Jacksonville in New Brunswick has a local history that can be read through a war memorial, a cemetery, and historic church connections. There is also Woodstock Bowlacade, with bowling and arcade games. When planning a trip, you can weigh a focus on cultural history against a specific leisure activity.
Local History and Remembrance
The Jacksonville Soldiers’ Monument is considered likely to be the first monument in Carleton County honoring soldiers who fell in the First World War. At Lower Jacksonville Cemetery, 165 gravestones bearing 324 names from 72 local families offer a concrete glimpse into local history. A memorial to the fallen and a cemetery with ties to numerous families thus represent different perspectives on remembrance.
The history of the Black Loyalists is also connected to Jacksonville. More than 200 years ago, free Black Loyalists migrated from Nova Scotia to the area. The grounds of Lower Jacksonville Cemetery contain 26 unmarked graves of descendants of the Black Loyalists, who once attended the small Free Baptist Church.
Jacksonville was founded around 1818 and originally belonged to the neighboring community of Jacksontown. The congregation of Jacksonville Baptist Church has played a role in local community life since November 21, 1860. Also in 1860, a larger church was built near the site of today’s Jacksonville United Baptist Church. It was intended to accommodate churchgoers traveling to Jacksontown by horse and wagon. The founding period, community life, and the journey to Jacksontown at the time offer different clues to the town’s development.
Leisure and More Topics in Carleton County
Woodstock Bowlacade in Jacksonville offers traditional bowling on five-pin lanes and arcade games. This provides a clearly defined leisure activity alongside the historical topics; you can decide which of these interests matters more for your trip based on your own priorities.
The wider destination of Carleton County offers further connections to architectural history. Hartland Covered Bridge in Carleton County was built in 1901 and is considered the longest covered bridge in the world. Florenceville Covered Bridge was built in 1910 and is 45.3 meters long. One bridge is distinguished by its record length worldwide, while the other is described by a specific measurement. Together, the two structures offer different points of reference for understanding the historical heritage of Carleton County.
The Carleton County Military Museum offers another historical perspective in the wider destination of Carleton County. It displays artifacts, uniforms, helmets, badges, handmade military models, and flags dating from before the First World War to the present day. The museum also traces the development of the Carleton Light Infantry through the Carleton York Regiment and on to other regiments in New Brunswick. While the Jacksonville Soldiers’ Monument commemorates those who fell in the First World War, the museum follows a broader military history.
Discover more destinations: Florenceville-Bristol, Wilmot, Centreville, Hartland, Wakefield
Return to the main travel overview: Carleton County.
