Did you know that Barkers Point was the site of an airfield in the 1940s? The history of aviation in Fredericton dates back before the current Fredericton Airport was established. The city had a publicly recognized seaplane base, listed as a customs-licensed facility from 1920 to 1949. During this period, Fredericton city officials made multiple efforts to create a municipal airport.
Between 1930 and 1932, Embleton, located three miles west of the city, was first considered as a potential site for the airport. By 1936, Nashwaaksis emerged as a candidate location for an aerodrome under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. However, this proposal was ultimately turned down by the Department of National Defence due to the high costs associated with developing the site.
Barkers Point Airfield emerged in the 1940s, with a barn serving as the hangar. The airfield was officially established in 1941 when Fred Hartwick bought the entire field from John Wesley Peppers for $4,000. It quickly became a busy, year-round operational airfield. During the winter months, the runway was kept clear of snow with the help of three jeeps.
Barker’s Point airfield was initially set up for light aircraft and daytime operations. The following year, Harwick applied for approval to offer airmail and passenger services, but the site was ultimately deemed unsuitable. In the winter of 1945, the aerodrome lease was transferred to Mr. James Sturgeon, who officially received the license in February 1946.
A devastating fire on January 24, 1947, destroyed the hangar, along with five planes and all the equipment inside, resulting in losses valued at $50,000—a significant amount at the time. Fortunately, a separate hangar housing three planes was spared. Sturgeon quickly resumed operations, providing flying lessons, hangar rentals, and aircraft maintenance at competitive prices.
In the autumn of 1948, Maritime Central Airways began flying the ‘Lockheed 10’ from Barker’s Point field. By April 1949, Mr. Gaetano Digiacinto had taken over operations from Sturgeon at Barker’s Point Aerodrome. However, the aerodrome’s license expired in 1950 and was not renewed, leading to the airfield being converted back to farmland by December 1951.
During this time, Fredericton’s city officials were making efforts to establish a community airport. They were unable to secure passenger and mail services at Barker’s Point and proposed a new site near Rusagonis, twelve miles from Fredericton, in 1943, but no further action was taken. In March 1945, the city requested another survey from Ottawa, which in May identified a potential site in Lincoln, nine miles from Fredericton. After comparing costs between the Rusagonis and Lincoln sites, Lincoln was chosen as the ideal location for the new airport on April 25, 1947. The city officially acquired the site in May 1948, and construction began in September of the same year.
When plans for a new airport in Lincoln were initiated, James Sturgeon was invited to lend his expertise to the project. The development of the new airport signaled the end of Barker’s Point as a significant airfield.
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