Ray and Diana Baillie (Reprinted with permission from Imprints: Discovering the Face of English Quebec, 2001)
Norway Bay’s 19th century pier was southern Bristol’s ferry link across the Ottawa River to Sand Point, Ontario, providing a connection to the transcontinental railway until 1963.
Ray and Diana Baillie (Text reprinted with permission from Imprints: Discovering the Face of English Quebec, 2001)
The extraordinary brick houses of Shawville, built for bank managers, wealthy merchants, and professionals in the late 19th century, symbolize the entrepreneurial success of many in this town. The excellent clay near Shawville supplied two brickyards, the first opening in 1865.
Ernie Mahoney (Reprinted with permission from Up the Gatineau!, Vol. 25)
Summering in the Gatineau has been a pastime for more than a century although, sadly, there is no known record of the first cottage that was built in the valley.
Diane Aldred (Reprinted with permission from **Aylmer, Québec: Is Heritage / Son Patrimoine, 1989)
Hot ashes thrown into dry grass in the early afternoon of August 10, 1921, are said to have ignited the fire which started beside Holt’s livery stables, located on the south side of Main Street, just east of Bancroft.
(Courtesy of the Symmes Inn Museum. Reprinted with permission)
In January 1819, Charles Symmes, aged 20 and living in Massachusetts, wrote to his uncle, Philemon Wright, asking for work. He was hired and arrived a few months later to work as a clerk and bookkeeper.
Spruceholme (204 Principale Street) is the splendid former home of George Bryson Jr. and his wife Helen Craig. Built in 1875, this large stone mansion is said to have been the winter retreat of the Bryson family, who hosted many distinguished guests, including Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Prime Minister of Canada. Spruceholme is now home to an inn and restaurant.
Ray and Diana Baillie (Reprinted with permission from Imprints: Discovering the Face of English Quebec, 2001)
Driving through the forests and farmland of Pontiac County, one comes upon a large church surrounded by a few houses. Catholic churches in Quebec towns dominate the landscape, but this one is different.The headstones in the adjoining cemetery bear inscriptions such as Doyle, McGuire, Quinn, -- almost all Irish.
Ray and Diana Baillie (Reprinted with permission from Imprints: Discovering the Face of English Quebec, 2001)
Donald Campbell was the founder of Campbell’s Bay. A pioneer farmer, he received his land grant in 1851. He also ran the local saw mill. The coming of the Pontiac Pacific Junction Railway in 1886 gave a boost to the village, and by the 1920s, Campbell’s Bay had become the county seat.
Ray and Diana Baillie (Text reprinted with permission from Imprints: Discovering the Face of English Quebec, 2001)
This cheese factory at Stark’s Corners, just east of Portage-du-Fort, is one of many which sprang up in the 1880s and 1890s as the Pontiac shifted from grain crops to dairy farming. This was probably the largest [cheese factory] in the county.
