History of the Bolton Township
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Towhship Description
Many people who have recently arrived or are just passing through have difficulty understanding the Bolton area, because they don't know that Bolton was originally a township. They can't make sense of Bolton's many names: Bolton-Est, Saint-Étienne-de-Bolton, Bolton Centre, South Bolton and Bolton Ouest. These are the municipalities that bear the name of the township. But there are other municipalities that are part of Bolton Township.
When they try to find out more, they become even more puzzled to learn that the village in the municipality of Austin was once called East Bolton, long before this municipality existed. They are equally astonished to learn that Bolton Centre and South Bolton are not municipalities, but two hamlets, of which Bolton Centre is the village of the current municipality of East Bolton.
They are even more astonished to learn that a large part of the City of Magog was originally part of the Township of Bolton. They are surprised to learn that the village of Eastman is located in the township, and finally they are surprised to learn that the Abbaye Saint-Benpît-du-lac is a municipality in its own right within the township of Bolton.
Given the vast size of Bolton Township, it's not surprising that its history has been marked by several dismemberments. Many different hamlets have developed over time, some of which have disappeared and others which have become municipalities.
This township is marked by separations (now divided into seven municipalities) and ephemerality, and many activities have been attempted in the course of its history, none of which have survived.
Such is life!
There were the Abenakis, who came to hunt and fish, but they're no longer here.
There were wood and grain mills, but they're all gone.
The Loyalists who came to colonize the area were eventually swamped by French-speakers, who were absent from the territory before the English conquest.
There are still descendants of these Loyalists, but they are discreet.
There was a desire to farm, but the soil was not conducive (except in West Bolton, where attempts are being made to revive this activity). Farms, pastures and fields along the roads disappeared and were once again covered by forests.
There were mines, but they didn't last long, and virtually nothing remains of that activity.
There were even railroads, but they were removed.
There was a timber industry, but it's no longer apparent.
There were roads on Lake Memphremagog and through the mountains and swamps to reach remote areas, but now we go all the way around on the Eastern Townships highway.
What's left is the often untamed wilderness, the vast forests, the lakes, the river carpeted at the bottom of the valley.
People live here peacefully, joined by urban dwellers and retirees in search of tranquillity, and for the most part, they're not alone.
The elders split off into small communities, but the descendants feel the need to come together to share some essential services and useful activities.
There are new initiatives to reclaim the land and create what we need on a day-to-day basis. For example, the Rucher Boltonnois, its Bistro, its public market, its shows; the concerts in Austin under the big top; the market gardeners like Jardin Bolton, the livestock farmers, all those people who produce ready-made meals; the Collectif in West Bolton; the leisure activities and Correspondances d'Eastman; the Abbaye Saint-Benoît-du-lac that attracts so many visitors.
What does the future hold?