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FOUNDING
THE HISTORY OF ALBERT COUNTY
Prior to the establishment of the Province of New Brunswick in 1784, Albert County was part of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. During the late 1700s, following the arrival of tens of thousands of Loyalist refugees from the American Revolutionary War, pressure began to build to separate New Brunswick and Nova Scotia into two Provinces. Originally following the split of the two provinces in 1784, Albert County was part of Westmorland County.
Each county in New Brunswick is divided into parishes. The number of parishes in Albert County has changed over the years, as the population has expanded. The original parishes (known as townships) were Hopewell and Hillsborough, both established in 1765. Salisbury township was created in 1787. It included the lands west of the Hopewell and Hillsborough townships, including parts of what are now Elgin and Alma Parishes.
of the new county, such as land registration would take place; the County Court House, where trials would be held; and the County Gaol (Jail), where prisoners awaiting trial were to be held. The original Court House burned down in a forest fire in 1903 and was replaced in 1904 by a beautiful two storey building.
In 1920, the two First World War trophy guns arrived in Hopewell Cape, and were prominently displayed in Hopewell Cape Square. The FK 77mm German field gun was awarded in recognition of the number of Albert County soldiers who served in the First World War. The K-14 10.5cm German field gun, which was captured at Vimy Ridge, was won by the citizens of Albert County in the 1919 Victory Loans Competition, for raising the greatest percentage over their set goal, greater than any other district in the province! In fact, Albert County tripled its goal!
By the 1960s, the Records and Tax Offices, Court House and Gaol ceased to be used to conduct government business, and the buildings were signed over to the newly formed Albert County Historical Society. The Society now operates these buildings, along with 4 additional buildings, as the Albert County Museum & RB Bennett Commemorative Centre.
With the economic and population growth of the county in the early 1800s, pressure began to build to split Westmorland into two separate counties. In fact, in 1840, a petition to create a new county was circulated, garnering 406 signatures. In 1845, the lands west of the Petitcodiac River in Westmorland County were established as a separate county and named Albert, in honour of the Prince Consort.
The main reason for creating a separate county, was because the seat of Government of Westmorland County was located across the Petitcodiac River in Dorchester. Dorchester is not accessible by water in the winter and a journey by land could take several days. This made it difficult for Government and Legal proceedings to be carried out in a timely manner.
Elgin Parish was set off from Salisbury Parish (Westmorland Co.) in 1847. Coverdale Parish was created out of the lands west of Hillsborough in 1828 and was extended west to the County line in 1845. The Parish of Harvey was set off from Hopewell in 1838, and included Alma Parish. Alma Parish was created in 1855 when Harvey Parish was divided.
From 1855, until today, Albert County has been divided into six parishes. They are: Alma, Harvey, Hopewell, Hillsborough, Coverdale, and Elgin. Hopewell Cape was chosen as the location for the Shiretown (seat of government) of the new county.
In 1845, construction began on four new buildings in the new Shiretown. They were the Tax Office and the Records Office, where the business
The Albert County 1919 Victory Loans Gun captured at Vimy Ridge
The 1904 Albert County Court House
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