Despite the presence of a few notable horologists in Quebec, the clockmaking industry in the province never really flourished. The industries of the American states bordering Canada, such as New England or Connecticut, rapidly took over the North American market. This piece is an exception and is one of the rare wall clocks made in Quebec, Stanstead, by artisan Porter Kimball. It is an extremely rare clockwork artefact; there now remain only a dozen similar pieces. Gift of Maurice Lemay, renowned antique dealer and collector from Sherbrooke, 1962. Inventory number : 1989.1124

The Narrows Bridge is a covered bridge spanning Fitch Bay on Lake Memphremagog. The bridge was built by Charles and Alexander MacPherson of Georgeville for the sum of $775. The contract spelled out every detail: the trusses had to be of the Town lattice type; the camber, 2.5 inches; and the balance beams, of “old growth tamarack free from sap and all defects.” The material had to be “of first quality and the workmanship first class.” The Narrows Bridge still stands today, as a testament both to its sturdy construction and to the will of the local people to preserve this important heritage structure classified by the government of Quebec. This artefact is part of the Marion Morrill Fonds. Inventory Number: Mor 15.1

Born in Granby, Maude Gage Pellerin (1884-1958) was an only child. When she was a young girl, the family moved to Hatley, where Maude remained for the rest of her life. In addition to contributing to historical columns in the Stanstead Journal regularly, Maude published two books: The Story of Hatley, a local history, and Songs of Old Quebec. She also co-authored The Trail of the Broad Highway with her friend Bertha Weston Price. Her collections of oral stories and descriptions of pioneer life in the Eastern Townships, likely written in the 1950s, were published in 2021 by her granddaughter Linda Pellerin. Gift of Linda, Brenda and Shirley Pellerin, granddaughters of Maude Gage Pellerin, 2017. Inventory number: 2017.15.3

This animal was captured by Merrick Belknap, Warren Drew and Everette Duquette, all residents of Magog at the time, as they were out capturing fish for Magog’s fish hatchery near Carp Lake, located north of Saint-Jovite. With a weight of about 1,200 pounds and antlers 62 ½" wide from one end to the other, this is one of the largest specimens of moose ever hunted in Quebec. The men’s triumph was applauded in the Sherbrooke Daily Record on their return, and the head was preserved by taxidermist Robert Elliott. Donated by Merrick Belknap for the exhibit Touring the Townships, 2010. Inventory number: 2010.4

This map of Lake Memphremagog is the work of Marie A. Kuhnel. Drawn in black and sepia ink as well as pencil, the map is enhanced with blue and brown watercolour. The drawing and calligraphy are precise and very fine, which testifies to the high level of skill of the artist, of whom only the name is known. The map contains details of the hydrographic network surrounding the lake on both sides of the border and names the important villages in the area. Notably, Sugar Loaf Pond appears to have previously been known as "Concert Pond". Unknown donor. Inventory Number : s.n.

The Old Guard Dinner, 1882 Photographer William James Topley (1845-1930) is Ottawa’s greatest 19th century portraitist. To achieve this impressive group composition commemorating a banquet given in honour of John A. Macdonald, as seen standing in the centre of the image, Topley combined several techniques. He photographed each representative individually, cut out the portraits, placed them in a hand-painted setting, and then re-photographed the result to have a uniform view of the complete scene. Thanks to all these delicate and expensive processes, Topley succeeded in making a complex composition worthy of history painting, which can be reproduced in multiple copies and sizes. Gift of Mrs. Helen Colby, 1992. Inventory Number : 920969

Frank Henry Sleeper (1862-1937), the famous inventor of the Norton Jack from Coaticook, conceived many utilitarian objects during his lifetime, among which was this treadmill. Powered by a dog, sheep, or goat walking on the moving platform, the conveyor belt moved to the speed of the animal. This movement harnessed the force required to operate a butter churn. At the time, sheep power was considered to be the least expensive, most durable, and most effective of all. A single sheep could churn the butter of twenty cows! Gift of Mr. Thorton Cleveland of Libbytown, circa 1900. Inventory Number : 1990.251

