Lac-Brome, Quebec

The Town of Lac-Brome is located in the Montérégie region of Quebec, Canada. Six villages surrounding Brome Lake — Bondville, East Hill, Foster, Fulford, Knowlton, Iron Hill and Brome-Ouest — were amalgamated in 1971 to create the Town of Lac-Brome (or Brome Lake in its English form).

The village of Knowlton, which sits on the shore of Brome Lake, is a popular vacation destination. In winter, people flock to nearby ski hills. Early spring brings activity to local sugar bushes. Summer fills Brome Lake with boaters and swimmers. In autumn, trees such as red maple, sugar maple, northern red oak and white ash provide spectacular colors.

History

The village was founded in 1802 by United Empire Loyalists from the New England states and New York. Originally known as Coldbrook for the stream that runs through the centre of the village, in 1855 the village had become the county seat of Brome County, Quebec.

Geology

Lac-Brome is underlain by metamorphic rock of Cambrian age -- mostly schist and phyllite. Quaternary glaciation left deposits of stony loam till plus outwash sands and gravels. Brown podzolic and podzol soils are most common. Gleysols and peats occur in poorly drained areas.

The area's most important soil is the Blandford series. This well-drained loam developed under deciduous forest, which settlers exploited for wood, potash, and maple sugar. Cleared areas were found to be productive for crops and pasture. Many such clearings were later allowed to revert to forest, which attracts tourists and provides a supply of hardwood lumber.

In the media

In 1968 Paramount Studios chose Knowlton as the location to film the children's movie "My Side of the Mountain", an adaptation of a book by Jean Craighead George. Many scenes from the village were used, as well as the other external locations near Paramount Road. Sam's pond still exists at the corner of Paramount Rd. and Paige Rd.

In 1976, Knowlton was also used as one of the sites for filming the Jodie Foster suspense film "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane".

External links

* [http://www.destinationknowlton.com DestinationKnowlton.com — Online blog featuring recent news and photos from an active Knowlton resident (Lac Brome)]
* [http://www.cclacbrome.com Lac-Brome Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.beauxvillages.qc.ca/anglais/villages_a/knowlton_a.html Village of Knowlton tourist information]
* [http://www.knowltonquebec.ca Village of Knowlton unofficial site]
* [http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/pq/pq11/intro.html Soil Survey of Shefford, Brome and Missisquoi Counties]

Geographic Location
Centre = Lac Brome
Northwest = Bromont
North = Shefford, Waterloo (enclave)
Northeast = Stukely-Sud
West = East Farnham, Brigham
Cowansville
East = Bolton-Ouest
Southwest = Dunham
South = Brome
Sutton
Southeast = Potton