Photo–CardCow Vintage Postcards
In 1828 Bolton Spring noted for its medicinal properties was discovered in North Potton, Quebec on the farm of William Green. Its value as a remedial agent wasn’t realized until 1844 when it was used in a case of scrofula. Scrofula was a form of tuberculosis of the neck, and when word got out about the cure people came to drink from this miracle water.
Potton White Sulphur Springs, Que Quebec Canada-BANQ-CP 15995 CON–0002645701–1926
Local legend goes that 14 year-old Nathan Banfill discovered these waters looking for a drink at the bottom of a cliff at the base of Peeve Mountain. Little did Banfill know that such a huge gush of sulphur water from three springs would become popular in the future and people would come to enjoy its benefits for miles. I remember as a little girl, my grandparents would take me to this small covered bubbling spring out in the middle of nowhere in the Eastern Townships and the air smelled like rotten eggs. My grandparents filled up a couple of milk jugs with the smelly water, but I wanted no part of it, and I had no idea what it was similar to young Nathan Banfill.
Association du patrimoine de Potton–Potton Springs Hotel. Circa 1900. A lovely picnic.
One must remember that in 1830 the north of Potton Township was slow to be settled, the local roads were scarcely passable, and the area very uneven for people to come and visit the future spa culture. It wasn’t until 1862 that the upper class folks came to enjoy what C.F. Haskell from Stanstead had named Mount Pleasant Springs. After several variants of Haskell’s title for the area were forgotten, Potton Springs became the official name.
In 1875, the Potton Springs Hotel was built by ancestor N.H. Green and word spread internationally about the sulphur water’s supposed healing properties. Eastern Townships historian Gerard Leduc has written that there was possibly another structure before Green’s building as it seems he might have built his first building on top of a former field stone foundation. Merely two years later, the new hotel took advantage of the extension of the railway line of the Missisquoi and Black Rivers Valley Company. The hotel was purchased by J. A. Wright who supplied it with electricity from a generator and seeing the potential of his investment opportunity he enlarged it in 1912 to accommodate 75 guests.
Three sulphur springs originated from a deep aquifer, and the waters were tapped from the mountain springs into a wooden tank and delivered to the hotel below only by gravity. Baths could be taken in a variety of forms, including shower, sitting, and spray, and word was even a pool fed by the springs was available.
Potton Sulphur Springs Hotel after asron fire, December 1934–Interclik
They say people drank it, bathed in it, and even brought it home similar to my Grandparents who did the same in the 50s. The spa flourished and the McMannis Hotel which was situated at the corner of Mountain Road and Route 243, did an excellent business with the seasonal patrons who journeyed to Potton Springs. Business began to decline at the end of the 1920s, during the Great Depression and J. A. Wright finally sold the establishment to F. Larin in 1930, but a fire, (possible arson was mentioned) gutted the hotel in 1934.
BANQ–CP 041745 CON–0005019568– 1926
They say there isn’t much left of Potton Springs today, and only a few deteriorating remaining foundations have been left exposed to the elements. The foundation made from Lennoxville bricks remain, but even the 6-7 metre Potton Springs Hotel sign that was found by the new owners was stolen in 1990.
Potton Springs is now private property owned by la Fondation Poorna-Jnana Yoga and moments you try to put into words no longer exist. When I look at these old photos it’s pretty overwhelming, memories are now devastation, and there are no longer the original buildings to speak for themselves. Someone asked me if I had ever been there and seen the remains, and if I had a time machine a million memories would now flash through my mind. But, we can never go back and now the only clues to what happened at Potton Springs only remain in photographs and the carvings among the rocks.
Masonic etching 1863- Youtube
Clipped from The Caledonian-Record, 21 Aug 1920, Sat, Page 5
1919 ad Burlington Free Press
Short History of the Potton Springs.
1000-1400 Petroglyphs carved on rock in area. Ancient religious sites established in various other locations in the valley (including possibly Potton Springs) that demonstrate a ritual and observance of natural cycles, the solstices.
1400-1800 Native American presence in the area. Ancient Burial mounds may refer to a larger scale geometry, which includes the springs and the above mentioned solstice sites.
1828 “Colonial”discovery of the sulphur springs on land owned by the Green family.
1844 A cure is announced using water from the springs
1862 Ministers from the surrounding townships organise a ceremony at the spring and name it Mount Pleasant Spring
1862 Date of some engravings on the protruding stone above springs. Included are several names and free masonic symbols.
1875 First hotel built on the site by NH Green
1877 Missisquoi and Black Valley Railway Co. extends the rail line from Huntington Mines in Eastman to Potton Springs.
1888 Orford Mountain Railway extend the rail line 4.6 miles
1906 OMR extends the line to Mansonville (the largest town in the Potton township)
1934 The Potton Spring Hotel burns down, leaving the foundations, chimney, barns and servant quarters.
1997 Servant quarters/hall burns down
2000 Site bought by Meditation/Religious Group- la Fondation Poorna-Jnana Yoga
rs/hall burns down
2000 Site bought by Meditation/Religious Group
New secrets revealed at Potton Springs
Interview with Gerard Leduc–Click Here
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ Mamas (USA)
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.
Where Were the Miracle Salt Springs in Pakenham? I Love a Challenge!
Whale Sightings Outside Smiths Falls– Part 2
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