Press Release
For Immediate Release

The Redcoats in the Square panel lists the military regiments that were posted in Fredericton between 1784 and 1869.

The Redcoats in the Square panel lists the military regiments that were posted in Fredericton between 1784 and 1869.

Fredericton, New Brunswick (18 February 2011) – The Fredericton Region Museum (formerly the York Sunbury Museum) is pleased to be collaborating with the City of Fredericton in the launch of their new exhibit, In Close Quarters.  This exhibit explores vignettes of the history surrounding the historic Garrison District in downtown Fredericton.  

Fredericton’s rich history has been shaped by the collision of lively characters and discrepant events.  The historic Garrison District  provided the impact site, the scenes often unfurling with entertaining and thrilling results.  The Garrison District, entrenched in the Officers’ Quarters, served as Fredericton’s social centre, and during periods of regimental occupation, it episodically became a theatre of war between the military and civilian population.  The textured complexion of the Garrison District has been chronicled in a series of vignettes, entitled In Close Quarters. 

The Criminal Minds panel is part 1 of 2 panels that explores an assassination attempt in 1882.

The Criminal Minds panel is part 1 of 2 panels that explores an assassination attempt in 1882.

The Fredericton Region Museum has created the In Close Quarters series over the course of 2010 calendar year, producing 10 vignette panels.  Curated by a team of volunteers, each vignette, while connected to the theme of the exhibit, has its own separate identity.  The vignette format permitted a detailed exploration of isolated incidents and events and are entertaining and engaging.  The In Close Quarters exhibit draws particular attention to the significance of the Garrison District, viewing Fredericton’s history through a scarlet coloured lens, highlighting the often tumultuous relationships of a 19th Century military-civilian community.  This exhibit explores the social dimension of a garrison, an often neglected aspect of military history.    

This project was supported by the City of Fredericton through the 2010 Arts, Culture & Heritage Funding Program project grant and the exhibit will be on display in the City Hall Gallery until mid-March.  Gallery hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Afterwards, it will be exhibited in the Fredericton Region Museum at 571 Queen Street.

Thank you to everyone who has assisted with the exhibit.  It was the result of the efforts of volunteers and summer students from the York Sunbury Historical Society.