n 1797, several years following the American Revolution, loyalists Nathan Andrews and Caleb Tree arrived in Canada, and built a grain mill next to the Rivi ère des Brochets (“Pikes river”). The little village of Stanbridge East was thus born, in the heart of a calm and quiet landscape. Harmoniously blended within are cultivated fields, edged in groves and hedges and flanked by evergreens and leafy trees. The river cuts across the landscape, weaves along the hollows, and leads through the heart of the village. After strolling along the roads, which offer eye-catching vantage points, cyclists and walkers arrive at the village centre, surrounded by nineteenth-century ancestral homes built in the American style using brick and painted wood. Next to the Brochets River is the Missisquoi Museum, housed in the 1820 Cornell Mill, which was built on the edge of the barrage. To the east are Hodge’s General Store and Bill’s Barn (Grange à Bill).
As in its neighbouring villages, here, too, religions reside peacefully side by side. Saint James Anglican Church and its presbytery (1860), built in the neogothic style, stand in a shaded area alongside the small verdant cemetery. The United Church (1884) sits on the opposite side of the park, displaying a more Victorian style. Rather ironically, the Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc Catholic Church is housed in a former 1861 bank.
Starting in the nineteenth century, this peaceful setting saw the expansion of small industries, such as a wool-refining mill, a manufacturer of wooden tops, and a leather tannery. Soon after, railroads and stores were built. Agriculture also began developing at this time, and quickly became the village mainstay after most of the workshops closed down. Today, in addition to standard farming, farms produce a variety of lesser-grown fruits.
Restaurants
Café « Chez moi »,
The village was founded in 1821 with the construction of the first mill, a flour mill built in 1836 by Colonel Knowlton; a sawmill and the general store then followed. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Knowlton became the administrative, legal and postal centre of the region.
As is typical of the region, the presence of three different churches (one Catholic, one Anglican and one 1875 Victorian-style Methodist) epitomizes the co-existence of different cultures and religions. Beautiful residences spread across the village, particularly in the wooded area near the north entrance. Visit Masonic Hall (61, chemin Lakeside), which dates back to 1843 and once housed a tannery. A scenic little pond drawn from Cold Brook creek decorates the village centre.
A number of interesting public buildings are worth visiting, notably the P.H Knowlton Memorial (1854, now the Musée historique du comté de Brome) The History Museum of Brome County, the former post office (1904, now serves as city hall), the former Eastern Township bank, and the old library of 1894.
Duck farming is a Lake Brome specialty. Purchase or sample the variety of duck products available. For your intellectual cravings, a summer theatre features performances in English.
The Anglo-Saxon charm of Knowlton makes a winter visit worthwhile too. Enjoy the inns, winter ice-fishing, window shopping, and winter sports at Mount Glen. For a rejuvenating visit, try the lakefront health spa.
Restaurant3967, chemin Royal |
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Sainte-Famille, G0A 3P0 |
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