The first settler of Centreville was a man named Thomas Johnston. Mr. Johnston was born in Ireland. He traveled across the ocean for nine weeks when he landed on the shores of St. John in 1821. His wife also came across the ocean to St. John.

            Mr. Thomas married Esther McGee on June 6, 1824.  They had their first child on May 24, 1825.  At that time Thomas Johnston worked as a butler for a Mr. Chipman for four years before coming to Centreville.

            On April 14, 1829, he made a trail with his axe from the Buttermilk Creek to the village of Centreville, where he built a camp. He soon cleared land and built a log cabin, moved his wife and three children into it.  His log house was built somewhere near where the united church now sits.

            The first child born in Centreville was Charles Johnston born in 1831. The fourth born of Thomas and Ester.

            Mr. Johnston owned 200 acres of land between the Gregg Settlement Road and the Knoxford Road. He often became discouraged and thought about giving up trying to make it out in the wilderness but it is said that his wife had a vision or a dream in which she saw three churches sitting on their farm. This helped Mr. Johnston to stick with the hardship and today three churches do sit on the land they once had. Those churches are the United Baptist, United Church of Canada and St. James Anglican.

The first school was built in Centreville in 1845. It was made out of logs. It was built on what is now route 560 going towards Lakeville just on your right after you cross the bridge. Around 1864 a frame building was erected on the same site.

 At a special school meeting held January 26, 1907, Dr. H.A. Green, chairman, it was moved by H.J. Clark and seconded by A.C. Gibson, that the district authorize the trustees to borrow the sum of $5,000 for the erection of a new school building. At the annual school meeting on June 15, 1907, Rev. B.S. Freeman, chairman, it was moved by G.E. McClintock that the trustees be authorized to dispose of the present school building and build a new one, having it ready for occupancy for the beginning of the summer term 1908.

The fine commodious building has a credit to Centreville, standing on an elevation, so that it occupies a commanding position and viewpoint. It housed the superior and secondary departments of schoolwork and contains, in the upper story, a large room for basketball games.

Centreville got its name from being the center of the parish. It was also known as “Perkins’ Corner” and “Wheeler’s Corner.”

Centreville is situated in the heart of one of the richest and most productive agricultural sections of New Brunswick. It is the trading center and commercial entrepot of about 250 farmers, owning some 40, 00 acres of the best potato, hay and grain land in Carleton County.

Mr. Daniel McGrath owned 200 acres of land. The land he owned was all of Mill street and along the banks of the Presque Isle. Another large landowner was Mr. Richard Perkins also owning 200 acres. He owned the land from the Florenceville road south to the Presque Isle stream.

            Farming was an essential factor for many years ago and still is. It was needed to grow food for communities. It created jobs for many and also helped in the economical growth of the village.

            The first potatoes grown were called “Bluenoses,” because the seed end had a bluish, purple tint. Then later the people who grew the potatoes were called “Bluenoses.”

            The maple trees furnished the village with sugar; the sheep gave their wool for almost all of the clothing. Oxen were used for Ploughing. Grain was cut by a scythe with a set of wooded teeth attached which caught the grain as it fell and laid it in rows ready for binding into sheaves by a man following behind.

            Mr. John Raymond kept the very first store in Centreville. Mr. John Pryor also the shopkeeper of another early store. Most of the trading done by the early settlers was done at a store owned by Mr. John Bradley at Butter Milk Creek.

George W. White established the first general store in Centreville in 1862. Mr. White built flat bottom boats to transport produce down the St. John River, to Fredericton. To freight cargo up the river horses were taken downstream on a boat and were made to do the duty of propelling.

            During the first four years of business, the American war gave additional trade, with profits on goods. This enabled Mr. White to sell much below costs in Maine.

            Nathaniel Gregg also kept a store. It was run in his home for 10 to 15 years from about 1870 to 1885. The Balloch Brothers, James and R. Wilmont established the next general store around 1875.

