New Brunswick Traveler

This interview with local historian Harold Wright deals with the military history of Partridge Island and the other sites around Saint John. Harold offers insights and humour as he shares about the establishment of a military defense in the 1790s, the War of 1812, and the wars in the 20th century.

Wild blueberries are native to Canada and grown mostly in coastal areas that have moderate temperatures and not as much possibility of frost. The majority of wild blueberry production is in Northeastern NB, but about 20% is in Southern New Brunswick where I live. Currently there are over 300 wild blueberry producers and with good crop management over 4,000 pounds of berries are harvested per acre....

Today I am interviewing Greg Marquis, the co-host of a brand new podcast about Saint John history. Greg is a local university professor and president of the New Brunswick Historical Society. His co-host is Mark Allan Greene, an Alberta university professor and the author of The Great Saint John Fire of 1877. The podcast launches on September 17 and will be produced every two weeks. Link to the pod...

This episode primarily talks about some of the history of lobster fishing in New Brunswick and the value of the lobster industry to the province.  Until the development of a canning process for lobster meat in the mid 19th century, there was really no commercial value, rather lobsters were just harvested for feeding individuals and their families.  By the 20th century, the sale of live lobsters an...

Today I interviewed Loretta Landry and Maggie Bryson, co-owners of Jeremiah’s Deli and Catering located in the Saint John City Market.  Maggie says that Loretta keeps to-do-lists, and that she doesn’t, which makes for a very balanced partnership.  They have recently started Charlotte Street Bakery in a space next to their business at the market.  In the interview, they talk about the challenges an...

In this episode, I interview Laura Weil, who has established a fiberglass door manufacturing company, perhaps the first one in the Maritimes.  Laura shares her journey of establishing a business in Saint John, a city known for its doors. She discusses the hurdles she encountered in securing a suitable location and suppliers, and her efforts in transforming a vacant space into a functional showroom...

In this episode, Mark Greene shared the inspiration behind his book The Great Saint John Fire of 1877, which began with his childhood fascination with the event. He explained that Saint John was a significant port city, founded by Loyalists in 1783, and had grown to become the third-largest city in Canada by the mid-1800s. Despite being prone to fires due to its rapid construction and lack of fire...

An interview with David Goss who has spent over 45 years sharing about the wonders of Saint John and the surrounding area through his walk and talks, and his books. In this episode, I talk to him about his new book on Fernhill Cemetery co-authored with Harold E. Wright, and on walks he is doing on New River Beach. The book launch will be at a huge celebration at Fernhill cemetery on August 26 in t...

This episode is an interview with Kerry Wilhelm, the owner of an e-bike business in St. Martins, New Brunswick.  Kerry talks about his background, the reason for selecting St. Martins as the location for his business, some of the challenges of starting a business, and  future opportunities that he is hoping can be accomplished. Kerry started by building his own e-bike, then converting bikes for fr...

In this episode I discuss the upcoming Fundy Sea Shanty Festival with Gary Caines, its artistic director. Gary explains the historical significance of sea shanties, their role in maritime culture and how appropriate to have it annually in St. Martins. We also talked about the Festival, program, highlighting its diverse activities and the importance of partnerships and sponsorships. Gary expressed...

Interview with Elizabeth Case, the owner of Sweetums Artisan Patisserie, which was opened in April, 2024.  Elizabeth shares her journey as a pastry chef from working with a high end restaurant on Vancouver Island to returning to New Brunswick and opening he own shop. There is good advice for individuals that would want to open their own business.  The bakery is located at 83 Hampton Road in Rothes...

In this episode I discuss the rich history of Partridge Island, a site significant for navigation aids, quarantine stations, military fortifications, and lighthouses. I highlight the role of lighthouse keepers and their duties, including the use of foghorns and the invention of the steam-powered fog alarm. I also shed light on the island's quarantine station, its use as a burial ground, and it...

Interview with Saint John poet and playwright Clyde Wray about upcoming fundraising production titled ”Tell it on the Mountain” which will be on December 14 at 4 PM at the Old Stone Church in Saint John.  It is the backstory to the Nativity and will feature local singer Debbie Ashley. Clyde shares his journey to Saint John, where he moved to be closer to his wife's family. He explained how the...

