Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve properties, artifacts, traditions, and records of local historical significance, as well as encouraging community commitment and appreciation of those cultural assets. 

Accordingly, we are eager to learn and share the stories of this region and to preserve its history for all to enjoy. One of the most important missions of the KRHS is to maintain and preserve the Keswick Ridge Superior School, which now serves as our headquarters. This building is often the center of the KRHS events and activities and soon will be the home of our museum. Next to the Superior School is the old McKeen Corner Store building which has undergone thorough repair and restoration in recent years, and will be part of our museum.

Join us!

Our History

In the spring of 1999, a group of concerned citizens formed the Keswick Ridge Historical Society in an effort to preserve and revitalize the Keswick Ridge Superior School, a valuable community asset. Working closely with the Keswick Ridge Local Service District, the Society maintains the Keswick Ridge Superior School for use as a community museum and Society headquarters in an effort to preserve the “Old Schoolhouse”.

The school building remained vacant for many years. Once it was under the stewardship of the Society, it required structural repairs and careful restoration. Through grants, auctions, and other fundraising activities, the Society has been able to make repairs and render the building as beautiful as it is now functional. Additionally, the Keswick Ridge Historical Society has taken possession of the McKeen Corner Store building and relocated it to a small lot alongside the school site. Thanks to successful fundraising efforts, the Store building is now a General Store Museum, and has a climate-controlled addition used for artifact storage.

Our Executive

  • Anne Hunt

    PRESIDENT

    A member of the KRHS since 2008, Anne has had a long career as a teacher, and as a consultant in research and professional development. She has taught courses in Early Literacy, Play, Children’s Literature and Curriculum at both the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University. She has published widely in these areas. She, and co editor, Sheree Fitch, published a collection of children’s poetry and verse from Atlantic Canada. The title, Whispers of Mermaids, comes from “Sleepy Man”, a poem by Sir Charles G.D. Roberts, who was born at what is now Mouth of Keswick.

    History of place has been an abiding interest which began 50 years ago when Anne and her husband Russ bought the old Thomas Coburn house, originally built in 1869. They raised four children there.

    Anne’s past community activities include Keswick Ridge Kindergarten, The Keswick Exchange, 4H Leader, and Librarian of Keswick Ridge School. She is currently a member of the Keswick Events Committee.

  • Ruth Duplessis-Riordon

    VICE-PRESIDENT

    Bio TBA

  • Russ Hunt

    SECRETARY

    During a long career as a professor of English at St. Thomas Univeristy, Russ wrote about literature and teaching, reviewed theatre for the CBC and other publications, was an editor of and contributor to The Mysterious East, an Atlantic journal of journalism and commentary, and co-wrote a book on K. C. Irving. An early adopter of computer technology, he also created and managed a number of websites and internet publication sites and was an organizer and sustaining member of Inkshed, a Canadian newsletter, academic publisher and annual conference for teachers of university level literacy.

    When he and his family moved to the Thomas Coburn house at Upper Keswick Ridge in 1971, he had no idea what he was getting into. As he moved out of teaching and into retirement, it became clearer that he could use his experience more locally. Since 2008 he has maintained the website for the Keswick Ridge Historical Society and is currently its secretary.

  • Evelyn Fidler

    TREASURER, CURATOR

    Evelyn officially joined the KRHS in 2012. She began by assisting in the collections, an area she has a passion for. In 2021, Evelyn officially became Treasurer and Curator for the KRHS.

    She has always been interested in the history of the greater Keswick Ridge area and has had many occasions to research this region during her employment at Kings Landing, where she has been employed and/or volunteering since 1991.

    Evelyn graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Masters degree in History and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Material History in 1992. She has been working in museums since 1985.

    Evelyn also volunteers on the local Keswick Recreation Association and enjoys coaching youth sports.

    She prefers the collections management, genealogy, and registration areas of museums and history. She also enjoys researching museum objects and archiving documentary heritage.

  • Nancy Rideout

    REGISTRAR

    Nancy’s hometown is Hartland, NB, she is a UNB nursing grad, has had a varied career in the health field, and is now active in retirement.

    Volunteering has been a common thread throughout these life stages. Today she has no regrets on accepting an invitation back in 2009 to join the Keswick Ridge Historical Society as its registrar of Museum collections. It has been, and continues to be, a learning experience and a great connection to the community and its past. She also serves as a long-time core volunteer with the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, and more recently with the Hospice boutique.

    Over 40 years ago, she and her husband Ivan took a leap of faith and moved their two young sons to Jewetts Mills, where they built their first house. Her career path continued from earlier years to hospital nursing; public relations for the provincial nursing association; and the NB Department of Health working in Hospital Services, Nursing Home Services, and Planning and Evaluation. Volunteering in those days included the Keswick Exchange community newspaper, elected school board trustee for this area, FHS Music Support Group, Mental Health Association, and Fredericton Council of the Arts.

    Retirement also offered the challenge and joys of building a second home, which has enhanced Nancy’s leisure passions such as gardening, golf, bridge, snowshoeing, travel, grandparenting, and being active in all things related to nature and the great outdoors.