This diminutive microscope made of brass was likely produced by the W & S Jones company, London, which purchased the rights to George Adams' book 'Essays on the Microscope'. This book contained engravings of instruments that were then produced from 1795 onwards, and this particular model was first depicted by Adams in about 1787. Focusing is achieved by moving the object to be observed. By reversing the microscope in the base, it can also function as a hand-held instrument with its base serving as a handle; the mirror is removed and the microscope pointed towards the light source. Instructions of use read : “This microscope is adapted to the viewing of all sorts of objects, whether transparent, or opake; and for injects, flowers, animalcules, and the infinite variety of the minutia of nature and art, will be found the most complete and portable, for the price, of any hitherto contrived.” Gift of The Ursulines College, 2005. Inventory number : 2020.x.29

is anonymous painting features, far right, Stanstead inventor Henry Seth Taylor (1831-1887) during a trip to the Megantic lake area. It is the work of a gifted amateur who had no formal artistic training - this is especially noticeable by the depiction of the hands and the stiffness of the body. The painting closely resembles an existing photograph of the same scene; the figures and their environment were probably first drawn on the canvas using a projector. The artist slightly improved the scene: the opening in the sky is larger and the individuals stand further apart from one another, giving a less crowded impression of the encampment. Gift of John Gilman, unknown date. Restoration made by the Centre de conservation du Québec. Inventory Number : 1989.1477

Businessman and politician Marcus Child (1792-1859) was born in West Boylston, Massachusetts. He settled in Stanstead County in 1812, where he worked as a pharmacist, and later as postmaster and magistrate. He then moved to Coaticook where he worked as a merchant and manufacturer. Marcus Child was elected to the Lower Canada Legislative Assembly for Stanstead in 1829, serving from 1829 to 1830, and again from 1834 to 1837. In the 1830s, Marcus Child sided with Louis-Joseph Papineau's Patriotes Party, and during the Lower Canada Rebellions was obliged to flee to Vermont. He was re-elected to the Assembly against Moses French Colby in 1841, and served until 1844. He is known as one of the founders of the Stanstead Seminary, which would later become Stanstead College. Gift of Jean G. Castles, 1980. Inventory number: 1989.307

This medicine case once contained vials filled with the ingredients required in the preparation of medicines and belonged to Dr. Chester William Cowles. Following his studies at the University of New York, at the age of 24, Dr. Cowles accepted a partnership with Stanstead Plain’s local physician, Dr. Moses French Colby. This case with multiple compartments, a locking mechanism and a handle wears the mark of Leach & Green which originates from the United States, Boston. Gift of Miss H. Cowles, unknown date. Inventory Number: 1989.1162

Made of lustrous rabbit fur in the Mélusine style, this top hat with a rolled-up brim and flared cap is an accessory worn exclusively by men. Synonymous with high social status, it is worn on occasions requiring formal wear. This hat was made by the London hat-making company Henry Heath, active from 1822 until the 1930s. It was owned by Charles Carroll Colby, builder of Carrollcroft. Slipped into the interior ledge is a postcard addressed to Harriet Colby, wife of Charles, and written by Martha Stoddard Colby, her niece. Gift of Mrs Helen Colby, 1992. Inventory Number : s.n.

