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73 Main Street, Unit 2 |
New Brunswick Tourism Region : Fundy Shore
Description From Owner:
- The community took its name from the parish which was established in 1786, likely named after St. Martins in Maryland.
- In the early 1800s the place was commonly called Quaco, but when the post office opened in 1845, it was named St. Martins. Birthplace of Walter Edward Foster (1873-1947), premier from 1917-1923.
- He was the first to be elected premier without having ever sat in the Legislature before.
- A ST. MARTINS VIGNETTE: Author William B. Hamilton in his Place Names of Atlantic Canada adds a fascinating vignette to the history of this community:
- 'In 1942 this area earned a small footnote in the history of the Second World War.
- In the early hours of 14 May, the German U-boat U-213 was successful in landing secret agent 'Lieutenant Langbein,' alias Alfred Haskins, near the mouth of the Salmon River to the east of St. Martins.
- As events transpired, the landing was the only successful aspect of the entire operation. At daybreak Haskins hiked to St. Martins where he eluded suspicion, despite passing outdated Canadian currency.
- He then moved on to Saint John, Moncton, Montreal, and eventually Ottawa, where he lived for two years before turning himself in to the Naval Intelligence Directorate.
- Subsequent investigation revealed him to be 'the spy that never was,' for he did not engage in any espionage activities.
- Having lived in Canada before the war, he seems to have been motivated by a desire to get out of Germany. Haskins spent the remainder of the war in a Canadian internment camp and was repatriated at the end of hostilities.'
- There are three covered bridges at St. Martins: Hardscrabble No. 2 (Irish River No. 2) covered bridge, built in 1946 is on Vaughn Creek Road; Tynmouth Creek covered bridge on Tynemouth Creek Road was built in 1927;
- Vaughn Creek (Irish River No. 1) covered bridge on Fundy Trail Road was built in 1935.
- Big Salmon River No. 1 footbridge, built in 1974, is E of St. Martins on Big Salmon River.
- Quaco Head Lighthouse, built in 1855 is an active, square concrete building and tower on West Quaco Road. Exhibits at Quaco Museum, Archives and Library at 236 Main St. focus on the shipbuilding heritage of the area.
- Information about The Fundy Trail is available at 229 Main St. The trail includes scenic lookouts, footpaths to beaches and a suspension footbridge.
- St. Martins Sea Caves, carved out of sandstone by Fundy tides, are popular with rock hounds and bird watchers. and may be reached only at low tide.
- With permission from 'New Brunswick Place Names' David E. Scott 2009
Address of this page: http://nb.ruralroutes.com/SaintMartinsNB