Maberly Heritage Plaque: The Leonard Cohen Connection (recognized May 19, 2020)
Location of Plaque: Concession Road Allowance 9 (between PIN Nos. 291 and 297),
South side of Maberly-Elphin Road, County Highway 36, Maberly
Legal Description of Site: Road Allowance Between Concession 8 and 9, Lot 13,
South Sherbrooke Ward
In 1869, the great-grand parents of Canadian poet/songwriter Leonard Cohen chose the burgeoning hamlet of Maberly for their home, commencing a new life in Canada that would have long-term impact on our young country.
The Lazarus and Frayda Cohen family, active in the development of the early Maberly hamlet, owned a general store on the lots now listed as PIN Nos. 270 and 280, located at the junction of the road between Concessions 8 and 9 (now “Cohen Way”) and County Road 36. Lazarus was also a lumber merchant, presumably based out of the store, and had investments at various times in early Maberly properties, including the one eventually occupied by the Anglican Church and a property at about lot PIN #205. He also was hired as auditor for South Sherbrooke Township for the year 1882.
Lazarus and Frayda’s eldest son, Lyon Yehuda Cohen, accompanied them to Maberly, and, in his in mid-teens, on to Montreal, where the family made substantial contributions to the Jewish community and Canada. Lyon and his eventual wife Rachel Friedman were grandparents of the future Leonard Norman Cohen, through their son Bernard Cohen and wife, Masha Klinitsky. Leonard Cohen was born in Montreal, September 21, 1934, and died on November 7, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, a legend in the world of poetry and music. His many awards included the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada.
Maberly hosted one of this region’s largest, early Jewish communities, which, with the Lazarus Cohen family, were part of a major 19th century migration from Central Europe to Canada.
The foregoing text is taken in part from a plaque located at the Concession 9 site, the purpose of which is to recognize the early Cohen family and the Jewish community of this area. It also marks the contribution to this municipality of the Maberly industrial complex of that era, which, at its peak, boasted two sawmills, a grist mill, woolen/ carding mill, shingle mill, and numerous supporting services and stores.
The plaque site will be developed as a dedicated recreation area for the community.