Chronology of Pomquet
1774 - Pomquet is settled by 5 acadians families who returned from France after
being deported from Nova Scotia and P.E.I. Pomquet is the second permanent settlement in
Antigonish County.
1789 - The five families formally requested land grants from the government of
Nova Scotia. According to the archival records, it said that the acadians were concerned
that the presence of some new inhabitants creates danger that they may be dispossessed of
their lands.
1793 - More land grants are given to the new acadian families and french
families that have immigrated to Pomquet from France, Quebec and other nearby acadian
communities.
1794 - The poll tax of 1794 gives the first census of the area by naming the
heads of families living here.
1810 - The Tracadie parish registry begins in which there are entries from
Pomquet, because it was a mission of Tracadie.
1817 - Two former soldiers involved in the Napoleonic Wars immigrate to
Pomquet.
1820 - The Pomquet Parish registry begins but there are still some baptisms,
marriages and deaths being entered in the Tracadie records. There is a chapel in existence
at Pomquet at this time.
1823 - Three women from Pomquet who joined the Third Order of La Trap are
residing in Pomquet. The house they live in is know as Le Petit Convent. They also begin
the first school in Pomquet. Due to a lack of new novices, the three sisters leave for
another convent a few years later.
1834 - An act of incorporation of the church in Pomquet is entered in the
registry of deeds in Antigonish. This may have been the second chapel built in Pomquet and
it was named La Chapelle de l`Exultation de la Sainte Croix.
1862 - The present church is complete. Papers found in the corner stone was
dated in 1861 with some of the builders names recorded by the priest in latin.
1863 - The Pomquet parish is separated from the Tracadie parish under the name
of Sainte Croix.
1879 - The railroad was built through Pomquet. A station was also built in
Upper Pomquet, not far from the Co-op. There was freight and passenger services.
1910 - World War I breaks out and a total of 40 men enlisted in the armed
forces. Unfortunately two of the men were killed in action and three were wounded.
1917 - By this time there was six schools built in the community. Four of these
were still in existence and situated throughout the community so all the students were
within walking distance of their respective school.
1936 - The Cooperative movement begins in Pomquet with the formation of the
Nash Credit Union and the incorporation of the Pomquet Cooperative store.
1939 - World War II begins and at least 24 men from the parish joined the armed
forces. Three men are killed in action.
1961 - The present Pomquet Consolidated School is built to serve the entire
community.
1962 - The main gravel roads are paved.
1970 - The only post office in Pomquet closes. The rural route system delivers
mail directly to the homes, thereby eliminating the use of the post office.
1972 - The Pomquet Railroad station closes as the passenger services is
eliminated and the freight is delivered in Antigonish.
1997 - Pomquet school joins other acadian and french community in the province
to form a provincial Acadian School Board.
2001 - In September, the new CSAP school is opened. The new school accepts all
children of acadian and french descentfrom throughout the county.
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