Blackville, New Brunswick

Blackville (2006 population: 931) is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.

It is located on the Southwest Miramichi River approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Miramichi.

Economy

Blackville's economy is tied to the forest industry. A large sawmill employing 200 workers had been operated in the village by industrial conglomerate UPM Kymmene until very recently but has since closed as a result of economic pressures.

Attractions, food, entertainment, accommodations

There are numerous restaurants and attractions in Blackville, despite its small size. Some popular restaurants include [http://www.darlenesteahouse.com/ Darlene's Tea House] , Trio Pizza, [http://bigechicken.com/ Fritou Chicken] and [http://www.burkesdiner.com Burke's Diner] as well as the recently opened Stacy's Café. The [http://www.blackvillecalnet.com/ Access Centre] provides public internet access and many other services.

Located on the main highway approximately 1 mile from the village limits is Nine Pine Shell. Nine Pine is a small business owned by Mr. Hughie Hallihan which includes a restaurant serving grilled foods, Fishermans Rest a four room motel open year round, Nine Pine Lounge [bar/lounge] , as well as a Shell gas station and convienience store. It is open from 7 am to 10 pm daily.

Fishing

Blackville is considered the Salmon Capital of the Miramichi. It boasts plenty of excellent fishing pools, and New Brunswick yields tens of thousands of fish every year for anglers. Atlantic salmon fishing in North America is restricted to fly fishing only and there are strict seasons, catch limits and other restrictions. Non-residents of New Brunswick are required to hire a licensed guide to fish for Atlantic salmon. Guides are available locally and one can be hired to serve up to three anglers. The Main Southwest Miramichi is also one of only a few remaining rivers in which the fishing rights are still privately owned in North America and fishing access can be difficult unless arranged through a commercial sporting camp or outfitter. Numerous salmon flies were credited as invented in the Blackville area, including the Blackville Special, Reliable and Oriole. The Miramichi River produces nearly fifty percent of all the rod caught salmon in North America.

Education

Blackville School, grades K - 12, is a public school in the New Brunswick school board's District 16. This is the only grade school in Blackville, with students occasionally transporting to other Miramichi schools instead (Such as Miramichi Valley High - also in District 16). Currently, the Principal of Blackville School is Mr. Harold Muck. According to the school website, Blackville School's motto is "No success without labour."

The school's mascot, the golden eagle is displayed proudly throughout the school, as well as on the school's website. In addition to various common school services, the school also provides a breakfast program for Blackville students. This includes toast with jam, or cheese whiz, along with milk, kept running by volunteer support and donations.

The current school is not the original location, as the original Blackville School burned down in the early 1970's. The current location features up-to-date technology, and at least one internet equipped computer in every classroom. Recently, there have been new SMARTBoards added to the classrooms in Blackville School, with one in every Middle and High School classroom.

Dungarvon Whooper

The Dungarvon Whooper is a tale told all throughout New Brunswick, which occurred along the Dungarvon River, which runs near Blackville, along with the Bartholomew River. The tale is a terrifying one, involving a young man working as a cook in a lumber camp who was murdered. According to the tale, the man's ghost makes a loud whooping and yelling noise each night in the forest where he was murdered. Any young person from Blackville, or the surrounding area is likely to have been told the story, either to simply scare them or perhaps to scare them away from going deep into the dense forests that surround Blackville, for their own safety.

Prominent citizens past & present

*Herb Curtis
*J. F. A. McManus

Recent developments

Extended Baseball field as well as new plywood boards for the Blackville Recreational Building (Blackville Rink).

External links

* [http://www.blackvillecalnet.com Access Centre]
* [http://www.villageofblackville.com Village of Blackville]
* [http://www.miramichifish.com Miramichi Fishing]
* [http://new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/ghoststory/ghost3.html Dungarvon Whooper]
* [http://www.nbed.nb.ca/schooldirectory/results1.aspx?strLang=E&site_id=4483 Blackville School - New Brunswick Education]
* [http://schools.brunnet.net/blackville Blackville School's Site]