This dark green transparent visor was frequently worn between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries by accountants, telegraphers, editors and others engaged in activities requiring an eye for detail. This type of object aimed to protect the eyes from the brightness of incandescent lamps and candles, thus reducing eyestrain. The green colour was considered particularly relaxing for the eyes and its use was widespread, especially in the manufacture of banker's lamps. The first patent for this visor model was awarded to William Mahony on September 25, 1900. The manufacturer's advertising attributed several qualities to them: lightweight, adjustable, durable and hygienic! Unknown donor. Inventory Number : 2019.x1

This brown taffeta and velvet wedding dress was worn by Eva Lafrance for her marriage to Joseph Turcotte in 1884, when she was 16 years old. Both were residents of Stanstead and operated a small store for several years. This wedding dress was also worn by Eva (Lafrance) Turcotte's mother for her wedding, circa 1864. In the 19th century, coloured wedding dresses were considered the norm, and those with shades of plum conveyed the ultimate elegance. The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is credited to Queen Victoria who married in 1840, but this trend only becomes the norm decades later. Gift of Mrs. Roland Rodrigue, unknown date. Inventory Number : 1989.1517.1-2

A leather container used for storing and transporting artificial flies used for angling. This fly box belonged to Henry Seth Taylor and to his son Charles Henry Taylor. It shows that an interest in fishing was passed down from one generation to the next and thus established a bond between father and son. A professional watchmaker as well as hunting and fishing enthusiast, Henry Seth Taylor (1833-1887) built the first steam car in Canada. Charles H. Taylor (1869-1927) was Mayor of Stanstead Plain from 1904 to 1906. Gift of Charles H. Taylor, unknown date. Inventory Number : 1989.1296

Whist, a trick-taking card game of English origin, was very popular amongst the Western elite in the 18th and 19th centuries. As such, it was very present in the literature of the time, and is seen played by characters in the works of Jane Austen, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Leo Tolstoy. Because of its popularity, the game developed many variants, such as bridge which has been the most popular since its introduction in the early 20th century. In order to help keep track of the score in an elegant fashion, devices called whist markers were manufactured in the 19th century. In addition to the usual score and trump tracking sections, these particular markers possess a distinctive feature: a third section where players could keep track of the number of games won. Gift of the Butters & Cassils families, 2014. Inventory Number : 2014.5.7-8

Women's handbags have their origins in the late 18th century, when the slim silhouette of the dresses prevented women from carrying their belongings in free-standing pockets hidden under their skirts. Its first form was the reticule, a small bag barely big enough to carry some makeup and calling cards. If the uses of handbags have multiplied at the same rate as their shapes, the reticule continues to be worn as an evening accessory and it was particularly popular in the 1920s. This satin bag has very small top handles and is only intended to be carried by hand. Gift of Marguerite Lecours, unknown date. Inventory Number : 1989.x.6

These tiny butterfly-shaped perfume bottles are made of blown glass, animal hair, paint, paper, gold and cork. They are presented here in their original packaging, a round cardboard box with both the maker’s and seller’s logos. The maker, Reiss Parfumeur, was a German perfumer founded in Frankfurt in 1837 who was still active at the turn of the 20th century when the bottles and their packaging were made. This pair was bought in a Boston perfume store, attesting to the close connections between Boston and Stanstead at this period in time. Gift of the Butters and Cassils families, 2014. Inventory Number : 2014.5.1.1-3

Wool, after it has been sheared and washed, needs to be brushed. This process of aligning fibres is necessary prior to spinning, which provides the long, continuous yarn that is transformed into textiles. While combs in various materials had been used to brush wool for thousands of years, likely since the domestication of the animal, a new tool appeared in the early 14th century: carders. It consists of a pair of two identical objects made of a handle, a wooden plate, a leather strap, and hundreds of tiny metal hooks. The use of carders allows the production of wool that contains more air, which makes it warmer than combed wool. Whitmore was an American brand known for its wool industry products. Unknown donor. Inventory Number : 1990.325.1-2

Initially having an exclusively utilitarian function, glasses quickly became an important fashion accessory for the 19th-century bourgeoisie. Lorgnettes were very fashionable, where adornments and aesthetics took precedence over visual correction. First reserved for men before being used by women, lorgnettes are considered accessories and even jewelry, thus constructed from precious materials. Made of tortoiseshell, this model is made of two binoculars of different strengths and a handle split lengthwise which allows the glasses to be folded for safe transport. Unknown donor. Inventory Number : 1989.1088