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St. Croix Courier

Jan 16/1985

Shiretown submits tourism development proposals. Drawings of board walks and marinas at lighthouse and smuggler's village. Contributors David Bartlett, Don Oxner, Ian MacKay, Dick Wilbur, Charles Lankisch.

St. Croix Courier

Feb 13/1985

Frise returns to the Algonquin. Wants to improve hotel's share of tourism market, quality of services, food in particular. Hospitality industry in Atlantic still young. Hiring 220 people in 15 departments for summer. Opens May 17. Coming this spring: Canadian Owners and Pilot's Assoc. Atlantic Shopping Centers. American Public Works Assoc. Atlantic Provinces Institute of Chartered Accountants. Eastern Canadian Premiers and New England Governor's Conference.

St. Croix Courier

Feb 13/1985

Part two in series on J. G. Lorimer

St. Croix Courier

Feb 20/1985

Ron Rees publishes first book: Earth and Sky: Landscape Painting of Western Canada. Review.

St. Croix Courier

Feb 20/1985

Part 3 in series on Lorimer. Piece on Campobello recounts development of island as watering place.

St. Croix Courier

March 6/1985

Archives Open House—A Variety of Documents Stored in old County Jail. Illustration shows drawing and layout of Algonquin golf links from 1896.

St. Croix Courier

April 3/1985

Tourism slump in SW New Brunswick to be discussed at April 10 meeting of Fundy Isles Tourism Assoc in Pennfield, guest speaker Jim Frise. Frise President of Hospitality New Brunswick

St. Croix Courier

April 17/1985

Minister's Island Part of New Brunswick Tourism scheme.

Ottawa businessman Malcolm Thorne says his investor group is not limiting itself to the development of Minister's Island but is interested in helping to 'open up' southern New Brunswick.

            Thorne is acting managing director of the Ottawa-based S. A. Marine Centre Corporation, a group of entrepreneurs who have submitted plans for a residential development on the historic island in Passamaquoddy Bay.

            So far the plans include permanent and/or tourist accommodation, a marina, and restoration of the Sir William Van Horne estate. "Our plan doesn't limit itself to the development of Minister's Island. It's a regional development implementation plan, involving thousands of acres," he explained. Thorne has requested a Tuesday meeting with St. Andrews mayor Bev Lawrence and Town Manager Keith Robichaud. The corporation now has an office in St. John, and intends to establish another, probably in St. Andrews.

            "It's all frankly a dream at this point but if people are encourage to dream, it may happen," Thorne acknowledged. The developer says there's a "general notion of support" for their preliminary plans from the provincial government, who is interested in privately funded projects. The premier, who has final work in the matter, has read the various submissions, but has not yet responded, Thorne added.

            Between $250,000 and $300,000 has already been spent to prepare proposals and conduct macros and micro-economic studies on the plans' regional impact. The research shows the development would have a "tremendous" effect on building and other trades in the area, as well as "long-term financial impacts" for the region in general, said Thorne.

            Thorne, originally a Saint John native, says they are anxious to establish their Charlotte County office and maximize local content in the possible multi-million dollar projects. "We're earnestly trying to encourage public participation. It's not only needed. It's welcome," he explained.

            If the plans get off the ground, the corporation intends to expand its board of directors with about seven representatives from the local region, Thorne said when he contracted the Courier Monday to arrange an information meeting. The group's present plans also make provision for a railway museum, executive cottages "for conferences of minds and piece of mind," and possibly an arts school and amphitheater. The feasibility of the latter would be decided in conjunction with regional theatre groups, he added.

            The project blueprints also take pains to preserve the character and present state of the island as much as possible, said Thorne, explaining that no private vehicles, only service vehicles will be allowed on the Island, and as few trees as possible will be cut.

            The condominium and resort facility is expected to cost $45 million and the whole project will be built in phases over a 30 year period. Resort accommodations might best be managed in affiliation with the Algonquin Hotel, he added.

            The corporation is considering time-sharing condos to encourage year-round residency, a marine equipped with haul-up and storage facilities, and adjacent boardwalk and shops, he said.

            The plans don't include campgrounds which are provided adequately on the mainland, and Thorne says the development would not be in direct competition with local restaurateurs. Public access to the island would not be impeded, he said.

            Although the proposed project will be largely privately funded, Thorne says they must be realistic and expect some measure of government support for a project of this scope. However too much government involvement is "less than desirable" he added.

            One main problem for the investors is the lack of good transportation link-ups between New Brunswick and the US. Not only is nature uncooperative with fog and tricky waters in the Bay of Fundy, but the Airline route between Bangor and New Brunswick discourages tourists, says Thorne. A good highway from Bangor to southern New Brunswick is necessary in order to open up this part of the province, says the Ottawa entrepreneur. If there's a fall off in tourism by 25 percent, people should consider this, he said.