            Markets prices in 1885 were:

Cows - $18 each

Molasses – 37 cents

Steers - $12 each

Vinegar – 20 cents               

Hogs – 6 cents a lb

Pepper – 1-4lbs – 10 cents

Eggs – 20 cents a dozen

Tread – 6 cents a reel

Salt - $1.25

Seamless Bags – 30 cents

Sack of Cotton – 6- 10 cents a yard

Socks – 85 cents

Brooms – 30 –40 cents

Calf Boots - $4.50

Matches – 12 cents a quarter gross

Suit Clothes - $11.00

Tea – 40 cents

            Mr. C. E. Vail opened the first jewellery store in Centreville, May 1896. For reasons unknown, the store was closed but was later reopened by Peter Violette in 1921.  Among the other stores in Centreville at this same time were Alexander’s furniture store, R.W. Balloch’s dry goods and clothing business, G.W. White & Son with their hardware and groceries, as well as L.B. Clark, D. Fitzgerald & Son selling handmade boots and shoes and Miss Lottie Fitzgerald with her millinery.  In this same time period, there was a great deal of trade and traffic across the Maine-New Brunswick border, mostly between the small towns and villages who lived close by on either side.  It was estimated that from 40 to 100 teams passed through Centreville daily in the summer time.

The Centreville drug store was established in 1905, with Mr. Joseph Hawker as the manager.  Responsibility changed hands a couple of times, with G.C. Richardson taking over in 1910 and J. Chesley Stevens in 1912.

            February of 1915 saw Norris L. Delong and L. Burton Clark open a hardware store.  Another hardware store was opened in 1921, under the management of Mr. John Quinn, who later sold out to Mr. Harry C. Wheeler of Knoxford in 1929.

            One of the most renowned businesses in Centreville was that of C.M. Sherwood, who started his first store in Centreville in 1888.  Sherwood was responsible for the establishment of one of the largest and best stores north of Fredericton, as well as a roller grist mill, saw mill, electric lighting plant, and an opera house, just to name a few.  He has been called one of the most progressive and enterprising businessmen to ever live in Centreville.

            The first hotel in Centreville was built around 1845. The owner was Mr. George Wheeler. After the building of this hotel another was built in 1862 by Mr. John D. Baird.

            Mr. Baird also had a rather large lumbering business right along the boundary line. In 1861, Carleton County had six steam sawmills, 27 waterpower saw mills, 20 waterpower gristmills, 3 oat mills and 10 manual tanneries.

            In February 1877 Mr. Isaac Tracy established an express passenger conveyance between the Centreville Hotel and Woodstock.

            In March 1922, Mr. Burtt Hawkins opened a restaurant on Main Street and there he demonstrated his cooking abilities.

            At the Burtt’s Inn Mrs. Damey and Faye Burtt catered to the travellers that passed though. At the Burtt’s Inn the customers were assured a quiet, comfortable and spacious quarters with home like surroundings during their stay.

            Mr. Dennis Getchell built the first gristmill in Centreville around 1880. Mr. C.M Sherwood bought the mill in February 1904. He then had it remodelled. It was called the “Centreville Roller Mill”, it was four stories high, 35 by 50 feet, with steel covering, operated by a turbine water wheel, with 80 HP. It burned buckwheat hulls and it never burned a cord of wood. It had 5 half double staffs, 9 by 24 for grinding wheat, and two for grinding buckwheat. It had the capability to grind 200 bushels of wheat, 300 bushels of buckwheat, and 500 bushels of mixed feed in the “shopper” in a ten-hour day.

             Mr. C. M Sherwood operated a sawmill from 1907 to 1909, sawing shingles and long lumber. Around 1905 the last big drive of logs passed down the Presque Isle stream, consisting of about one million feet of lumber.

            Around 1878, Mr. Alfred J. Lee moved into Centreville to start

a tailoring business. He rented shops for a while to run his business then he built a shop in 1885. In 1893 he had a staff of seven girls and always kept a stock of already made clothing. He ran the business till 1925 when failing health prevented him from working.  He continued to do some light and easy jobs for some time afterward.

Some popular dressmakers of the 1880’s through the 1890’s were Miss Jennie Henderson, Mrs. Charles long, and Miss. Helen West. Also in the 1890’s to 1990’s there were many women engaged in this business. Mr. Johnson G. Emery kept the very first harness shop in Centreville. There were many others who had shops and worked during the late 1880’s and early 1900’s. Some did general repair work on sleds and wagons, while others built shops and furniture.

            About 1870, Mr. Fred G. Burtt built a tannery on the bank of the Presque Isle Stream, near the bridge. The tannery stayed running for about 35 years. A.C Gibson was associated with the tannery.

