146 years of history

Built around 1880, this beautiful fieldstone manor was the home of Timothy Byron Rider, a prominent businessman, industrialist, and politician born in Fitch Bay in 1848. Rider built his fortune through local sawmills, flour mills, and the village's general store, and later served as Mayor of Stanstead Township and as a Member of Parliament. The manor is said to have welcomed many distinguished guests, including Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada's seventh Prime Minister.

Following Timothy Byron Rider's death in 1917, the estate remained in the Rider family for more than 80 years, passing down through generations until 2000.

An old black and white photograph of a large Victorian-style house with a turret, set on a grassy lawn with small trees and a hill with trees in the background.

In 2000, the property was purchased by Mme. Dallaire, who undertook an extensive eight-year restoration that returned the manor to its former grandeur. The restored manor later opened to the public as Château Witch Bay, a museum and boutique celebrating the home's rich history and local legends. The museum welcomed visitors for several years before closing, and the property was sold in 2020.

Today, the manor continues its story as a place where history, character, and timeless charm come together.

Local legends

A sepia-toned portrait of a Timothy Byron Rider with a full beard and mustache, wearing a collared shirt and tie.

Interessting fact: Timothy Byron Rider was a descendant of John Proctor of Salem, Massachusetts, a figure famously associated with the Salem witch trials.

Rooftop of a Victorian-style Manoir Fitch Bay with a weather vane featuring a figure of a witch on a broomstick.

And history continues.