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What is the history of Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada?
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"Sherbrooke, the metropolis of the Eastern Townships of Canada, was incorporated a town in the year 1862. In extent of population, wealtb, and commercial importance, it occupies the leading position in this portion of the Province. It is an active, enterprising place of about 4,600 inhabitants, delightfully situated at the confluence of the rivers St. Francis and Magog, on the south-eastern line of the Grand Trunk Railway, at a distance from Montreal of 96 miles. Divided by the latter stream, part of the town lies in the Township of Ascott and the remainder in Orford, Compton County, St. Francis District, of which district it is the chef lieu. The town is principally noted for its unsurpassed water- power and extensive manufactories. There are sixteen or eighteen mills and factories in constant operation, and others in course of erection. These embrace paper, woollen, grist, and saw mills ; match, fuse, scythe, furniture, and sash factories, foundry and machine shops, &c. A large amount of capital is invested in most of these establishments, and a great many men, women, and children, from the skilled artizan to the common laborer, are employed in carrying them on.
Sherbrooke has acquired additional repute as being the residence and constituency of the Hon. Alex. T. Gait, M.P.P., late Finance Minister of Canada. It is also the residence of the Hon. E. Short, Judge of the Superior Court ; the Hon. J. S. Sanborn, M.L.C. ; R. W. Heneker, Esq., Commissioner British America Land Company ; E. Clark, Esq., J. P. ; the headquarters of the 6th (late 10th) Military District (Lieut. Col. King, Brigade-Major) ; the head office of the Eastern Townships Bank (B. Pomroy, Esq., President) ; and head office of the Stanstead and Sherbrooke Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The town (including Ascot and Orford) elects one member to the Legislative Assembly, and that branch of the Legislature has been represented by Mr. Gait since April, 1849. Two sessions of the Court of Queen's Bench (holding criminal jurisdiction), four sessions of the Superior, and four of the Circuit Court are annually held. There are in the place six volunteer companies, viz : one troop cavalry, three rifle corps, and one artillery, and one infantry company. The Military District takes in the Counties of Compton, Stanstead, Richmond, Wolfe, Arthabaska, Drumraond, Nicolet, and Megantic.
In the town are five Churches, viz: Church of England, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational. There are a Roman Catholic College and Convent; an English Academy, male and female; Church Society Colonial School, and five District Free Schools, all well sustained. Two mails are daily received from Montreal, one each day from other directions. From Stanstead, the distance is 30 miles ; Compton, 12 ; Magog Lake, 16 ; Richmond Station, 24 ; Quebec, 120 ; Portland, 200 ; Waterloo, 36 miles. Railway fare to Richmond, 80 cents ; Montreal, $3.26 ; Island Pond, $1.66 ; Boston, $S.60 ; Compton, 26 cents. Daily stage to Magog, $1.00 ; also stage daily to Eaton, Cookshire, Robinson, &c. Tri-weekly stage to Westbury and Weedon.
Sherbrooke bas numerous costly and attractive private residences, and makes a creditable display in public buildings. A new jail is in course of erection, and also a mammoth woollen factory. This latter structure is now nearly completed. .It is the enterprise of Messrs. George Stephen, Montreal ; R. W. Heneker, B. A. Land Co., Sherbrooke ; J. H. Pope, M.P.P., Compton ; Benj. Pomroy, Pres. E. T. Bank, Compton — whose registered firm is Paton & Co., Mr. Paton being the general manager of the works. The size of the main building Is 154 x 66 feet, four stories, brick, besides large dye-house attached. The cost, when fully completed, with ten sets of the most improved machinery, will be upwards of $100,000. It is expected to give employment to 160 hands, and will, no doubt, both directly and indirectly, give a fresh impetus to trade in this locality. All the factories in the place are in constant operation, and have proved remunerative investments to the owners. Many of them are being enlarged, and the machinery improved, so as to be able to turn out a greater amount of work. The natural resources of the town are, however, as yet but imperfectly known or recognised. There are a large number of well-stocked stores in the place. A good beef and vegetable market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, besides a cattle fair, held on the first Wednesday of each month.
The Victoria Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 71, is in flourishing condition, and holds its regular meetings the second Tuesday in each month. Three papers — two English and one French — are published in the town. Jos. Gibb Robertson, Esq., is the present Mayor, and has, for eleven consecutive years, filled this office."
The Eastern Townships Gazetteer and General Business Directory: A Commercial Directory and Guide to the Eastern Townships of Canada, Containing Also Much Useful Information of a Miscellaneous Character ...
