The presence of the Baillie Family in the small village of Fleurant Point dates back to 1841, when Thomas Baillie emigrated from Scotland to America on the same boat as well-known fellow Scotsman and emigrant, Sir John A. MacDonald, who some years later would become Canada’s first Prime Minister.
The Baillie family homestead was established in that same year and was passed on to several generations of Baillie’s. The Baillie Family took advantage of the numerous business opportunities opening in the farming, fishery and forestry sectors. They operated a successful smelt fishing and fish-packing business that became one of the largest of its kind in the area.Tapping into the Boston market, their frozen-packed smelt fish product venture lasted for well over half a century.
Over the years, numerous residents throughout this area and beyond depended on the Baillie business as a main source of income and employment. The Baillie’s were also among the first in the Fleurant Point community to have acquired a commercial salmon-fishing license.
Born to the Baillie family in 1904 was one of Fleurant Point’s most inspirational community leaders, Martha Baillie. Miss Baillie spent her life devoted to her community, neighbours, friends and her faith.
In 1936, she lead a successful community effort to organize a “young people’s union” with members from Fleurant Point and Escuminac Flats. Martha was, not surprisingly, chosen as its first founding president and youth leader.
The contribution of Miss Martha Baillie resulted in the construction of the Fleurant Community Hall, largely accomplished by volunteers with Miss Baillie being of foremost support and leadership.
For many decades, Miss Baillie was directly and chiefly responsible for an incredible number of community dances, social events, carnivals, prayer meetings, Sunday school picnics, concerts of every type and description, and a host of other community gatherings as well. In many of these events, she was the sole organizer, a burdensome task but the very capable Miss Baillie would never complain, or even hint that she had found it difficult.
It was only in the mid 1980’s that she was prevented from carrying out her duties as superintendent of the Fleurant Sunday School due to ailing health and an eventually debilitating illness which required long-term hospitalization at Campbellton’s Hotel Dieu. Over the years when Miss Baillie was in declining health, community residents frequently visited her. Correspondence was voluminous as many people expressed their gratitude for all her years of keeping the Fleurant Point community spirit alive.
Miss Martha Baillie passed away on December 5, 1987 at the age of 83 years old. Her sister May Baillie, also from Fleurant Point, passed away one week prior at the age of 94. The passing of the venerable “Baillie Sisters” marked the end of the Baillie namesake.
Today, the Fleurant Point Community Hall continues to flourish and serve the community. It stands as a testament and lasting symbol of Miss Baillie’s life-long contribution to her community.