province completed its purchase of the entire island last year. Last summer, as part of the repair program which will continue each summer until the final plans for the island are set and funded, the province upgraded the telephone cable which runs to the island underground on the bar. He said the windmill was also repaired. This summer, should funds for repairs be included in the department's budget, the coach house will get a new roof and sill work on the main barn may begin.
"We are trying to maintain what we have," Whitehead said. As to what the island will finally become, Whitehead said there are, as yet, no firm plans. "Three are some discussions about it," he offered and agreed federal government involvement in the plans is a possibility." I don't think it's an outlandish guess to say five years, "before plans for the Island are set, I hope it's sooner."
Whitehead he encourages local groups, such as the newly formed citizen's committee on island development. He said such groups "can be helpful to people like myself." They are also good for the community because it gives people an opportunity to be involved. He said after all, the island is owned by the people and will benefit them.
St. Croix Courier
March 7/1984
Nice photograph of Rose Standish in Calais. Broadside view; name highly visible.
St. Croix Courier
march 14/1984
A Winter View—The Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews is bustling with activity in the summer months but this time of year, the camera captures a unique building in repose. Photo.
St. Croix Courier
March 29/1984
Grand Manan's first Liquor License.
St. Croix Courier
march 28/1984
Sardine Workers would soon be "awaiting the whistle" Piece on Eastport's heyday. Photo of busy waterfront.
St. Croix Courier
April 4/1984
Photo of Calais Main Street, 1867. Good.
St. Croix Courier
May 16/1984
L'Europe open June 3. Piece on Ludwig's.
TURNER, John Napier
Prime Minister of Canada
Liberal 1984.06.30 - 1984.09.16
St. Croix Courier
July 18/1984
Editorial: Why so few tourists?
MULRONEY, Martin Brian
Prime Minister of Canada
Progressive Conservative 1984.09.17 - 1993.06.24
St. Croix Courier
Sept 19/1984
Changing faces of International Bridge. Will MacKay, Photographer.
St. Croix Courier
Oct. 3/1984
Kent officially opens.
Courier
Oct 3, 1984
Grandiose Schemes for Minister's Island
Elaine Bateman, Managing Editor
A group calling themselves the St. Andrews Marine Center Corp. have some grandiose plans for Minister's Island including a 200 unit condominium, a fisheries wharf and motels and a bridge to connect it all to the mainland. Malcolm THorne, of Malcolm THorne Associates of Ottawa, and two men described as "American financiers" presented their proposals to the departments of tourism and historical and cultural resources and St. Andrews town manager and mayor two weeks ago.
David Miles, historic site supervisor with the Department of Historic and Cultural Resources, said the group have envisioned "a marine center" and want to purchase or lease about 250 acres or half of the provincially owned island to develop an exclusive year-round resort area.
Miles said representatives of his department and the tourism department met with the men in Fredericton Oct. 17. The initial inquiry was channelled through the Saint John Fundy Region Development Corporation.
"They want to develop the island for boating, mainly for New England tourists. They want to build motels, condos, a fisheries wharf and perhaps build a bridge to the island or run a ferry back and forth," he said.
"It's quite an expensive proposition," he commented.
Not only is it an expensive proposition, but not exactly what residents of St. Andrews had in mind for the island which contains the summer estate of railroad entrepreneur Sir William Van Horne. Word of the "fancy" development ideas for the island prompted members of the local Civic Trust to call a meeting Friday with Ralph Whitehead, the director of historic sites for the department of cultural and historical resources, according to the group's president Chris Flemming. "We first of all wanted to know whether the government had made any commitments," Flemming said. "And we were uncertain whether anyone is taking a role in representing local interests in the island."
Although a citizens group concerned with the future development of the island had been active earlier this year, Flemming said it was decided at Friday's meeting that a broader-based group should be formed to deal with the latest development proposal.
"Then, we may develop a specific proposal of our own to send to Fredericton," he said. "We would like to put together a group of ideas on what we would like to see done with the island. I think we do have a unity of opinion here on what we'd like to see done with the island," he said. "It should be protected. The island is fragile ecologically and it is the last remaining vestige of Sir William Van Horne in the country."
The Civic Trust plans to hold a meeting to form a committee to deal with proposals for the island at the St. Andrews Courthouse on November 14.
St. Andrews Town Manager Keith Robichaud said when the developers met with him in the town office Oct. 16 they were primarily interested in obtaining all the information they could on the municipality from development plans to fire protection. "they indicated they were looking at sites all along the Eastern seaboard and that St. Andrews was just one of them," he said. Robichaud said he felt the proposals were too premature at this stage for any comment.
