Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

Once forming a majestic canopy of shade, the tunnel of trees lining both sides of Chemin du Lac is now almost gone.  It is thought that this row of trees was planted by Charles Éthier, whose property border the “road” of the time, that is to say the late 1890's.  His great-great-grandson now owns the property.  Each year, more of these old maples die out and must be removed, as they were in 2012.  Few of the original trees survive.  The paving of Chemin du Lac not only led to the increased use of salt as an ice-melting agent, but worse, the asphalt covered much of the root system of these maples, leading largely to their sad demise.  Acid rain took its toll as well. 

Happily, a replacement row of sapling Acer sacherem, or sugar maples, was planted in the fall of 2012 by the Municipality of Potton; however, it will be a number of years before the historical beauty of the original tunnel of trees will be restored, if ever.  Two proprietors along Chemin du Lac have undertaken the planting of hardwood saplings along their own properties, thus greatly enhancing the countryside.