Middle Island History

Middle Island was known by the Mi'kmaq as Hiksenogowakun, meaning "place for sick people", and was also informally referred to as Hospital Island due to its use as a quarantine station in the mid- to late-1800s.

Throughout much of the this time, Middle Island was the landing place for a number of immigrant "coffin" ships (due to the poor conditions on these ships while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, many passengers perished). The most notable of these ships was the Looshtauk, captained by John Mount Thain, carrying passengers from Ireland en route to Quebec.

Middle Island is not without its fair share of folklore as there are a number of tales and myths surrounding its origin. Chatham Lake, located about a kilometre inland from Middle Island, bears a striking resemblance in size, shape and orientation, resulting in a number of mythological hypotheses.

If you would like to learn more about Middle Island, a book detailing its history called Middle Island: Before and After the Tragedy, written by Caroline Daley and Anna Springer, is available for purchase at the Miramichi Landings' Welcome Centre on Historic Water Street and at the Middle Island Interpretive Centre.