The CLD de Brome-Missisquoi is taking the public on trip back in time with its new \u201cBrome-Missisquoi Prohibition Heritage Trail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stretching 130 km and passing through seven municipalities, the trail is an audio-guided tour that covers the history of the temperance and prohibition period in the region from 1848 to 1933.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Panels are installed throughout Brome-Missisquoi where people will discover interesting characters and stories. The goal of the trail is to discover the region, it\u2019s history, and to hopefully expand the project into something more with collaborations in the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cConsidering Brome-Missisquoi has the wine-route, 22 vineyards, micro-breweries, distilleries, cider houses, we said well, the prohibition is a perfect fit for us,\u201d said Guylaine Beaudoin, coordinator for touristic development for the CLD. \u201cPlus, talking with different people, many citizens know about prohibition, but without really knowing the real story.\u201d<\/p>\n Beaudoin highlighted stories of crime, alcohol, prostitution, and entrepreneurship that people will have the chance to discover.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAt each stop is a panel and it\u2019s important to mention that the Prohibition Trail is in French and English, but people can also download a podcast from our website,\u201d added Beaudoin. \u201cThey can listen to it before doing the trail or when they are the site.\u201d<\/p>\n Beaudoin said that the CLD team is proud of the podcast with the podcast and the panels completing each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s animated by the colourful Alfred Carpentier, who is a fictitious alcohol smuggler, but whose stories are based on actual events I can guarantee you,\u201d she said. \u201cWe worked with the historian Laurent Busseau who validated all of the texts for us.\u201d<\/p>\n The panels will recount different stories that shaped the prohibition period between 1848 and 1933. The panels are also are situated on sites that hold historical significance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll find out how hotel owners were selling their liquor. What I can tell you is that they developed a secret code hidden and plain site on the menu. Also, you\u2019ll learn about the hotels and bars that straddle the Canadian and American border,\u201d noted Beaudoin. \u201c(\u2026) The Prohibition Trail, the way we talk about it, is also a way to discover the different towns in Brome-Missisquoi.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beaudoin mention that the prohibition period is a part the Eastern Townships\u2019 culture and heritage making it an important period to highlight. The CLD also plans to expand the project over the next couple of years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen people are here, it\u2019s going to be another reason to come to Brome-Missisquoi. If not, it\u2019s going to be a reason to extend your stay in Brome-Missisquoi,\u201d she said. \u201cThe other thing that we want to work on in the next two-three years, I think there are so many possibilities of events that we can create or work the businesses. (\u2026) This is the first step.\u201d<\/p>\n