January 1, 1867
Smith & Company
Sherbrooke has acquired additional repute as being the residence and constituency of the Hon. Alex. T. Gait, M.P.P., late Finance Minister of Canada. It is also the residence of the Hon. E. Short, Judge of the Superior Court ; the Hon. J. S. Sanborn, M.L.C. ; R. W. Heneker, Esq., Commissioner British America Land Company ; E. Clark, Esq., J. P. ; the headquarters of the 6th (late 10th) Military District (Lieut. Col. King, Brigade-Major) ; the head office of the Eastern Townships Bank (B. Pomroy, Esq., President) ; and head office of the Stanstead and Sherbrooke Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The town (including Ascot and Orford) elects one member to the Legislative Assembly, and that branch of the Legislature has been represented by Mr. Gait since April, 1849. Two sessions of the Court of Queen's Bench (holding criminal jurisdiction), four sessions of the Superior, and four of the Circuit Court are annually held. There are in the place six volunteer companies, viz : one troop cavalry, three rifle corps, and one artillery, and one infantry company. The Military District takes in the Counties of Compton, Stanstead, Richmond, Wolfe, Arthabaska, Drumraond, Nicolet, and Megantic.
In the town are five Churches, viz: Church of England, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational. There are a Roman Catholic College and Convent; an English Academy, male and female; Church Society Colonial School, and five District Free Schools, all well sustained. Two mails are daily received from Montreal, one each day from other directions. From Stanstead, the distance is 30 miles ; Compton, 12 ; Magog Lake, 16 ; Richmond Station, 24 ; Quebec, 120 ; Portland, 200 ; Waterloo, 36 miles. Railway fare to Richmond, 80 cents ; Montreal, $3.26 ; Island Pond, $1.66 ; Boston, $S.60 ; Compton, 26 cents. Daily stage to Magog, $1.00 ; also stage daily to Eaton, Cookshire, Robinson, &c. Tri-weekly stage to Westbury and Weedon.
Sherbrooke bas numerous costly and attractive private residences, and makes a creditable display in public buildings. A new jail is in course of erection, and also a mammoth woollen factory. This latter structure is now nearly completed. .It is the enterprise of Messrs. George Stephen, Montreal ; R. W. Heneker, B. A. Land Co., Sherbrooke ; J. H. Pope, M.P.P., Compton ; Benj. Pomroy, Pres. E. T. Bank, Compton — whose registered firm is Paton & Co., Mr. Paton being the general manager of the works. The size of the main building Is 154 x 66 feet, four stories, brick, besides large dye-house attached. The cost, when fully completed, with ten sets of the most improved machinery, will be upwards of $100,000. It is expected to give employment to 160 hands, and will, no doubt, both directly and indirectly, give a fresh impetus to trade in this locality. All the factories in the place are in constant operation, and have proved remunerative investments to the owners. Many of them are being enlarged, and the machinery improved, so as to be able to turn out a greater amount of work. The natural resources of the town are, however, as yet but imperfectly known or recognised. There are a large number of well-stocked stores in the place. A good beef and vegetable market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, besides a cattle fair, held on the first Wednesday of each month.
The Victoria Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 71, is in flourishing condition, and holds its regular meetings the second Tuesday in each month. Three papers — two English and one French — are published in the town. Jos. Gibb Robertson, Esq., is the present Mayor, and has, for eleven consecutive years, filled this office."
The Eastern Townships Gazetteer and General Business Directory: A Commercial Directory and Guide to the Eastern Townships of Canada, Containing Also Much Useful Information of a Miscellaneous Character ...
January 1, 1867
Smith & Company
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1823 - Barn Accident
A most shocking accident occurred at Sherbrooke on the 12th inst. while erecting a barn on the farm of C. Whircher, Esq. occasioned by part of the...Read MORE...- 1832 - The village of Sherbrooke
occupies and elevated situation on both banks of the river Magog, at the Forks of the St. Francis. It contains about 75 houses, and its settlements...Read MORE... 
Canadian Scenery,
by N.P. Willis, Illustrated by William Henry Bartlett, 1842- 1852 - The first railroad station in Sherbrooke was built by the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway (later Grand Trunk) in 1852 along the Montreal-Portland line.
townshipsheritage.com/ attraction/ railway-stations-eastern-townships - 1870 - The Massawippi Valley Railway opened its Sherbrooke terminus at the railroad station built in 1852 by the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway.
townshipsheritage.com/ attraction/ railway-stations-eastern-townships - 1872 - Basilique-Cathédrale Saint-Michel established at Sherbrooke
www.gcatholic.org - 1873
SHERBROOKE, a county of Quebec, comprises an area of 140,300 acres. It is traversed by three railways — the Grand Trunk, Massawippi Valley, and
St. ...Read MORE... - 1874 - New Railway
The new Sherbrooke (Canada), Eastern Townships and Kennebec railway shortens the distance from Quebec to Boston 39 miles, and from Quebec to New...Read MORE... - 1877 - Two men with O'Brien's circus were arrested at Sherbrooke, Quebec, for stabbing a man named Dupont, who lies in a critical condition.
