Philipsburg (1809-1999)

The name of Philipsburg

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It was apparently not until 1809 that Philip Ruiter decided to establish a regular village and to divide the territory into building lots. The Field Book of Amos Lay, a surveyor, showing the plans and descriptions of the lots then laid out was found among the papers of Sherman Whitwell, P.L.S. in Philipsburg and deposited in the Archives at Ottawa. Mr. Paul Beique, Q.L.S., kindly remarkable success, since at a later date, the original plan, badly torn, was found among the Whitwell papers. Mr. Beique pieced together this original and made a tracing which is reproduced on the following page.

The opening entry of the Field Book opposite Lots Nos. 1, 2 and 3 reads :

"Having been surveyed and leased previous to this date, it is therefore unnecessary to give any further description of their boundaries. April 13, 1809, commenced the survey of the Village of Philipsburg."

It will be noted that John Ruiter's house, the first erected on the territory before it became a Village was built on the lot given the number 10. This house remained standing until a few years ago. Gallagher's Hotel was built as an annex to it. After John Ruiter's death in 1797 his house was occupied by his daughter, Catherine, and her husband, Richard Cheesman. The latter was killed by a shot fired from the Lake when he was standing in the front doorway. The entry in the Church register reads "On the 21st day of January, 1814, died Richard Cheesman of this Seignory of a Wound received from a musket fired off unintentionally by another person on the night of 18th January aged 25 years and was buried on the 23rd day of January in the presence of his brother-in-lay and other subscribing witnesses."

Philip Ruiter built his mansion on Lot No. 15 -- the writer's present garage lot. The accounts of both John and Philip Ruiter show that during their numerous other activities they carried on hotels and it is probable that the mansion was used for this purpose. The hotel was destroyed by fire in the middle of the last century. It is said that it was at this date (1809) that the settlement at Missiskoui Bay was given the name of Philipsburg after Philip Ruiter. For the same reason, the street on which he had built his mansion was named Philips Street.

Missisquoi Bay (Philipsburg, Que.)

Charles Wyatt Eaton, peintre

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English Biography

Un des nombreux autoportraits de l'artiste (s.d.)
Photo : Album du 150e anniversaire de Philipsburg (1996)
Né le 6 mai 1849 à Philipsburg, Wyatt Eaton fit tout jeune ses premières peintures dans un petit studio derrière la maison de son père, J. W. Eaton, propriétaire de la Missisquoi Carriage Factory, Juge de Paix et maire de Philipsburg.

Il fit ses études au National Academy of Design de New York. De 1872 à 1876, on le retrouve à Paris où il étudie à l'École des Beaux-Arts avec J. L. Gerome et deux autres artistes français : Jean-François Millet, de l'École de Barbizon, et son ami, Jules Bastien-Lepage.

De retour aux États-Unis, il enseigne au Cooper Institute et ouvre un studio à New York. Il est l'un des fondateurs (et le premier secrétaire) de la Society of American Artists.

Trois de ses toiles -- dont le portrait de Helena de Kay -- furent exposées au Palais des Beaux-Arts de Paris à l'Exposition universelle de 1889. Deux de ses portraits -- celui de M. William F. Kay et celui de Mme Harriet Kay -- font partie de la Galerie d'art du Musée Missisquoi.

Le Vieux Seigneur, par Wyatt Eaton (1889)
Huile sur toile, 55,5 x 46,5 cm
Source : Galerie d'images du Musée virtuel du Canada
All Rights Reserved - Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.

Il est décédé le 7 juin 1896, à Newport au Rhode Island et fut inhumé ici, au cimetière de Philipsburg.

Source :
D'après George H. Montgomery, Missisquoi Bay, Granby Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., 1950, p. 68 et 124, qui cite l'Encyclopaedia Britannica. Texte original en anglais.

The Missisquoi Carriage Factory

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À l'arrière-plan, on peut voir un bateau à vapeur sur la baie Missisquoi.