            If Canada and the United States, with the good rapport now enjoyed by the two governments, could get together to improve the Bangor-New Brunswick route, the province would be much better off, he said.

            Thorne also pointed out that it's one thing to have improvements made to thss airport, but unless commercial airlines can land here, the present improvements are apt to have limited benefit, he projected.

            Thorne's three associated are Dr. Steven Wyman, a former mayor of Saint John, leading Canadian economist Michael McCracken of InfoMetrica, John Bobak, founder of Computer Innovations Ltd., and Philadelphia businessman and chemical engineer, Mark Gagano.

St. Croix Courier

April 24/1985

J. G. Lorimer starts Provincial Patriot in St. Stephen.

St. Croix Courier

May 8/1985

Algonquin to host 25-day international chess tournament in 1987.

McKenna wins leadership race over Frenette.

CP has turned down request from McAdam Town Council to help fund feasibility study on making train station tourist attraction. Safety concerns alleged: tracks on both sides owned by CP, Via service returning. 6-room hotel.

St. Croix Courier

June 5/1985

Charlotte County celebrates 200th birthday.

St. Croix Courier

June 12/1985

Save-Easy being built.

Tourism New Brunswick to help fund B and B's. Only 24 registered few years ago; now 66.

St. Croix Courier

June 26/1985

McKenna: New Brunswick Tourism Focus need changing. More emphasis on longer visits—not one-nighters. Tourism in New Brunswick last year 400 million. Over 100,000 stayed at least one night in St. Andrews. St. Andrews enjoys relative prosperity in New Brunswick, McKenna said. Besides tourism, weir, port and lumber industry. Restaurant industry created most jobs in US last year. Pleased with St. Andrews downtown development. Photo of buckboard party—19th cent.

St. Croix Courier

July 31/1985

Tourism in Charlotte County seems up.

St. Croix Courier

Aug 14/1985

Owen House Remains Prominent in Island Life.

Built 1829, by David Owen, son of Capt. William Owen, who came in 1770 to settle on Crown-granted land. Rebuilt by Admiral William Owen, David Owen's second son, in 1835. Died 1857. Son Capt. James Robinson Owen, who reputedly was greedy landlord who tried to keep Island out of Confederation. Failing this, looked for buyer. Widow sold Island in 1881 to Campobello Company, "a group of wealthy Americans who wanted to turn the Island into a summer resort." Built hotel at Deer Point, "The Owen," in which original house was annex. Torn down in 1920, and Owen house moved to present site at edge of cliff at Dear Point (originally at Welsh Pool). New foundation and 2 wings added. Now B and B, owned by Joyce Morrell. "Owen House B and B." Photos.

St. Croix Courier

Aug 28/1985

Tourist numbers well up over last year. Charlotte County.

Courier

Sept 11/ 1985

Minister's Island, a Panorama of 3,000 Years of History

Carol Ann Nicholson

Minister's Island. In these two words there lies a panorama of 3000 years of Canadian history. This a history that was in the making when the Egyptians were building the pyramids, that was taking place when the Roman Empire began to grow, that was continuing when the Greeks were building the Parthenon. 

            People were living and working on Minister's Island when William the Conqueror fought the Battle of Hastings, and when Europe saw the first of the Crusades.

            And there is more.

            Minister's Island had an influx of settlers even before the Loyalists arrived, namely one John Hanson and his family of 13, descendants of whom are still living in New Brunswick.

            Tell that to the visitors.

            And of course, in 1885 Sir William Van Horne visited New Brunswick as the President of the CPR and was genuinely charmed by the beauty of Passamaquoddy Bay and its protecting island, particularly Minister's Island. On a subsequent trip he purchased the larger part of the Island and made it his summer home.

            Today, one of the special things that a border person can do to learn about Minister's Island is to talk to Bill Clarke of St. Andrews, who was born on, brought up on, and who spent his working life on the Island.

            Dapper, sincere, enthusiastic with eyes that truly twinkle, and with a knowledge of his heritage that would frighten the memory bank of a computer, Bill Clarke vividly spins and weaves the history of Van Horne, his family and the island's history. He makes it come alive.

            This is all material one can subtly toss into the conversation the next time an outside talks about the slow pace of life on the border. Talk about our heritage, the length of our history. Talk about Minister's Island. And if the visitors demand proof, give it to them.

            Archaeological investigations conducted in 1961, 1970 and 1981 have unearthed at least two sites, one from the Aceramic Period, about 500 BC, and the other from the Ceramic Period, about 1,000 AD.

            The earlier of these sites, located near the present location of the Van Horne residence, reveals a grave pit about 2,000 years old. It is one of two from this very early and interesting period of Maritimes prehistory.

            The other site, located towards the beach area, contains the remains of four house foundations, possibly more. The Passamaquoddy Bay area is the only setting in the Maritimes to show evidence of house features.

