Winter Travel Conditions for New Brunswick Residents

Winter travel in New Brunswick is challenging, but 19th-century residents faced even harsher conditions, relying on horse-drawn sleighs over icy rivers. Historian James Upham notes that these journeys, essential for communication and transport, could take days due to limited horsepower. A tragic incident in 1803 saw newly elected MLA Hugh McMonagle drown after his sleigh broke through the ice on the Kennebecasis River. Despite modern advancements, remnants of this historical travel method still exist, as ice roads occasionally open for local use.