The Beebe Women's Institute was founded in 1921. Like the other Women's Institutes, whose motto is 'For Home and Country', this one was concerned with family in rural regions. The Beebe Women's Institute was a member of the Stanstead County Women's Institutes, the Quebec Women's Institutes, and the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada. Delegates attended the annual meetings of these organizations. Locally, an elected board of directors worked with various committees (Agriculture, Child Welfare, Education, Home Economics, Immigration, Social Service, etc.) to organize monthly meetings and activities. The latter included lectures, school fairs, and fund raising events (food sales, card parties, various contests, etc.) in support of the Children's Memorial Hospital, the Salvation Army, local schools and hospitals, and other worthy causes. After 66 years of activity, the Beebe Women's Institute was disbanded in 1964.
The Beaulne Museum was founded in 1964 by Denise Beaulne and was originally housed at the Town Hall in Coaticook and, later on, in the same building as the municipal library. Following purchase of Château Norton in 1976, the Beaulne Museum was moved to this historic house. The mandate of the Museum is to promote education by offering workshops and seminars particularly focused on the visual arts, to encourage the public’s appreciation of the arts and heritage through exhibitions. As part of its mandate, the Museum also collects and preserves artifacts to be used in exhibitions.
The Château Norton, which presently houses the Beaulne Museum, was built in 1912 by Arthur O. Norton, a local business owner. Harry and Mary Norton bequethed the house to the Anglican Church in 1942 and turned it into a girls’ home until 1968. Finally, in 1976, it was purchased by the City of Coaticook.
Frances Marian Beater was born in 1849 to parents Susan Hearder Yeo (1818-1896) and John Beater (1821-1877) in Teignmouth, England. Frances was the oldest of at least 6 children. Her father, John Beater worked as a ship broker, customs agent, and rope manufacturer. In 1869, Frances Beater married Thomas Warren (1848-1896) in Zion Chapel, East Teignmouth, England. Shortly after their marriage, Frances moved to Montreal, Quebec, where Thomas had lived since 1867. The couple would have three children, Herbert Brimage (1869-1870), Frankie Maple, and Florence Yeo (1874-1954.) Frances, Herbert, and Frankie died of diphtheria in 1875 and are buried in the Mount Royal Cemetery. The only surviving child, Florence, was sent to Teignmouth, England to be raised by her maternal grandmother, Susan Hearder Beater (1820-1896).
Mary Jean Woodward Bean was born in North Hatley, Quebec, in 1921. Mary was the daughter of Guy Woodward and Grace Reed. Mary had five siblings; Betty Holmes, Barbara Reed, Nancy Elliot, Jo-Anne Rand, and Philip Woodward. She married the late Gordon Bean. Mary graduated from the School of Teachers, MacDonald College, at the age of 18. She first taught at Potton #5, a one-room school house, three miles from Mansonville. Mary taught primary and secondary grades in Bishopton, North Hatley, and Lennoxville. She took extra courses from Queen's University and Goddard College where she earned her B.A degree and went on to receive her B. Ed. from McGill University. She wrote for Spider Magazine, published a historical geneology called The Hatley Reeds, and published a biography on Julia Grace Wales. Mary and Gordon had six children; Tom,. Kathleen, Chris, Fred, Greg, and Nick. Mary died on 9 October 2011.
Dudley Baxter was a pioneer who lived in the region of Frampton between 1838 and 1862.
Robert Batley (May 5th, 1806 to January 20th, 1891) came from Kenning Hall, Norfolk, England to Brookbury. Robert married Ann Warren Batley, she was his second wife. Ann was also born in England. Ann died on September 6th, 1895 aged 78 years.
Catherine Bates is a Canadian artist working in Montréal and Georgeville, Québec. Originally from Windsor, Ontario, she obtained her degree in Art and Archeology from Victoria College, University of Toronto. After further painting and printmaking studies in the United States and England, she completed her Master of Education at McGill University.
