Janet Blake (died 1981, also Mrs Arthur R. Virgin, husband of Arthur Russell Virgin) was an agricultural producer specialized in Jersey cattle, a champion in agriculture fairs, a social event organizer, and philanthropist of North Hatley, in Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality, in Estrie, in Quebec, Canada.
The Virgin-Blake couple have made significant financial and moral contributions to several charities in the North Hatley region, particularly in the arts.
[2] These two ladies had a great friendship between them; they often mingled socially and often participated in common causes, notably the North Hatley Community Club and the Piggery Theatre.
[3][4] Born at the turn of the 20th century and coming from New York, Blake visited North Hatley in her teens, at the start of the First World War (1914–1918).
[5] After marrying Arthur Russell Virgin in 1928, Blake moved to North Hatley, where she spent most of her adult life there.
[6] On April 15, 1931, the Virgin-Blake couple moved into the large ancestral house of Clematis Farm in North Hatley.
This ancestral home was erected at the beginning of the 19th century by Chauncey LeBaron (born in 1802 and son of Jephtah Wadleigh) and his wife Cordelia Hitchcock following their marriage.
In November 1911, the Sherbrooke Daily Record reported that: "Mr. Arthur R. Virgin, of Concord, New York, who was secretary to the general manager of the Eastern Townships Bank for some time, has returned to town and will again be on the staff of the institution.
For many years, Arthur R Virgin was manager of the branch of the Commercial Bank (CIBC) of North Hatley, notably in 1917.
Over the years, her accomplishments with this dairy herd have been well documented and recognized by cattle producers across North America and by the Jersey Breeders Association.
[22] The newspaper Sherbrooke Daily Record of December 4, 1946 writes that the Clematis farm, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Virgin, contained acres of daffodils and a wide variety of cultivated plants.
The Clematis farm had published classified ads in the Sherbrooke Daily Record asking for farmers in 1934, 1941, 1947, 1956, 1963, 1965, 1966 and 1968, offering them a good salary and accommodation in a comfortable house.
On October 8, 1935, the Clematis farm published a first ad offering for sale a young Jersey beef (pure bred) six months old.
In an advertisement dated September 26, 1962, which appeared in the Sherbrooke Daily Record, the Clematis farm offered for sale 40 Purebred Animals Jerseys.
In May 1952, Clematis Sportlight Golden, a two year old junior cow owned by Mrs. Arthur R. Virgin completed a production record 7,555 lbs.
[35] The bovine animals of the Clematis farm herd were trained with discipline in order to parade well in the agricultural exhibitions.
Janet Blake was a member of the Canadian Jersey Cattle Club which held its annual picnic at Clematis Farm in North Hatley in 1953.
[37] Janet Blake's last participation in an agricultural show would be the Ayer's Cliff Fair in 1969; there she won other prizes with animals from her purebred herd.