Woodstock, New Brunswick

History

The Town of Woodstock was largely settled by Loyalists following the American War of Independence.

The upper limit of Loyalist grants on the river fell to members of Colonel DeLancey’s 1st Battalion New Jersey Volunteers, and the members that accepted the land moved there early in the summer of 1784. Three small settlements were formed in this new area named Woodstock and they were: the Upper Corner; the Creek Village; and Lower Woodstock.

When Carleton County first came into being in 1832, Upper Woodstock was made the shiretown due to the influence of Colonel Richard Ketchum who donated land for construction of public buildings. The Old County Courthouse is now a much-visited historic site under restoration by the Carleton County Historical Society.

However, after a bridge was built across the Meduxnekeag River, there was rapid growth of the Creek Village and this resulted in its dominance as the Town of Woodstock.

Woodstock, incorporated in 1856, is the oldest incorporated town in New Brunswick. The first mayor, Mr. L.P. Fisher, who held office until his voluntary retirement some 24 years later, was a great benefactor. He made provision in his will for the building of several educational institutions, among them the first Agricultural and Vocational School in Canada, and the L.P. Fisher Memorial Library.

The Meduxnekeag River, in the heart of Woodstock, provided power at its mouth for sawmills and grist mills, the beginning of industrial activity that came to include tanneries, carriage factories, a wool mill, two foundries producing stoves, furnaces and agricultural machinery, etc.

Presently, Woodstock is the shopping centre for the surrounding area, being closest to the border.

Statistics

External Links

• http://www.town.woodstock.nb.ca/
• http://www.woodstocknb.ca/
• Mitch Biggar's History Tidbits

Referenced By