The large carriage shop was the Missisquoi Carriage Factory. It stood on the North East corner of Philips Street and Foundry Hill. (..) The Carriage factory was really an important one and it is quite true that in addition to supplying the local demand and shipping to the Montreal market it had an export trade with New Zealand. It was operated by Mr. J. W. Eaton who in addition to being a Justice of the Peace was also Mayor of Philipsburg and President of the Missisquoi and Rouville Fire Insurance Company, which then had its head office in Philipsburg. Mr. Eaton resided at the foot of South Street. (...) [His house] was formerly used as a hotel (...). It offered the first hospitality to travellers entering Canada by the stage coach from Albany. Mr. Eaton's son, Wyatt Eaton, who later became a very well known artist and portrait painter, did his early painting in a studio at the rear of the house.

Texte et illustration :
George H. Montgomery, Missisquoi Bay, Granby Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd., 1950, p. 67 et 68.

George Hugh Alexander Montgomery

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George Hugh Alexander Montgomery is one of the Montreal bar, of which he is an ex-councillor. He has successfully pleaded cases in al the courts of Canada and before the privy council and has for some years occupied an enviable place at the bar of this city. He was born at Philipsburg, P.Q., February 5, 1874, a son of the Rev. Hugh and E. M. (Slack) Montgomery. (...)

In 1909 he was created king's counsel. His work in the courts has shown him to be largely a master of the principles of jurisprudence and also possessed of the power to present his cause clearly, cogently and logically, His ability as an advocate is acknowledged by contemporaries and colleagues.

Mr. Montgomery is the owner of Lakeside Stock Farm at Philipsburg, Quebec, the home of some of the finest Ayrshire cattle and Clydesdale horses in the Dominion. Modern in its improvements, with fine natural advantages, this farm countains two hundred and fifty acres of the finest arable soil, for which most of the eastern township farms ar noted, as well as ample additional acreage to meet the requirements of a sucessful stock farm.

Mr. Montgomery has for mort than twenty years been extensively interested in farming operations, and from time to time has added to his holdings, in the eastern townships, which now comprise more than seven hundred acres. It was more than ten years ago that he started in to breed the best in pure-bred Ayrshire cattle, and while finding all the recreation and entertainment sought by a gentleman farmer, the project has been conducted on a business as well as a scientific basis with gratifying results. Stock from Lakeside Stock Farm have successfully contested in the show ring with the best herds in Canada. Equally as high class are the Clydesdale horses owned and bred at this farm.

In 1913 Mr. Montgomery completed his beautifil country residence on Missisquoi Bay near Philipsburg. Modern in its appointments, the structure is of field stone up to the ground floor, above which it is of Elizabethan style, and from its site overlooking Lake Champlain, comprises one of the most attractive homes in that section. (...)

Source :
Atherton, W. H. (William Henry), Montreal from 1535 to 1914. Volume IIII : biographical, Montreal, 1914, p. 352-355 via le site Our roots/Nos racines

Le premier quai de Philipsburg

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"Carloads of hay formed a large part of the trains to the pier, and long trains of pulp wood from Sorel and St. Hyacinthe passed along the Philipsburg Junction Railway and Quarry Co. (PR&Q) to be transhipped to steamers and steam-hauled barges on the water route south."

Le quai de Philipsburg, vers 1900
En agrandissant la photo, vous y verrez, en maillot d'époque,
un plongeur entre ciel et eau...

« Une grande partie de la cargaison des trains qui venaient à ce quai se composait de wagons transportant du foin; il y avait aussi de longs trains chargés de bois de pulpe venant de Sorel et de St Hyacinthe; ils passaient sur les voies du P.R. & Q., et leur cargaison était ensuite transférée aux bateaux à vapeur et aux barges tirées par des bateaux à vapeur qui naviguaient le long de la route maritime vers le sud. »

Photo : Album du 150e anniversaire de Philipsburg (1996)
Texte : Stephen Waldbridge, The Philipsburg Junction Railway, traduit par René E.S. Péron.

