KIRKLAND, New Brunswick — History buffs and outdoorsmen are involved in a trek into the wilderness to find an historic marker identifying the international border between New Brunswick and the State of Maine.
On Friday, Aug. 4, a gathering and guided hike will be held at the Community Hall in Kirkland, N.B., and in the nearby Monument Settlement just off Rt. 540 in Canada. Participants will gather at the hall at 9 a.m., leaving at 9:30 for the excursion to Monument Settlement. A gathering will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon back at the hall to include a potluck meal; those attending should bring a dish to share.
South Richmond Parish is the southwestern portion of Carleton County, N.B. The largest place is the Village of Debec, but it is surrounded by communities like Elmwood, Green Road, Union Corner, Limestone, Kirkland, Maxwell and Monument Settlement, known locally simply as “The Monument”.
Why is it called “the monument”? Here’s the story. The last century has seen many changes for Monument Settlement and nearby Kirkland. Settled in the 1850s, by 1898 Monument Settlement had a post office, a church, a school and a population of 150. Today there are only a few people living there inhabiting one farm and several camps.
However, what really sets Monument Settlement apart is the border marker found there: the monument.
The American Revolution – Marker 1
This spot was the center of controversy between the United States and Great Britain for decades after the American Revolution. The issue was where exactly to draw the line between the new Republic and what remained British territory.
That took a few years, but in 1797, the Jay Treaty declared the southern border would run from the mouth of the St. Croix River to its source, a place they called Monument Brook.
Two surveyors, one from each country, marked the spot with a marker on iron hoops around a birch tree. They carved their initials on a small stake.
The War of 1812 – Marker 2
That did the job until the War of 1812 renewed the dispute between Great Britain and the USA. When the war ended in 1814, the Treaty of Ghent led to a second effort to more precisely mark the border.
The commission given the job set out from Fredericton on July 15, 1817. They arrived at the headwater of Monument Brook 10 days later. They found the original border marker on iron hoops around a birch tree. They replaced it with a new marker, a square cedar beam 10 to 12 feet high.
The Aroostook War – Marker #3
Thirty years later, a dispute developed over what were called the “highlands”, the land running north of the Monument toward Mars Hill and Quebec. Lumbermen from the newly formed State of Maine aggressively moved into the disputed territory and conflict with British authorities ensued. Maine politicians urged Washington to enforce their claims. Provocations came from both sides and militias were mustered and what is now called the Aroostook War (1838-39) was the result.
As wars go, it was an unusual one; in fact, it was a bloodless war, more accurately described as an international incident. Neither the American nor British wanted a war, and they opted for another commission to work out the details of a solution to the border issue. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842 settled the issue.
As a result, a new marker was erected on the site of the first two, at the head water of Monument Brook, on Aug. 9, 1843.
The Marker
The new marker has a four-foot cement base. Perched on top of the base is a cast-iron obelisk about 10 feet high. The obelisk is inscribed: On the north side, “Treaty of Washington”; on the south side “August 9, 1842”; on the East facing New Brunswick, the name for Britain,“Lieutenant James Estcourt”; and on the west side facing Maine, the name for the U.S., “Albert Smith.”
It is possible to travel by vehicle to within a short walk to the site, then on foot for about 200 yards through trees and brush. Suitable clothing and footwear are required. The Monument is now surrounded by wetland but is clearly visible in the distance, but is difficult and potentially hazardous to reach on foot.
