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  • Benmore | tidesoftadoussac1

    PREVIOUS Benmore Quebec NEXT PAGE 1848-1948 Col. Rhodes bought the house in 1848. He died in 1892, his wife Granny Ann Rhodes lived there until 1911. Their daughter Minnie Rhodes Morewood (died 1942) and Henry (Harry) Morewood (died 1916) lived there with their children John, Frank, Nancy, Billy, and Bobby Morewood. Frank Morewood writes: It was a great house to me (not a mansion like Cataraqui but I loved spending time at Benmore and I did spend a lot of time there). My parents were living there when I was born, as my father (Bobby) had lost his job in the depression and he went home to his mother's place with his whole family. At that time it housed my father's mother, two sisters, one of his two brothers and two maids. Benmore was in the family from 1848 to 1948. Colonel Rhodes a acheté la maison en 1848. Il est mort en 1892, son épouse Granny Ann Rhodes y vécut jusqu'en 1911. Leur fille Minnie Rhodes Morewood (mort en 1942) et Henry (Harry) Morewood (mort en 1916) a vécu dans la maison avec leurs enfants John, Frank, Nancy, Billy, et Bobby Morewood. Frank Morewood écrit: C'était une grande maison pour moi (pas une manoir comme Cataraqui mais j'ai adoré passer du temps à Benmore et j'ai fait passer beaucoup de temps là-bas). Mes parents vivaient là quand je suis né, mon père (Bobby) avait perdu son emploi dans la dépression et il rentra chez lui pour la place de sa mère avec toute sa famille. A cette époque, il abritait la mère de mon père, deux sœurs, l'une de ses deux frères et deux servantes. Benmore était dans la famille de 1848 à 1948. Frank Morewood (my grandfather) Vue sur la St-Laurent Minnie and Harry Morewood Billy, Minnie and Bobby Morewood 1890's Carrie and her mother Caroline Rhodes, Minnie Morewood, Billy and Frank, about 1893 Granny (1890's) with Frank Morewood & Jimmy Williams Charlie Rhodes Mary Williams Wallace Armitage Rhodes driving, Godfrey's wife Lily, Minnie and Bobby Morewood, Granny at the back, about 1910. Benmore Tennis C ourt Just two stories, 3rd floor added in 1864 Seulement deux étages, 3ème étage a été ajouté en 1864 View of the St Lawrence The horse's name is Jack Le cheval est appelé Jack I took the photo above in 2001 Granny and Hem on the porch around 1900. Next door, Godfrey's house Cataraquai, that's Godfrey with the dog, about 1920's. Juste à côté, la maison de Godfrey Cataraquai, c'est Godfrey avec le chien, environ 1920. Back to Home Page NEXT PAGE

  • Dawson, May

    May Dawson played the Chapel organ for many years but not much else is known. Dawson, May May Dawson played the Chapel organ for many years but not much else is known. Back to ALL Bios May Dawson 1870-1967 May Dawson (1870 – 1967) played the organ and helped the community in many other ways. She’s described in the book In the Quiet of This Place as having a cognitive disability but that was the May Dawson who was born in 1908, sister of Doris Molson. Neither of the May Dawsons married. May Dawson of 1870 lived with Louisa Jane Burns in Toronto along with a grand niece and a grand nephew of Louisa’s, Carington D. Smith (18) and Noel Lavina Smith (16). Whether they were related to May is unclear. George Dudley Dawson and Elizabeth Crooks were the parents of: May Dawson (1870 – 1967) and her younger siblings, Aileen (1874 – 1952), Richard and Dudley. Back to ALL Bios

  • Williams, Jim & Evelyn (Meredith)

    Eldest son of Lennox and Nan Williams, Jimmy was killed at the Somme at 28 years old Williams, Jim & Evelyn (Meredith) Eldest son of Lennox and Nan Williams, Jimmy was killed at the Somme at 28 years old Back to ALL Bios Jim Williams is the oldest son of Lennox Williams and Nan Rhodes. Born in 1888, married Evelyn Meredith January 3, 1916. He was killed in the First World War at the Somme in November 18, 1916 at the age of 28. MANY more photos and letters at https://www.tidesoftadoussac.com/james-w-williams Photo at right Jim and his mother Anne (Nan) Rhodes Williams 1892 Photos below Fishing trip circa 1910 Lennox Williams, M. Poitras, and John Morewood in front Jim Williams and Charlie Rhodes Family group at Brynhyfryd 1914 Back row Sidney, Jimmy, Lennox, Gertrude Williams (Alexander), Bobby Morewood Mary Williams (Wallace), Evelyn (Fisher) Williams, Anne (Nan) Rhodes Williams Back to ALL Bios

