Elgin, sometimes referred to as Elgin Centre, is a small unincorporated rural village located in Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. It was first settled in 1811 by John Geldart, followed by other pioneers in subsequent years. The heart of Elgin is situated at the "Four Corners", which refers to the intersection of Route 895, River Road, and Gowland Mountain Road. In the past, this central part of Elgin housed various businesses such as stores, small shops, hotels, factories, as well as a race track. Presently, the sole remaining establishment at the Four Corners is a combined general store and restaurant. Prior to the 2023 New Brunswick local governance reform, Elgin was categorized as a local service district. It is now part of the village of Three Rivers.
Elgin is situated in the western part of the county and within the western part of Elgin Parish, where it is located. It is approximately south of the former village of Petitcodiac (now part of Three Rivers), intersecting past Route 895 and the south ending of Route 905.
Toponymy The area that would later become Elgin was first known to the pioneering settlers as the Upper Settlement, as it was situated up the Pollett River from the Glades and Forest Glen (previously known as American Mill Village) settlements. Originally, the region known today as Elgin was a part of Salisbury Parish, which in itself was a part of Westmorland County. However, with the establishment of Albert County from Westmorland County, a new parish was formed called Elgin Parish, named in honor of James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, who served as the Governor-General of the Province of Canada at the time. When Elgin was founded as a village in 1847, it adopted the name of the parish as its own.
History
Indigenous period and early settlement Before European settlement in New Brunswick, the Elgin area had originally been traversed by the Mi'kmaq, who, from spring to fall, hunted and gathered in the region for possibly thousands of years. However, the land remained unsettled until 1811 when John Geldart, a 32-year-old immigrant from Yorkshire, England, constructed his house there. Geldart recognized the farming potential of the level meadows and fertile land, which led him to choose this location for settlement, upon his arrival after travelling upriver. Prior to Geldart's arrival, several farms were already being cleared and cultivated along the Pollet River, extending up to the village of Forest Glen. In 1812, following Geldart's settlement, other pioneers followed suit and arrived in the area, clearing forests and establishing their homes.
Many of Elgin's early settlers arrived from other parts of the province, with a significant amount coming from the Alma area. The settlement's mountainous geography attracted Irish and Scottish farmers. In the early days of settlement, it was likely common practice to seek higher ground to avoid early frosts in the region. Consequently, the hills were heavily farmed, while the farmers built their homes in the valleys. The area from Forest Glen to Elgin was originally lined with large pine trees on both banks of the river, which early settlers utilized by hollowing out their trunks to create canoes for transporting provisions.
During the initial years of settlement, the pioneers were preoccupied with building homes, gathering fuel for harsh winters, clearing land for agriculture, and obtaining food from the forests and streams. Salmon, which migrated up the river as far as "Pollett River Falls," were caught in substantial quantities and dried or salted. Grouse were also abundant in the more open valley and were smoked, salted, or preserved in fat for winter consumption. Clearing and preparing the forested land for cultivation was challenging, as every quarter acre required clearing and removing roots. However, once the settlers established their way of life, they turned their attention to producing marketable goods.
Elgin's earliest settlers, joined by individuals from other parts of the county, initiated the region's maple sugar industry. The hills surrounding the valley, which was being settled and farmed, were covered with large maple trees, which settlers used to produce sugar and ship it down the river in pine canoes. Although some historical records suggest that maple sugar production in the area dates back to the early 1800s, the Mi'kmaq peoples were the first to produce the earliest kind of maple candy here by pouring boiled-down sap over snow.
Nearly twenty years after the arrival of the first settlers, an Englishman named George Gowland came to Elgin with his family to farm. Observing how early frosts damaged crops, particularly buckwheat, in the valley, he chose to settle on a mountain in 1828. This mountain now bears his name as Gowland Mountain.
James and Peter Geldart, the sons of John, the first settler, later cleared farms and settled along the road between Elgin and Goshen. In 1835, James and Peter, along with their brother-in-law John Perry, founded the Midlands settlement. They were joined by Michael and Solomon Geldart and Thomas Hopper. Although the land in this area was partly open, the soil was less fertile compared to other established communities. Around 1847, a significant influx of Irish immigrants occurred due to the Great Famine. At one point, around 100 families had been settled in New Ireland, located a couple kilometers away from Elgin. However, much like the other settlements in the area of Gowland Mountain, Forest Glen, and Mapleton, New Ireland is now empty, and Elgin no longer serves as the shopping and service hub for these regions.
