Walking Trail History Exhibit
A New Approach to Local History
While much of the history of our local area tends to be enclosed with the walls of the Fredericton Region Museum, explored a new approach to making history more available to the people in the spring of 2009. An inspiration from Fred White, a long time museum and society supporter, advanced the idea of having an exhibit outside the museum at a high traffic location. The location chosen is the Trail Visitors Centre on Station Road in South Devon which had over 84,000 people pass by last season. The exhibit chosen is the story of the Mouth of the Nashwaak.
Through a grant from the City of Fredericton provided by the Cultural Capitals festivities the Fredericton Region Museum mounted a panel display of this historic neighbourhood. The display includes several historic pictures and photos beginning with Fort Nashwaak, and also including Andersons Fur Fort, the New England Settlers, Loyalists, Alexander Gibson’s Industries, the Gibson Fire, aerial photos from 1929 and 1972 and a list of names of residents of Devon from the directories of 1926, 40, 41 and 44. This is a display which is sure to interest a wide group of visitors.
This project has been made possible through the research of Carol Randall and Robert McNeil who have recently published two books on Devon. Mr. Robert McNeil is the curator of the exhibit and has provided the information on the panels. Mr. McNeil’s family has lived in the vicinity since 1783. He and his wife, Marianne, have raised their six children in Devon. Robert is a graduate of St. Thomas University and the University of New Brunswick. He is now retired after teaching several years in New Brunswick schools.
Thanks to the City of Fredericton, Fredericton Tourism and Bartlett Designs. As well, a big thank you for Perfect Parties by Nancy for helping the museum plan and execute the opening on short notice since we decided to have it on International Trail Day 2008! It was a perfect day!!
Exhibits:
•Orientation Room
•Coleman Frog
•The Agricultural Room
•War of 1812: A Fredericton Perspective
•Boss's World
•From Black Bag to High Science
•World War I Trench
•Fredericton's Loyalists
•Acadians of Fredericton
• An Assembled Drawing Room for a typical Aristocratic Fredericton Colonial Family Pre-Confederation Time
Travelling:
•A Hearty Welcome: Royal Tours of New Brunswick, 1794-2012
•War of 1812: A New Brunswick Perspective
On-line Exhibits:
•Canoe to Steamboat: St. John River Travel
•Artefact Canada
•Life on a Farm in York Sunbury County
•Museum Treasures: A Celebration
Satellite Exhibit:
•Walking Trail History Exhibit by Robert McNeil
Speech by Richard Phillips | |