She was a professor in the Fine Arts Department of Dawson College until 2002, and wrote as art critic for the Montréal Star newspaper and several periodical magazines such as "Canadian Art" and "Art News". Her book of poetry , "Counterpane: Poems and Drawings", was published by Ken Hertz. She was elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy in 2001.
As well as studio work, Bates also travelled extensively as "plein air" painter in the United States, Ontario's Georgian Bay and very widely in her adopted home of Québec, particualary the Charlevoix and Gaspé regions. She was awarded several residencies at Taos and at Arroyo Seco, New Mexico, and at Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, and made two trips to the Arctic to paint. She taught at the American School in Switzerland in the summer of 2001. References to the environment are frequent and are most evident in the symbolism of her "Icarus" series.
The region of Lake Memphremagog has long been a favourite area and has led to inspiraiton from the local landscape, especially Owl's Head Mountain. She loves to paint still lifes as well, often combining them with landscape.
Monique Nadeau-Saumier, Phd.
Born in Toronto, with a degree in geography from the University of Toronto, Robert Bateman taught high school for over 20 years, including two years in Nigeria. He has been a keen artist and naturalist form his early days and has always painted wildlife and nature. Since the early 1960's he has been an active member of naturalist and conservation organizations and his art reflects his commitment to ecology and preservation. He left teaching in 1976 to paint full time.
John Bassett was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland on February 7, 1886. He was educated at the Royal University of Ireland and came to Canada in 1909. He joined the staff of the Montreal Gazette. At the onset of World War I, John joined the Army and attained the rank of Major; The Belgian Government decorated him. At the end of the war he returned to the Gazette and became its Director at the age of 27, made Vice-president at age 23 and President at age 51; In 1956 he became Chairman of the Board. He was the Gazette's "Parliamentary Correspondent" from 1911-1926 (with the except of 1914-1918;) He was also the owner and President of "The Sherbrooke Daily Record." John married Margaret Avery of Ottawa in 1914; They had on son, John White Hughes Bassett born August 25, 1915. In politics he was a strong and active Conservative, and was also President of the Gazette Printing Company. John Bassett was a trustee of Bishop's University from 1939 until 1958, and 11th Chancellor of the University from 1950 until 1958. Throughout his tenure as Chancellor, he was the University's principal counsellor in financial matters and in relations with the Union Nationale government. He died on February 12, 1959. In that same year, a new Library building was officially opened and named the John Bassett Memorial Library in his honour,
W.H. Baskerville graduated from Bishop's University in 1939. He was born in Ottawa, November 7, 1914 and was known affectionately by his boyhood nickname "Count". He did not marry and outlived all his family members. His gentle, thoughtful disposition earned him a host of friends, many of whom he also outlived. As a little boy, Bill's family lived in Ottawa's Sandy Hill neighbourhood, where one of his friends was Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King who lived nearby and frequently walked his dog past Bill's house. It was said that "the two Bills" walked together frequently. Bill the "Count", attended Ashbury College in Ottawa, then Bishop's University in Lennoxville, QC, graduating in 1939. He was working as a graduate student at McGill University when World War II broke out. He immediately tried to enlist at each of the Canadian Armed Forces but was unsuccessful due to poor vision. Two years later, however, he was finally accepted by Britain's Royal Air Force to serve in the newly formed Ferry Command at Dorval, QC. Thereafter, service with the RAF took him to Labrador, Greenland, North Carolina, Bermuda, Morocco and Hawaii where he ran various RAF support facilities. Upon discharge at war's end, he worked for several aircraft-related businesses in Montreal, ending up with Aero engine builder Pratt & Whitney. He retired as Senior Benefits Specialist in 1977. He returned to Ottawa where his older brother Patrick lived. After his brother's death in 1986, he lived on his own and spent many happy winters in the West Indies. Later he moved to Blackburn Lodge in Ottawa where he made new friends. In August 2013 he entered The Perley Rideau Veterans Health Centre in Ottawa. He died December 20, 2017 at the age of 103, and is buried at Notre-Dame of Ottawa Cemetery.
