Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

Situated at the confluence of the Missisquoi and North Missisquoi rivers to the south of Mansonville, Highwater is one of the five village-groupings that form the Municipality of the Township of Potton.  Because it is the gateway to Canada on Route 243 north, from the North Troy United States port of entry, Highwater remains of importance in the Township of Potton.  A Canadian Pacific rail line runs through Highwater.

South Potton was the first name of what we now call Highwater.  Here, where the valley is broad, the Missisquoi North and the Missisquoi Rivers serpentine widely, often overflowing their banks, thus making Highwater well named. 

South Potton was actually the cradle of Potton since some of the very first settlement took place here: Peter Perkins II “was the first Perkins to settle in Potton.  He, with his wife Anna Ames, and his two sons, Peter III and Samuel, settled on the meadowland across the river from Highwater in the summer of 1793.  The following spring, the river overflowed its banks, the water coming up to the overlays of their log house, and they moved to the high land just west of Mansonville.  Here they were soon followed by the Fullertons, Norris, Elkins, Capt. David Blanchard, Clark and Jerseys.”^[1]

Peter Perkins II died in 1848 and is buried with his wife, Anna Ames (1852), in the Chapel Hill Cemetery.

As the population expanded and logging operations took on major importance, clamour began for a railway to be built to service the industry as well as to continue the rail lines already built to our south in Vermont.

One of the petitioners for the railway, which did eventually make it to Highwater and beyond, was Levi A. Perkins, a descendant of Peter III, who originally settled in Highwater – and got his feet wet!!  Levi A. Perkins “was one of the most prominent men of Potton for more than fifty years.  He held various offices, being for nearly forty years Collector of Provincial Revenue for the District of Bedford (our judicial district).  It was said of him “ that he could prosecute an offender against the law without persecuting him ».”^[2]

South Potton's name changed to Mansonville Station when the rail lines first passed in this area and this gave rise to some confusion as recorded below: 

“In 1873, the Southeast Counties Railway Company completed their Rail system south to Newport, Vt.  One source (…) stated that the first train to run between Montreal and Newport was in February 1873.  However, another says that (it) was on the 9^th of July 1873, and there were 300 guests on the train for a reception in Newport.  (The latter appears to be the date of the official inauguration of the rail-line.)

“Apparently, the first railway station was built or completed in 1873.  It was a large building and the first Customs & Immigration Office was located in that station along with a ticket office, detention room, freight shed, coal shed, waiting room and a residence for the Stationmaster and his family.  This station was called 'Mansonville Station'.

“In 1906, the Orford Mountain Railraod was extended from 'Potton Springs' to Mansonville and the new station in Mansonville was called 'Mansonville Village Station'.  Service on this line, as far as Mansonville, was opened on July 12, 1907.

“Naturally the two stations, 'Mansonville Village Station' and 'Mansonville Station' caused confusion.  Folklore has it that a competition was held to change the name of 'Mansonville Station'.  Merton's aunt Kate Bailey recalled this competition when she was a young girl.  Apparently, the contest was won by Freelove Warner (Mrs. Damon Warner), who was daughter of Chase Gilman and sister of Archie Gilman.  It was she who chose the name of 'Highwater'.  (…) “The name was first used by the Canadian Customs on March 1, 1909, according to a receipt for Customs Duties which I have in my possession.”^[3]

Another of our illustrious forbears coming from South Potton was Edgar C. Barnett, who lived his life long in Highwater.  Born on February 21, 1865, son of Charles W. and Luann (Brown) Barnett, great-great-grandson of Captain Benjamin Barnett, who settled in Sutton in 1796, and great-great-grandson of Col. Henry Ruiter.  Barnett wrote under the nom de plume Heron's Quill, and recorded much of Potton's history of the time.  “How lacking would be our knowledge of the recorded history of this part of Brome County, if it were not for the writings of Mr. Barnett who felt so strongly that it was his duty to write about these early happenings.”^[4]

Edgar Barnett wrote a fascinating account of The Troubles of 1837 and 1838, part of the text of which appears in Taylor's Volume II.  Potton Heritage Association has yet to research and write of Edgar Barnett, though it is our intention to do so. 

In 1927, when two tropical storm systems collided over the Eastern Townships, Potton and Vermont received torrential rains between the 2^nd and 4^th of November, causing the worst flooding ever recorded in this part of the Townships and south into Vermont; in fact, extending well into the southern United States.  Ten inches of rain fell in just a few hours, destroying homes, sweeping away bridges, roads, the hard work and dreams of many.  The level of Lake Memphremagog rose by more than 3 meters.  Both Highwater and Mansonville lost their bridges.  On August 28, 2011 Hurricane Irene produced the second worst flooding in Vermont and certainly wreaked havoc here in Potton as well. 

Close to the village of Highwater at the foot of Burnt Mountain, a space research facility once thrived.  Called Space Research, it straddled the border, and was associated with McGill University.  The site has been closed since the late 1970's.  See notes on “Space Research – Industrial Site*.”

As a border town, Highwater has had a storied history.  Read more of the place in the Potton Heritage brochure entitled Highwater.