According to Miles, the outcome of the meeting with the government department was that the potential developers would return more precise development plans to government by the firs of this week. So far, nothing has materialized.
Miles said he was under the impression the developers had a marine centre plans and were shipping for a place to put it. "I think they had already decide what they were going to do and then they found the island," he said.
The provincial government is open to proposals for the island, Miles said, but the final say on the fate of the island rests with the Premier. "The premier has taken a very personal interest in the island and nothing can take place without his blessing," Miles said.
The provincial government completed its purchase of the entire island last summer but have no firm plans for its future, said historic sites director Whitehead. "We have no time frame," he said. "We've done some very preliminary thinking on development. For instance, it may become a day use park."
The province expends about $25,000 a year maintaining the island buildings and a caretaker. Attempts to contact Malcolm THorne for comment on his development plans were unsuccessful.
St. Croix Courier
Oct. 31/1984
St. Andrews Tourism shrank by 25 percent in 1984, in spite of low dollars.
Courier Weekend
Nov 17, 1984
Respond to island plans, form local committee
About 40 concerned area residents agreed to form the Minister's Island Advisory committee Wednesday night after two hours' active discussion on the future development of the island.
The committee's formation is the result of local concern over tentative plans for private development of the island, including condominiums for 100 families, a wharf and marina, a motel and a school. Ottawa-based entrepreneur Malcolm THorne and two American backers approached the government on the matter a month ago. Chris Flemming, president of the St. Andrews Civic Trust Corporation, and Dick Wilbur, member of a citizen's group concerned with the island's future, formed earlier this year, co-chaired the meeting. Wilbur voiced his concerns over seeing the island fall into private hands. "It should be a facility developed for the people of Charlotte county," he said. Various organizations have shown interest in the offshore property—for a music camp, ballet camp, and the regional arm of the Canadian Pony club were interested in using the barn facilities of the Van Horne estate as the base for an equestrian school, said Wilbur.
Resident Douglass Howe reminded the group that the music camp field is quite competitive and already well served by Mount Allison University's summer programs. Concern was also expressed for the island's fragile ecology and its historical significance. In particular, the preservation of the Sir William Van Horne estate received specific mention, and one resident explained that without heat in the house during winter, the plaster has begun to decompose and along with it some of the residence's painted frescoes.
Resident Mel Turner advised the group not to turn away from the idea of some combination of public and private resources, saying he did not think it wise to shy away from something before it was fully understood. He also pointed out the considerable finances needed to develop and restore the island and its architecture, and the vast amounts of wealth available from private sources.
Turner's view gathered support from within the group.
[rest of article missing]
St. Croix Courier
Dec 12/1984
Photo of Algonquin burning. Part of Exhibit titled "People of Charlotte County," at Gallery of St. Croix Library. First boatbuilding graduates at New BrunswickCC.
St. Croix Courier
Dec 19/1984
Doug How reviews David Walker's "Lean Wind, Lean"
Last train into St. Andrews. Hughie Graham
Quoddy Tides
Dec 24, 1984
Barbara Raynor
. . . the various buildings on the island were connected by carriage roads. These were flanked on either side by low stone walls and at one time, although sadly this has now disappeared, thee was a huge cedar arch with the name "Covenhoven" at the entrance to the road leading to the main house.
On top of each of the pillars along the wall there were huge concrete flower pots—one can still be seen on the avenue leading to the main house. There also used to be slower beds on either side of the avenue and these were always filled with flowers just before Sir William arrived for his summer visits.
Covenhoven is an imposing mansion, which Sir William designed himself [sic] and contains 12 bedrooms, 11 baths and 12 fireplaces. A verandah extends along he front of the house with a brick walk—traces of which can still be seen—leading on to the spacious lawns where the family enjoyed bowling and croquet. The sandstone for the pillars of the verandah came from the island itself.
Nearby, is the stone building which housed a plant to produce carbide gas. Carbide pellets were dropped into water and the resulting gas was piped into the house to be used for light and cooking, before electricity arrived on the island.
Water on the island came from artesian wells and Sir William had a windmill constructed near the main house to pump water to the various buildings on the estate.
Not far from the main house is the gardener's cottage, which is kept in a good state of repair, since caretaker, Wade Veinotte sometimes stays there during the summer.
