of Canada. Paul Dawson became a provincial Cabinet Minister during the administration of premier Richard Hatfield. Located on S side of the Miramichi River, 3.71 km S of Chatham Head: Nelson Parish and Chatham Parish, Northumberland County: PO Nelson 1842-1868: in 1871 Nelson had a population of 600: in 1898 Nelson was a station on the Canada Eastern Railway and a farming, lumbering and fishing community with 8 stores, 1 hotel, 2 sawmills, 1 tannery, 1 carding mill, 1 barrel parts factory, 1 brick kiln, 3 churches and a population of 600: included the settlement of South Nelson: PO 1853-1968: in 1866 South Nelson was a farming and lumbering community with 33 resident families: included the community of South Nelson Road: PO South Nelson Road 1883-1947: PO Nelson-Miramichi from 1968: included the community of Nowlanville, located 8 km SE of Newcastle, where Patrick Nowlan, James Nowlan and Michael Nowlan were early settlers. Prior to Miramichi amalgamation, Nelson was officially known as Nelson-Miramichi. It first incorporated as a village in 1967 with Byron Goodin as its first Mayor. At that time its population was between 1,500 and 2,000. Modern Nelson The community, while considered a suburban neighbourhood in Miramichi, is largely rural. It is a predominantly Roman Catholic Community. From Nelson's banks one can overlook Beaubears Island, a National Historic Site of Canada. An Interpretive Center and Museum located in Nelson's Bicentennial Park provide a history of the shipbuilding industry on the island. Guided tours, with live reenactments, are available for those who wish to cross the Miramichi River and explore the island. In 2005, the Nelson Softball Association hosted the Midget Canadian Boys Fast Pitch Championships. Local players representing Team New Brunswick included Jake O'Neil(3B), Ashley Cosgrove(P), and Thomas McCarthy(C). Tournament Games were held at both the Gerald King Memorial Field and the Merle Doyle Jr. Memorial Field. Today, Nelson still maintains its history as part of the city of Miramichi. It is a picturesque community on the south shore of the Miramichi River with its elegant older homes and two-spired St. Patrick's Church. Notable people References Neighbourhoods in Miramichi, New Brunswick Populated places disestablished in 1995 Former villages in New Brunswick