By Celia Hunter
Termed ‘A Jewel in Peterborough County’, Millbrook and Cavan Monaghan Township have earned pride of place in a just released coffee table book commemorating the bicentennial of the Peter Robinson Settlers project. Peterborough, Spirit of Place features photo-graphs by John McQuarrie, who spearheaded this publication in partnership with Trent Valley Archives.
McQuarrie’s approach is collaborative, inviting local writers to do the wordcrafting for the many stories of the area that he illustrates with his photography. He also makes use of the historical record preserved by local organizations like the Millbrook-Cavan Historical Society and Trent Valley Archives.
Celebrating our particular heritage, ten full pages are devoted to stories and images of Cavan Monaghan. The continuing importance of agriculture is emphasized through a series of photographed landscapes. Alona Farms on Zion Line is featured in an article reprinted from the Millbrook Times. Millbrook’s downtown is presented as both an architectural and a commercial destination. Excerpts from This Green & Pleasant Land, our local history narrative compiled by the Historical Society and printed in 1990, include a description of the many mills that drove the economy in the early days of settlement. The photographer has curated his personal collection of photographs of us. It is evident that he enjoyed what he saw.
The content of this commemorative volume is broad in scope, highlighting some of the history, geography and cultural assets of both the city of Peterborough and Peterborough County. Copies are available at the Millbrook Mercantile.