This episode talks about fiddleheads and their popularity in New Brunswick. The village of Tide Head New Brunswick bills itself as the Fiddlehead Capital of the World.  Perhaps it is, but Saint John has the only Fiddlehead sculpture. It was made by Jim Boyd of Sussex and sits in front of the Arts Centre. The predominant type of fiddlehead in Canada is the ostrich fern ( Matteuccia struthiopteris )...

I have always been intrigued by drive-in theatres. There are three of them that still operate in New Brunswick and in this episode, I interview Don Monahan, the owner of the Sussex Drive-in and Campground.  We look at the place of the drive-in in the current time.  We also talk about Fundy Fest which will be held on July 19 and 20 with headliners Julian Austin and Tim Hicks.  Information about Fun...

This week I am interviewing Andrew McClean, who tells about the backyard history of interesting things from the Maritimes.  Our particular focus in this episode is on the prominence of rum in the life of people who live in New Brunswick during the early part of the 20th century.  Rum was a part of the salary of some of the workers and it was common for them to take a “rum break” instead of a “coff...

In this episode I am talking with Jenna Morton, the Executive Director of the Greater Moncton Scottish Association.  Specifically, we are talking about the upcoming Greater Moncton Highland Games and Scottish Festival that will be happening on June 13 to 17.  More information about obtaining tickets for the event can be found on their website at https://monctonhighlandgames.com/

In this episode,  Danielle Timmons, a member of the leadership team of Aquilla – The Centre or Cruise Excellence discusses some of the 35 year history of Cruise in Saint john. Danielle noted that 2022 was a restart year after the Covid-19 pandemic, and 2023 was a successful season with the industry operating at near maximum capacity. For 2024, Aquila expects 88 ship day visits, since 12 of the 74...

This episode highlights the June opening of Place Fort La Tour for the 2024 tourist season. Don LeBlanc, a historical reenactor at the fort, give information about the days and hours that the facility is open, and things that a visitor can expect to see.  Visitors will observe interactive cooking and listen to the story of Charles La Tour and his young bride, who is infamously known as the Lioness...

This episode focuses on the Loyalist House in Saint John that was built in 1817 by a New York loyalist, Daniel David Merritt.  Five generations of the Merritt family lived in the house and it was purchase by the New Brunswick Historical Society in 1958.  Society President Greg Marquis and Vice President Troy Middleton. The episode also reveals some of the interesting items that are in the Loyalist...

This episode features an interview with Faye Gorham, the market manager of the Brundage Point River Centre Market, set to open on May 23rd. Faye, affectionately known as the 'Pickle Lady' for her popular homemade pickles, discusses the market's vendor policies, unique offerings, and community engagement. She emphasizes her commitment to ensuring vendors make a profit by limiting duplic...

My session today is with David Smith – The First Nation Storyteller living in Saint John.  David shared his journey of becoming a storyteller two years ago, leaving his previous job. The aim was to bring an indigenous flavor to Saint John, an area he felt lacked such activity and visibility. He shared his unique perspective, having grown up off-reserve and later realizing the differences in his wo...

This episode deals with the history of leprosy in New Brunswick and the government’s policy of forcing the “lepers”  as young as eight to segregate on Sheldrake Island without adequate accommodation or support.  Basically, deals with the types of decisions that communities and governments make when pressured by fear, ignorance, or hidden agendas.  The episode also highlights the efforts of the Aca...

The theme of this podcast is “out of the ashes”.  In the case of a murder in 1935 in the Moncton area, the ashes revealed evidence that resulted in two brothers being convicted of murder and hanging, along with their mother being charged with kidnapping – the first in New Brunswick to be charged with that.  In the second fire, rising out of the ashes of the Covered Bridge Potato Chip factory in Ha...

This episode is an interview with Joe Morin about his experiences with fishing in southern New Brunswick. Suggestions on where to go, what to fish for and how enjoyable the activity is. Makes me want to get my kayak out of the basement and get it on the water!