Orthodox Church of the Diveyevo Icon of the Virgin Mary

Across the street is an imposing gray building, once known as Copping's Hall. From the early 1920s to the 1950s, this busy venue housed Rawdon's first movie theater, a dance hall, Copping's restaurant and an ice cream parlour. 

Source: Current building, autumn 2023

Ted Copping was an amazingly resourceful businessman! Living in the left wing of the building, he worked hard to offer the best products to his customers! With milk from his cows, he produced Rawdon's best ice cream, using a hand-cranked machine, and grew potatoes that he transformed into delicious French fries. His dance hall had the region's first floating floor, built by Selwin Copping. Dancers of all ages gathered on this floor every week. The hall was also used for various Methodist church events and numerous family celebrations. 

“We had a lot of fun at Ted Copping's,” recalls Mr. Croshaw. “Either in the restaurant or at the movies. There was as much fun dodging liquor bottles rolling across the floor or listening to the audience's comments as following the love scenes on the screen!”

Undated photograph of Ted Copping's home on 4th Avenue. The building also housed the Brethschneider barbershop and the Parkinson cab stand.

Source: Société d'histoire de Rawdon

Located on 15th Avenue, the Petrograd Cemetery is worth the detour! It is the largest and one of the oldest Russian Orthodox cemeteries in Quebec!

More than just a burial site, the cemetery also serves as a gathering place for members of the Russian-speaking community. Each year, commemorations are held in memory of Cossacks who perished in the Soviet Gulag, soldiers missing in action during both World Wars, and victims of the Communist regime after the 1917 revolution. During these ceremonies, men dressed in military uniforms adorned with medals make the cemetery a symbolic stage of Cossack identity.

Source: Donated by Germain Magnan to the Société d’histoire de Rawdon

Did you know that there are two Russian Orthodox parishes in Rawdon? One is gathered around Saint Seraphim Church, and the second was established around the Notre-Dame-de-Kazan Chapel on Sunshine Street.

The Notre-Dame-de-Kazan Chapel was founded in 1963. It belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Its magnificent Byzantine dome is well worth a visit!

Remember Anne of Green Gables? Built in the 1920s, this house belonged to Abraham (Abbie) Blagrave and his wife Maggie Boyce. 

Source: Current building

Here, the Green Gables give way to Linda Blagrave's Gray Gables. Its architecture is typical of the period, with siding made of wood planks or imitating wood shingles. This type of finish was common because it was cheap to produce and offered reasonable insulation. 

The slightly sloping gable roof is a classic feature of rural Québec homes, providing good snow management in winter. Dormers on either side of the main roof bring natural light to the upper floor, indicating an effort to make the living space brighter and more functional. 

The front porch, with its integrated roof, is a ubiquitous feature of Québec architecture, shielding visitors from the elements and creating a transitional space between the indoors and outdoors. Windows with multiple panes at the top were common in homes of this period.

A Rooming House

To secure an income after her husband’s death, Maggie Boyce rented out her four empty rooms to local tourists, as well as to the elderly, single people and out-of-town employees who came to work in Rawdon. Linda Blagrave, the couple’s daughter, pitched in and transformed the family residence into a rooming house. Can you see the building extension on the right? In the late 1940s, it added bedrooms, a bathroom and a dining room to the house. In summer, the house was so busy that Linda and her mother hired an additional employee! The three of them cooked, looked after guests, cleaned, renovated and entertained guests.

Long before Rawdon became a popular destination for winter sports, the cold seasons here were rather quiet. Maggie and her daughter would spend their winters in Montréal, staying with an uncle. Linda studied to become a nurse and worked in a hospital. 

A Renowned Artist

On her 18th birthday, Linda was given oil paints and began her artistic production. Her diligence enables her to develop a talent that would not go unnoticed. Her works reflected traditional life in Rawdon, Sainte-Julienne and Sainte-Béatrix. Founder of the Rawdon Artist Circle, Linda Blagrave was also its president for many years. 

Her boundless energy, magnificent works and involvement in numerous community projects, including the Canadian Legion and Rawdon's first Canada Day parade, have left their mark on the community. This building remains a witness to Linda Blagrave’s life and work in Rawdon. 

Linda Blagrave sold her paintings in Montréal galleries, as well as to enthusiasts of the Canadiana movement that is typical of the period. 

Source: BLAGRAVE, Linda. Winter Scene Pulling Logs, oil on wood. 

When observing this religious building, what do you notice first? Its chapel-like shape? Its red door? Its cemetery? This charming site holds a rich history. When it was constructed around 1895, it housed the Methodist community’s temple in Rawdon. Then, in 1925, a major religious event became a milestone in the history of this building. Nearly 100 years ago, the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational churches united to form the newly established United Church of Canada. This union completely transformed local religious practices, bringing multiple communities together under one roof. More inclusive religious services were introduced, adapted to a diverse population.

Staying true to its history of openness and welcoming multiple religious communities, this church is now a place of worship for new tenants. Since 2023, it has been part of one of Rawdon’s two Orthodox parishes, named Saint Seraphim of Sarov. The building before you is now known as the Orthodox Church of the Icon of the Virgin Mary of Diveyevo, welcoming a wide range of worshippers, including Russians and Armenians.

In 1929, on Queen Street near 17th Avenue, Mrs. Jocob Kaghinski opened Rawdon’s first Russian boarding house, contributing to the Russian-speaking community’s development. In the 1950s, the first chapel of this parish was built on 17th Avenue, on land owned by Father Oleg Boldireff. During the summer season, Father Boldireff provided spiritual support to the Russian community. In 1964, the small structure was relocated to 15th Avenue, near the Petrograd Cemetery, which had been inaugurated three years earlier. This cemetery is the largest and one of the oldest Russian Orthodox cemeteries in Québec!

Have you noticed the various tombstones in the cemetery before you? Although it still belongs to the United Church of Canada, the cemetery now also features Orthodox crosses. This symbol is one of the visible manifestations of multiculturalism, a defining pride of Rawdon.