The Pioneer Trail at Stanstead Henrietta Ball-Banting
HENRIETTA BALL-BANTING
1912-1976
Henrietta Banting, or Lady Banting, if you prefer, was born in 1912. She lived her youth in Stanstead close to the Lee Farm, which was renowned for its fine pure-bred livestock.
Her parents met in Stansted. Her father, Henry Ball, was in charge of the Customs Office in Rock Island. He met her mother when she came to teach music at the reputed Stanstead College, which was founded in 1874. Henrietta would later serve on the board of directors of this venerable institution. In 1922, when Henrietta’s father died, her mother brought her and her two younger sisters back to Newcastle, New Brunswick.
Her Uncle Erastus, whose scientific mind and skill she so admired, had a profound influence on her career. Henrietta undertook studies in science and completed her master’s degree in Toronto in 1938. It was during these years that she met Frederick Banting. In 1923, he and a colleague had earned the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discovery of insulin. This medical advance has saved the lives of countless people suffering from diabetes. She was 27 years old, and he was 48, when they got married in June 1939. Henrietta Ball had become Lady Banting.
Sir Banting died just two years later when the plane carrying him to England crashed in Newfoundland during the Second World War.
Lady Banting purchased the family home in 1951. In the ensuing years, she always returned to Stanstead during the summertime to restore her body and mind on the farm, even if her calling continually drew her away from Stanstead.
She died in 1976, when, after treating thousands of women suffering from cancer, the disease caught up with her. She returned to die at her hospital in Toronto, where she is buried alongside her husband.
GPS : 45.008071 N, -72.093382 O
ADDRESS : Près du Cercle de pierres, route 247, boul. Notre-Dame Ouest, Stanstead
The voices of yesteryear at the heart of our landscapes
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The figure of Henrietta Ball-Banting, together with her garden of pioneers, is located on the same premises as the Stone Circle, which is worth taking the time to admire. Be sure not to miss this amazing attraction!
Stanstead is also the location of the Colby-Curtis Museum mentioned by Lady Banting. The museum is a captivating source of information on Lady Banting’s life and on the history of Stanstead.
You can also visit the town’s Granite Museum, which highlights the significance of granite in Stanstead’s economic development.
In Stanstead, you can straddle the American border without even going through customs. This is because the town’s library and Haskell opera house were built precisely on the border—enabling you to literally hop over to the United States. The international border is marked off by a black line running across the building’s floor. Visit the website for details.
You can also take advantage of your trip to Stanstead simply to walk along the main street and take in all the old historical monuments on display.
Enjoy a CHARMING and CULTURALLY REWARDING
journey on our lovely roads!