Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

Mountain Road lies in the Municipality of East Bolton, but for a small jog in Potton.  It is the continuation of Chemin de Knowlton Landing over the mountain and is mentioned herein because it was part of what was once referred to as “the Old Magog road”, important in this area's development.  Mountain Road pretty much follows the original trail up from Lake Memphremagog, over the mountain and down into South Bolton which was originally called Holland's Mills after one of its earliest settlers, Richard Holland.

The rounded mountain facing South Bolton across the Missisquoi River is called Mount Becky, named for Richard Holland's sister, Rebecca.  You may have read about Mr. Holland in the history of L'Aubergine.

It is said that, when Potton was first settled, what we now call Mountain Road was so rugged that a man on horseback could not pass.  It was but a blazed trail barely suitable for foot travel.  Cargo, impossible to move at any other time of the year, was dragged over winter snows by oxen and sleds.  “ Until 1826, the Magog road from Stanstead across the Lake, through South Bolton, Brome, parts of Dunham and Farnham, and thence to Montreal, was impassable for wheeled vehicles.  A subscription of $1,100 was raised and worked out in improvements on it.  In 1830, through a Government grant more improvements took place. »^[1]

This latter improvement allowed for its use by wheeled vehicles.  (In the earliest days, each proprietor of land over which a road passed, “subscribed” or committed to a dollar value of improvements to the road which traversed their land, which they would then carry out in labour and material on their section of road.) 

If you have had occasion to use this road, you may be familiar with the sharp “S” curve near South Bolton.  This part of the road was traditionally called “Station Hill” since the Orford Mountain Railway passed at this elevation.  Presumably, the station was located very nearby!