"We're in a sweet and sour feeling right now. Happy to go back home, and sad to leave the people of Sawyerville and around," said Carole Vincelette.
Yes, Vincelette and France d'Amours have sold the "Hôtel Auberge Sawyerville." Their farewell 5 à 7 was on April 22. It was a bittersweet party for the 45 or so people crowded into the bar. Lots of good cheer and laughter, but sadness too.
Vincelette and d'Amours bought the hotel from Andre Crete in 2005. During their 11 years as owners, they made numerous improvements, reopened the outdoor swimming pool, and earned an extra star from the Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec, who rates hotels. Over the years, they hosted many events in their reception hall, garden festivals, concerts, parties, and even a knitting group.
"We want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone. When we arrived, people in Sawyerville received us with open arms," said Vincelette.
"At our first reception, there were 260 people," said d'Amours. "We have lived an extraordinary experience with the people of Sawyerville. We wish the new owner good luck."
The new owner is Jean-Sébastien Bachand of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley.
Dating from at least 1864, the three-storey building has long been a landmark on Principale Street. Over its 150-plus years, the hotel was a popular gathering place for locals as well as visitors to the area.
At the farewell party were William and Linda Noyes. They've been making the three-hour trip up from Plymouth, New Hampshire, almost weekly for the past 40 years. "We started coming up for snowmobiling, and we loved the place so much that we come up here just because," said Linda. "We're the longest continuous customers of the hotel. We've met a lot of people, and made a lot of good friends. Carole and France have been just fantastic."
Vincelette also gave special thanks to the Roger Bolduc family. "They were the first to welcome us," she said.
Years ago, Bolduc even closed the deal to buy his farm at the Sawyerville Hotel, said Raymond McConnell. McConnell has been frequenting the hotel for 50 years. "Sometimes we called it our office, when we were trading cows, and this ‘n' that, at one time," he said. "All the farmers would come. You got to know what the other farmers were doing."
"I think there have been a lot of deals made in the hotel over the years," said Vincelette.
