http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/attachment/rw/localities.northam.canada.queb ec.estrie.compton/193.2.1/attachment-1/1vmrRvt732Q2gT_Uv89yzD/HOP_SHOP_PEG_10_ 19.jpg In an article written by MR. ELLSWORTH LORIMER for THE TOWNSHIPS SUN, he relates his memories of growing up in Waterville and the machine shop of R. O. HOPKINSON on Depot street. R. O. HOPKINSON was RICHARD ORION HOPKINSON b. March 20, 1862 Sherbrooke Quebec who was married to JANE 'JEANIE' WATT ROBERTSON, b. November 05, 1863. He d. February 02, 1945. She d. September 17, 1939. They had one daughter VERA MARGARET b. 1892 Warterville, Quebec, who married WARREN GALE of Waterville. She d. 1986. Here is an excerpt from that article: The owner's precise and methodical workmanship along with his inventive abilities enabled him to design and build machines for special requirements. One of his notable products was a lifting jack with considerable mechanical advantage over the cumbersome jackscrews used until that time. (NOTE: Jack was invented by R. O. HOPKINSON's brother in law FRANK SLEEPER - see his listing on TOWNSHIPPERS WEB SITE) The final production and marketing of this jack was taken over by the NORTON enterprises of Coaticook. Another excerpt: It must have been during my first year at school when at one recess period we looked across to Depot Street and saw the machine shop going up in flames. We extended our fifteen minute recess somewhat to watch the firemen save the railroad station and houses nearby. The setback of the fire didn't bring MR. HOPKINSON's career to a close for an extension at the rear of his house near BRADLEY Brook then served as location for a fair sized machine shop. Around this time home workshop enthusiasts realized the importance of small machines driven by 1/4 or 1/2 HP motors, and Mr. Hopkinson went into production of these table saws, lathes and mortisers with their accessories. He used rugged iron castings to reduce vibration. He could set up his metal planer to proceed automatically with its long continued rnythmic strokes, producting well machined surfaces on the castings as required. Meanwhile he could work at his big machinist's lathe making the shafts, pulleys, and fittings. Bronze bearings were machined from bars of that material from CAMERON's foundry on Main St., North. Another excerpt: A lathe of R. O. HOPKINSON manufacture occupies an important place in my home workship here in Surrey (BC). After sixty years it works as well as ever making spindles for furniture, handles for tools, or wheels for toys and grandfather clocks. ============