Local history buff Patricia St-Onge will be hosting private tours of the Potton Springs site in Mansonville. Potton Springs is a historical site dating back to the early 1800s, before development of the area took off, that was discovered by Nathan Banfill while working a field for a local farmer. Looking for water because he was thirsty, Banfill stumbled upon a spring in the mountain that smelled of rotten eggs marking the beginning of a unique period in the village’s history.

“It kind of took off from there because it’s a natural mineral spring and as it caught on people would come from all over for the medicinal benefits,” said St-Onge. “It would cure all kinds of ailments so that went on for years. In 1875, they actually built the Potton Springs hotel.”

Following its construction, the railroad was also put down through the site.

“There was a stop right at the hotel and it was worldwide. People would come just to do the foot baths. Apparently, there was a pool under the hotel where they would heat the water that came straight out from the springs where people would sit in there and they would drink it. They had all kinds of different treatments,” mentioned St-Onge.

The Potton Springs hotel burned down in the 1930s, but there are foundation ruins and pieces of its history that continue to be scattered along the property. Having visited the site many times as a child, St-Onge decided to ask the current property owners if she could set up tours for people interested in exploring the site.

“Last summer, the Yoga Foundation, who owns the property now, was having their annual picnic, so it was open to the public, and we all went. Gérard Leduc (local historian) was launching his book on Potton Springs so I got to meet him. They did a little tour and it kind of ignited the spark I guess you would say,” said St-Onge. “I’ve been walking around for almost a year going ‘oh how do I get back there? There is so much that I want to see again, learn more about,’ so finally I just said that I’m going to call.”

With everybody on board – including the caretaker that has worked on the property for 30 years and who St-Onge said she learned a lot from – the private tours were given the green light.

“They’re very happy to have people be there. It’s a feeling; you have to actually be on the property to understand how amazing it just feels to be there.”

Those taking part in the tour will have the chance to hear about the history of Potton Springs, to explore the ruins of the property and to visit the springs themselves.

“We take the same path that they used to take the horse and the buggies and put the people in the wagons or walk up,” said St-Onge. “The same stone steps that they built back in the 1800s are still there.”

Since informing the community about her private tours on Facebook, the list of people wanting to visit the Potton Springs site continues to grow. If all goes well, St-Onge is hoping to do more tours in the future.

“I was hoping for maybe around 20 people if I was lucky to just go and have one tour. Now, I’ve been confirmed for two dates and I’ve split it into four different tours per date. So, they have eight chances to hop on board,” noted St-Onge.

Never the one to stop exploring, St-Onge said she also wants to organize something similar for other “neat” sites she has found in the region.

“I can’t say too much because they are all on private property and I haven’t reached out to all of the property owners yet, but even if only a couple pan out there is so much history in this area. The more you look, the more you learn, the more you learn, the more you want to learn,” she said.

The private tours of Potton Springs are taking place on May 14 and May 28. There will be four time slots per day to choose from. Those interested can reach out to St-Onge at patriciastonge@hotmail.com or on Facebook for more information.

Listen to the full interview with St-Onge below: