PISKAHEGAN'S FINAL YEARS by Rev. Charles M. Smith
Part 1
Found in the January 2, 1975 issue of the Saint Croix Courier
In concluding this study on "Piskahegan's Pioneer Days" some attempt should be made to glance upon its final, less glamorous years. In so doing I find my task more onerous and less challenging than my pursuit of Piskahegan's opening days mainly because of the differences in time; at the beginning this tiny village seemed to burst upon the scene of local history in the second decade of the 19th century wherein it was born and almost came to maturity and popularity therein. Its demis, --or, better its demise, --or, better its sunset, --was understandably, of slower pace and without its original epochal history. But, as Piskahegan had a birth-year (I would suggest 1810) so it seems to have had a its finale in 1912 when the last family is believed to have vacated that area,--with the possible exception of Mrs. Arthur Towns who, --it is believed, --remained over a few months thereafter and moved out early in 1913. There were however, a few transients who entered this area and remained for brief periods thereafter but these were never thought of as members of Piskahegan's last families.
It may be readily recognized that this writer suddenly leaps over the middle decades of the 19th century to the last two thereof and the opening years of the 20th. The reason for this may be twofold: the initial purpose was to present some aspects of Piskahegan's origin, --its "Pioneer Days", -- and in so doing, the attempted story seemed incomplete without some reference to its final days. This, oddly enough, is far more difficult because we are now dealing with family records and personal memories, -- and these require considerable visitation (which is always delightful) and constant confirmation with other families. Hence, it is with some timidity and opinion that I venture this closing chapter on "Piskahegan".
Some may ask for reasons for the exodus from this early settlement and I would like to suggest at least four causes;
1. EPIDEMICS
As far as can be discovered from conversations with remaining members of these final families one might gather the impression that Piskahegan began to visibly decline in the late 1880's and 1890's, --with the most critical years being between 1889 and 1894. In this period so many families were literally scourged with death by diphtheria. In fact almost whole families were leveled by diseases, known and unknown, --especially those plagues affecting children and youth. Some named the contagion "the Black Death". Then, associated with this dire problem was the lack of doctors and the inaccessibility to proper medical needs. I am told that Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kavanaugh had a total of nine children, --all born in Piskahegan, -- five of whom are buried therein. Of those who died three succumbed of diphtheria and all within a few days. Mr. Kavanaugh drove two whole winter's nights and a day (with horse and sleigh) to Fredericton for medicine. The Doctor advised him to keep the medicine from freezing else it would be worthless. He kept the precious ointment under his clothes--close to his body--but upon arrival it was found frozen, --and the children died a few days thereafter. (By courtesy of Mr. Roy Kavanaugh, Rolling Dam, N.B.)
In a small secluded cemetery in the Brown Ridge area (a few miles above Piskahegan) are some gravestones of the Neary family who had lost seven children between the ages of infancy and age 13, --which included a set of twins; their dates were between 1889 and 1894, with the oldest four children all dying in 1890. We can only conjecture that these were victims of this plague. (Notes on the Neary family shared by Mr. Edward Lord of Sorrell Ridge, N. B. ) Of course there were other families who also suffered under this disease but who survived it.
2.PUBLIC SCHOOL
Having entered the 20th century, the final stroke that forced the remaining families out of the Piskahegan area was the closing of the local school (at the end of its first term) around 1900 or 1901. The people, especially those with children, had to move. The last teacher was Miss Dell Johnson. One scholar from this school stated that there were some 25 or more students on the roster but that teachers had become either hesitant to serve in such a remote area, or were in scarce supply at the time.
The following is a fragmentary list of the names of some teachers who taught in the District No. 10 school at Piskahegan:
Miss Mary Steen, -- from Pleasant Ridge
Miss Sarah Mitchell, --(Mrs. Robert McKinney, Rolling Dam.)
Miss Helen Toft, --from Tower Hill
Miss Minnie Stewart, -- (Mrs. John Colbert, McMinn)
Miss Ressie Mitchell, --(Mrs. Joseph Wrigley, Rolling Dam)
Miss Myrtle Spencer
Miss Jessie Murray, -- from St. George
Miss Dell Johnson, --from Sorrell Ridge
A much more accurate and fuller list should be compiled on this and other area schoolteachers; and it is hoped that the above information is accurate.
3. STORES
Then the absence of a general store at Piskahegan further deepened the desire for relocation, although traveling merchants (of which there were many in the old days) made periodic visits to this village and to Brown Ridge nearby. Their store needs therefore required them to shop at Mr. George M. Williamson's at Second Falls or at Mr. Robert McKinney's at Rolling Dam. Trips to St. George or St. Stephen were less frequent. There were many other sources of merchandising in this area of Charlotte County; and frequent use of mail-order services was a customary pattern in the 19th century.
4. OTHER FACTORS
Human elements, of course, must not be discounted wherein the younger members of Piskahegan families were moving out in quest of employment, or due to marriage ties. About the only industry was lumbering and even this was declining. For the most part the land was difficult to cultivate, -- with the possible exception of that of David Corning's and Charles Kavanaugh's. In 1875 Piskahegan had some 20 families comprising 35 to 40 adults, but by 1900 these had been reduced to less than 10 families. And it must not be overlooked that this was an era of changing populations; many of the second and third generation youth were moving westward and southward with far too few to take their places. This was the prevailing "wave of the future" for the latter half of the 19th century.
Two other items of Piskahegan's Community life call for notice: mail delivery and religious services.
A. MAIL DELIVERY
Nineteenth Century mail would arrive at Rolling Dam Station and from thence it would be carried to several "pick-up points" in the surrounding settlements; At one period Mr.Howard Towl of Rolling Dam served in this capacity leaving mail-bags at a couple of places in Rolling Dam and thence to Whittier Ridge, Sorrell Ridge, Pleasant Ridge, etc., and each family would collect their own mail at these places. Piskahegan's mail, however, was picked up at Jim McShane's at Pleasant Ridge and from there it was generally carried by Charles Kavanaugh to his village friends, --or on occasions others, who might be coming through Pleasant Ridge at pick-up times, would thus accommodate their neighbors.
B. RELIGIOUS SERVICES
A word concerning Church life in Piskahegan is worthy of note; contrary to public opinion there was a "Baptist Church" congregation which held its services in the local schoolhouse; and, with a bonifide membership, reporting itself to its denominational headquarters in St. John. This church body was formed about 1885 and was served by the Pastors from St. George and Second Falls. Also itinerant ministers and other Christian workers, such as the Salvation Army officers rendered valuable spiritual service to this congregation. By 1888 Mr. Daniel Munson, the Church Clerk, reported to Denominational Headquarters a roll of 26 members. (Mr. Munson died in 1896 and is buried at Piskahegan) Baptisms were conducted, depending upon the clemency of the weather or season, at the 'Ox-bow' on the Piskahegan River. It is believed that Arthur Townes was the last one to be baptized at Piskahegan; and was the only such candidate on that occasion. Baptisms were also conducted at Second Falls. Among the clergymen remembered who served this area were: Rev. Lavers, Rev. Lockhart, and a Rev. Tremble. (Of course, a complete list of pastors could be compiled by referring to the history of the St. George circuit.) The Piskahegan congregation was carried on Baptist denominational rolls until about 1900.
Written by permission of the Saint Croix Courier. Transcribed by Charlene Beney.