Description of Historic Place

Middle Island Hospital is a one and a half storey structure built for the quarantine station at Middle Island. It has been moved to Manse Street in the former Village of Loggieville, now known as the City of Miramichi.

Heritage Value

Middle Island Hospital is designated a Local Historic Place for its association with immigration via the Port of Miramichi in the 19th century.

Middle Island Hospital was one of two buildings constructed in 1873 to replace the abandoned quarantine station at nearby Sheldrake Island used in the 1850's-1860's. Middle Island had been a quarantine station prior to the construction of the hospital in the 1840's when many Irish immigrants took passage in often deplorable ship conditions, including the 'coffin ship' Looshtauk infected with ship fever. By 1936, the hospitals were considered unwarranted given nearby hospitals were quite able to handle quarantine situations and conditions on ships had greatly improved. In 1948, the Middle Island Hospital was sold and transported to Manse Street in the former village of Logieville over the river ice.

Source: Heritage office, City of Miramichi Site File #05-55

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Middle Island Hospital include:
-one and a half storey of plank construction with a jerkin roof;
-mortice and tenon and wooden pegs utilized in construction;
-thick walls;
-insulated with wood chips.