A History of Barns and Fences in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Since the late 1990s, photographers Louise Abbott and Neils Jensen have travelled thousands of miles in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in their quest to document the remnants of the historic agricultural landscape in the form of barns, fences and silos. The Heart of the Farm showcases over three hundred and fifty of their evocative photos, along with more than fifty rare archival images. The book also features an engaging and enlightening text by Abott that traces the evolution of barns from log to steel and the evolution of fences from wood to wire.
Under the guiding hand of Alexander Solomon Walbridge, the village of Mystic was to become a small industrial centre, very active from 1868 to 1897, where this businessman and inventor built his foundry. Today, just a single astonishing red structure bears witness to the grand past of the Walbridge family and its long-standing influence on the local countryside. This building, with twelve sides and crowned with a very exceptional roof, turns out to be the oldest polygonal barn in Quebec.
The Walbridge Barn has been designated an historic monument by the ministre de la Culture et des Communications du Quebec in June 2004. along with the ancestral home built in 1843 and still lived in by the family, it made up part of an oppulent estate which include a small European-style château, an expensive greenhouse, affectionately called the conservatory, a man-made lake and a small hydro-electric power station which supplied power to all the buildings.
Where the Heart Is features a selection of paintings drawn from the past twenty years of Ann Mitchell’s career. Rooted in the native tradition, each painting captures real people in real situations and evokes a love of place often overlooked in modern life. Award-winning artist Anne Mitchell’s paintings are featured in collections across Canada and throughout the eastern United States. Her work was selected for display at le Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City and she has been invited to participate in three International Art Naif contests.
A collection of Ross Murray’s finest humour from 1992 to 2007. These unusual snapshots of life offer a perspective that is at once refreshing and wise.
