About Us
The Historic Chatham Business District, located in the heart of Miramichi, NB, is a vibrant hub that blends rich heritage with modern commerce. As the cornerstone of the community's commercial activity, the district fosters a prosperous economic climate for the members of the Business Improvement Area (BIA). With its charming streets lined with local shops, services, and eateries, the Historic Chatham Business District is a thriving destination for both residents and visitors, preserving the town's unique history while promoting business growth and opportunity.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
A Little History
From Jacques Cartier’s voyage of 1534 through early French rule and England’s victory in 1758, our history is shaped by sea and timber. Nestled under the Province of New Brunswick’s longest bridge, the Historic Water Street Business District is home to the famous Cunard brothers who established a huge shipbuilding and lumbering enterprise. During our great shipbuilding era, over 450 ships were launched in Miramichi.
Bennett, Tweedie, Snowball, Loggie, Peabody, Johnson and Cunard are but a few of the many great men who shaped the character and amassed great fortunes in Miramichi.
On January 1, 2000 the Province of New Brunswick officially designated the Chatham Business District as New Brunswick’s first provincial historic district under subsection 2(3) of the Historic Sites Protection Act. The commemorative plaque reads “Historically, the Water Street area and the adjacent Miramichi riverfront bustled with shipping, shipbuilding, lumber industries and commerce. The enduring spatial quality and architectural character are reminiscent of the past.”
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