Partridge Island
- jakemcvicar34
- Mar 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 29
INTRODUCTION
Partridge Island is a place familiar to most Saint John residents, a landmark many see every day. From the shore, it may seem insignificant — a small island with little more than a lighthouse and a few structures. But it wasn’t always that way.
Partridge Island is rich in history, a place once full of both life and death. For many immigrants, it was their first step onto Canadian soil — and for some, it was their last. The stories held by this island are vast and complex, far more than I can cover in one piece. But I’ll do my best to share as much as I can.
DISCOVERY AND FORMATION
It was in the early 1600s that Samuel de Champlain first discovered the island. Struck by the abundance of ruffed grouse, he named it Île aux Perdrix, or the Island of Partridges. However, like many places “discovered” by Europeans they were not the first. The Wolastoqiyik resided on the island long before any European settlers found it. They referred to the island as Quak'm'kagan'ik, meaning a piece cut out. According to their folk lore, Glooscap smashed the dam that “The Big Beaver” had built at reversing falls. As the dam broke apart, pieces of sod were carried down the river, and one of these pieces became Partridge Island. It’s an interesting story, but unfortunately the reality of its creation isn’t quite as animated, although still fascinating. The island is a 300-million-year-old volcanic ash deposit that formed during the Carboniferous Period.
MILITARY
The Saint John Charter of 1785, which established Saint John as the first incorporated city in Canada, designated Partridge Island for three main purposes: a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a pest house — short for pestilence house, essentially a quarantine facility. This decision set the stage for the island’s pivotal role in the years to come.
The first military signal station on Partridge Island was established in 1791, designed to alert the harbour to incoming vessels from the Bay of Fundy. It also served as a crucial health safeguard, raising a yellow quarantine signal to warn of ships carrying passengers with contagious diseases.
The island’s first major military installation came during the War of 1812, when a gun battery was constructed. This marked the beginning of its active military role, which continued until the 1950s. Over the years, more than 4,000 soldiers served on Partridge Island, including those stationed there during the First and Second World Wars. Numerous military structures were built during this time, and while many have since been lost to time, a few remnants remain, standing in a state of decay.
IMMIGRATION AND QUARANTINE
The most well-known aspect of Partridge Island’s history is its pivotal role in immigration. After its designation in 1785, immigration remained relatively low until 1815, when it began to increase significantly. In response, the first quarantine station was constructed on the island in 1816 to protect Canadians from contagious diseases brought by incoming ships. Between 1819 and 1829 the visiting physician inspected 28,704 immigrants.
The first of several hospitals on the island was constructed in 1830 which provided treatment for sick immigrants and crew members, along with purification facilities for those who were healthy.
The first major influx of immigrants occurred during the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, with approximately 30,000 Irish immigrants processed. During this time, the Typhus epidemic of 1847 claimed 1,196 lives on Partridge Island and in the city of Saint John, with 601 individuals buried on the island. Typhus, a disease transmitted by fleas, was prevalent among passengers on the overcrowded ‘coffin ships’ that carried refugees across the Atlantic. After the 1847 epidemic, large outbreaks were rare, though a cholera outbreak occurred among German immigrants, and a smallpox outbreak affected Russian immigrants.
The next major wave of immigrants arrived between 1890 and 1914, primarily made up of Eastern Europeans. During this period, as many as 78,000 immigrants were processed on the island annually. This surge in immigration prompted the expansion of the quarantine facilities. At its peak, Partridge Island had 13 hospitals and six graveyards.
As transportation evolved and medical practices improved, the need for expansive quarantine and medical facilities diminished. The station was gradually scaled down beginning in 1938 and officially closed in 1942. Throughout its operation, an estimated three million immigrants, passengers, and mariners underwent quarantine inspection. A Celtic cross, along with other memorials, was erected on the island to commemorate those who died and are buried in its six graveyards.
NOTABLE FEATURES
The island’s role in navigation for vessels entering the harbor led to some interesting technological advancements. The first lighthouse on the island, constructed in 1791, was only the third lighthouse in British North America. The world’s first steam-powered foghorn, invented by Scottish engineer Robert Foulis who immigrated to Canada in 1818, was installed in 1859. And in 1905, the Marconi Company established New Brunswick’s first radio station on the island, using it for nautical communications.
FUTURE OF THE ISLAND
Partridge Island, a National Historic Site near Saint John, New Brunswick, has been the focus of various proposals aimed at enhancing public access and commemorating its rich history. In 2015, the federal government allocated $200,000 for a feasibility study to explore the potential of transforming the island into a tourist destination. This study assessed options for repairing the breakwater and establishing a walkway to connect the island to the mainland, estimating costs between $27 million and $40 million. Other proposals, such as a wharf to facilitate boat tours, have been brought forward, but these options have not been pursued. As of now, the island remains closed to the public, but many remain hopeful that in the near future, the island will receive the attention it deserves and be reopened as a cherished National Historic Site.
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CITATIONS
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Partridge Island (Saint John County). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partridge_Island_(Saint_John_County)
New Ireland NB. (n.d.). Partridge Island. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://newirelandnb.ca/quarantine-stations/partridge-island
Parks Canada. (n.d.). Partridge Island National Historic Site of Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=191
Parks Canada. (n.d.). Partridge Island National Historic Site of Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=191
My New Brunswick. (n.d.). Partridge Island. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://mynewbrunswick.ca/partridge-island/
New Brunswick Archives. (n.d.). Quarantine Station at Partridge Island. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://archives.gnb.ca/irish/IWDP/Galleries/en/quarantine-partridge-island.html