Janet Blake (died 1981, also Mrs Arthur R. Virgin, husband of Arthur Russell Virgin) was an agricultural producer specialized in Jersey cattle, a champion in agriculture fairs, a social event organizer, and philanthropist of North Hatley, in Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality, in Estrie, in Quebec, Canada.
Janet Blake had a particular interest in the arts, antiques, Jersey cattle breeding and Jersey exhibitions. The Virgin-Blake couple have made significant financial and moral contributions to several charities in the North Hatley region, particularly in the arts. In addition, financially and morally, they had supported artists in all fields. Janet Blake was a well-engaged participant in regional and provincial farm fairs. She was well regarded by the public and involved in the community of North Hatley.
Philanthropic couple In 1964, her husband Arthur Russell Virgin made a significant contribution to the Piggery Theatre (Français: Le Théâtre Piggery) by making a donation to the Townships Playhouse Guild of an plot of land located at 215 Simard Road in Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley. This plot included a block building used initially as a pigsty; the latter was built in 1945, then turned into a warehouse.Article "Le Théâtre Piggery - Un quart de siècle d’amour entre une communauté et son institution culturelle" (The Piggery Theater - A quarter of a century of love between a community and its cultural institution), by Pierrette Roy, journal La Tribune, 26 mai 1990, cahier 6, p. 2.
In September 1979, the community of North Hatley paid warm tribute to Mrs. Janet Blake-Virgin (widow of Arthur Russell Virgin) and Miss Emily LeBaron (1906–1983) at a community meal to recognize their dedication and support to many organizations in the region.Article "From Boardroom Host to Char", by BVS, The Sherbrooke Record, 14 sept. 1979, p. 6. These two ladies had a great friendship between them; they often mingled socially and often participated in common causes, notably the North Hatley Community Club and the Piggery Theatre.
Following the death of Janet Blake in summer 1981, the couple's residual fortune was distributed in the form of special bequests mainly to the Sherbrooke Hospital Foundation (nearly $1 million), to the Townships Playhouse Guild (which in 1981 became "The Piggery Theater Inc") (nearly half a million), the North Hatley Library, and St. Barnabas Anglican Church, a quarter of a million each.Eastern Townships Resource Centre: https://www.townshipsarchives.ca/virgin-arthur-b-1877Article "North-Hatley n’a pas oublié Jeannette Blake" (North-Hatley has not forgotten Jeannette Blake), by Gilles Dallaire, journal La Tribune, July 28, 1983, p. A4.
Youth Born at the turn of the 20th century and coming from New York, Blake visited North Hatley in her teens, at the start of the First World War (1914–1918). His parents, wealthy New Yorker bourgeois, owned a luxurious summer residence there. She inherited this sumptuous summer residence.Article «North-Hatley n’a pas oublié Jeannette Blake» (North-Hatley has not forgotten Jeannette Blake) by Gilles Dallaire, journal La Tribune, July 28, 1983, p. A4 After marrying Arthur Russell Virgin in 1928, Blake moved to North Hatley, where she spent most of her adult life there.Article “North Hatley Library makes plans for legacy”, by Charles Bury, Journal The Record, July 28, 1983, p. 3.
Large historic house On April 15, 1931, the Virgin-Blake couple moved into the large ancestral house of Clematis Farm in North Hatley.Article du Sherbrooke Daily Record, 17 avril 1931 After Blake took possession of this farm, the ancestral home underwent extensive renovations. This large house turned out to be three adjoining houses.
This ancestral home was erected at the beginning of the 19th century by Chauncey LeBaron (born in 1802 and son of Jephtah Wadleigh) and his wife Cordelia Hitchcock following their marriage. Their vast land was adjacent to that of his parents LeBaron, but higher up the hill. It was located on top of a hill overlooking Lake Massawippi.Article “Piggery benefits from tours”, by Crosbie Cotton, journal The Sherbrooke Record, 11 mai 1972, p. 1 Seven sons were born in this Le Baron-Hitchcock mansion.Article “G.A. LeBaron fut le premier agent de transformation du féérique North Hatley en station estivale, sur le Massawippi», by Rév. Arthur Chilton Powell, DD. De Baltimore, Md, journal La Tribune, 31 juillet 1948, p. 4. Wilfrid E. Le Baron (son of Chauncey and Cordelia, deceased in 1928) was the only of the seven children to reside in the old house. He was very successful as an agricultural producer. Nevertheless, the attraction of the west shore of Lake Massawippi generated an influx of vacationers and residents; thus, he sold lots of the lower part of his farm on which the buyers built attractive residences and villas.Article "Les Cantons de l’Est pittoresques – Un coin merveilleux: North Hatley" (Picturesque Eastern Townships - A Wonderful Corner: North Hatley), p. 91, describing the history of the ancestral home where Janet Blake and Arthur R. Virgin lived.
This ancestral home has welcomed many guests and social events: weddings,Selon un article du Sherbrooke Daily Record du 12 mars 1931, le mariage de Audrey Tweed et de Evans Kezar a été célébré le 5 mars 1931 en la résidence de Mr. and Mrs. Arthur R. Virgin. parties, birthdays, meetings, etc. At least one maid took care of the house and garden services. In addition, several group picnics, "garden parties" and animal exhibitions were organized outdoors on this enchanting site, allowing visitors to admire the magnificent gardens. Visitors could complete their visit or stay by visiting the lower floor of the house which contained a lot of antiques. This house was a must stop on sightseeing tours of the North Hatley area.
For example, the North Hatley Community Club hosted a 300-participant garden party on Sept. 5, 1952 at Clementis Farm. Visitors were able to admire the lush gardens and visit the antiques in the house.Sherbrooke Daily Record, 5 sept. 1952, p. 7.
