Our Story
ETR was created on February 4th, 2020 by Joel Barter with the intention of bringing together all Townshippers in sharing their knowledge and memories of the Eastern Townships for future generations. ETR began as a Facebook group and has now expanded into a network of social media corresponding to various needs of it’s members.
Joel’s family descends from a long line of United Empire Loyalists such as Gilbert Hyatt who established Hyatt’s Mill at the confluence of the Saint Francis and Magog rivers in the early 1790’s. Hyatt’s Mill was renamed Sherbrooke in 1818. Sherbrooke now being the hub of the Eastern Townships.
Through the submission of photographs, ETR has amassed over 26, 000 members in just three years. ETR has quickly become the fastest growing site pertaining to Québec’s Eastern Township’s. ETR has brought together family members, filled gaps in family trees, rekindled old friendships, has reconnected old classmates and has answered thousands of questions.
“It is important to find out more history of the Townships as it brings people back to their roots”, Joel Barter