Cowansville

A city with 14 bridges, Cowansville is the largest municipality of the Brome-Missisquoi region and was originally known as Nelsonville (1805-1875). Cowansville takes its name from Peter Cowan, a Scot and influential businessman. The village incorporated in 1876 and became a town in 1931. In 1964, Cowansville annexed the village of Sweetsburg. A deep Loyalist influence is reflected in several splendid buildings, including the opulent, Victorian-style houses that border Principale and Du Sud Streets. One such building is the Bruck House (1875) located at 225 Principale Street. It received an honorary certificate from the Conseil des monuments et sites du Québec in 2005 and currently houses a museum featuring a permanent collection that includes a painting by A.Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven as well as several works by artists from the Beaver Hall Hill Group. This house was originally the Eastern Townshipsread more > Bank and the residence of William F. Vilas, a noted industrialist of his era – Vilas furniture is still sought and highly valued overseas and across North America. On Bell Street, in the western part of town, the Freeport covered bridge, built in an elaborate Town style, dates from 1870 and spans the Yamaska River. On December 3, 1944, a large fire broke out on the main street and obliterated a good part of the business district on both sides. A historical fresco created by visual artists now illustrates this lost sector of Principale Street. A portion of the Yamaska River became Davignon Lake in 1965; it supplies the town with drinking water and provides a nature centre and beach for residents and visitors alike. The new Nelsonville Park offers a magnificent view of the river and of Nesbitt bridge, which was built in 1930. Once darkness falls, lights permit a view of the remnants of the old flour mill built in 1837.