The greenhouses, which are surprisingly well-preserved, were used to supply the family with their own produce. They were equipped with a solar heating system and one contained only peach trees. Since Sir William would only eat fallen peaches, the threes all had nets underneath to catch the fallen fruit.
A later addition was the stone garage used to house Sir William's cars and his daughter, Adeline, known as Miss Addie, had a Model-T Ford with special doors since she was rather wide.
Inside the house now seems cold and empty with little furniture left and peeling paint, but one can imagine the lavish entertaining which went on during the summer months when the Van Hornes were there.
The previous owner of the estate, Norman Langdon, who purchased the island in 1972, auctioned off most of the estate's furnishing in 1977.
One of the few items that were left is a 300 year old hard carved cabinet where Sir William stored his paints and brushes. Unfortunately, the cabinet is locked and the key cannot be found. [so cabinet there in 1984]
The one room which still remains intact is the games room. The billiard table was one of he few items saved from the auction. The cues and score board still adorn the wall with the only other decorations a huge buffalo head over the fireplace and a deer head on another wall.
Upstairs in one of the children's bedrooms is a mural Sir William painted himself on the wall for his grandson, William Cornelius Covenhoven Van Horne, on the occasion of his third birthday. The paint is peeling in the room and the delft tile of the fireplace is cracking. In a closet is an old bassinette—another item which escaped the auction.
On the third storey is the play room where the remains of a train set together with a few other odd toys are still laid out on the floor. In another empty room, a few old croquet sets and bowling balls can be found a remainder of those summers long ago when the house was a bustling summer home.
Sir William used to paint in the round stone tower he had constructed on the southern point of the island overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. Inside there is a staircase leading down to changing rooms below. From here, visitors cold take a stone walk to Sir William's "swimming pool." This was a rectangular shaped hole carved out of the sandstone, which would fill with water at high tide, then the water would remain in the "pool" after the tide went out, and be warmed by the sun so guests could take a dip.
Following the death of her parents, Miss Addie maintained the island for many years and during the depression years it was one of the mainstays of the local economy, providing jobs for about 40 people.
Miss Addie died in 1941 and the island was eventually sold in 1961 to an Ohio syndicate who planned to turn the island into a club. However, the only thing which came of these plans was the construction of an airstrip—parts of which can still be seen today.
Then, in 1971, the province's first Minister of tourism, Charles Van Horne (no relation) acquired an option on the property but was unable to persuade his Cabinet colleague to buy the island for $400,000.
Mr. Langdon then bought the estate in April 1972 for $325,000 and renamed in Harbour Farm. He planed to keep the house and 150 acres himself and divide the rest into beachfront lots. He carried out major repairs and rebuilt some of the old carriage roads, then in 1977, approached the provincial government after spending nearly $300,000 on renovations. While the government showed some interest after several unproductive meetings, Mr. Langdon decided to sell off most of the estate's contents.
Among the many who attended that sale were Canadians Alexander George and Michael McPherson, who decided to buy the island from Mr. Langdon. Three days later, the government placed the island and its contents under the Historic Sites Protection Act, but by then most of the furnishings had been sold. This was what saved Sir William's billiard table, as it had been auctioned off but the buyers had been unable to get it off the island in time. [this doesn't sound right]
The provincial government finally became the owners of the entire island in 1982, as a couple of pieces of property had to be bought back from separate purchaser who had bought from Mr. Langdon. Little has been done with it since then.
Osprey Travel of St. Andrews, run by Jeannie Williamson and Ardeth Holmes, have been given permission to take people over to the island for tours and about 60 people visited it this summer. Mrs. Williamson said many people drive over the bar during the summer but are turned away by Mr. Veinotte, who explains that the only way to have a tour of the island is through Osprey Travel and some people are not prepared to pay for this. She wished the Federal Government and Canadian Pacific would organize a joint venture with the province to preserve this island and its history, since it is the last trace of Sir William left in Canada. When one considers what a hub of activity the island was in the Van Hornes time, it is sad to see nothing being done to preserve this historic setting. Recent announcements that a group of developers want to carry out development on the island which includes plans for 100 condominiums have those who love the island worried.
In view of this, a Minister's Island Advisory Committee was formed at a public meeting in St. Andrews on November 14. Some people would like to see the island used for summer music camps and eventually become a performing arts center, while others would like to see the remaining buildings preserved and the island made into a provincial park or historic site.
Deterioration has already taken place in the buildings and much of the contents have already gone, so it is time for some action now before this last vestige of the memory Sir William Van Horne falls into decay.