01
History
In the late 1700’s, mariner Francis Peabody of Saint John would frequently sail into Miramichi trading goods with merchants in Halifax. Peabody grew a growing fondness for area and decided to purchase a large tract of uninhabited wooded land covering our district area today. He later moved to the location, built a waterfront home and became an even more successful entrepreneur. His many river businesses included a lumber mill as well as a shipyard at England’s Hollow. He is referred to as the Father of Chatham’ by the Daily Gleaner with his passing in the early 1840’s. You will find a statue of Francis Peabody in our Waterford Green
It was during Peabody’s time and through the rest of the 18th century, the scope and size of the Miramichi economy brought ships mooring at river docks from around the world. Such global scale brought the rise of a number of influential river entrepreneurs like the famous Cunard brothers who established a huge shipbuilding and lumbering enterprise in our district area (brothers to Samuel Cunard of Halifax and Cunard Steamship Lines) and William Steward Loggie who built a local empire of industry from exporting fish, buying and selling lumber and who operated many establishments from hardware to footwear to groceries. You can cruise Cunard Street or swing down Loggie Drive when visiting our district to this day!
On January 1, 2000 the Province of New Brunswick officially designated our business district as New Brunswick’s first provincial historic district under subsection 2(3) of the Historic Sites Protection Act. The commemorative plaque reads “Historically, the Water Street area and the adjacent Miramichi riverfront bustled with shipping, shipbuilding, lumber industries and commerce. The enduring spatial quality and architectural character are reminiscent of the past.”
02
Our
Mission
On behalf of our shops and offices whom we represent across our district area and beyond, we envision a future where the Historic Chatham Business District presents both a blend of a growing, vibrant, prosperous economy within the celebration of a dynamic, fun, social and cultural destination that thrives through the activation of its spaces, places and people.
03
2021-22
Board of
Directors
The Historic Chatham Business District is a non-profit society founded in the 1980’s and governed by a volunteer board of directors who represent both property and business owners from within our defined district area. Our operating budget is derived from a special business improvement levy that property owners with our defined area pay annually.
Whether it is executing approved events or efforts involving beautification or governance, society issues are managed day-to-day by our General Manager. He is also responsible for implementing programs and initiatives approved by the board.
To contact anyone on our board simply call us at 778-0900 or email hcadmin@historicchatham.ca
Name: Brian Geneau
Board Position: President
Company: Pizza Delight
Address: 1670 Water Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: E1N 1A9
Name: Bruce Dickson
Board Position: Secretary, Treasurer
Company: Scotts Pharmasave
Address: 1781 Water Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: E1N 1B2
Name: Anne Bracken
Board Position: Director
Company: Anne Bracken Formal Wear
Address: 1141 Wellington Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: E1N 4N7
Name: Joan Blackmore
Board Position: Director
Company: All Decked Out
Address: 1804 Water Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: E1N 1B6
Name: Carol Smearer
Board Position: Director
Company: Miramichi Medical Supplies
Address: 130 Duke Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: 1N1 1H5
Name: Paul Underhill
Board Position: Director
Company: Chatham Town Centre
Address: 1780 Water Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: E1N 3A5
Name : Lorna Urquhart
Board Position: Director
Company: Life Member
Address: 1670 Water Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: E1N 1B1
Name: Matthew Waldriff
Board Position: Director
Company: Bank of Nova Scotia
Address: 1707 Water Street
City: Miramichi, NB
Postal Code: E1V 3G4