Description of Historic Place

The P’tit Sault Blockhouse consists of a strategic site on a rocky hillock, overlooking the confluence of the Saint John and the Madawaska Rivers in the City of Edmundston, crowned by the reconstructed P’tit Sault Blockhouse.

Heritage Value

Constructed on this strategic hillock in 1841, the P’tit Sault Blockhouse Provincial Historic Site was one of a number of blockhouses, also referred to as forts, the original blockhouse was built as part of the British line of defence during the bloodless Aroostook War.

This conflict was the result of disputes over the border between the New Brunswick and the State of Maine in the early 1800’s. The war is referred to as ‘bloodless’ because of the lack of casualties on either the British or American sides. It ended with the signing of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842. The treaty settled the border conflict and divided the population of the Madawaska region between New Brunswick and the State of Maine.

The original fort burnt in 1855.

Source: Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch, Site File # 80

Character-Defining Elements

Character-defining elements of P’tit Sault Blockhouse include:
- the rocky hillock, perched 150 feet above the confluence of the Saint John River and Madawaska River;
- its strategic defence position, with views of the American border and river transportation routes along both river valleys;
- archaeological features including the original foundation.