The first church in Elgin was a Baptist church, organized in 1835 by Rev. Joseph Crandall, who served as the pastor of the Salisbury Baptist Church at the time. Initially, the Elgin United Baptist Church held its meetings held in homes or a school, if available. The first church building was constructed near the present location of the Old Elgin Cemetery. This original First Elgin Baptist Church was a log cabin in 1839. A small log schoolhouse, the first of which made in Elgin, was built on a hill near the church, later being relocated. In 1870, a new church was erected at the current site, established by Rev. Joseph Crandall. On April 28, 1937, the church was destroyed by fire due to an overheated furnace pipe while the church was being warmed up for a funeral service. However, the community rallied together, and within two weeks, the basement of a new building was nearly complete. The new church was dedicated in July 1938, at a cost of approximately $3,500 - $4,000, with contribution from the local community and surrounding area. Elgin's post office opened in 1852, with the first postmaster being J. Robinson.
Elgin's first store was under ownership and operation by David and Frederick Steeves. Following Frederick's death, the business was taken over by David and his brother, Joseph. The partnership was later joined by LeBaron Goddard and, with the business being moved to Elgin "corner", sitting on Goddard's lot, the general store operated under the name Steeves Bros. and Goddard. The establishment remained successful in the subsequent years, eventually with Goddard's sons taking management, operating under the name "Goddard Brothers". In 1911, the business was destroyed by fire. Elgin also had a carriage shop, known as the Webster Carriage Factory.
Elgin's railway system
Pre-railway history Elgin's utilization of a railway began as a concept in 1853, with the initiation of the European and North American Railway (later replaced by the Intercolonial Railway). The railway's development brought economic prosperity to nearby Petitcodiac when a section connecting Shediac to Saint John via Petitcodiac was opened. The presence of a railway in Elgin was considered vital for transporting goods and promoting economic growth. The prospect gained more excitement in 1875, with various groups such as lumbermen, manufacturers, farmers, and merchants anticipating the benefits it would bring. Initially, the plan was for Alma Parish to be the railway's destination, with the last stop being at the Bay of Fundy, but the challenging terrain made it impractical. An alternative route from Petitcodiac to Elgin was then proposed by a group of businessmen, leading to the incorporation of the Elgin Petitcodiac Branch Railway Company. This company obtained permission to construct and operate the railway, connecting Elgin to the European and North American Railway. According to the Charter, construction was expected to begin in 1875 and be completed by November 1878. Charles Hallett surveyed the route and oversaw the construction of the railbed, which spanned long. An adequate number of passenger cars, freight cars, snow ploughs, hand cars, express, rail and baggage cars were agreed to be provided by the Elgin Petitcodiac Branch Railway Company, who would ensure their maintenance and good working order.
Completion and early usage To finance the project, $10,000 was invested by the Elgin Petitcodiac Railway Company for rolling stock, while a subsidy of $48,000 was offered by the government. Additionally, the project's expenses were covered by taxes imposed on the taxpayers of Elgin Parish. After a favorable vote from the electorate, the Albert County Session of 1875 passed legislation allowing the parish to levy a $13,000 tax on itself, placing the parish in debt that would be paid off within fifteen years. To additionally support the railway line, the Dominion government provided a special supplement. Subsequently, the railway was constructed and commenced operations.
Completed in 1876, the railway, nicknamed 'The Prong', was considered to have the highest number of curves per mile compared to any other existing rail lines. When the line connecting Elgin to Petitcodiac opened, the leaseholder provided free rides between Elgin and Petitcodiac throughout the day. The railway attracted hundreds of excursionists, who enjoyed the journey from seats mounted on flat cars. On September 14, 1876, The Chignecto Post predicted that the railway would invigorate and increase the value to Elgin's agricultural products, as well as bring progress to the village's real estate. In Elgin, a turntable facilitated the movement of locomotives, and the Elgin station house served multiple purposes, functioning as an office, warehouse, and dwelling. A gravity-fed water tank was located nearby. Additionally, Forest Glen, another stop along the railway, had a flag station constructed. Both the Elgin and Forest Glen stops housed large lumber yards. In the early days, wood served as the reliant source of fuel for the trains, with stacks of wood placed along the right-of-way. However, this posed challenges when, especially during heavy snowfall, the train would sometimes run out of fuel before reaching the supply pile. In such situations, it has been said that the crew would resort to taking wood from farmers' fences, woodpiles, or trees to ensure the train reached the next station. Later on, coal and diesel replaced wood as fuel sources. The train transported goods daily, emitting black clouds of smoke as it ran.
Impact on Elgin and later history