Hocus Pocus –Necromancy at Fitch Bay

 

 

A reader of the People From the Eastern Townships Facebook page -Pat Corbiere Clarke- kindly sent me some information about witches in Quebec and– while I sort that all out I thought I would start with this. For any of you familiar with The Witch of Plum Hollow I wrote about– gather round as they say– here is another adventure.

Another story in my Eastern Townships series.

 

 

They say that the Narrows Covered Bridge that goes across Fitch Bay in the Eastern Townships was built in 1881 and spans 91 feet (28 metres) across the bay. You can’t go across the bridge anymore as it is closed to the public and it hasn’t been kept up in recent years.  But there is more that blows in the breeze in the picturesque village of Fitch Bay near Magog than the lavender smells. If you look closely at one of the buildings a huge wind vane of a witch riding a broomstick crowns the roof’s centre tower. One wonders what also turns in the breeze around the Chateau that is called Witchbay Castle. The history begins in 1880 when Mr. Timothy Byron Rider was a successful business man in Fitch Bay. The Chateau remained in the Rider family hands for most of its existence.

 

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Like most older homes this property is not without its ghostly legends. Apparently  a mysterious Native American named Amanda lived along the river bank of the quiet village and wore an ample topcoat and a scarf around her neck. The townsfolk said that the ends of the scarf floated in the wind and would dart among the shadows. She was quoted by some to be a healer and would create lovingly remedies made from the native herbs and plants for those who needed it.

 

 

Up to the eighteenth century, it was believed that behind every healer hid a witch or sorcerer. It was these ancestral healers, that began the foundation of modern medicine– and because of the lack of understanding, they were hung or burned at the stake.

Previously, women with mental or physical handicaps were suspected of being witches, but they were not persecuted because some could actually perform healing. But King James believed that they indulged in Satanism, and was determined to stamp it out. His decision was to set off a disastrous chain of events for the so-called Pendle Witches – reminiscent of what was to happen much later in Salem, Massachusetts.

Amanda was considered an outcast, and some were hostile towards her as they thought her potions and lotions were nothing but short of what they considered a powerful witch might create. Maybe she was a witch, and maybe she wasn’t- but the townsfolk quickly sealed her fate and she was hanged on November 1, 1800, near the bay.

More than a century later the spirit of Amanda came back and chose a successor to continue her work. A young girl who lived in one of the local villages Amanda used to visit became her replacement and this girl was guided by some unknown force to the site of Witchbay. This girl was not only overwhelmed by the soul of Amanda, but some said she renovated the old home and devoted herself to occult practises. Even after death, similar to Amanda, she can still be seen walking along the banks of the river bank at night.

Few homesteads remain in what was once the booming town of Fitch-Bay, in the 18 and early 1900’s- but the Witchbay Castle still remains. We have to ask ourselves- is Fitch Bay really filled with dancing and twirling witches on nights when there’s a full moon? All I know is: when the moon has awoken with the sleep of the sun–the light has been broken and the spell has begun.

So what has happened to the Chateau Witchbay?  Terry Michael Loucks wrote: “Nobody lives here anymore.  It is abandoned and for sale .…..and all yours for approx. 1.5 million!“

 

Photo–A LONG WAY HOME—Le Château Witchbay–Address: 411 chemin Remick
Fitch-Bay, Quebec

 

Photo by Terry Michael Loucks– February 2017

Photo by Terry Michael Loucks– February 2017

 

 

Read–A LONG WAY HOME—Friday, October 15, 2010

“In conclusion my Great Grand Uncle, Timothy Byron Rider who built “Le Chateau Witchbay” is related to John Proctor of Salem MA, who was put to death by hanging during the witch trials in the late 1600’s”.

Roger & Gwen Poitras owned it from 1967 to 1970 when they  ran the General Store on the corner and then it was sold again.

 

Related Reading

Linda’s Dreadful Dark Tales – Minecraft Story of the Lake Memphremagog Monster

 

The Witch of Plum Hollow – Carleton Place Grandmother

The Witch Hollow of Lanark County

The Witches of Rochester Street

Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.

Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News and now in The Townships Sun

Sorry guys.. this is only in French–get your dictionaries out– but– you can see what it looks like in real time.