Matthew Farfan

Ray and Diana Baillie have just completed their book, Imprints II: Discovering the Historic Face of English Quebec - The Eastern Townships. The book, launched last week at Bishops's College School in Lennoxville, is the second volume published in a series of three featuring historic landmarks of English Quebec. Last year, the husband and wife team released Imprints, which focused on English architectural and historical landmarks in the Laurentians, the Outaouais, southwestern Quebec, and the Richelieu Valley. Imprints II is devoted to the Eastern Townships.

Imprints II is divided into chapters, each corresponding to a geographic area: Missisquoi, Brome, Shefford, Stanstead, Magog-Sherbrooke, Richmond-Drummond, and Compton-Megantic. The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs, and each photo is accompanied by a brief text. Some of the landmarks featured are, like their builders, relatively famous; others are more obscure. For example, most people have heard of Bishop's University. Few, however, are familiar with the J. L. Goodhue Belt Factory in Danville. Which is what makes this book interesting. Not all of the subjects are famous historic sites. Most, in fact, are not. Many are quite modest. And each is interesting in its own way. There are barns, railway stations, blacksmith shops, churches, inns, factories, pioneer homes, shops, schoolhouses, and more.

The authors state at the outset that the landmarks chosen were selected not necessarily for their architectural significance or their beauty, but for the historical contributions of the builder or the institution or the occupant. For example, Henry Seth Taylor's Shop, a dilapidated barn on a side street in Stanstead, is included not because it is anything special to look at, but because it is believed to be the site of the first car ever built in Canada.

The authors state that the book is meant neither as a travel guide, nor as a local history. Its intent, they say, is to show that the English of Quebec were more than just politicians and bankers and captains of industry, as they are so often portrayed in history books. They were also ordinary people: pioneers, shopkeepers, farmers, labourers, teachers, and doctors. And they made their mark everywhere they went.

Diana and Ray Baillie. (Photo: Matthew Farfan)

Anyone familiar with the Eastern Townships will probably notice omissions. It is important to remember, however, that the book is not meant as a complete guidebook to all of the region's historic sites, but as a cross-section of some of the more historically important ones. The authors' purpose is clearly to create awareness, which is after all the first step towards education and ultimately preservation. In this they have succeeded.

Imprints II: Discovering the Historic Face of English Quebec - The Eastern Townships is published by Price-Patterson Ltd., Box 711, Victoria Station, Westmount, Quebec, H3Z 2Y7. The 215 page soft-cover book retails for $32.50. For more information on how to procure either Imprints or Imprints II, the publisher may be reached by email at: ppltdmp@aol.com