Joseph Bouchette dans son livre Description Topographique de la Province du Bas-Canada notait : "La navigation depuis Philipsburg, sur la côte orientale de la Baie Missisquoi, vers Saint-Jean, sur la rivière Richelieu, par laquelle presque toutes les productions de ces townships sont portées au marché, se fait sur une distance considérable dans les limites des États-Unis parce que les bâtiments de toutes espèces sont obligés à s'avancer à plusieurs kilomètres dans le lac, avant de pouvoir doubler la pointe d'Alburg pour entrer dans la rivière Richelieu. Durant ce trajet, ils sont arrêtés par les bateaux des douanes des États-Unis, et souvent retenus sous des prétextes très frivoles, et par de mauvaises querelles, pendant longtemps, souvent au détriment des propriétaires."

Afin de contourner cet inconvénient, ce géographe avait préconisé et conseillé fortement la construction d'un canal reliant la Rivière-du-Sud à la Baie Missisquoi. Ce projet fut présenté à la Législature du Bas-Canada en 1831, déclaré souhaitable et faisable mais non exécuté. Les difficultés financières reliées à la réalisation du canal de Chambly repoussèrent à tout jamais sa mise en place.

Source : Philippe Fournier, Les Seigneuries du Lac Champlain, p. 130

Philipsburg vers 1830

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St. Armand, seigniory, in the co. of Missiskoui, is bounded E. by Sutton; W. by Missiskoui Bay; N. by Stanbridge an Dunham; S. by the province line. Granted, Sept., 1748, to Sieur Nicolas René Levasseur, and is now the property of the heirs of the late Hon. Thomas Dunn.

The first settlement was made in 1785 by some Dutch loyalists. The principal stream is Pyke River, on which and other minor streams are many corn and saw-mils. There are 4 villages in St. Armand : Frelightsburg, Philipsburg, Huntsburg, and Martin Village.

Comté de Missisquoi vers 1830 (Bouchette, 1831)

The village of Philipsburg is conveniently situated on the edge of the bay, about one mile from the province line; it is a handsome place, containing 30 houses exceedingly well built with wood, many of them in the peculiar style of neatness common to the Dutch and the others more in the faschion of the American than the Canadian villages : some regard has been paid to regularity in the formation of the principal street, which has a lively and agreeable appearance; between this street and the bay are many storehouses, with wharfs for landing goods at a short distance from them. Many of the inhabitants are employed in trade and mercantile pursuits, besides artisans, and perhaps more than a due proportion of tavern-keepers. On the southside of the road, leading from the village to the eastern part of the seigniory, is a handsome church built with wood and a good parsonage-house; there are also two baptist meeting-houses, a public free-school, and several private schools; from the wharfs there is a ferry to the opposite side of the bay, about 4 miles.

Joseph Bouchette, A topographical description of the province of Lower Canada, with remarks upon Upper Canada and on the relative connexion of both provinces with the united States of America, 1815

1954 : Les Phillies de Philipsburg sont champions

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En 1954, les Phillies de Philipsburg remportent le championnat de la Ligue de Baseball Eastern Border
De gauche à droite, au premier rang : G. Caron, R. Rosetti, A. Cournoyer (gérant), M. Laurin, P. Guertin, P. Welch, B. Bombard. Au deuxième rang : B. McGregor, D. Cassidy, M. Plouffe, R. Welch, J. Luber, R. Plouffe, P. Cormier

Photo officielle, telle que reproduite dans l'Album du 150e anniversaire du Village de Philipsburg (1846-1996)

La rue Montgomery en 1895

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À Philipsburg, rue Montgomery, à la fin du XIXe siècle
À l'arrière-plan, l'église phare de Philipsburg, United Methodist Church.
Photo : Collection de la Bibliothèque nationale du Québec