The Virgin-Blake couple's fifth wedding anniversary (wooden wedding) was celebrated on January 25, 1933, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Ham in North Hatley.Article "North Hatley"describing the unfolding of the Virgin-Blake couple’s wooden anniversary (5th wedding anniversary), Sherbrooke Daily Record, 31 janvier 1933, p. 3. Their tenth anniversary was celebrated at this house on the Clematis farm on January 31, 1938, with 25 guests.Article in the Sherbrooke Daily Record, 31 janvier 1938, p. 5.
In 1972, this large ancestral house was considered to be at least 150 years old; it was then filled with antiques and surrounded by gardens.Article “Piggery benefits from tours”, by Crosbie Cotton, journal The Sherbrooke Record, 11 mai 1972, p. 1. An article from 1983 indicates that this ancestral home had been left abandoned for several years;Article "North-Hatley n’a pas oublié Jeannette Blake" (North-Hatley has not forgotten Jeannette Blake) by Gilles Dallaire, journal La Tribune, July 28, 1983, p. A4. either after Janet's death in 1981.
Arthur Russell Virgin's career In November 1911, the Sherbrooke Daily Record reported that: "Mr. Arthur R. Virgin, of Concord, New York, who was secretary to the general manager of the Eastern Townships Bank for some time, has returned to town and will again be on the staff of the institution."Article "City News", journal Sherbrooke Daily Record, November 22, 1911, p. 4. This institution merged on March 1, 1912, with the Canadian Bank of Commerce which subsequently became Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC).
For many years, Arthur R Virgin was manager of the branch of the Commercial Bank (CIBC) of North Hatley, notably in 1917.Article “City News” of Sherbrooke Daily Record, 14 avril 1917, p. 5, containing the message: “Mr. Arthur Virgin, of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, North Hatley, has returned from Baltimore, Md., where he spent Easter, the guest of Mrs. E. Daves.” The village of North Hatley is well known as a resort. Since the very end of the 19th century, tourism has been the main industry in the village, especially in summer thanks to lake Massawippi. Many vacationers are wealthy and many of them are from US. Thus, Arthur R Virgin then cultivated great social and business relationships with the affluent clientele of this financial institution.
Arthur R Virgin becomes one of the most prestigious directors of the powerful American company United States Steel.Article "North-Hatley n’a pas oublié Jeannette Blake" (North-Hatley has not forgotten Jeannette Blake), by Gilles Dallaire, journal La Tribune, July 28, 1983, p. A4. Given his success in finance, he became a multimillionaire.
Arthur Russell Virgin died in 1968 at 91 years old. His funeral was held at St. Barnabas Church, North Hatley, on July 22, 1968.Obituary of Arthur Russell Virgin, Sherbrooke Daily Record, 20 juillet 1968, p. 5.
Clematis farm in North Hatley Blake took possession of Clematis farm in 1931. She ran the farm herself with an average herd of 25 dairy cows, sometimes up to 30. This model farm was accredited for its purebred breeding program of the race Jerseys. Blake's Jersey cattle purchases were rigorous in order to build a high quality dairy herd for both dairy cows and breeding cows. Over the years, her accomplishments with this dairy herd have been well documented and recognized by cattle producers across North America and by the Jersey Breeders Association.Alexander Gemmell McKinven obituary (March 28, 1923 – May 3, 2006) published on May 24, 2006 in the journal The Record, p. 15. He was cattleman at Clematis Farm.
The name of Clematis refers to the clematis. This dark purple flower has been the main theme of the magnificent flower gardens around this ancestral home.Article “Brome And St. Sebastien Entries Take Top Places In Calf Club Competition” by Margot Mitchell, Sherbrooke Daily Record, 25 juillet 1950, p. 3. The newspaper Sherbrooke Daily Record of December 4, 1946 writes that the Clematis farm, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Virgin, contained acres of daffodils and a wide variety of cultivated plants.Sherbrooke Daily Record, 4 déc. 1946, p. 4.
The different managers of the model farm were: Angus McKinven (1946–1951), Alex McKinven (1923–2006) (1952–1969)Alexander Gemmell McKinven obituary (March 28, 1923 – May 3, 2006) published on May 24, 2006 in the journal The Record de Sherbrooke, p. 15. from Scotland. John McCaig had been advising Blake on the farm since November 1954 and organized the participation of animals in exhibitions, notably in 1963 and 1965. The Clematis farm had published classified ads in the Sherbrooke Daily Record asking for farmers in 1934, 1941, 1947, 1956, 1963, 1965, 1966 and 1968, offering them a good salary and accommodation in a comfortable house. These farmers were responsible for general farm work, including milking cows, seeds, harvests, plowing, gardens, landscaping this model farm, maintaining fences, maintaining buildings, purchasing, equipment and infrastructure. In winter, it was necessary to add livestock feed and barking. In addition, they took care of properly training the animals in order to parade annually in agricultural exhibitions, notably at the Ayer's Cliff Fair and the Sherbrooke agricultural exhibition.
On October 8, 1935, the Clematis farm published a first ad offering for sale a young Jersey beef (pure bred) six months old.Journal Sherbrooke Daily Record, 9 oct. 1935, classified ad "Live Stock For Sale". The Clematis farm published other classifieds for the sale of Jerseys breed animals (especially young oxen) until 1959. In an advertisement dated September 26, 1962, which appeared in the Sherbrooke Daily Record, the Clematis farm offered for sale 40 Purebred Animals Jerseys.Journal Sherbrooke Daily Record, 9 oct. 1962.