Plaster Rock's Surrounding Areas
The Tobique, a small river, runs nearly the length of Victoria County. It begins in several streams which form two streams which unite at Nictau to form the one river. The Tobique empties into the St. John River. The Tobique has a mild climate with neither extremes of heat in summer or cold in winter.
The first white man and woman to settle on the Tobique was William Campbell and his mother who took up land at Arthurette. Soon following them was the family of James Giberson and the Browns. A few years later Allan Reed and his family took up land above them on the opposite side of the river now known as Reed's Island or St. Almo. Then came Blues and Knowltons who settled farther up the river near what is now Blue Mountain Bend. Then came the settlers of Plaster Rock and it was a steady growth from there.
In 1850 a plaster mill was built at Three Brooks by Thomas Edgar. The plaster was hauled from what is now Plaster Rock down the river on the ice. A few years later lumbering became so prominent that the mill at Three Brooks was changed to a lumber mill. The first saw mill on the Tobique was built at Caldwell Brook. In 1889 another saw mill was built at Arthurette by Stratten Brothers. This mill burned in 1904.
The first school outside of Plaster Rock was built at Arthurette in 1860. The first teacher was Sally Hutchinson. In 1870 a school was built at Three Brooks with the first teacher being Martha Linton. After that schools were built at Maple View, Sisson Ridge and Plaster Rock.
The first telephone line on the Tobique was built in 1890 and John Stewart was the main person in getting the line up. The first telephone was installed in a store at Red Rapids. The next telephone was installed at John Smith's residence at Three Brooks.
The first bridge on the Tobique was built across the river at Arthurette in 1876. This was soon followed by one at Rowena which was torn down and replaced by one at Tobique Narrows. These were followed by bridges at Riley Brook and Plaster Rock.
Thus, the Tobique has increased in population and today Tobiquers have the Tobique Valley to be proud of.
