Zealand, New Brunswick
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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, in two 200 acres phases. In 1831 Philip’s son, Gould Crouse, purchased from his father two hundred of those acres. Gould named the area New Zealand (sometimes referred to as New Zealand Settlement[3]) after the birth place of his father in Zeeland[4][5], a southern province of the Netherlands. Other Dutch settlers of Keswick Valley included the surnames Alieen (Allen), Brouwer (Brewer), Jansen (Hanson), Jurkse (Yerxa) and Lauren (Lawrence), just to name a few. The area where Philip Crouse lived was sometimes referred to informally as the Hanson Settlement area by some locals, until the mid 1870's.
Early Postal Service
The first official post office in the community called New Zealand was operated by Thomas Woodworth.[6] He operated this former way office from July 1, 1868, until his resignation on October 24, 1871. Newly married Darius E. Brewer[6] took over, continuing the post office duties until 1885. Rev. Peter O. Rees[6] 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. Its final 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 was commissioned in 1870. The section of the railway that came through New Zealand was completed in 1873. 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 above Woodstock.
The center of the New Zealand community was about one kilometer from the railroad station that served it. 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. By the 1980's, with the dwindling influence of the railroad, the community name became more widely accepted as Zealand.
Community
Today multiple sand and gravel as well as cement companies have the community's natural resources as the backbone of their thriving industries. One of the highest skilled labour forces per capita makes its home here as well as a thriving outdoor enthusiasts' paradise reign supreme. The cleanest river system in the province as well as a sportsman's haven await all who visit this friendly and well managed area. Zealand was the first rural community in the province to be totally wired for high speed Internet. Also, the first piece of the Trans Canada Trail system in Canada, completed in the 1990's, runs through the community. Several churches and companies call this wonderful community home. A proud history indeed to a prouder future.
References
- ^ Crouse, R. "Crouse Family History, Second Edition" Rogue Publishing, 2000.
- ^ "Land Petitions: Original Series 1783-1918" Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, RS108.
- ^ "Journal of the House of Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick", February 24, 1853, page 292.
- ^ “Geographical Names of Canada" Natural Resources Canada, 2006.
- ^ Fellows, Robert F. “Community Place Names in New Brunswick, Canada.", 1998, page 274.
- ^ a b c Library and Archives Canada (2006). "Post Offices and Postmasters". Retrieved Oct. 11, 2006.
Bibliography
- Simon, John “ACTS of the General Assembly of Her Majesty's Province of NEW BRUNSWICK” Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 1840.
- “Journal of the House of Assembly of New Brunswick”, New Zealand Settlement, Provincial Archive of New Brunswick, 1855.
- Tracy, John C. “John C. Tracy Book” Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, 1927-1932.
- 1851, 1861, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 Douglas and Bright Parish Census Records.
- Zealand Historical Society, Holdings, Zealand, New Brunswick, Canada.