History

To get a clear understanding of the history of Beaver Harbour, also called Penn's Field Colony, Pennfield Colony and Bellevu (or Belleview), one should go back to earlier days and find why and how people came to settle there.

At Mariner's Reach the owners have maintained the integrity of the original land grants for 12 Grantees from New England in the 1700s. Among those whose names are still seen on some of the old hand-drawn maps are Joshua Knight, Nimrod Woodward, Thomas Buckley, Caleb Paul, Jesse Lawrence, William Holmes and John Harris. Many descendants of these original settlers still live and work in the area and some street names such as Quaker Lane reflect their origins.

The village of Beaver Harbour has a rich and unique past. It was founded by descendents of a group called the "Society of Friends of Quakers" who refused to take up arms against the Catholic King James of England. They suffered much persecution and imprisonment for their loyalties. Many fled England for Pennsylvania during the Monmouth Rebellion.

Years later "Loyalist" descendents of these same people were fleeing Pennsylvania because they would not swear allegiance to the United States of America against England. In 1783 one group led by Joshua Knight made arrangements to go to Canada. A man of prominence from Arlington, Pennsylvania, he organized a group of Quakers to make their way to Canada and settle there, escaping further persecution from the U.S.

The place they chose was Beaver Harbour, where they built the town with its deep-water port. They suffered many hardships during the first winter. However, there were 15 streets and 800 residents when the town was incorporated June 4th, 1785. For more on the history please visit Beaverharbour.

In a more modern context, Beaver Harbour was the site of part of the filming of the movie, "Children of a Lesser God starring William Hurt, Marlee Matlin and Piper Laurie. In her debut role as Sarah Norman, Matlin won the 1986 Academy Award for Best Actress. Almost completely deaf in real life, she is the youngest actress to have received an Oscar for Best Actress. The film also garnered many more Academy Award nominations.

Fictional ferry landings and miniature weather-washed buildings transformed the already beautiful beachfront land of Mariner's Reach into the approach to an isolated site for a school for the deaf. Please see details at Children of a Lesser God.

Local Community

Beaver Harbour is one of several small communities in the southwest coastal area of New Brunswick. There are ample shopping, dining and business opportunities, as well as recreational activities unique to the area such as whale watching, sea kayaking, camping, hiking and world class golf. A pleasant lifestyle and easy access to the Bay of Fundy has long attracted visitors and residents alike to its beautiful seashore.

The waters off the Bay of Fundy are the summer feeding ground, nursery and play area for dozens of marine species. Strong tidal currents bring nutrients close to the surface, increasing the productivity of plankton. The plankton attracts large schools of herring and mackerel, which in turn provide food for whales, dolphins, seabirds and seals. The number and variety of shore and seabirds in the Bay of Fundy are nothing short of spectacular.

In the fall the area is a popular stopover for hundreds of migrating shorebirds and raptors. In the late spring the Finback Whales, Minke Whales and Harbour Porpoises are the first to arrive from their southern breeding grounds. In June, The Humpback Whales return, and by late June, the Humpbacks are abundant and White-sided Dolphins are often observed. By mid-July all five species are commonly sighted and usually remain until fall.

The endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, White-beaked Dolphins and Pilot Whales are often observed on local whale watching tours. Beluga, Sperm and Blue Whales are known to inhabit the region, but are rarely seen. There are also sightings of Bluefin Tuna, Sea Turtles, Ocean Sunfish and Basking; bird species include Atlantic Puffins and several varieties of ganets, petrels, shearwaters and phalaropes.

Each whale watching tour on the Bay of Fundy, provides an opportunity (and often, a once in a lifetime opportunity) to observe firsthand some of the largest and rarest bird and animal species in the world. Observing their behavior in their natural environment is a thrill and rare privilege. Outdoor enthusiasts are provided with an opportunity to experience the famous Bay of Fundy tides (the highest in the world), view ancient rock formations, observe the White Horse Island Bird Sanctuary and gain insight into the local history and geology of the region.

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