This fascinating collection of photographs brings to life the dramatic
and colourful history of Saint John West and its neighbours. Over two
hundred images show how this area developed during the last century as
the fishing, shipping, and rail centre of Saint John; how it saw its
business and residential districts gutted; how it struggled to rebuild
itself and grow again, only to suffer a disastrous fire, revive a second
time, and then slide slowly into decline during the latter decades of
this century.
Together David Goss and Fred Miller guide us through the city's vibrant
past: the events, industries, places, and people which have defined
Saint John West over the decades. Photographs show the arrival of the
railway, the flood of new immigrants, the development of the harbour,
and the growth of the shipping industry. We see how significantly
working conditions have changed over the decades for fishermen, foundry
workers, and other local people. We see how much the local landscape has
changed, with pictures of buildings both familiar and long gone and
bustling streets such as King Street, Protection Street, and Union
Street complete with drugstores, chowder houses, saloons, and other
local landmarks no longer with us. The images capture catastrophes such
as the Waterfront Fire of 1931 and celebrations such as parades and
festivals. Most of all, they preserve and honour the lives of the
ordinary people of Saint John West: streetcar drivers, firemen, harbour
workers, fishermen, store owners, tipplers, schoolchildren, and foundry
workers, amongst many others. We see how buildings, technology,
fashions, and lifestyles have changed while a sense of community and a
zest for life among local residents has remained constant over the
decades.
