Bolton Falls was still a pristine area when Massachusetts businessman J.C. Willard arrived in 1859. For a short time it was known as Willard’s Mill, named after the sawmill built there of the same name.
The falls were the perfect place to build a reservoir dam for the mill. Thanks to the construction of a railroad, the region quickly developed and Bolton was founded in the Missisquoi River Valley.
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The mill disappeared a century later. The falls attracted bathers, lovebirds, and people looking for a peaceful and relaxing setting. Claude Provost was one such person. The son of Montréal Canadiens hockey star Claude Provost, Claude Jr. learned from an early age about “a healthy mind in a healthy body.” His father was not only one of the league’s top defensemen, but an accomplished athlete who was aware of the best training, nutritional, and physical conditioning techniques of the period.
In the 1990s, the site was put up for sale, and Claude seized the opportunity. The accessible and extraordinarily beautiful site was renowned for its tranquility and the energy of its waterfalls and river. The setting was perfect to fulfill his dream of building an authentic Finnish spa in the heart of nature.
Today, J.C. Willard would not recognize the site he cleared 150 years ago. But it’s a safe bet he’d quickly fall under its spell and wouldn’t need to be asked twice to enjoy some “natural relaxation.”
