David Goss: A quiet spot on the busy Hampton Road

Back in 1971 I explored the possibility of buying a home on the Hampton Road in Quispamsis. It was very country like at the time even though it was just beginning to develop built-up side streets. One of the streets had several houses that appealed to my wife and me. But the one we liked best had a cracked foundation and my father-in-law advised us not to take a chance on it, and we listened to his advice.

I often think how differently my perception of the Quispamsis area might be if we had made that move instead of staying on the west side of Saint John where my roots were.

Today, I find the Hampton Road markedly different from the one I explored over five decades ago. Recently I wondered if there was any place left on that busy strip that could replicate the rural atmosphere that I found attractive so long ago.

Indeed there is and I found it during a visit to the corner of Holland Drive and the Hampton Road where a significant patch of green remains as the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Cemetery.

I used the sidewalk entrance off Hampton Road and the noise of cars whizzing by was almost immediately softened by the overhang of the mature trees that dot the hillside on which the cemetery was developed. Though I did not know it at the time, I later learned this was the location of the first Catholic church in the area in 1857, built on farmland worked by Irish settlers in what was to become the Town of Rothesay.

This entire area had its first growth spurt at that time as the European and North American Railway was being built to Shediac and was approaching the valley area in the mid 1850s.

Though this information is not obvious from the monuments encountered, there is a good variety of vintage stones to admire. Carved into the marble stones, the most popular choice of material in this era, are such Victorian symbolic scenes as heaven’s gates opening, flowers wrapped around crosses, weeping willow trees expressing sorrow, hands clasping or grasping flowers with some with fingers pointing heavenward, and crosses encircled by lilies. Details such as birth, and death dates are usually clearly marked, but, surprisingly, there were no flowery- language epitaphs that were common in mid 19th century that would have provided greater life details on any of the older stones.

The more modern stones tend to be polished black granite which took over from the popular red granite in the 1930s. The best example of this is a recent stone dedicated to Nicole M.L. Holland, and it has an epitaph, which reads, “To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die.” As is often the case in modern stones, Nicole’s photo is placed over the heart shape that bears her name, and her passion for figure skating is also engraved on each side of this heart. All very poignant, and certainly shows great love and respect from the family as many of the older monuments did.

According to Find a Grave website, there are 372 other markers that could be examined on a visit. Whether this number includes the very modern columbarium for remains of cremations is not clear, but this structure is well worth a look at what is now a popular end of life option that was completely frowned upon by church officials when Our Lady was established.

The columbarium stands near the highest point of the grounds, and is octagonal in appearance, and has panels reflective of the four seasons that separate the actual 72 niches for the urns. I recognized the names of Peter and Susan Little, which surprised me for two reasons. Firstly, both are still very much alive, and I believed them to be Anglicans. Peter explained to me that living in the area it seemed sensible to find a spot for his final resting place well in advance – a place of quiet in what has become a very busy community over his lifetime.

Peter also told me I could find a photo of the original church that stood on the site in the Dairy Queen just opposite Our Lady. However, this did not prove to be the case. Perhaps someone reading today’s column knows where the image went, or where I can find an image to add to my collection of heritage locations. According to Peter, the original building, which was a mission of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Waterloo Street in the city, burned on June 8, 1941 but I also failed to find any newspaper account of that, so possibly that will show up to add to our details about a “Quiet spot on the busy Hampton Road.”

David Goss is a local tour guide, story teller and author. He appreciates comments on these columns, and suggestions for topics he can explore at gosswalk@nbnet.nb.ca.

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   Moncton to Miramichi
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   Saint John & South
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   Moncton to Miramichi
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   Fredericton & West
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   Moncton to Miramichi