Joanne Croghan speaks at Canadian Club

Canadian Club of Yamaska Valley welcomes Joanne Croghan, coordinator of the Brome County Historical Museum, on Monday, Nov. 6 at the Auberge West Brome, at 2 p.m. She is very familiar with the area, having lived here most of her life. As a little girl at Knowlton Academy, she developed a passion for World War I, during the Remembrance Day services, always a very solemn and somber occasion when everybody stood, regardless of the weather. On less serious occasions, she played around the monument with her friends, under the shadow of the angel.

She was delighted to learn about the letters of Lt. Lawrence Browning Rogers, written while he was fighting in World War I, to his wife Janet May Weaver and their two children. Over 200 letters were saved from their correspondence and reveal a soldier very aware of his surroundings and wanting to be a vibrant part of his children’s upbringing, even though he was far away.

Although he grew up in Montreal, he and his wife moved to a farm in East Farnham, which he believed would be a healthier environment for his children and later, joined the Army at age 37. While the original letters are now in the War Museum in Ottawa, a complete scanned version is available for viewing at the museum in Knowlton. Joanne Croghan has researched this family extensively and with her genuine enthusiasm will recreate their world in her presentation.

The Canadian Club welcomes everyone. For luncheon reservations contact the Auberge West Brome at 450-2667552.