EVENING TIMES-GLOBE, SAINT JOHN, N.B. Approximately 1950

POISED FOR RIVER SPORT

There are few parts of suburbia around Saint John that are superior to the community of Renforth, soon to be the scene of an auspicious regatta under the auspices of the Renforth Outing Association. This little C.N.R. resort seems to have about everything to make it attractive to young and old, businessman and matron, and nothing is being, left undone to make it even more so. Annual sports events have marked its progress down the years and this year a fair too, will be held on Aug. 16.

About six miles from Saint John on the main highway to Rothesay, Sussex and Moncton, Renforth is the first point outside the city that has the broad expanse of the Kennebecasis right at its doorstep. The businessman in his car can be home in 15 minutes and the commuter on bus or train takes only half an hour for the trip.

Renforth was named after James Renforth, the great stroke oar of the Tyne Crew, which staged such a gallant race with the famous Paris crew of Saint John on Aug. 23, 1871. Renforth died shortly after the race.

In the early days of Renforth's history, the Saint John Y.M.C.A. built what was called the "Chalet" which still stands near the railway station. The Chalet was a rendezvous for many of Saint John's younger set, and it served as a week-end outing spot for boating, sailing, swimming and fishing. Large numbers of cyclists used the place as headquarters for Saturday afternoon and Sunday bike trips, and a canteen was run in connection with it. The Chalet was erected about 1897.

Directed Board

Most of the district now called Renforth was owned by the Y.M.C.A. of Saint John, and for many years there was a Board of Trustees to administer it. This board consisted of Judge Henderson, former police magistrate of Saint John, F. A. Dykeman, who at the time conducted a dry goods store on Charlotte Street, and Isaac Northrup, who for many years was a wholesale racer on South Wharf.

Later on, the Y.M.C.A. relinquished control, and the district was divided into building lots, and the same gentlemen formed a syndicate to control it. This was in 1907 or 1908.

It was at this time that the community really began to grow and develop, and a number of summer houses were erected at various points during the next few years.

The community has a church-St. James the Less, built in 1904, and was consecrated by the late Bishop Richardson. Recently the church corporation purchased the residence formerly occupied by John Clarkson as a rectory. The parish includes churches at Coldbrook and Golden Grove.

Erect Clubhouse

A commodious clubhouse was erected about 1910 and this serves the community in many and varied ways. Dances, badminton and Saturday night games, as well as bridge parties and concerts help to keep up the club and bring community members together. The clubhouse is owned and controlled by the Renforth Outing Association, and its first president was Dr. A. P. Paterson. The present officers are Kenneth Nisbet, president; W. C. Clarke, secretary and Roy E. Crawford, treasurer.

In the early days a good deal of traffic came to Renforth by the river route and a wooden wharf was built about 1910 to take care of this. Most of the traffic consisted of supplies for the lime kilns at Torryburn. Later on a concrete wharf was built with an "L" extension, and this serves as headquarters for a number of yachts and motorboats owned by the residents. Swimmers also take advantage of a springboard installed on the end of the wharf.

Foxes Raised

At one time Renforth boasted a large fox farm with over 300 foxes penned there under the direction of Percy Allaby. In those days foxes brought from $6,000 to $10,000 a pair. Mr. Ahaby's were sold chiefly for breeding purposes.

About 1912 the Parish of Rothesay, in which Renforth is situated, voted to build a consolidated school, and transport the pupils from the outlying districts by van to central point in Rothesay. The vote was carried by the small margin of seven votes and this was exactly the number who attended the meeting from Renforth, all of whom were in favor of the move. Wally Price, who still has a summer house in the village, was responsible for having the seven voters there.

One the latest improvements to the district is installation of a street lighting system, which provides a light at each intersection and lights along the main and shore roads. A total of 24 lights have been installed and four or five more will be put in this spring in sections that are rapidly growing. The first commission in charge of the lighting district was composed of George K. Oulton, chairman, Louis T. Gard and John Clarkson. Mr. Clarkson having removed from the district, McArthur Morgan was elected to take his place.

100 Dwellings

A plan of the district shows over 100 individual dwellings, most of which are of all-year construction, and all of which have generous ground space provided.

For the younger set there is an active tennis club with two good courts, a good softball and hockey team, also an active branch of the Red Cross, which meets weekly in two sections.

In the Second Great War a total of 57 men and seven women of Renforth served in various capacities. Now most of them have returned to take their part in the activities of the community.