History of Windsor, Québec, Canada

The settlers then gave their village the name of Lower Brompton. In 1802, the township of Windsor was formed during the formation of the eastern townships of Lower Canada. The following year, two mills were built at the confluence of the Saint-François and Watopeka rivers.

township, in the co. of Sherbrooke, lies between Shipton and Stoke, and is bounded N.E. by Wotton; S.W. by the R. St Francis. This is a fine tract of land, the soil excellent ans so happily varied that almost every kind of agricultural produce may be grown, particularly hemp and flax. The surface is undulated by moderate elevations that are well clothed with maple, beech, birch, and fir-trees of good size; on the flat lands ash and cedar prevail. A few swamps occur here and there, but they are of so trifiing a depth as to be drained with very little trouble, and might be converted into excellent meadows. - Watered by two large streams and several small ones running into the St. Francis. - Notwithstanding the superior excellence of the land, this township is badly settled; but the whole has been granted to the officers and privates of the Canadian militia, who served in 1775 and 6; it was intended as some compensation for their past services, but scarcely any of them were inclined to...

Three years later, the first chemical pulp mill in Canada was built in Windsor and, in 1864, the first powder magazine in the country was inaugurated.

"Windsor Mills

Windsor active manufacturing villlage on the line of the Grand Trunk Railway, in the Township of Windsor, Richmond County. It is 14 miles from Sherbrooke and 10 from Richmond. The St. Francis River at this point affords an unrivalled water power, which is being rapidly and practically utilised. There are now in operation at this point, three saw mills, one grist mill, an extensive establishment for the manufacture of paper from wood, owned by Messrs Angus & Logan of Montreal, which gives employment to upwards of 100 hands ; and a large powder fac tory capable of turning out 16,000 kegs superior blasting and other powder yearly. The village contains two churches, a school, &c, and is rapidly growing in wealth and population. The inhabitants are mainly of English descent. The country about is well adapted for agricultural pursuits."

WINDSOR MILLS, a flourishing post village in Richmond co., Que., on the River St. Francis, and on the G. T. R., 84 miles S.E. of Montreal, 14 miles N. of Sherbrooke. It has unrivalled water power privileges, All I contains a large paper mill, a powder factory, 5 saw mills, 1 grist mill, a telegraph office,2 churches, and about 6 stores. Pop. 325.

Windsor Mills, a post-village in Richmond co., Quebec, on the river St. Francis, and on the Grand Trunk Rail way, 865 miles S.E. of Montreal, and 14 miles N. of Sherbrooke. It has unrivalled water-power, a large paper-mill, a powder-factory, 5 saw-mills, a grist-mill, 2 churches, and about 6 stores. Pop. 325.