John A. Barwick, born at Toronto Ontario, December 22, 1912, was known for his portraits and winter landscapes of the Laurentian region of Québec, an area just outside of Montréal. Barwick studied under J.S. (1868-1940) and Hortense Gordon (1886-1961) at Wentworth School of Art in Hamilton, Ontario. He came to Montreal in 1945 and worked as a graphic designer for Brigdens Limited, Rapid, Grip and Batten Limited, E.S. & A. Robinson's Limited and many others. As a portrait painter and landscape artist he was represented by the Walter Klinkhoff Gallery and Colbert Gallery in Montréal, and Roberts Gallery in Toronto.
His paintings were shown at Canadian Royal Academy and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
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John A. Barwick, born at Toronto Ontario, December 22, 1912, was known for his portraits and winter landscapes of the Laurentian region of Québec, an area just outside of Montréal. Barwick studied under J.S. (1868-1940) and Hortense Gordon (1886-1961) at Wentworth School of Art in Hamilton, Ontario. He came to Montreal in 1945 and worked as a graphic designer for Brigdens Limited, Rapid, Grip and Batten Limited, E.S. & A. Robinson's Limited and many others. As a portrait painter and landscape artist he was represented by the Walter Klinkhoff Gallery and Colbert Gallery in Montréal, and Roberts Gallery in Toronto.
His paintings were shown at Canadian Royal Academy and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Death date (?)
William Henry Bartlett was born in London, England in 1809. He was a topographical painter and between 1821 and 1828 he served an apprenticeship to architect John Britton. Between 1836 and 1852 he made four trips to Canada and the United States. The drawings of Canada made on these trips were published in conjunction with N.P. Willis under the title Canadian Scenery Illustrated, London, 1842. They are a major contribution to Canada's Pictorial History. He died at sea, between Malta and Marseilles in 1854.
Charles Bartlett was born in England in 1860. He began his education with the intention of becoming a chemist, but switched to fine art, enrolling at the Academy of Art in London at the age of twenty-three. From there he went to Paris to further his studies at the Academie Julian. After he lost his wife and infant son in childbirth, the artist spent a year traveling in Europe with fellow artist Frank Brangwyn. It was at this time that his work maintained a focus on the daily lives of peasant women and children, and began to hone his watercolor and drawing techniques. It wouldn't be until much later that Bartlett, now returned to England and remarried, would discover his love of printmaking and the landscape subject matter he would become known for.
In 1913 he and his wife traveled to Ceylon, Indonesia, and China to sketch and paint. 1915 hailed their arrival in Japan, where they met Austrian artist Fritz Capelari who introduced them to publisher Watanabe Shozaburo. Watanabe and Bartlett began a long collaboration in which Watanabe would turn the watercolor landscapes of Bartlett's into color woodcuts; soon, Bartlett himself would use Watanabe's studio to carve and create his own woodblocks.
In 1917, the Bartlett's traveled to Hawaii, intending to make a short visit. However, they fell in love with the landscape and community where they were visiting, and soon established their lives and Charles' career there. He became a co-founder of the Honolulu Print-makers and a prominent member of Hawaii's artistic community until his death in 1940 at the age of eighty.
Frances Chamberlin Barnum was born in the United States in February 1885, the daughter of George Sherman Barnum (1849-1901) and Sophie Elizabeth Begler. George S. was born in Frelighsburg, the son of Sherman Painter Barnum (1803-1857) and Sarah Chamberlin (1816-1892). Sarah Chamberlin was the daughter Dr. Brown Chamberlin (1785-1829) and Diantha Knap (1791-1852).
Following George S. Barnum’s death in the U.S. in 1901, George’s second wife, Frances C. Baylor, brought Frances C. Barnum back to Canada around 1904 to her paternal grandmother’s family, and was adopted by Sarah Chamberlin, who was the daughter of Dr. Joshua Chamberlin (1799-1883) and Jane Westover (1813-1895). Joshua Chamberlin was the brother of Dr. Brown Chamberlin. During her time in Frelighsburg, Frances was a teacher. She died the 21 August 1925 in Canada.