This was the First Methodist church in the Eastern Townships. Philip Ruiter and James Taylor deeded land for the church on October 7, 1819 for the Board of Trustees. The foundation stone was laid on July 20, 1819. The architecture of the Philipsburg church reflects the influence of the German Palatine Loyalists and their expertise in stonework. As was typical of Methodist practice, preachers changed often, never remaining long in one church. In 1837-38, during the Patriot uprising, some excitement occurred when the Methodist church was barricaded as an emergency arsenal. Volunteers for the government side, returning from the battle at Moore's Corners, (St. Armand Station), found that the people, under the direction of the Rev. William Squire, had prepared large amounts of salt pork and potatoes in iron kettles to feed those militiamen who had not eaten in many hours.

Construite en 1819, cette église fut la première église méthodiste des Cantons de l'Est. Philip Ruiter et James Taylor contractèrent une terre pour l'église le 7 octobre 1819 pour le conseil d'administration. La pierre angulaire fut installée le 20 juillet 1819. L'architecture de l'église de Philipsburg reflète l'influence des Loyalistes allemands de la région de Palatine par leur expertise en maçonnerie. Comme le veut la pratique méthodiste, les prêcheurs changent souvent ne demeurant jamais longtemps à la même église. En 1837-38, durant la montée des Patriotes, la peur s'empare de la communauté lorsque les Méthodistes se barricadèrent dans l'église avec un arsenal d'urgence. Les volontaires du côté du gouvernement revenant de la bataille de Moore's Corners (St-Armand Station) découvrirent que les gens, sous la direction de l'Honorable William Squire, avaient préparé une grande quantité de lard salé et des patates dans des marmites en métal pour nourrir la milice qui n'avait pas mangé depuis plusieurs heures.

The Americana Hotel

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The Americana Hotel
Croquis de l'hôtel Americana construit par un Américain en 1922.

Acheté par un Canadien quelques années plus tard, l'hôtel prend alors le nom de Manoir Lafayette. Les Frères de l'Instruction chrétienne l'acquièrent en 1947 pour en faire leur postulat*. À partir de 1972, l'endroit abritera le Pensionnat Saint-Jean-Baptiste jusqu'en 1997.
*Maison de formation pour les aspirants à la vie religieuse.
Illustration fournie par le Fr. Léopold Sarrazin, i.c.,
directeur du Domaine de la baie Missisquoi

En 1975 : un projet de centre touristique

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« Philipsburg, situé aux abords de la Baie Missisquoi, appendice du Lac Champlain, se trouve directement relié, par voie maritime, à toutes les villes limitrophes du lac (Venise-en-Québec, Plattsburg U.S....), à celles situées sur les bords du Richelieu (St-Jean, Chambly, Sorel...), ainsi qu'aux villes situées sur les rives du St-Laurent (Montréal, Québec, Gaspé...) et les autres villes en direction des Grands Lacs. On projette, pour rendre utile cet avantage, la construction d'un centre de tourisme terrestre et fluvial à Philipsburg. Ce centre de tourisme consiste en une marina (qui en est la principale partie), une plage, un terrain de camping, un parc, un stationnement ainsi qu'un 'club house'. »

Texte et illustration : Philipsburg, un site enchanteur, brochure publiée par la Municipalité de Philipsburg, 1975.

The Blockhaus

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Construit en 1838-39, ce blockhaus pouvait loger 35 hommes.

« A Report of the Missisquoi County Historical Society contains the following note : "This old Block House was built in 1838-39 as a protection against the rebels, as they were called. It was garnisoned in 1840 by Colonel Dyer's corps of Volunteers, followed by a squadron of the Queen's Light Dragoons. " The Block house stood on the hill just back of Mr. James Taylor residence and remained, gradually falling into decay until some time in the first decade of the present century when the remains were demolished. »
Texte : George H. Montgomery, Missisquoi Bay, 1950, p. 110
Photo : Collection de la Bibliothèque nationale du Québec

Autre photo du blockhaus de Philipsburg :

Collection du Musée McCord.