  • Smith, George Carington

    George's daughters were long-time visitors to Tadoussac Smith, George Carington George's daughters were long-time visitors to Tadoussac Back to ALL Bios George Carington Smith 1870-1949 George (Tommy) Carington Smith was born in Quebec City in 1870. He was the fourth son of Robert Herbert Smith and Amelia Jane LeMesurier. He was a banker and spent most of his career with the Bank of Montreal. He married Winifred Dawes in 1899 in Lachine, Quebec. They had three children. His son, David Norman, died in infancy. His daughter, Winifred Noeline (known as Pixie), was born in 1902 and his daughter, Marion Sarah Smith Dobson, was born in 1907. He died in 1949 in Montreal and is buried in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. Eve Wickwire ~1894 the children George (1870), Herbert (1866) Robert Harcourt (1858), Amelia Blanche (1863, who married Sir William Price), Charles (1867) Arthur (1875), Edmund (1874) missing Edith (1862, who married Henry Baring Powel) Back to ALL Bios

  • Saguenay Mills | Moulins et villes du Saguenay

    La rivière Saguenay compte plusieurs villes fantômes, où de grandes scieries et des villages entiers ont existé pendant une courte période puis ont complètement disparu. The Saguenay River has a number of ghost towns, where large lumber mills and entire villages existed for a short time and then completely disappeared. Saguenay Mills and Towns Moulins et Villes du Saguenay The Saguenay River has a number of ghost towns, where large lumber mills and entire villages existed for a short time and then completely disappeared. The only remains are some slab-wood walls and rocks and bricks. The history is fascinating. Much of the text here is from the excellent website of Petit-Saguenay, which includes St Etienne, https://petit-saguenay.com/notre-histoire/, below is an english translation. La rivière Saguenay compte plusieurs villes fantômes, où de grandes scieries et des villages entiers ont existé pendant une courte période puis ont complètement disparu. Les seuls vestiges sont des murs en dalles de bois, des pierres et des briques. L'histoire est fascinante. Une grande partie du texte ici provient de l'excellent site Web de Petit-Saguenay, qui comprend St Etienne, https://petit-saguenay.com/notre-histoire/, ci-dessous est une traduction en anglais. One of Dufour's ancestors, Cyrille, born in La Malbaie in 1810 and married a certain Marianne, reportedly came to Saguenay to install William Price's sawmills. A document dated 1935, in the National Archives of Quebec, in the Mgr. Victor Tremblay fonds, memoir 263, paragraph 1A, states that Cyrille worked as a carpenter building the mills. These were very small mills that the company had built along the route. They began at the "Moulin Boat (Baude)" (three miles below Anse-à-l'Eau). Then came Anse-à-l'Eau's turn. After sawing for a while, they went to build one at Anse-à-David, located four miles above Anse-à-l'Eau. After building each mill, they spent some time, even a year or two, sawing. Then they went down a little further to build another. The mill at Anse-à-David was followed by the mill at Petites-Îles below St-Étienne. From Petites-Îles, they went down to Petit Saguenay and Anse-St-Jean. One after the other, these two small towns saw a mill rise on their banks, marking, so to speak, the beginning of their civilization. I say "civilization" because when the Prices arrived in these places, there were only savages. After Anse-St-Jean came the settlement of Grande Baie, where the builders remained for a few years, sawing logs, and finally Chicoutimi, that is, Rivière-du-Moulin. LES VIEILLES FAMILLES DE TADOUSSAC, 