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George W. Ross and the Junction House, McAdam

by David Blair

On Oct. 1, 1886 George W. Ross of Vanceboro Maine received a five year lease on the Junction House in McAdam, New Brunswick.1

The two story building to the far left, in the distance, is the Junction House hotel. The large building in the center is the New Brunswick Railway Station. In 1885, the Junction House was located between the north and east railroad tracks, close to the current tunnel.2

Mr. Ross was well known in Vanceboro and had many business interests. In January 1887 he became the proprietor of the Vanceboro Dining Hall (the railroad station restaurant and hotel) by purchasing all of the furniture and furnishings from his uncle, Michael Ross.3 He appointed Mr. Frank L. Thurber of Bangor to manage the Hotel in McAdam. Dan Bishop also managed the Hotel in McAdam for a time after Thurber.

The St. Croix Courier of August 1886 states that Ross planned to connect the two hotels with a telephone line.4 The Courier of May 30, 1889 confirms the telephone line was in use at this date.5 This may have been the first telephone connection out of McAdam. The Courier of Nov. 4, 1886 tells of a grand re-opening party at the Junction House.6 A special train with a large party from Vanceboro arrived in McAdam at 5:30 p.m. The evening began with a large meal followed by speeches given by Mr. Johnson and Mr. Sprague of Vanceboro, and Mr. Steves of Bangor. Mr. Watts of McAdam delivered a talk on the History of McAdam from 1871. There was singing by the railroad manager, Mr. Cram, and Mrs. Conley, with music provided by the Vanceboro Brass Band. Mr. Moreau of Vanceboro was the master of ceremonies.

Mr. Ross owned an 18 acre vegetable farm in Vanceboro. The produce was used to supply his hotels. George Ross was also a pig farmer and is mentioned in American Berkshire Record‘s ”Index to Owners”:7

Ross, George W., Vanceboro Me.

Boars:

* Cato of Riverside, Registry #: 25655

Sows:

* Juno of Riverside, Registry #: 25656

* Minnie of Riverside, Registry #: 25657

A Guest Book from the Junction House, the only known artifact of this hotel, is currently on display at the McAdam Train Station. Dated April 28, 1887, it reads “Geo. W. Ross Proprietor,” in the upper right corner. The Guest Book date for April 27, 1887 has an entry for Sir Leonard and Lady Tilley of Fredericton. Tilley was one of the Fathers of Confederation and at that date held the position of Lieutenant Governor of N.B. George W. Ross retired from operating the Junction House on Oct, 1, 1891.8

Mr. Ross played a major business role in Vanceboro and McAdam for many years. Following is a list of his exploits:

– Co-owner of the Armstrong Picture House from 1915-19189

– Fish and Game Warden of Washington County for a time prior to 1898-1915

– Hotel proprietor in Vanceboro until at least 1891

– Deputy sheriff, 1893-193310

– Proprietor of a confectioner shop and filling station

– Postmaster General, Vanceboro

George Ross’s business life is one example of how the communities of Vanceboro and McAdam have been linked in many ways over the past 150 years. Ross ran the Junction House in the heyday of the small New Brunswick and Canadian Railway, just before it was bought out and transformed by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Footnotes

  1. St. Croix Courier, Oct. 1, 1886 ↩︎
  2. Redtone, W.A. (March, 1979.) The History of McAdam (1871-1977). Unpublished Literary (history), p. 19. ↩︎
  3. Washington County Deeds, Book 177/Page 416. ↩︎
  4. St. Croix Courier: May 27; July 29; Aug. 17; Sept. 16; Sep. 30, 1886.
    ↩︎
  5. St. Croix Courier: Aug. 4; Sept 4; Jan 10; May 30 , 1889. ↩︎
  6. St. Croix Courier, Nov 4 , 1887. ↩︎
  7. American Berkshire Record 1892, Volume 12, page 5127.
    (free google book ). ↩︎
  8. St. Croix Courier, Oct 1, 1891. ↩︎
  9. Cinema Data – a Linked Open Data initiative http://cinemadata.org/ ↩︎
  10. Ross’s most famous arrest was the a German Spy, Werner Horn, who tried to blow up the Railway bridge connecting Vanceboro and St. Croix New Brunswick. This arrest received international attention on both sides of the Atlantic. ↩︎

Additional references:

Maine Register Or State Yearbook and Legislative Manual 1891 (free google book ), page 743

Court Directory and Court Officers , Washington Co. Maine , 1925

Secretary of State correspondence 1820 -1914 – at Maine Genealogy http://www.mainegenealogy.net/individual_correspondence_record.asp?id=12137&firstname=George+&lastname=Ross&spelling=exact&keyword=&year=&yearrange=0