Apart from the cholera hospital, Fredericton had no civilian hospital until 1888. Lady Tilley, during her husband’s second term as Lieutenant-Governor supplied the initiative for hospital.
She secured funds, the government granted the field at the eastern end of Government House property for a site, and construction of the Victoria Cottage Hospital began.
On June 21, 1887, Lady Tilley initiated the construction of a building by placing the foundation stone during a vibrant event that was part of the city’s Queen’s Golden Jubilee festivities. She had been granted the privilege to use the Queen’s name and to prominently display the Royal Coat of Arms above the entrance of the quaint wooden structure. The original Victoria Public Hospital was essentially a scattered cluster of wooden homes. Precisely one year later, the hospital opened its doors with Hon. A. G. Blair, the Premier and President of the Board, presiding over the ceremonies.
In 1889, the hospital gained formal status when it was incorporated as the Victoria Public Hospital. Lady Tilley, having secured yearly funding of $600 from the provincial government and an additional $200 from the city, handed over the hospital’s management to its board of trustees.
In 1921 the stone addition known as the Donald Fraser Memorial Building greatly enlarged the hospital. Named for its benefactors, Archibald and Donald Fraser, the 21-room addition was connected to its predecessors, but was of a far more commanding character.
In 1940, the stone structure was expanded with the addition of three brick wings. The initial wooden building was eventually dismantled, and over time, further expansions such as a polio ward were introduced.
As the population of Fredericton and its surrounding areas surged, the capacity of the Victoria Public Hospital was put to the test, underscoring the necessity for a new regional hospital. The Doctor Everett Chalmers Hospital, located on Priestman Street, was formally inaugurated in the early part of 1977.
One of a related group of early 20th century Beaux-Arts Classical houses in Fredericton, this noble home, located at 155 Smythe Street, with its grand front porch, two-storey ionic columns, and splendid stained glass windows was built circa 1902 as a wedding gift to Mr. and Mrs. Wardlow Kilburn by his father John.
John Kilburn was a wealthy lumberman and part owner of the Hartt shoe factory, and would often hire a three-piece band to play concerts on the front balcony of the house. Upon his death in 1940, the house was bequeathed to the neighbouring hospital and was used as a nurses’ residence.
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Hello, It is so lovely and interesting to read about the history of the hospital where I was born; in 1965. My Father was a “Dragoon” and a peacekeeper in the army and my Mum was from NFLD and joined the Air Force in her youth! We spent some time living in Canada’s Eastern provinces until our move to Ottawa around the year 1969 or 1970.
So thank you to the folks putting this info together and posting it to share, I really appreciate it.!