Saint John: Nothing Happened Here

In this episode, we trace the transformation of Hungarian immigrant, Eric Weiss, into the Great Harry Houdini. Then we journey out with Houdini and Marco the Magician on their 1896 Tour of the Maritimes, which included a stop in a little city where nothing ever happened. We discuss Houdini's publicity stunts, his reported visit to the provincial asylum where he first encountered the straitjacket (maybe), and his chance meeting with the famous magician, Samuel Baldwin, which would change his career forever. Houdini’s tour of the Maritimes was a disaster at the box
office, but his experiences in Saint John would make him into an international superstar who is still talked about 100 years after his death.

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-harry-houdini

Is folklore just fake history? We take on that question with guests Chelsea and Evan, who host It Came From The Maritimes podcast. We dig into Saint John legends: Sturgeon Man, Canada's first superhero; the Ug Wug, the sea monster of the Reversing Falls; and the ghosts of Black River Road and Ashburn Lake. Along the way, we look at why people tell these stories and what they reveal about the past. Folklore may not be fact, but it may be a gateway into history.

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-folklore

In our last episode, we left Francoise Marie Jacqueline and Charles LaTour in D’Aulnay’s dungeon. They may escape, but the conflict is far from over. This is Part 2 of the war that would decide the future of early Acadia, and it all culminated in the Battle of Fort LaTour in the Saint John Harbour.

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-francoise-marie-jacquelin-and-the-battle-of-fort-latour

On October 10, 2026, prepare to be mystified as Mark and Valerie hit the stage for our first live show/recording. We will take you on a journey through Harry Houdini's trip to Saint John in 1896. As a relatively unknown magician at the time, Houdini had little impact on Saint John; but Saint John had a life changing impact on Houdini.

Venue: The Write Cup Bookstore Cafe - 1 Market Square

Time: 7pm - 8:30pm, Saturday, October 10th

Admission is free but seat are limited. Come early and bring your curiosity!

Mark's new book, Discovering Historic Saint John, is available at Chapters/Indigo/Coles throughout Canada and at Amazon.com for our American friends. 

Francoise Marie Jacquelin arrived in Acadia expecting a marriage and instead found herself at the center of a civil war. She was thrown in a dungeon, sailed the Atlantic several times to secure aid, and ultimately led the defence of Fort La Tour. It is no wonder she is known as the Lioness of Acadia. In this episode, we explore how a young woman from France became one of the most formidable figures in early history of what would become Canada, and why her story still resonates today.

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-francoise-marie-jacquelin-and-the-battle-of-fort-latour

Season 3! Coming on September 29, 2026.

At the end of the American Revolutionary War, tens of thousands of Loyalists were evacuated by the British from New York City. The flight ended in disaster for one vessel headed to the Saint John Harbour. Andrew MacLean from Backyard History joins us as a co-host for this episode as we look at one of the worst maritime disasters in an area that is known for maritime disasters. 

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-the-sinking-of-the-loyalist-ship-martha

In 1863, during the American Civil War, a group of Saint Johners were recruited by men professing to be representatives of the Confederate States of America to seize control of a civilian vessel in the United States. The men successfully hijacked the ship and brought it to British North American waters with the United States Navy in hot pursuit.

In this episode, we are joined by guest co-host, Troy Middleton, to discuss this incident and its fallout, which risked drawing the British Empire into the American Civil War.

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-the-pirates-of-the-chesapeake

Saint John is known for its love of hard beverages, so it is no wonder the city was quick to get behind bootlegging, rum-running and drinking during prohibition in New Brunswick (1917-1927) and supplying the Americans during their prohibition (1920-1933). 

In this episode, we are joined by guest co-host, Valerie Emerson, to discuss all the ways the city entered the illicit liquor trade and conducted business. As well, we discuss the evolution of the temperance movement and the social ills caused not only by alcohol abuse, but by prohibition itself. Ultimately, the “noble experiment” failed, but not before ushering in many societal and cultural changes: some good, some not so good.

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-bootlegging-rum-running-and-drinking-during-prohibition

In this episode, we are joined by guest co-host, Peter Gillies, to chat about the 1775 American Privateer Raid on Saint John Harbour. 

At the start of the American Revolution, privateers were used to disrupt British supply lines, especially to the besiege soldiers who were trying to hold Boston. Before Saint John was Saint John, there were two small settlements around the harbour: Portland Point and Conway. In August of 1775, a British ship named the Loyal Briton arrived at Portland Point and began loading supplies bound for Boston. The Americans caught wind of this and sent a 4-gun sloop with 40 armed men to capture the vessel.

Portland Point and Conway were virtually unprotected, making it easy for the Americans to seize the ship. While they were at, they also pillaged and burned down Fort Frederick and took 12 people prisoner. 

In response to the raid, the British sent warships to the Bay of Fundy, Annapolis Royal, and Halifax. They did not, however, commit any resources to defending Portland Point and Conway. These communities would remain sitting ducks, and the Americans would return.

Show Notes: https://www.nothinghappenedhere.ca/post/except-for-the-raid-of-1775