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History
St. Stephen is situated on the International Boundary between New Brunswick, Canada and Maine, U.S.A.. The lower part of this boundary is the St. Croix River, a Canadian Heritage River, which has been steeped in history since the French explorers, Champlain and DeMons, first ventured on St. Croix Island (sometimes called Dochets Island ) in 1604.
One hundred and eighty years later, in 1784, the United Empire Loyalists arrived following the American War of Independence. They joined the few original settlers in the area. The area grew both economically and culturally, and by 1800, St. Stephen was perhaps the most important regional port for shipments of timber and lumber overseas. Both sides of the St. Croix River became studded with numerous shipyards and wharves, as a "Golden Era" began. The many docks were crowded with Tall Ships loaded with lumber bound for Europe. The two communities share lives as "border towns" in a most neighbourly fashion. In fact, in 1812 the people of St. Stephen loaned Calais sufficient gunpowder to celebrate the 4th of July while both countries were technically at war. St. Stephen was incorporated as a town in 1871, then five years later its business district was almost totally consumed by fire when eighty buildings and thirteen wharves were destroyed. By the turn of the century, lumbering and shipbuilding had all but disappeared from the area. The perseverance of its people and diversification of its economic base helped the town survive. The same enterprise and dedication continues today as St. Stephen begins the 21st century. For more information on the historical properties in St. Stephen, visit the | |||||