1850-1950 Gaby Villeneuve Un des ancêtres Dufour, Cyrille, né à La Malbaie en 1810 et marie avec une certaine Marianne.serait venu au Saguenay pour installer les moulins à scie de William Price. Il est dit dans un document daté de 1935, aux Archives Nationales du Québec, dans le fonds Mgr. Victor Tremblay, mémoire 263 paragraphe 1A, que Cyrille travaillait en qualité de charpentier à la construction des moulins. C'était de tout petits moulins que la compagnie faisait bâtir sur le parcours. Ils commencèrent au "Moulin Boat (Baude)" (à trois milles au-dessous de l'Anse-à-l'Eau). Puis vint le tour de l'Anse-à-l'EAu. Après avoir scié quelques temps, ils allèrent en construire un à l'Anse-à-David, situé à quatre milles au-dessus de l'Anse-à-l'Eau. Après la construction de chaque moulin, ils passaient quelque temps, un an ou deux ans même, à scier. Puis, ils descendaient un peu plus bas pour en construire un autre. A celui de l'Anse-à-David, suivit celui des Petites-Iles au-dessous de St-Etienne. Des Petites Iles, ils descendirent au Petit Saguenay et de l'Anse-St-Jean. L'une après l'autre, ces deux petites places virent un moulin s'élever sur leurs bords. Marquant pour ainsi dire le commencement de leur civilisation. Je dis "civilisation" parce qu'à l'arrivée des Price sur ces lieux, il n'y avait que des sauvages. Après l'Anse-St-Jean vint celui de Grande Baie ou les constructeurs demeurèrent quelques années là, à scier des billots et enfin de Chicoutimi, c'est-à-dire Rivière-du-Moulin. LES VIEILLES FAMILLES DE TADOUSSAC, 1850-1950 Gaby Villeneuve ST ETIENNE et la Ville Industrielle/Factory Town 1883-1900 Anse CHEVAL MARGUERITE Mill/Moulin et Wharf/Quai circa 1910 BAIE STE CATHERINE 1902 This photo of the Price Mill in Baie Ste Catherine is from an old copy of the " Saguenayensia" . This would be shortly after the Price Mill at Ste Etienne was destroyed by fire in 1900. Not many trees on the hillside! Also a few detail blowups. Cette photo du moulin Price à Baie Ste Catherine est tirée d'un ancien exemplaire du " Saguenayensia ". Cela se serait passé peu de temps après que le moulin Price à Ste Etienne ait été détruit par un incendie en 1900. Il n'y a pas beaucoup d'arbres sur la colline ! Et aussi quelques agrandissements de détails. ST ETIENNE et la Ville Industrielle/Factory Town 1883-1900 ST ETIENNE et la Ville Industrielle/Factory Town 1883-1900 Anse au Cheval Anse-aux-Petites-Îles Anse de Roche Baie Saint-Marguerite Arrival of the Société des Vingt-et-un in Petit-Saguenay April 25, 1838. The Société des Vingt-et-un prepared a schooner to set off to conquer the Saguenay, then under the Hudson's Bay Company monopoly. This team of 27 men first stopped at Anse-aux-Petites-Îles, between Tadoussac and Anse Saint-Étienne, to unload a group of loggers there, who built the first sawmill on the Saguenay. The expedition thus relieved continued on its way to Anse-au-Cheval, located opposite the Baie Saint-Marguerite, where a second mill was built. They waited for the ice to leave, which takes a month. Then, the rest of the crew continues their journey which brings them to the colonization of L'Anse-Saint-Jean and Baie des Ha! Ha! The first two stops of the Société des Vingt-et-un are therefore in two coves in the territory of Petit-Saguenay. These sawing facilities will be of short duration, since the mills were designed to be easily moved depending on the availability of the resource. At the time, it was pine, which was then abundant in the area, that they felled as a priority. However, these two coves are never permanently inhabited - although they are visited by priests who identify 8 men in Petites-Îles and 2 men in l'Anse-au-Cheval in 1839 - and it is rather at Anse de Petit-Saguenay and Anse Saint-Étienne that future colonization efforts were deployed in Petit-Saguenay. Arrivée de la Société des Vingt-et-un à Petit-Saguenay 25 avril 1838. La Société des Vingt-et-un apprête une goélette pour partir à la conquête du Saguenay, alors sous le monopole de Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson. Cette équipée de 27 hommes fait d'abord escale à l'Anse-aux-petites-Îles, entre Tadoussac et l'Anse Saint-Étienne, pour y débarquer un groupe de bûcherons, qui y construit le premier moulin à scie sur le Saguenay. L'expédition ainsi délestée poursuit son chemin jusqu'à l'Anse-au-Cheval, située en face de la Baie Saint-Marguerite, où un second moulin est construit. On y attend le départ des glaces, ce qui prend un mois. Puis, le reste de l'équipage poursuit son voyage qui l'amène à la colonisation de L'Anse-Saint-Jean et la Baie des Ha! Ha! Les deux premiers arrêts de la Société des Vingt-et-un se font donc dans deux anses sur le territoire de Petit-Saguenay. Ces installations de sciage seront de courte durée, puisque les moulins étaient conçus pour être facilement déplaçables en fonction de la disponibilité de la ressource. À l'époque, c'est le pin, qui est alors abondant sur le territoire, qu'on abat en priorité. Ces deux anses ne sont toutefois jamais habitées de façon permanente - bien qu'elle soit visitées par des curés qui recensent 8 hommes aux Petites-Îles et 2 hommes à l'Anse-au-Cheval en 1839 - et c'est plutôt du côté de l'Anse de Petit-Saguenay et de l'Anse Saint-Étienne que les futurs efforts de colonisation se déploient à Petit-Saguenay. St Etienne is shown on a map of 1744 1865 The Rhodes family had a summer cottage in Tadoussac, and they would row up the Saguenay and camp and fish! The fishing was very good, and St Etienne was a favourite spot. They also loved swimming and shooting. Godfrey Rhodes wrote about it in his diary from 1865, at age 15. 1865 La famille Rhodes avait un chalet d'été à Tadoussac, et ils ramaient en canot sur le Saguenay, campaient et pêchaient! La pêche était très bonne, et St Etienne était un endroit préféré. Ils aimaient aussi nager et tirer. Godfrey Rhodes a écrit à ce sujet dans son journal de 1865, à l'âge de 15 ans. The text here is from the excellent website of Petit-Saguenay, which includes St Etienne, https://petit-saguenay.com/notre-histoire/, below is an english translation. Construction of a company village at Anse Saint-Étienne At the end of the 1870s, the Price company began to take an interest in the Anse Saint-Étienne site to install a sawmill. The site is favorable for development, because it is well protected from the winds and offers an excellent anchorage. On site, there are at most a few fishing families and the remains of a mysterious sawmill whose owner we do not know. It was in 1882 that the Price company decided to build a real company village there, which would be the first of its kind in the region. The establishment is called a company village, since all the buildings belong to the Price company. The mill is for its part of a considerable size: it works with steam and has a power of 200 forces, which makes it de facto the largest factory of this type in Saguenay. Locks, slabs and docks are built around the mill to facilitate the transport, storage and loading of timber. A steam tug, the Belle, is based on site to facilitate the entry and exit of schooners and other sailing vessels at low tide. The workers and their families are housed in rooming houses near the factory, which makes for a very lively working-class neighborhood. The notables, mostly English-speaking and Protestant, were settled on an upper plateau, in what was called at the time the Anse des Messieurs or the Anse de l'Eglise. The village experienced significant growth and once again placed Petit-Saguenay in the heart of the Price empire in the region. Le texte ici est tiré de l'excellent site Web de Petit-Saguenay, qui inclut St Etienne, https://petit-saguenay.com/notre-histoire/, à gauche est une traduction en anglais. Construction d'un village de compagnie à l'Anse Saint-Étienne À la fin des années 1870, la compagnie Price commence à s'intéresser au site de l'Anse Saint-Étienne pour y installer un moulin à scie. Le site est favorable à l'établissement, parce qu'il est bien protégé