The first blacksmith in Centreville was Andrew Scott. He began working in Centreville in 1855. Another early blacksmith was Moses Cluff. Blacksmiths were well known to Centreville between 1855 and 1925.

John W. Adams did work on Mill Street building caskets, coffins and 1911 when he died. His wife then took over the business and had a man named Howard Adams from Hartland as undertaker.

The first mentioned barber in Centreville was Mr. Charles Cliff. He started his business in 1887. There were a few other barbers such as, Fred Pond, Mason C. Caines and Vaughan Sloat.

Mr. Charles Cliff was also known for his photography skills. Mr. L. Estabrooks opened a photo saloon in 1890. 

In October 1922 great excitement was caused by a reported discovery of gold on the farm of Mr. W.R. Harold and get rich schemes and rosy visions of future wealth, cheered many of our citizens for some time. Until the bubble burst and gold had been relegated to the background.

            In April 1926, G. Green and Sons built a general repair shop, 35 by 40, for repairs on farm implements, motor truck bodies and automobiles. The shop contained up to date equipment, with oxy-acetylene, welding, brasing and cutting done, iron and wood laths, band saws, drills, etc.

In 1915, there were five large potato houses built at the C.N.R station of Centreville. The owners of them were Smith Co., Ltd., McCain Produce Co., A.A.H. Margison, and the Agricultural society, Nelles and Clark and B.E. Cliff. McCain’s shipped 28,000 barrels of potatoes from the Centreville station, form their 1928 crop. 

  In May 1896, the surveyors for the railroad were in Centreville. In October of that year work was under way, coming North from Jacksonville and going South from Centreville. It was thought to be ready in December to begin putting down rails but due to money shortages the construction was stopped. This was a very big disappointment for the citizens of Carleton County.

            The years went by till 1912 without the finishing of the railroad. Then on October 1, 1914 it was completed from Westfield to Centreville to Woodstock.

            A regular passenger train service was inaugurated, beginning December 19, 1914. The train left Centreville at 7am, Woodstock at 8:25, arriving in Fredericton around noon. The train would leave Fredericton at 3pm and arrive in Woodstock at 6:35 and Centreville at 8pm.

The first telephone line in Centreville was built about 1894, from Centreville to Woodstock. It was a single wiring system, making connections at Woodstock to Saint John and United States points, via Bell Telephone company. In the year 1902 the phone lines were extended to surrounding areas. Later the Commin’s Consolidated line was established; the New Brunswick telephone company and the Farmers telephone Co., also were established. The first electrical lights in Centreville were established by the C.M Sherwood Co., in 1901 being operated by gasoline. In 1902, the Grist Mill operated them from the shingle mill by waterpower, and in 1904. In 1923 the electric line was established from Aroostook falls to Centreville. On February 26, 1924, the current was turned on and the installation of our present electric service was completed. Mr. C.M Sherwood manufactured the first electric light plant.        

The first automobile that was owned and operated in the vicinity of Centreville was a Maxwell. Owned by Mr. Norris Delong in 1909. Dr. F.M Brown purchased a new Hupmoabout in 1910.

Fire swept a portion of the Centreville business center during the afternoon and evening of September 30, 1914. The fire did upwards of $30,000 in damage and destroyed six buildings. Burtt’s Hotel, the Bank of Nova Scotia, J.B Daggett Co. Hardware store, George Beckwith’s house and two barns, the wires of the Farmer’s and New Brunswick telephone lines were put out of commission.     

            Another fire broke out on April 27,1926. It destroyed the H. T. Scholey house, Canies Barber shop and the store of G.E Wilson.

            The fire of 1935 wiped out almost the entire business section of Centreville.  The estimated damage was more than $100,000. Only two stores survived the blaze the C.M. Sherwood Co. Ltd and a smaller store owned by H.C. Wheeler. Many people were covered by fire insurance while others had little or none. The assistance of the Mars Hill and Bridgewater fire department was needed to put out the blaze.

 Written by: Stephanie MacDonald

(Summer Chamber Student 2002)

Acknowledgements 

History of Centreville by Clark A. McBride 

The History of Centreville by the Centreville Middle School seventh and eighth grade students of 1998.