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New Brunswick Tourism Region : St. John River Valley
Description From Owner:
- The place was first called Petit-Sault for the falls at the mouth of the Madawaska R. but was renamed in 1850 for Sir Edmund Head (1805 868), who served as lieutenant-governor of the province from 1848 to 1854.
- Head introduced the concept of responsible government (transfer of power from Britain to an elected government) to the then colony by gradually initiating his ministers and the general public in the principles of parliamentary procedure.
- In 1854 he succeeded Lord Elgin as governor-in-chief of Canada. In 1827 at Baker Brook, 23 km SW of here, John Baker (1796-1868) proclaimed this area to be American territory which he called The Republic of Madawaska.
- When he refused to remove his American flag he was arrested and token to Fredericton for trial where he was sentenced to spend two months in jail.
- This was one of numerous border disputes due to imprecise wording in the 1783 Treaty of Paris which culminated in 1839 with the massing of troops on both sides of the border.
- War was averted but the skirmishes are remembered as the 'Aroostook' or 'Lumberman's War.' The dispute was finally settled in 1842 by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty which defined the present New Brunswick-Maine border.
- This region still is sometimes referred to Its the Republic of Madawaska and a flag and coat of arms have been designed. Each year the incumbent mayor of Edmundston takes on the role of 'President.'
- The highlight of the year is a midsummer festival known as 'Foire Brayonne' (Brayon Fair) and residents refer to themselves as 'Brayons,' a name that can be traced back to 17th century France.
- Many of the first settlers came from Bray, a region of France bordering on the old provinces of Picardy and Normandy where residents were known as 'Brayants,' 'Braytois' or 'Brayons.'
- This region also lays claim to the legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyon about whom tall tales were carried into the State of Maine and as far west as Wisconsin.
- Edmundston was incorporated as a city in 1952 and the rich and colourful heritage of the region is showcased in the Madawaska Museum and Galerie Colline at 195 Hébert Blvd.
- There are two Provincial historic sites here: Fortin du Petit-Sault at 14 Saint-Jean St. was built in 1841 at the height of the boundary dispute between the United States and England;
- the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception at 145 Rice St., a Roman and Gothic style church built in 1927 became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Edmundston in 1944.
- The Antique Automobile Museum, Chandelles artisanales, de la République Provincial Park and the New Brunswick Botanical Garden are a few kilometres NW of Edmundston and all are accessed from Exit 8 off Route 2
- Chandelles artisanales explains the history of candles and visitors may make their own to take home. At the Botanical Garden, 80,000 plants from more than 1,500 species are spread across 17 acres in eight flower gardens and two arboretums.
- Mount Farlagne: There is no recorded origin for this name, but local seniors have provided a likely source .
- In early days, land lots granted by the province usually began near rivers which were then the means of travelling. The other end of the lots was known as the 'far line.' The records were in English and it is thought French settlers mistook the name.
- With permission from 'New Brunswick Place Names' David E. Scott 2009
Address of this page: http://nb.ruralroutes.com/Edmundston