des vents et offre un excellent mouillage. Sur place, on retrouve tout au plus quelques familles de pêcheurs et les vestiges d'un mystérieux moulin à scie dont on ne connait pas le propriétaire. C'est en 1882 que la compagnie Price décide d'y construire un véritable village de compagnie, qui sera le premier du genre dans la région. On qualifie l'établissement de village de compagnie, puisque toutes les bâtiments appartiennent à la compagnie Price. Le moulin est pour sa part d'une ampleur considérable : il fonctionne à la vapeur et possède une puissance de 200 forces, ce qui en fait de facto la plus grande usine de ce type au Saguenay. Autour du moulin, on construit des écluses, des dalles et des quais pour faciliter le transport, l'entreposage et le chargement du bois. Un remorqueur à vapeur, le Belle, est basé sur place pour faciliter l'entrée et la sortie des goélettes et autres navires à voile à marée basse. Les ouvriers et leurs familles sont logés dans des maisons de chambre à proximité de l'usine, ce qui constitue un quartier ouvrier très vivant. Les notables, pour la plupart anglophones et protestants, sont quant à eux installés sur un plateau supérieur, dans ce que l'on appelle à l'époque l'Anse des Messieurs ou l'Anse de l'Église. Le village connait un essor important et replace à nouveau Petit-Saguenay au coeur de l'empire des Price dans la région. Development of a modern village in Saint-Étienne Quickly after the founding of the company village of Saint-Étienne, it experienced a significant boom which increased the population to nearly 400 people in 1887, when the decision was made to build a church and set up a cemetery on the spot. To house all these workers and their families, they had to build around 30 homes in the working-class neighborhood and install many services. About ten residences were also built at Anse-des-Messieurs to accommodate the manager and the notables. A 27-kilometer-long telegraph line connected Saint-Étienne to Rivière aux Canards (Baie-Sainte-Catherine) and a colonization path - the maritime path - is opened along this line at the site of the current chemin des Îles. A post office is also set up on site and the post office is delivered twice a week between Saint-Étienne and Tadoussac and between Saint-Étienne and L'Anse-Saint-Jean. A farm is cleared on the surrounding plateaus to provide fresh food to the inhabitants. Two schools are also open for the education of children with teachers Adéla and Cécile Gobeil. Visitors are welcomed in a comfortable hotel. Rumors have it that some of the buildings are even served by electricity produced at the steam mill and a water supply service! Développement d'un village moderne à Saint-Étienne Rapidement après la fondation du village de compagnie de Saint-Étienne, celui-ci connait un essor important qui fait grimper la population à près de 400 personnes en 1887, lorsqu'on décide de construire une église et d'aménager un cimetière sur place. Pour loger tous ces travailleurs et leurs familles, on doit construire une trentaine d'habitations dans le quartier ouvrier et installer de nombreux services. Une dizaine de résidences sont également construites à l'Anse-des-Messieurs pour loger le gérant et les notables. Une ligne de télégraphe de 27 kilomètres de long relie Saint-Étienne à Rivière aux Canards (Baie-Sainte-Catherine) et un chemin de colonisation - le chemin maritime - est ouvert le long de cette ligne à l'emplacement de l'actuel chemin des Îles. Un bureau de poste est également aménagés sur place et la poste est livrée deux fois par semaine entre Saint-Étienne et Tadoussac et entre Saint-Étienne et L'Anse-Saint-Jean. Une ferme est défrichée sur les plateaux environnants pour fournir des aliments frais aux habitants. Deux écoles sont également ouvertes pour l'éducation des enfants avec les institutrices Adéla et Cécile Gobeil. Les visiteurs sont quant à eux accueillis dans un hôtel confortable. Les rumeurs veulent qu'une partie des bâtiments est même desservie par l'électricité produite