History Articles

The border separating Quebec’s Eastern Townships from the United States was determined by the terms of the Quebec Act in 1774.

Smuggling has been a problem in the Eastern Townships for a long time. At first, there were no customs offices at all. People could buy whatever they pleased in the U.S.

In the early 19th century, there were no police, courts, or prisons in the Eastern Townships. The region was a distant frontier, far from the cities of Lower Canada.

Donald Morrison is one of the truly legendary figures of Eastern Townships history. Often referred to as "the Outlaw of Megantic," Morrison was the son of Scottish immigrants.

The St. Albans Raid of October 19, 1864 is one of the most celebrated incidents in Border lore.

Born in 1845 on his parents' farm at Kingscroft, in Barnston Township, Arthur Osmore Norton studied at nearby Barnston Academy. By age 16, Norton was working as a clerk in a local general store.

From 1860 to the early 1900s, the St. Francis Valley was the main centre in Canada for the production of slate.

Three components make up the explosive combination of black powder: saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulphur, and charcoal (carbon).

In its infancy, hydroelectric power in the Eastern Townships was in the hands of a variety of small, local companies.