by Ross Murray
Bury Armoury Community Center
It would be hard to find a more appropriate setting than the Bury Armoury Community Centre for the launch of The Eastern Townships Adventure by the late Bernard Epps.
Not only did the British-born Epps make his home in the area but he embraced the Eastern Townships, collecting and writing its stories in a first volume published in 1991 and a posthumous second volume, now available.
Sunday’s launch was hosted by the Bury Historical & Heritage Society, with financial support from the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Society. It was in Bury’s former armoury, itself rich in history. There were bilingual speeches. There were sweets and sandwiches served by the Society’s volunteers,. There was pear cider donated by Raphael Lapointe. There was Earl Grey tea! In short, it was pure Eastern Townships.
(left to right) Praxède Lévesque Lapointe, President of the Bury Historical and Heritage Society, Rebecca Macmillan, and Jody Robinson
The Eastern Townships Adventure, Vol. 1, had long been out of print. And it was only a chance inquiry to the Eastern Townships Research Centre at Bishop’s University two years ago that led to the discovery of the unpublished second volume in the centre’s archives.
Jody Robinson, Former Director of the Eastern Townships Resource Center, (ETRC)
As former director Jody Robinson recounted Sunday, ETRC reached out to the Townships Sun to see if there was any interest in doing something with the manuscript, since Epps had been involved in the early days of the magazine 50 years ago. With the involvement of Bernard Epps’s daughter Jennifer Epps, a partnership was formed between the Sun, ETRC and Shoreline Press.
With funding from the Bélanger-Gardner Foundation, Volume 1 has been re-edited and Volume 2 (1837-1900) has arrived, both volumes sporting handsome covers by Townships artist Denis Palmer and laid out by Tim Doherty.
They and many others were thanked during the launch, including daughter Jennifer for her support and at one point for tracking down a missing part of the manuscript; Sarah Robinson for the cover design; John Mackley and Xania Keane for their help with maps; and Andrew Blanchard and Blanchard Litho for making sure the books would be ready for launch day.
Angela Leuck, Publisher of The Townships Sun and Owner of Shoreline Press
“Of course, there is Epps himself, who must have almost camped out in the Bishop’s Archives to have gathered together all the amazing stories in the great history,” said Shoreline Press publisher Angela Leuck.
Epps’s former neighbour, Rebecca Macmillan, pointed out that Epps also got his stories from being part of the community, talking to people, hearing their stories and attending events – like this very tea!
Rachel Garber, President and Editor in Chief of the Townships Sun
Townships Sun editor and president Rachel Garber closed her remarks with a confession:
“I am in love with Bernie Epps! I love his spirited sense of humour – these books made me laugh again and again. I love how he opens windows into the minds and emotions of the people who actually lived through those times! I just love looking over his shoulder as he reads the diaries, the letters, and the news articles from those times in the nineteenth century. I love his sense of empathy, I love how he dramatizes the times when the French, the British, and the Americans – not to mention the Irish rebels – were trying to grab the Eastern Townships. And then hearing his witty comments on it all!”
In addition to Epps’s original work, Volume 1 has been updated with more information about First Nations people prior to the arrival of Europeans, including an essay by Claude Gélinas.
Volume 2 also addresses the future Epps never saw. His final chapter, as written. suggested that the English-speaking community in 1900 was heading towards extinction.
“Fortunately, that certainly hasn’t happened! At least not yet,” said Angela Leuck. “We invited outstanding local writers and academics to respond to the issue. They are Royal Orr, Marc. T. Boucher, Scott Stephenson, Marie Molinar, Joanne Pocock. and Bill Floch.”
The afternoon also included an exhibit of photos from the Townships Sun Archives, part of a project headed by John Mackley and funded by the Townshippers’ Research & Cultural Foundation.
And then we had tea.
Missed the launch? Join us Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m in for the Knowlton book launch hot cider and tarts! The Townships Sun is borrowing the Townshippers’ Association office, 584 Knowlton Road #3 (beside the tennis courts).
Then on Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., we’ll be launching in Lennoxville at the Holiday Book Fest, Lennoxville United Church, 6 Church Street (upstairs hall).
Order your copy in our shop. Also available in black Cat Books, Lennoxville.
Ross Murray of Stanstead is a member of the Townships Sun‘s board of directors and editorial team.