au moulin à vapeur et un service d'aqueduc! St Etienne 1883-1900 The golden age of Saint-Étienne After several years of operation, the industrial village of Saint-Étienne reached its peak at the turn of the 1890s. It figures prominently among the 3 mills of the Price company on the Saguenay, a company which also has facilities in Chicoutimi and the Baie des Ha! Ha!. At the peak of activities, there was a permanent population of 495 people in 1891, which excludes the 400 to 600 workers who stay on the sites each winter. It was then the most populous village between La Baie and Tadoussac. About a hundred workers operate the sawmill, which processes between 200 and 300,000 logs per year. It was mainly spruce, which replaced pine as the main species, the latter having been completely exploited in the first decades of the colonization of the Saguenay or ravaged by recurring fires. The wood comes mainly from the territory of Petit-Saguenay and Baie-Sainte-Catherine. There were up to twenty logging sites per winter operating in the hinterland to supply the industry. The village began to decline from 1891, however, mainly due to two factors. First, the supply is more and more difficult and they had to harvest the resource further and further to bring it to the mill, which reduces the profitability of operations. Then, a major depression hit the world economy from 1891, which affected the wood exports of the Price company to the United States. However, Saint-Étienne remained a dynamic village until its tragic end in 1900. This photo does NOT show the village on fire, the smoke is from the chimneys! L'âge d'or de Saint-Étienne Après plusieurs années d'opération, le village industriel de Saint-Étienne atteint son apogée au tournant des années 1890. Il figure en bonne place parmi les 3 moulins de la compagnie Price sur le Saguenay, compagnie qui compte également des installations à Chicoutimi et à la Baie des Ha! Ha!. Au sommet des activités, on compte une population permanente de 495 personnes en 1891, ce qui exclut les 400 à 600 travailleurs qui séjournent chaque hiver sur les chantiers. C'est alors le village le plus populeux entre La Baie et Tadoussac. Une centaine de travailleurs fait fonctionner le moulin à scie où transitent entre 200 et 300 000 billots par année. On y scie essentiellement de l'épinette, qui a remplacé le pin comme essence principale, cette dernière ayant été complètement exploitée dans les premières décennies de la colonisation du Saguenay ou ravagée par les incendies récurrents. Le bois vient principalement du territoire de Petit-Saguenay et de Baie-Sainte-Catherine. On opère jusqu'à une vingtaine de chantiers de bûchage par hiver dans l'arrière-pays pour alimenter l'industrie. Le village se met toutefois à décliner à compter de 1891, principalement à cause de deux facteurs. D'abord, l'approvisionnement est de plus en plus difficile et on doit aller récolter la ressource de plus en plus loin pour l'apporter au moulin, ce qui réduit la rentabilité des opérations. Ensuite, une dépression importante frappe l'économie mondiale à compter de 1891, ce qui affecte les exportations de bois de la compagnie Price vers les États-Unis. Saint-Étienne demeure toutefois un village dynamique jusqu'à sa fin tragique en 1900. Cette photo ne montre PAS le village en feu, la fumée vient des cheminées ! Saint-Étienne razed to the ground June 5, 1900. A stubble fire started in the morning by colonist Benjamin Boudreault on the heights of Saint-Étienne spread to the forest thanks to the strong winds. In the space of two hours, the flames reached the village of Saint-Étienne, which was reduced to ashes. Only a handful of buildings were spared, but all the residents were literally thrown into the sea, picked up on board two passing ships. The sawmill, the docks, three ships and the entire wood inventory were lost in the fire. Only the district of Anse-des-Messieurs was spared. The next day, thanks to the generosity of the public and the authorities, aid was sent from