Page 33 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Christmas Giver 2023

Assembly, he moved on to be an officer in the militia, a
member of the Highland Society (and president in 1906),
president of the Chatham Curling Club, a Mason, and an
adherent of the Presbyterian church. A substantial scholarship
in his name is still given every year by the Highland Society
at Miramichi to persons moving on to postgraduate academic
work.
Hutchison saw needs in his community and endeavoured
to fill them. When he built his handsome home “Woodlands''
in Douglastown in the early 1890s, he gave the former
Rankin House to the village to use for a school. At his own
expense, he removed unnecessary chimneys, installed a new
furnace and renovated the interior to accommodate students
and teachers. The Douglastown School was open until Gretna
Green School was built in 1980.
In 1914, as a brother Mason, he built the Associated “Woodlands”, the immense Queen Anne-style home in
Lodges building for use by various groups in both Newcastle Douglastown, was built by Ernest Hutchison in the early 1890s.
and Chatham; Masons, Eastern Star, and other affiliated
organizations. This building has been kept in wonderful South Carolina and is buried in the St. James and St. John
condition and is in regular use today by the lodges of graveyard in Newcastle. Another monument to Hutchison is
Miramichi. The party for its opening in October of 1914, was at St. James and St. John United Church, found on the west
attended by 400 people! The event was scheduled to end at side of the front steps of the church. He was survived by his
3am but due to fog on the river, the boats available to take wife, Eliza Jane Johnston, a son Richard, and a daughter
people home could not leave, so most passengers were not Isabelle. Another son, Alexander, died as a five-year-old child
delivered to their abodes until around 8am! in 1886.
In 1915, a campaign began to raise funds for a new The few physical reminders of the Hutchison family are
hospital in Newcastle, but donations were sporadic and mostly in Douglastown, which was the seat of their business
uncertain. At first, Hutchison said he would match the endeavours. After the R. Hutchison & Co. business was sold,
donations of the citizens, but when donations only totaled his son Ernest turned his attention solely towards his
$700, Hutchison took over, and gave the money needed to community and directed all his efforts into its improvement
build and fully equip a new hospital. His costs were in the and enhancement.
neighbourhood of $100,000 which in today’s money would “Woodlands”, the immense Queen Anne-style home in
be equivalent to $2.8 million! One of the only conditions Douglastown, was built by Ernest Hutchison in the early
attached to this gift was that a member of the Highland 1890s. It is panelled in oak throughout in true Victorian style
Society at Miramichi would always have a seat on the board and has beautiful grounds surrounding the turreted mansion;
of the hospital. part of a vanished age, but evidence of what remains of
Hutchison died suddenly in 1918 while vacationing in Ernest Hutchison’s presence on the Miramichi.

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