Four Historic Murals, painted by local artists Elizabeth Skelly and Odile Têtu, depict scenes of past importance to the "Hill".
The first, painted in 1990 on the West wall of a building at the corner of Main and Home, and the second (1992) in continuation of the former, depict businesses operating in Town a century ago.
The third (1995) on the North wall of Methot's General Store on High Street depicts the old Town Hall demolished in 1967, originally a church, then a dance hall and movie theatre before becoming the Town Hall.
The fourth (2000) on the South wall of a building at High and Main is a patchwork quilt showing the character of townspeople and events, past and present, including the ice storm.
[ more... ]
The Bestiary #1 Mural, on the West wall of the Farmer's Supply building on Main Street in Vankleek Hill, was designed by local artist Susan Jephcott.
The mural is a celebration of the "Hill" and its artistic community using a whimsical theme of animals. Fifteen people in all painted together for this cooperative effort that took four or five weeks to accomplish.
[ more... ]
The Couvent du Sacré Coeur, a peaceful haven located east of St-Grégoire Catholic Church, in Vankleek Hill, was built in 1886 and used as a convent for Les soeurs de Sainte-Marie de Namur and as a girls' boarding school for many years. it is a stately three storey brick building with landscaped grounds and beautiful fragrant gardens surrounding it.
Higginson's Round Barn: On Highway 34, the century-old (built 1893-1894) barn was designed and built by Thomas Tweed Higginson to facilitate central feeding.
The mowed hay stocked above and the stable below were built around a central silo. In 1936 a storm ripped off many hand-made wooden shingles from the original roof which was then replaced with aluminum.
A working barn until the mid-sixties, it now houses some farm implements and vehicles- and many of Ms. Frankie Higginson's memories. Visits at no charge, by appointment only.
The Higginson Tower (by Arbor Gallery) was constructed in 1829 by Thomas Higginson as a windmill for grinding grain. Winds, not constant enough to power the windmill, caused its disuse.
In 1865, when the Irish Republicans in the United States began raiding British-held Canada, the windmill was referred to as a "lookout tower". The fans of the windmill were removed and the stone structure became a base for an extended wooden tower.
By the end of the 19th century, the tower was used for astronomy studies by the members of the Higginson family and local students.
