Humanity Found in Hampton, NB

The worlds ethics has been tested this year, filters have been removed and tactfulness replaced with bluntness. The lost of life through violence due to genocide, religious differences, hatred and racism have been enormous.

For those who have never heard of  John Peter Humphrey,  he was the man that drafted the –Universal Declaration of Human Rights for the United Nations that was adopted sixty-nine years ago, on December 10th, 1948. He was born in Hampton, New Brunswick.  So on a beautiful October day, I set out to strengthen my resolve in man-kind, with a visit to the Shire town of Kings County.

My first impression of Hampton is awe. Beautiful historic building, multi-coloured cross walks, water views and monuments.  I like it already. The tourist office located in the old railway station is closed for the season.  So, I walk directly to the most dominant structure; the town hall. On the front lawn is the Credo Monument. A poignant memorial to John Peter Humphrey. I can see the late great sculptor John Hooper’s influence in the piece. I spend a few minutes snapping pictures and reading the information about the man and the monument dedicated to him.

I push open the heavy wooden door to the town hall building and step into a foyer. A lady behind a desk greets me.  I tell her I am a travel blog writer and I was looking for some information on the town attractions.  She takes me into another room and flings open some cupboard doors filled with local information.  “I have a list” I say, and hand it to her. She starts to pulls out pamphlets, and adds, “we have two suspension bridges near by and like Sussex’s Mural tour, we have the Quilt Barn Tour. It is fun”

I ask if she can write down directions to the two suspension bridges and she does. I thank her for her help and head out. I snap a couple of pictures of the appropriately named, Sculpture Peace Wing, by renowned sculptor, and local Hampton resident James Boyd. I am going to see the suspension bridges of Titusville first.

It was a bit of a winding route. I recall the lady saying the first bridge is directly across from the cross roads from the junction of Robertson road and route 860. Yeoman Footbridge is used by one household on the other side of the river. I find it, and park in their driveway.  I can’t imagine this bridge is maintained for only one address. It has two faux oversize paddles at the entrance way. I walk across the familiar bouncy bridge as I have done on other suspension bridges in both stories The Fundy Trail Parkway, Is Not The Fundy National Park.and The Miramichi River Route, as I would do it.

suspension bridge 1582 titusville, New Brunswick

Yeoman Footbridge Titusvile #3 suspension Bridge

It is fun and wobble, the river is low. I am envious of the owners; living in seclusion  surrounded by peace and beauty, but I am sure it is not fun crossing in the winter.

I keep going down route 820 for the second bridge, the Kilpatrick Footbridge.  It takes about twenty minutes to reach. I see it from the road far off over the river, when I crest the hill, but I can’t find the access. I turn around and drive by again with no luck. I decide to ask someone. I park on the shoulder of the road at the base of McLaren road and walk to the first house and knock, but no one answers. I move onto the next house.  Several dogs bark and and a lady comes out to greet me and I pat the dogs, both happy for a new potential friend.

” Hello, I am Kelly, a travel blog writer. I was hoping to get to the suspension bridge but I don’t see the access, do you know where it is?” She chuckles ” yes, the path is right there behind the house” she tips her head in a backward nod as if to indicate back there.  I find her explanation a bit vague. ” You mean through your back yard?” She  says, ” you can go that way if you want.” “Do you get many people trotting through your yard?” She says, “A few, more in the summer.” I thank her and start bushwhacking through the alders and black berry thorns till I find the path.

and I am delighted to find the final suspension bridge in New Brunswick. I have now completed them all. Foot Bridge of New Brunswick

Titusville 2nd suspension bridge

I have one more stop on the way back to Hampton. The Smithtown covered bridge on the Damascus Road, the one I missed on my trip of How I Ended Up in Quispamsis. NB

It is almost 5 pm when I return to Hampton. I want to see Peters Humphrey’s grave, at the Hampton Rural Cemetery.   I stop a man walking around the grounds and say to him, “Excuse me do you knows where Peter Humphrey’s grave is?” he says “not exactly but you’ll find it “.  Like when I was hunting down the graves of the Fathers of Confederation in my story, In Honour of Canada’s 150th

I look for a plaque or a flag maybe a large monument, but I see no distinguished markers so I look for a family plot, there are many Humphreys. Finally I come to it. No fanfare not a historic or government plaque, just a basic flat stone. Very modest, not what I was expecting for the man who made such an important contribution to humanity.

I am pleased with my day and I have finished being a tourist for today anyway. Time to eat and find a place to camp. Please join me for Part Two of my visit to Hampton.

Happy Travels from Maritime Mac.

Tip Me

If you like this content you can tip me to show your appreciation.

C$1.00

Map of Hampton Attractions in this story