Page 23 - Mighty Miramichi River Guide 2023

A Walk Through Time

Featuring Historic Chatham By Charlotte Loggie, Miramichi Historical Society

This historic walk will take us through an entirely 59 Henderson St. “Griffin House”
residential district of Chatham with houses constructed
between 1864 and the early 1900s.
By 1881, the town had spread from what is now St.
Andrew’s Street in the east, to Lobban Avenue in the west.
The Miramichi River flowed into two natural harbours: one
opposite England’s Hollow, and the other further west at the
bend in Water Street (where the Atlantic Superstore is).
Residences constructed south of Howard Street were
considered to be “outside of town” and therefore, the main
residential district was bounded by St. Andrew’s Street in the
east, to Lobban Avenue in the west, and from Howard Street
north to Water Street at the river’s edge.
Take this walk as a self-guided tour or join the both on the east side of the street.
Miramichi Historical Society on June 12, 6:15pm, for a 59 Henderson St. “Griffin House” - This is a one and
guided walk. This walk focuses on a central area of the a half story Gothic Revival style home. It was built in 1868
residential district, featuring 17 historic homes. Not all are facing towards the Miramichi river. This is significant, as
presented here in this article due to space. most of the larger homes in the mid-1800s in Chatham were
We begin our walk in the parking lot of St. Andrew’s constructed with a view of the river which would have been
United Church, located at 186 Wellington Street. Walking unobstructed in the early days. The grounds of the house
south on Henderson Street we view two historic properties feature the two oldest red oak trees in Chatham. The eaves

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