Tag Archives: Van Buren

Violette Grist Mill

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This article was published under the Madawaska Historical Society, written by Guy Dubay, in the St. John Valley Times on September 6, 1973, title Van Buren Grist Mill Genealogy Listed. While the original mill and equipment are long gone, a similar grist mill and carding mill can be seen at The Acadian Village in Van Buren ME. The Violette Industrial Building and equipment there was donated by Alderic O. “Dick” Violette (VFA#100) and Alice Violette (VFA#101) in 2008.

the 1826 mill

Probably the mill from 1826

On the Picquanositaque Stream, there once stood an old grist mill which eventually led to the renaming of that Van Buren waterway. Continue reading →

Early Violette land grants, St John River

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Figure 1

Figure 1: Original map of part of the original Soucy Concession map. Shows Tract 3 on the left with the lots pioneered by Francois and his son Augustin.

Let’s go back in time a bit – well actually back to around 1791 – and see where François and his family pioneered when they moved to the Upper St John Valley. They had felt forced out from the lands along the Hammond River where they had been settled for about 20 years, and with several other families sought land far away from the growing British influence in southern New Brunswick. Several families were granted land under what was called the Soucy Concession. Other families had recently been granted land under the Mazzerole Concession in the area where Madawaska ME is now located. Continue reading →