Picture yourself at the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th, standing at the intersection of what are now Principale and Joseph‑Blanchet Streets in Mansonville. This streetscape, captured in countless postcards more than a century ago, reveals an elegant, tree-lined square: Place Manson. The buildings are charming, their silhouettes evoking a bygone era.
At the corner of Mill Street, just north of Place Manson, stands an imposing building. Built in 1824 by James Manson, it first housed the Windsor Hotel. For over a century, the building saw a succession of businesses and visitors until, in 1918, it was acquired by Joseph-Alfred Giroux and his nephew.
Now, move to the west side of the square. Where there is now a parking lot, locals still remember a vibrant place full of life. Once, a grand three-story hotel stood here, welcoming travelers and townspeople alike.
Its origins date back to 1836, when Christopher Armstrong was the owner. In the early 1860s, James Manson took over the hotel. Originally a store with a tavern, it became a “public entertainment house.” The name J. Manson Hotel appears on an 1864 village plan. Later, it would be known as Mansonville House and Mansonville Hotel.
In 1871, his son William Blanchard Manson succeeded him. He generously donated the land directly across from the hotel to the community, which would become Place Manson, still beautifully maintained and lined with trees today.
Between 1876 and 1910, the hotel welcomed visitors from Cowansville, Magog, Montreal, and beyond—including several cities in New England, and even as far as California. The building had three stories, including a grand ballroom on the top floor. For decades, this room brought together tourists, travelers, and townspeople, cementing the hotel’s central role in Mansonville’s social life.
In the 1890s, it was managed by Benjamin Sisco and his brothers, followed by Samuel H. Botterill until around 1916. The region’s popularity surged in 1906 with the construction of the Mansonville Village railway station, located on what is now Bellevue Road and today a private residence.
Around 1915, at the dawn of American prohibition, the establishment briefly operated as a “temperance hotel,” offering stays without alcohol. Later, Galen Heath and his sons, Arnold and Merrill, became owners. Others followed through the 1950s to the 1980s, a period when the automobile reshaped travel habits and contributed to the hotel’s gradual decline.
The hotel’s fate was sealed on June 8, 1983, when a fire destroyed the top two floors. The damage was irreparable, and the hotel was ultimately demolished, leaving behind only memories.