Zealand, New Brunswick, Canada

Zealand, New Brunswick, railroad station, 1942. (click on image to expand)

Zealand is a small unincorporated town in York County, New Brunswick, Canada. It is located on the Keswick River, a tributary of the St. John River, between the towns of Burtts Corner and Millville.

History

Loyalist Philip Crouse came to New Brunswick in November 1789[1][2] and settled in the Keswick Valley, eleven kilometers from the mouth of the Keswick River. There he obtained a four hundred acre land grant from the British Crown.[3] In 1831 Philip’s son, Gould Crouse[4], purchased from his father two hundred of those acres. Gould named the area New Zealand (sometimes referred to as New Zealand Settlement)[5][6][7] after the birth place of his father in Zeeland, a southern province of the Netherlands.[8][9]

Early Postal Service

The first official post office in the community called New Zealand was operated by Thomas Woodworth[10]. He operated this former way office from July 1, 1868, until his resignation on October 24, 1871. Newly married Darius E. Brewer[10] took over, continuing the post office duties until 1885. Rev. Peter O. Rees[10] took over from Mr. Brewer on August 1, 1885, as the new name for the post office changed from New Zealand to Zealand Station. Mr. Rees maintained this position until April 4, 1899. The next change came in 1961, after several postmasters, when the post office name was officially shortened to Zealand.
 

Early Railroad

Keswick Valley's Gibson Railway Line (New Brunswick Railway) was commissioned in 1870. The section of the railway that came through New Zealand was completed in 1873.[11] The system was initially built to narrow gauge, however this was changed to standard gauge in the 1880's. Railroad stations became established as access points to the local communities. Sometimes these community access points were quite a distance from the established community centers. Cardigan Station, at what is now called Burtts Corner, was established from the influence of the nearby Cardigan Settlement some 16 kilometers away. Next Lawrence Station was established, followed by Zealand Station. Continuing in a northwestwardly direction were Burnside Station, Burt Lake Station, Millville Station, etc., all the way to New Burg Station just north of Woodstock.
 

The center of the New Zealand community was about one kilometer from the railroad station that served it.[1] The locals that worked for the Gibson Railway line as section men named the access point, ''The Zealand Station''. This was readily accepted by the railway. Immediately the center of the community started shifting toward the economic and social center growing around the railroad station, and in short order the community became known as Zealand Station. After 1961, and with the dwindling influence of the railroad, the community name became more widely accepted as Zealand.
 

Community

The area is known as an outdoor enthusiasts' paradise. The cleanest river system in the province as well as a sportsman's haven await all who visit this friendly and well managed area. The first piece of the Trans Canada Trail system in Canada, completed in the 1990's, runs through the village. Zealand was the first rural community in the province to be totally wired for high speed Internet. Several churches and companies call this wonderful community home.
 

References

1. Crouse, R. "Crouse Family History, Second Edition” Rogue Publishing, 2000.
2. “Land Petitions: Original Series 1783-1918” Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS108.
3. “Philip Crouse 1811 Crown Land Grant” Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS686, Vol. E, No. 589.

4. Simon, John “ACTS of the General Assembly of Her Majesty's Province of NEW BRUNSWICK” Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 1840.

5. “Journal of the House of Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick”, February 24, 1853, page 292.

6. “Journal of the House of Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick”, February 9, 1854 - May 1, 1854, page 365.

7. “Journal of the House of Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick”, October 19, 1854 - November 3, 1854, page 321.

8. “Geographical Names of Canada” Natural Resources Canada, 2006.

9. Fellows, Robert F. “Community Place Names in New Brunswick, Canada”, 1998, page 274.

10. Library and Archives Canada (2006). Retrieved Apr. 7, 2007.

11. University of New Brunswick (2004). “New Brunswick Railway” Retrieved Apr. 7, 2007.

Bibliography

* Tracy, John C. “John C. Tracy Book” Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 1927-1934.
 

External links

* Crouse Loyalist Cemetery, Zealand, York Co., New Brunswick, Canada
* Parish of Queensbury, Bright and Douglas Anglican Church Records
* Library and Archives Canada

 

University Educational Series, Fredericton, York Co., New Brunswick, Canada, 2008