Histoire | St-Cajetan | Mansonville | Potton

As far as 1836, a house of Public Entertainment was opened by Christopher Armstrong. We are not sure if this house means "Manson's House". But according to "along the Old Roads" published by Brome County Historical Society, James Manson, in 1864, owned the actual Mansonville Hotel building. At least two Mansons' are listed as owners of this hotel, James, and William Blanchard, his son, from 1871 to the 1900's. lt is said that Mansonville village (and Mansonville House) was named after him, because he was a leading citizen. Then it passed in the hands of Botterill and Hadlock. From around 1900 to 1918, names like Rippley, Ben Sisco corne on the list of owners.

From 1918 to 1958, generations of Heaths' succeeded in ownership: Galen Heath, and after him, his two sons Arnold and mostly Merrill (Ruth Fullerton and now Bailey's father). Among the steady and faithfull workers in this hotel, people remember Gamet Bouchard, chief-cook from 1927 to 1946. Chester Johnson caring for stable and horses and maintenance for 36 years, Mrs. Arnold Heath, tending tables for 31 years, and Noëlla Coutu is proud to tell you she was chamber-maid and that she had to fret around with many other jobs there, from 1944 to 1971. Between 1900 and 1950, social life had a good turn-out, the entire third floor being adorned and used as a ballroom. Merrill Heath also owned for a time, the South Bolton Inn, formely named McMannis' House or Hanson's Hotel.

From 1958 to 1982, 8 different persans owned the place, some for not more than 1 or 2 years: Léonard Chicoine, Lionel Dupré, J. Gévry, Fernande Viens, François Tremblay, Louis Lacaille, Paul Vachon and, at the moment, Jacques Paquette.

In Leadville, a very fine hotel named Owl's Head Mountain House was built in 1850. People would reach the hotel either through a narrow trail in the mountain or with the steamer on Memphremagog Lake. It was famous on account of the silence and the beautiful scenery. While resting or waiting for the boat, they could enjoy gorgeous nature. lt burned in 1898 and was never rebuilt; except that small cottages are now occupied as well as the site by the F. P. Worthen family. At low water, you notice the pillars of the warf.

In 1875, where the Shaggy Dog Hotel now stands, N. H. Green constructed a fine hotel near Potton Sulphur Springs, these springs being more and more popular. We'll tell you more about it in the Topic "Unordenary Events", further in this book. Many years later, Mr Wright purchased and enlarged it to contain twenty-four bathrooms ... and operated it for about 30 years. ln 1933, it burned to the ground and remained unbuilt. At a short distance from there, another house (soon turned into an hotel) was built by an ltalian, named Roccarelli, in the 40's. The Shaggy Dog Inn. Mr. Hamilton owned it for about 20 years and then sold to Ross and Eva Burnett, who operated it from 1970 to 1977 and sold it to the present owner, Perry Plouffe.

Once upon a time there were two hotels in Highwater, one located where John Champion and after him, Thomas Lessard had their store just beside the train station at that time, and the other one which is still operating today, owned by Louise Gariépy. Now this last one happened to be closed when Arthur Boucher, in 1929, built his own, where Sam Bailey's garage now stands. lt gave a nice view, facing water and the road and valley down to Mansonville. After five years, it burned down. ln 1935, Arthur bought the actual one and operated it until his death which occured in 1949. Then Leona Benjamin, with Mr. Boucher's children took it over for about 12 years and sold it to Joseph Ménard. ln 1970, it changed hands to Lucien Grégoire, who ran it for 6-7 years, and after being closed 2-3 years, it now belongs to Louise Gariépy.

Why, so many hotels in such a small area and in not too big towns? For two reasons. The first is the proximity to United States, bringing a heavy traffic sometimes. The second is the "Prohibition" in the United States again; for a number of years, it was forbidden to buy and sell beer and liquor. So individuals and business men having ordered some gallons or bottles from Montreal, had to wait for the divine drinking. ls there a better place, than an hotel to cairn their anxiety, have entertainment and prepare the crossing of the boarder ... and to unload and load the "forbidden fruit"?