            Archeologists found deposits of shell, charcoal, artefacts and fire-cracked rock, as well as evidence of bird and mammal bones, small fish and sea urchin spines.

            This location represents an occupation of people using pottery and subsisting off local and maritime land resources. Because of the shell midden and house foundations, these sites are the best understood archeologically in the Maritimes.

St. Croix Courier

Sept 18/1985

How the Island Became "The Minister's"

Gossip and legend say:

. . . that John Hanson arrived in St. Andrews and settled happily into life on Minister's Island in 1775. He cleared land, erected buildings, and after 10 years he was there to greet the Loyalists and other refugees arriving from Castine, Maine.

            This made life much more pleasant for Mr. Hanson and he enjoyed his neighbors—having now the opportunity to convivially while away the lonely winter evenings with good comradeship, a little playing of the old cards and the occasional imbibing of spirits.

            One of the new settlers to the area was the Reverend Samuel Andrews the Anglican Minister who was to look after the spiritual interests of the settlers. Ah—but so the story goes—like Ahab of Old, the Reverend Andrews cast an evil eye which fell on his neighbor's vineyard, the Hanson homestead. He fell in love with the Island. Why not, the native people of generations past had loved the area, and 100 years later Sir William Cornelius Van Horne would fall under the same spell. Try as he would, however, the Rev. Andrews consistently failed to get the Hansons to agree to sell their claim to the Island.

Another newcomer to the area was Capt. Samuel Osborne, in St. Andrews with his sloop of war to protect the settlers. One fine evening Captain Osborne invited some friends, including the Rev. Mr. Andrews and John Hanson aboard his sloop of war for a fine dinner. It was a very fine dinner, indeed. In such company, the champagne flowed freely. So freely, in fact, that John Hanson was carried home unconscious. The next day he awoke with a raging headache. It was nothing to the headache and rage he felt the following day, however. This was when Captain Osborne produced a document signed and witnessed, which conveyed all Hanson's right and title of the Island to Osborne, in consideration for the miserly sum of 20 pounds. Shortly afterwards, the property was reconveyed by Captain Osborne to the Reverend Mr. Andrews.

            Hanson, his wife and family of 13 refused to be driven off the Island, however. The family claimed that Mrs. Hanson had not been consulted in the matter nor had her signature been obtained, therefore making the document illegal. Now this was long before the days of Nellie McClung, Emilene Pankhurst and the Suffragettes or GerMaine Greer, and unfortunately for Mrs. Hanson, her signature was not required and the property did indeed pass to Mr. Andrews. Hanson was a hardly individual, however, and his family was stubborn. they still refused to be driven off the Island. Accordingly, so it is related, Captain Osborne found it necessary for his sloop of war to conduct target practice in the area. Oddly enough, the bombardment of the cannon was always aimed in the direction of the Hanson Home on Minister's Island. Life certainly became so intolerable that the family had to evacuate. On leaving his island, tears in his eyes, and clutching his few possessions, John Hanson was heard to exclaim: 'Deerfield Massacre, Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point and the bloody Plains of Abraham are nothing to this. I thought I could at least trust my Parson.'

            When his sad case was presented to the government, his was permitted to take up land on the Bocabec River, where he ended his days. the Rev. Andrews, meanwhile, lived long and happily on his Island, as did his descendants. Around 1790, he built a neat stone cottage, referred to as the 'Minister's House,' which remains to this day. It was at this time that the name of the Island changed from Chamcook to Minister's Island.

            For the next 100 years the land was peaceful, pastoral, quiet with deer, unmowed grss, a bit of pasture and a few cows, and overgrown with huge, beautiful sea roses. And then, suddenly, in 1885-6 everything became the center of attraction for one of the most active, industrious and dynamic men in Canada. This was a man about whom the residents of Charlotte County did a lot of jabbering, chattering, prattling, clacking and bibble-babbling. yes, there was a lot of gossip about Sir William Van Cornelius Van Horne. There were many things to tell the visitors from Ontario, or Montreal, or Boston or Bar Harbour. But then again, that is a little gossip for another day.

Photo of Minister's stone house, Minister's Island. Nice shot. Article by Carol-Ann Nicholson. also, in preceding issue on same subject. Van Horne's barn in background. Nice and unusual photo of Covenhoven Sept. 25. Nicholson article. Looks more like typical shingle-style cottage. Mark Garneau to speak in St. Andrews.

St. Croix Courier

Nov 6/1985

tourism Assoc says area beauty is well-kept secret. Passamaquoddy Bay-Fundy Isles Tourism Assoc. hoping to produce caricature map of P Bay to change that.

St. Croix Courier

Dec 4/1985

Whidden Ganong—Wows History Buffs with Todd's Point Lore. Photo 1897 showing bay with William Todd's prize racehorses. St. Stephen gets first tourist bureau open year-round in province. 23,000-dollar grant from employment and Immigration to keep open in winter.