1
As early as 1837, a first track connected St-Jean and Montreal. The potential for economic growth generated by this new means of transportation captured investors' interest enough for them to investigate the building of more railway lines. It was in the second half of the 19th century that new railway lines made it to the southern part of the province.2
Portrait of Asa Belknap Foster1879
3
In 1866, the South Eastern Counties Junction Railway Company was mandated to build a track between West Farnham (Qc) and Newport (VT). This new track would allow travel from Montreal through to Boston. The company director Mr. Asa Belknap Foster played a huge role in the construction and management of railways.4
Illustration of a locomotive1872
5
Mr. Asa Belknap Foster was born in Newfane, VT, but moved to Foster (near Waterloo Qc) at the age of five. At only 24 years of age, in 1841, Mr. Foster was put in charge of the construction of the ‘Boston and Portland Railway'. In 1862, he completed the track connecting Montreal to Waterloo. At the time, Mr. Foster was so closely associated with the building of railways that it earned him the nickname ‘King of the Railway'.6
Map7 November 2003
7
The route the South Eastern Counties Junction Railway was planning to build sparked heated discussions throughout the small towns in the region. Each town tried to make a case for the fact that the construction of the railway would make a huge economic contribution to their community. These discussions explain why several routes were put forth for the railway. On this map the red route shows the railway going through the town of Knowlton while the blue one shows an option favouring Dunham.8
« Bolton Pass, oriental territory »1842
Bolton, Québec, Canada
9
The route which suggested stopping in Knowlton and continuing onto Newport involved building the railway through the Bolton Pass, a very steep section of the mountains. This carving by W.H. Bartlett titled: " The Pass of Bolton, Eastern Townships" taken from "Canadian Scenery" vol. II, 1842, shows the town of Bolton. The cost of this option was estimated at 1,800,000 $. The Dunham option was cheaper and so was favoured by the company.10
Portrait of Mr. Asa Frary1870
Sutton, Québec, Canada
11
At the time, Mr. Asa Frary was the mayor of Sutton. He met with senior management at South Eastern Counties Junction Railway Company in order to convince them of the value of building the railway through his town of Sutton Flat. The senior management of the company was quick to reply that going through Sutton would cost 63,000$ more than going through Dunham. Backed by influential businessmen in town, Mr. Frary proposed to city council that they be authorized to borrow 63,000$ to invest in the construction of the railway. Thanks to his innovative thinking, Mr. Frary was successful. Sutton would now become part of the Montreal-Boston line.12
South Eastern Counties Junction Railway share1872
13
Both merchants and prominent businessmen in Sutton backed the mayor and the railway initiative by purchasing shares. This is a picture of a South Eastern Counties Junction Railway Company share belonging to Dr. F.A. Cutter of Sutton was valued at 400$.14
Map1 November 2003
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