Barnston Methodist Church was organized around 1875 and was part of the Barnston Methodist Circuit, which included Bickford Corner, Way's Mills, Heath's Corner, Barnston Corner, Heathton, Wayville, and Baldwin's Mills. The Barnston Methodist Church closed at the beginning of the 1920s.
Gilles Baril was born on 12 June 1955 in Asbestos to Thérèse Gagnon and Alfred Baril. From a young age, Gilles and his family believed he was destined for a place in the Catholic Church as a priest. In pursuit of this, he studied theology at Université de Shebrooke from 1974 to 1977, which was followed by a three-year pastoral internship in the parish of Saint-Isaac-Jogues in Asbestos. Gilles was ordained in 1980 and his first placement was as the vicar the Précieux-Sang parish in Sherbrooke. Following this, he became the priest for La Patrie, Piopolis, and Chartierville while also the vicar at Val-Racine, Notre-Dame des Bois, and Woburn from 1986 to 1996. In 1996 he was appointed as the priest in Ascot Corner, until his appointment to the parishes of the Unité-des-Saints-Apôtres of Coaticook (consisting of Saint-Jean-l’Évangéliste, Saint-Marc, Saint-Emond, Saint-Matthieu in Dixville, Saint-Wilfred in Kingscroft, Saint-Herménégilde, Saint-Henri in East Hereford, and Saint-Luc in Barnston, ) in 1998. During his life as a priest, Gilles has been involved in the establishment of specialized groups to respond to particular needs in the community, such as “Les Main Ouvertes,” which was directed towards single persons, and has authored a number of books. He has also been involved with the Mouvement des Cursillos, becoming the head of the organization in 2012.
Jacques Barbeau was born in Saint-Raphael, near Lévis, Québec, Canada. At eighteen years of age he went to L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Québec to become a sculptor. He graduated in 1956 . Over the years, painting became his mode of expression and he taught at Collège de Sherbrooke. He was very involved in the arts community of Sherbrooke as a founding member of Musée de Sherbrooke and Regroupement des artistes des Canton de L'Est. He died in 2017.
Dr. Margaret Banks received a B.A. (Honours History) from Bishop's University in 1949. She was also that year's recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Medal for History and the Governor General's Medal for Highest Standing in the Graduating Year. She went on to earn an M.A. and a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, and she spent most of her career as Law Librarian at The University of Western Ontario. Margaret Banks died on 29 April 2010. Her will stipulated that the two medals she earned at Bishop's were to be given back to Bishop's. She was the first woman to receive the GG medal for highest standing in the academic year. Also left to Bishop's, a scrapbook compiled by Margaret's father, Thomas Banks,
containing photographs, newspaper clippings, and personal mementos of Margaret's three years at Bishop's (1946/47 - 1948/49).
Bessie Jane Banfill was born on 18 January 1899 on the family farm outside Richmond. Her parents were Enos Leroy Banfill and Sarah Augusta Healy. After some secretarial training, she obtained a position in the office of an asbestos mine near Thetford Mines and secured enough money to support her studies at the Sherbrooke Protestant Hospital, where she graduated in June 1923. Ms. Banfill traveled to Mutton Bay (Labrador) in 1928 and took a missionary training course at the United Church Training School in Toronto. After travelling to the Magdalene Islands, she opened the new W.M.S. Hospital at Smeaton, Saskatchewan in 1933 and was awarded the a medal from King George V in 1935. She went to the Indian Residential School at Ahousaht in 1937 and went back to the Labrador Mission in 1942-1944. After receiving a back injury that prevented her from doing full-time work, she did part-time duty at Cornwall General Hospital and later in Ottawa. Bessie Banfill wrote books and articles on her nursing experience. This includes titles such as "Labrador Nurse" (1952), "Nurse of the Islands" (1965) and "Pioneer Nurse" (1967). She died on November 13, 1975. Her body was given to Queen's University Medical School. She had never married.