Historic Dorchester Walking Tour

Along the shores of the Bay of Fundy and its breathtaking surrounding landscapes, the charming town of Dorchester invites you to explore the key sites that shaped its rich history. In the 19th century, Dorchester was home to a courthouse, a jail, and a tribunal, and was known for its population of notable figures and affluent lawyers. Some among them rose to become leading provincial politicians, including Edward Barron Chandler, Sir Albert J. Smith, Daniel Hanington, and Sir Pierre-Amand Landry.

EXPLORE

Uncover the history of Dorchester by using the interactive map available on BaladoDiscovery. Locate points of interest and access historical information on demand for each featured site.

ON SITE

The map offers a suggested route designed to give visitors a dynamic and inspiring experience as they explore the streets of Dorchester at their own pace.

OPTIMIZED EXPERIENCE

For the best experience, we recommend using the BaladoDiscovery mobile app rather than the website. The app allows you to preload the tour to your mobile device so you can access all the content on-site without needing an Internet connection.

We suggest doing the tour on foot and using headphones for an immersive experience.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The timber and wooden shipbuilding boom of the mid to late century made and sometimes unmade the fortunes of three shipbuilding families, the Palmers, Chapmans and Hickmans, while the commerce they spawned from their far-flung trading enterprises brought prosperity to merchants, innkeepers and other businessmen. One result was a disproportionately large number of fine homes, some of them still standing as a reminder of the shiretown’s importance in days gone by.

Notice: Many of the historic homes on this tour are privately occupied, therefore the Westmorland Historical Society asks that you respect private property and view all homes from the street or sidewalks.

Enjoy your historical visit!

CREDITS

This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada and by the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.

Written information on the buildings as well as various photos provided by the New Brunswick Register of Historic Places.

Written biographies provided by the Directory of Canadian Biography. 

Photos: courtesy of Wayne Fiendel, Keillor House Museum and Westmorland Historical Society.

A self-guided tour created by Bonnie Swift.

Reviewed by Donald Alward, Alice Folkins, Judy Morison.