OLD MANSION HOUSE / HADLEY HOUSE
He reluctantly raised his eyes from the glowing circle of light that was Three Pines up to the darkness and the old Hadley house, sitting like the error that proved the point. It stood outside the circle, on the verge of the village. Beyond the pale. (A Fatal Grace, page 155, Hardcover Edition)
Not nearly as intimidating—it’s pink!—as Louise makes it out to be, the Old Mansion House serves as the inspiration for the old Hadley House in A Fatal Grace.
Situated on the eastern shore of Lake Memphremagog, the Old Mansion House was built in 1889 and once held the distinction of being “Quebec’s oldest hotel in continuous operation.” The nearly 5000 square foot Victorian Manse began its life as a coaching inn serving travelers making their way between Montreal and Boston. It later operated as a fishing and ski lodge as well as a boarding house before becoming what it is today, a vacation rental home that can accommodate up to 20 guests comfortably.
Inside the Old Mansion House you’ll find eight bedrooms, each with its own bath. Four of the bedrooms have access to balconies which offer spectacular views of the more than 2 acres of woods and spacious lawns.
Positioned perfectly just north of Vermont and a little over an hour from Montreal, the Old Mansion House is the ideal getaway where, depending on the season; fishing, skiing, sailing, and hiking are just over a hill or two away.
While idyllic, the Old Mansion House may actually hide some of the menace Louise describes so well in A Fatal Grace. Rumor has it, years ago, a young girl fell from her horse and died. If you find yourself sitting on the wraparound veranda late at night, and the moon is sitting just right, you might happen to see her galloping to and fro.
For more information about the Old Mansion House, please see www.mansionhousegeorgeville.com.
How did you picture the old Hadley House when you read A Fatal Grace?
What other structures from Three Pines stand out to you?
A central “character” in Louise’s magnificent Still Life, Arts Williamsburg was inspired by the real life Brome County Historical Society. Located just south of Brome Lake in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, the Historical Society was established in 1898 with the mission “to acquire, preserve, research, exhibit, interpret, and publish items of historical interest encompassing all of the historic Brome County and its sites.”
Incorporating multiple buildings, the Historical Society’s museum is a visual and tactile celebration of the power of the past. From the Tibbet’s Hill Schoolhouse (built in 1844) to the Old County Courthouse (built in 1858) and right up to the Children’s Museum (inaugurated just last year), the museum is a must-see for those who identify with George Santayana’s famous quote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Not to be missed is the extensive archive which houses a bevy of material from the original pioneers of the area, including census and church records, founding family trees, and cemetery inscriptions. The Historical Society also hosts wonderful events. Upcoming happenings include a concert comprising local musicians, a picnic to celebrate the upcoming season, multiple antique and craft fairs, a Harvest Festival, and much, much more.
While not announced yet, keep an eye out for the remainder of the 2015 Lecture Series. Past topics have included “The King of Terrors:” Benedict Arnold’s Trek to Quebec Through the Eastern Townships and “A Beautiful and Picturesque sheet of water ensconced among the hills:” The Development of Tourism in the Lake Memphremagog Region, 1850 – 1900.
Lastly, any visit to the Historical Society should include a stop at the War Museum which houses, among many important artifacts, a WW1 Fokker DVII aircraft. Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. the Red Baron flew one of the first experimental versions of this plane and complained bitterly about its performance. As one would expect, his words did not fall on deaf ears. The engineers went back to the drawing board and modified it to the Baron’s liking. History tells us that von Richthofen was “highly” pleased with the new design although he never got to fly the DVII in combat as he was killed just 2 weeks prior to the plane’s introduction to squadron service.
For more information about the Brome County Historical Society, please visit: 
