By Doug Underhill
The Community of Nelson-Miramichi
became part of the City of Miramichi on January 1, 1995. Prior to that it was its own separate community and one of the oldest
on the river. Earl J. Englishıs history of the community titled Nelson and Its Neighbours: 300 Years on the Miramichi published
in 1987 lists it as "one of the oldest settlements on the Miramichi. It goes back to the time of William Davidson." English
wrote that "According to J. L. OıBrien, the Parish of Nelson was first known as `Dowerıs Settlement, Southwest.ı"
The
community of Nelson took its name after Lord Nelson, an Admiral in her Majestyıs Navy who died at the Battle of Trafalgar.
English notes that there is a "legend that the spars for Lord Nelsonıs flagship Victory came from the Miramichi. There were
some men from Nelson who sailed with Lord Nelson: Joseph Russell who was midshipman at the "Battle of the Nile" on the ship
Vanguard."
English quotes historian W. F. Ganong as saying the an early Recollect Mission originally thought to have
been establish at Burnt Church was actually at Nelson around 1686.
The history of Nelson is closely tied to that of
Beaubearıs Island directly across from the heart of Nelson. The island was used as an encampment by Boieshebert whose followers
set up while fleeing the English after the expulsion of the Acadiens. They camped there while heading for Quebec.
Later
the island, which takes its name from Boieshebert misspelled in English form, was used extensively for shipbuilding.
By
1875 George Burchill and Sons had become extremely influential in the lumbering business and were a mainstay in the village
almost to the present. In 1882 Harvey Flett established a brick yard which was later run by the Loggies until 1932.
Over
the years there were a number of families who were involved in lumbering and logging. Nelson also had a woolen mill, carding
mill, a tannery, schools churches, stores, post office, ferries, tugboats, a railroad connection, Beaubearıs Co-op Sore, fire-hall,
village office, rec center, outdoor skating rink, a softball field. and a large modern papermill.
Nelson has had its
famous sons. J. J. Fraser who was born on Beaubearıs Island became Lieutenant-Governor in 1893, and in the late 1940s and
early 50s J. Leonard OıBrien also became Lieutenant-Governor of the province. G. Percival Burchill was a Senator. Paul Dawson
became a provincial Cabinet Minister during the reign of Richard Hatfield. Brothers Doug and Blair Shanahan both received
Lord Beaverbrook Scholarships making their family the only one in history to receive two such awards.
Nelson was a
hot bed for softball within the province and has several people in the NB Softball hall of fame. It has hosted national championships.
Prior to amalgamation, Nelson was officially known as Nelson-Miramichi. It first incorporated as a village in 1967
with Byron Goodin as its first Mayor. At that time its population was between 1,500 and 2,000.
Today Nelson still
maintains its history as part of the City of Miramichi. It is still a picturesque village that nestles along the south shore
of the Miramichi River with its elegant older homes and two- spired St. Patrickıs Church.
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