“Timber-Raising” Event Tuesday, June 10th & Wednesday, June 11th 19 Church Street, Middle Sackville
The History
By 1855, Ronald Campbell and his son, George, had purchased a tannery in Middle Sackville, fitted it as a carriage factory, and were plying their trade as carriage makers – a family tradition that continued for nearly a century at this location. Eventually, the popularity of automobiles finally pushed the Factory to close its doors and the remaining employees set their tools down upon their workbenches and locked up. Their tools, along with many other pieces, remained relatively undisturbed until 1998, when they were donated to the Tantramar Heritage Trust. Today, the Campbell Carriage Factory is the only surviving North American carriage factory in existence on its original location.
Newspaper Evidence
In 1908, the Sackville Tribune noted, “the first and only meeting house of the Second Baptist Church, sold three years ago to George Campbell & Sons and is doomed doubtless to be converted into a paint shop.” It seems the Campbells purchased a 66 year-old Meeting House, which they attached to the back end of their Carriage Factory, providing space for finishing and trim work, storage of lumber and materials, and the addition of a large hand-operated freight elevator for raising materials and lowering finished carriages. Decades later, this addition was taken down.
Today’s Plans
Plans are now underway to rebuild this old addition, roughly the size and shape of the one joined to the CCF in 1905. With windows and walls that look much like the remaining CCF, but outfitted with modern functions: washrooms, a proper reception area, office, and storage space for staff. As well as allowing the corner previously used for greeting visitors to be more developed into the original horse mill that powered the factory, and re-establishing the freight elevator or “lift” used to move lumber, carriages and sleighs!
Recycling the Past
The Tantramar Heritage Trust was able to rescue a 200 year-old timber frame structure from Smith’s Creek, outside of Sussex, NB – a building actually situated on the same Saint John - Westmorland Road as the Campbell Carriage Factory! This building was carefully disassembled, piece by piece, by the firm TimberHart Woodworkers, brought back to their Port Williams, NS workshop, and all parts cleaned and prepared for reuse in the new Visitor Reception addition.
The “Timber-raising”
Join us Tuesday & Wednesday, June 10-11th (daytime work hours) for the timber-raising of the new addition to the Campbell Carriage Factory Museum. The timbers will arrive at the site Monday. First thing Tuesday morning, work will commence and drawing on help from local volunteers. The last major piece to the complex of facilities will be assembled and raised, being carefully joined together in the traditional way until the entire framework is standing.
Come be a part of Sackville’s 2008 Cultural Capitals Celebration! In between the building activity, enjoy free site tours, displays, skits, live music, children’s amusements, home-baking and a lunchtime barbeque. Lots of fun for everyone – bring your lawn chair and stay awhile!
Come witness the only fully traditional "barn raising" to have occurred in Sackville for many a year ... or that is likely to occur for many years to come … it will be a summertime party for the whole community!