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The St. John RiverThe St. John River and its tributaries were very important to the development of New Brunswick because up to the age of rail they were the main avenue of transportation for at least half of the province's population.
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Lower St. John River map1910
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The headwaters of the St. John River begin between Maine and Quebec, at some places only 50 km from the St. Lawrence River. It enters New Brunswick west of the city of Edmundston in the north of the province flowing in a southeastern direction until it enters the Bay of Fundy at the city of Saint John. Although the river could be traveled by watercraft most of its length between Saint John and Edmundston, it was the section between Saint John and Fredericton that was navigable for larger vessels such as steamboats. Small steamboats, however, could go further along the river, up as far as Woodstock during high water period.4
Early Fredericton waterfront1820
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
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From Rockdale Hotel, Brown's Flat, St. John River, N.B.1910
St. John River, New Brunswick, Canada
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Brandy Point, St. John River, N.B.1920
St. John River, New Brunswick, Canada
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Early inhabitants used nothing larger than the birch bark canoe for their travels. The tidal nature of the lower St. John River made travel for canoes very labourious at times. It regularly took 5 hours and more to paddle up the river between Fredericton and Keswick when the tide was rushing out, but only 2 hours if one rowed the same direction as the incoming water.8
Canoe model: Maliseet1920
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The woodboat was an unique New Brunswick variant. This type evolved into its best-known form by the 1830's and lasted into the 1920's. The woodboat, a small round-hulled, blunt-bowed vessel was mainly used to carry wood cargo, hence its name, but did frequently carry some passengers in the pre-steam era. Sailboat journeys between Fredericton and Saint John could take as long as six days when the wind was slight.10
Woodboat under sail1900
St. John River, New Brunswick, Canada
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