Rivière-Bleue, Quebec is a charming municipality nestled in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. This quaint town, which borders the province of New Brunswick and the United States' Maine, is home to approximately 1500 residents.
The history of Rivière-Bleue, Quebec dates back to 1860 when the first settlers, pioneers of Scottish descent from the United States and others from Saint-François-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick, arrived. The Catholic mission, named Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rivière-Bleue, was founded in 1874, and the postal office opened its doors in 1910.
The Catholic parish was officially erected and the parish municipality created in 1914, both under the name of the mission. In 1920, the village municipality was established under the same name. The parish municipality and the village municipality were merged in 1975, forming the municipality known today as Rivière-Bleue.
The National Transcontinental Railway and its station played a pivotal role in the development of Rivière-Bleue, Quebec. The railway facilitated the movement of travellers, goods, and forestry and agricultural products.
In 1913, the first station was constructed in Tarte, along a sidetrack named in honour of Israël Tarte, a renowned journalist, politician, and Minister of Transportation under Wilfrid Laurier. This sidetrack is still known as Tarte Siding.
On January 4, 1914, the first train stopped at the station, en route from Edmundston, New Brunswick. In 1915, the station building was moved a mile down the tracks to Rivière-Bleue. Here, the station was expanded to accommodate the family of Arthur Aubut, the first station master to reside in Rivière-Bleue.
Until the end of World War II, the railway was the only means of travel outside the village during winter. The telegraph, a railway monopoly at the time, served as the fastest mode of communication.
Rivière-Bleue, Quebec, with its rich history and cultural significance, is a must-visit destination for those seeking to explore the heart of Canada's heritage.
