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A Spring Walk
Take a Stroll Through History

Springtime is an exhilarating time for walking. In uptown Saint John, visitors can enjoy a stroll through King’s Square and the Old Burial Grounds. It is easy going and there is much to see in both of them.

King’s Square and the Old Burial Grounds were both designated in the original plan for Saint John in 1783. At that time, these areas were located on the outskirts of Saint John but the City has since grown around them. Saint John was settled primarily by Loyalists who were refugees from the American Revolutionary War and patriotic fervour ran high. In King’s Square the walkways are laid out like the stripes in the British flag. In the centre where they all meet is a 2-storey bandstand which was erected by the City Cornet Band, who were mostly Irish, as a memorial to Edward VIII. The bandstand was dedicated in 1911 by his brother, the Duke of Connaught. It is one of few two storey bandstands in Canada.

Beaver Fountain, Old Burial Grounds

One of the most eye-catching monuments is the large granite monument dedicated to Fred Young. The money for this monument, which was unveiled in 1891, was raised by the efforts of the people of Saint John.

Fred Young was 19 years old and had come to Saint John from Prince Edward Island. He lived with his uncle and worked in a factory adjacent to Courtenay Bay located in the eastern half of the City.

Courtenay Bay is normally a placid body of water but on October 30, 1890 fierce hurricane force winds had turned it into a maelstrom. As Young was walking to work, he passed several boys throwing pieces of wood into the water. One of them, Fred Mundee, lost his balance and fell into the water. Young ran to the factory, and came back with a lifebuoy which he slipped over his shoulders. The safety line was about 50 yards in length and he handed it to two men before plunging into the wild waters. He was a strong swimmer and had nearly reached Mundee when the horrified spectators saw the end of the lifeline slip over the wharf. Young reached the drowning boy and holding him up in his arms called out, ‘Pull me in’ but by now the lifeline was far out of reach of those on shore. Three boats were launched but the wind and waves were so strong that all of them were smashed to smithereens immediately. Young’s lifebuoy kept him afloat and he made a valiant struggle keeping a firm hold of young Mundee until the boy slipped from his grasp. For over an hour, Young fought but then he threw up his arms and sank through the buoy. Later that day, when the receding tides bared the mud flats, the bodies of both victims were recovered. The day of the funeral, although the rain fell in torrents, the route of the procession was crowded with spectators. Young and Mundee were laid to rest side by side in an honored grave in Fernhill Cemetery.

Trees are a monument to our past. The trees of New Brunswick were used to build ships that sailed around the world. King’s Square is beautifully maintained by the City of Saint John and along with the flowerbeds, there are many varieties of trees. Elms are among the best-known eastern hardwood trees and the White or American Elm can grow very large. They are fast-growing trees, easily transplanted and are much favoured for planting along streets and as shade trees. They are noted as being extremely tough but unfortunately these tall stately trees are disappearing throughout much of the Province due to Dutch Elm disease, a fungal disease transmitted from a diseased tree by bark beetles. Although there are some incidents of this disease in Saint John, the majority of elm trees here have not been infected. Adjacent to the walkway on the left hand side coming into King’s Square from the Imperial Theatre is a beautiful example of a White or American Elm. Other notable trees found in King’s Square are Horse Chestnut, Oak, Linden and Norway maples. As the season progresses, the Toba Hawthorne trees on the Charlotte Street side of King’s Square will be in bloom. Their fragrant double flowers are white when they first open and then change to pink.

Across Sydney Street from King’s Square is the Old Burial Grounds. This was the original burial ground for the City and was opened shortly after the landing of the United Empire Loyalists in 1783. The oldest known marked grave site is for Conrad Hendricks and family. Their graves are in the triangle formed by the walkway adjacent to King Street East, the outside walkway closest to King’s Square and the diagonal walkway going from the gates to King Street East. In 1848, the grounds were closed to all burials but the site was maintained by the City as a memorial garden. Through the years it fell into disrepair and in 1994, the Irving Corporation decided to completely restore it, this was completed in 1995. All of the trees in the Burial Grounds are now identified by name tags.

In the lower left part of the Burial Grounds is a fountain surmounted by beavers. They were one of the symbols chosen for Saint John’s coat of arms in 1785. Close by is the oldest known tree still growing in the Burial Grounds. It is identified as a Linden, also known as Basswood or Lime trees. These trees grow naturally in a pyramidal shape with large heart shaped leaves. Their fibrous inner bark was used by the native people as high quality twine and rope to weave rough cloth, mats and nets.

We hope you enjoy your walk and your visit.

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