St. Albans Advertiser
St. Albans, Vermont
July 27, 1877 - 1885 - In 1885, a second train station was built in Sherbrooke, with the completion of a line from Magog by the Waterloo & Magog Railway.
townshipsheritage.com/ attraction/ railway-stations-eastern-townships - 1887 - Église de Saint-Patrick established at Sherbrooke
www.gcatholic.org 
Église de Saint-Patrick
20, rue Gordon, Sherbrooke, QUÉBEC
Established 1887
Source: Google maps- 1889 - Two Men Blown to Atoms
By Associated Press.
SHERBROOKE, Que., Jan. 18. - Dennis Conture and Joseph Noel were endeavoring to thaw a stick of dynamite this morning at the...Read MORE... - 1890 - Hanged
William Wallace Blanchard Hanged at Sherbrooke, Quebec
Sherbrooke, Que., Dec. 12. - William Wallace Blanchard was hanged here this morning for the ...Read MORE... - 1890 - Église de Saint-Jean-Baptiste established at Sherbrooke
www.gcatholic.org 
Wellington St. Looking North- 1891 - Gas Works Explosion
SHERBROOKE, Que., Jan. 1. - There was a serious explosion a the gas works here late last night. The force of the explosion tore out one side of the...Read MORE... - 1895 - Sherbrooke
"Sherbrooke, a town of Quebec, capital of the co.o Sherbrooke, on the river Magog, and on the Grand Trunk and Massawippi Valley Railways, at the W....Read MORE... - 1895 - Sherbrooke
SHERBROOKE, a county of Quebec, comprises an area of 140,300 acres. It is traversed by four railways- the G. T. R., B. & M. R., Quebec Central Ry....Read MORE... - 1896 - A Bridge Disaster
Sherbrooke, Que., April 18. - The Quebec central bridge across the St. Francis river has been swept away by the high water. It is roughly estimated...Read MORE... - 1896 - A Town Flooded
SHERBROOKE (Que.), April 17. - The river here has been rising for several days and there is now over three feet of water on the floors of the many...Read MORE... - 1896 - French Canadian Immigration
SHERBROOKE, Que., April 17. - The exodus of the French Canadians into the United States goes one uninterruptedly. Fully 250 French Canadians from...Read MORE... - 1896 - Église de Saint-Roch established at Sherbrooke
www.gcatholic.org - 1897 - Church Burned
Sherbrooke, Que., May 11. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church was gutted by fire and several thousand dollars' worth of damage done.
Trenton Evening Times
Trenton, New Jersey
May 11, 1897 - 1898 - Fire in Quebec
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Aug 14 - The works of the Jencks Machine company, the largest industry of the kind in Canada, were destroyed by fire, supposed to ...Read MORE... 
Moore Street
Magog River and Bridge
St. Vincent de Paul Hospital
Melbourne Street, Sherbrooke, Que.
Sun Life Building, Sherbrooke, Que.
Hospital, Sherbrooke, P.Q.
Rue Dufferin - Dufferin Avenue, Sherbrooke, P.Q.- 1901 - Two Children Perished in a Sherbrooke Fire - Caused by a Lamp Explosion.
Sherbrooke, Que., June 24. - Paul, aged 14, and Antoine, aged 5, sons of B. Durocher, were burned to death in their father's barn at East Sherbrooke, ...Read MORE... 
1904 ad
Dutch Mike
W. R. Webster & Co., Makers, Sherbrooke, P.Q.
St. John Daily Sun, St. John, New Brunswick - June 29, 1904- 1906
Sherbrooke, a city and port of Quebec, capital of the co. of Sherbrooke, on the river Magog, and its junction with the St. Francis, and on the Boston ...Read MORE... - 1913 - Église de Notre-Dame-du-Perpétuel-Secours established at Sherbrooke
www.gcatholic.org - 1916 - August 15, 1916 - World War I - Embarkation of the 117th Sherbrooke Infantry Battalion for service in France.
canadachannel.ca/ todayincanadianhistory/ index.php/ August_15 - 1917 - Typhoid Breaks Out At Sherbrooke, Que. Fifty Cases of Most Malignant Type Attributed to Bad Drinking Water.
Special to the Journal.
SHERBROOKE, Que., March 2. - There are fifty cases of typhoid fever here now and the health authorities attribute the cause...Read MORE... 
Sherbrooke, PQ, Canada - postcard dated 1919
- 1921 - Église de Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc established at Sherbrooke
www.gcatholic.org - 1954 - October 17 - Education - Official opening of the new Université de Sherbrooke.
canadachannel.ca/ todayincanadianhistory/ index.php/ October_17 - Sherbrooke
Located on Abenaki land, Sherbrooke was initially known as Ktinékétolékouac or Grandes Fourches ("The Large Forks"), and was the site of a portage at ...Read MORE...
Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada Genealogy
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Updated: 6/13/2019 3:00:32 PM
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