Chicoutimi: money, food and clothing were distributed to the grieving families. If the workers got by without too much damage, the Price company must declare a total loss since the establishment is not insured. These losses are estimated at between $ 300,000 and $ 400,000, which equates to between $ 9M and $ 12M today. Faced with the scale of the disaster and taking into account the fact that the establishment had already been declining for a few years because of supply problems, the company decided not to rebuild and instead to open a new sawmill at Baie Sainte-Catherine, a mill which moved again in 1908 to Baie Sainte-Marguerite. L'Anse Saint-Étienne, for its part, was abandoned by the Price company, which hardly did any business there until the land was sold to the municipality in the 1970s. Saint-Étienne rasé par les flammes 5 juin 1900. Un feu d'abattis débuté en matinée par le colon Benjamin Boudreault sur les hauteurs de Saint-Étienne se répand à la forêt à la faveur des forts vents. En l'espace de deux heures, les flammes atteignent le village de Saint-Étienne qui est réduit en cendre. Une poignée de bâtiments seulement sont épargnés, mais tous les résidents sont littéralement jetés à la mer, recueillis à bord de deux navires de passage. Le moulin à scie, les quais, trois navires ainsi que l'ensemble de l'inventaire de bois sont perdus dans l'incendie. Seul le quartier de l'Anse-des-messieurs est épargné. Dès le lendemain, grâce à la générosité du public et des autorités, on achemine de l'aide en provenance de Chicoutimi : de l'argent, des vivres et des vêtements sont ainsi distribués aux famille éplorés. Si les travailleurs s'en sortent sans trop de dommage, la compagnie Price, elle, doit déclarer une perte totale puisque l'établissement n'est pas assuré. Ces pertes sont estimées à entre 300 et 400 000 $, ce qui équivaut à entre 9M$ et 12M$ aujourd'hui. Devant l'ampleur du désastre et compte tenud du fait que l'établissement décline déjà depuis quelques années à cause des problèmes d'approvisionnement, la compagnie décide de ne pas reconstruire et de plutôt ouvrir un nouveau moulin à scie du côté de Baie Sainte-Catherine, moulin qui est déménagé à nouveau en 1908 du côté de Baie Sainte-Marguerite. L'Anse Saint-Étienne est pour sa part abandonnée par la compagnie Price, qui n'y fait plus guère d'activités jusqu'à la vente du terrain à la municipalité dans les années 1970. Great Fire on the Saguenay Forty Families Homeless A dispatch announces that a big fire has ravaged the village of St Etienne, on the Saguenay, and that forty families are homeless. The telegraph office was also set on fire, making it more difficult to obtain full details, the distance being sixteen miles. The captain of the "Saguenay" boat was asked to stop at St-Etienne and transport homeless people to St-Alexis de Chicoutimi. LATER The large establishment of Price Brothers & Co, wood merchants of St-Etienne, was completely destroyed by fire this afternoon. The losses are considerable and include nearly 200,000 feet of trade lumber, stores and most of the docks. A schooner and two boats which were at the wharf were also destroyed. Forty families are homeless as a result of the conflagration and find themselves running out of food and even clothing. Most of the workers were occupied in the sawmills, and came to Chicoutimi. It is believed that the fire was started by reckless settlers. Losses are estimated between $350,000 and $ 400,000. The steamer "Saguenay" * Mill Village Anse-des-Messieurs Today St Etienne is a popular picnic spot, accessible by road, and there are remains of the old wharfs in the stream. Aujourd'hui, St Etienne est un lieu de pique-nique populaire, accessible par la route, et il reste des vestiges des anciens quais dans le ruisseau. Match up the hills! Circa 1890 >> 2020 Associez les collines! Vers 1890 >> 2020 Anse au Cheval Anse au Cheval Price installs debarkers at Anse au Cheval In 1838, the Société des Vingt-et-Un set up its first sawmills in the region at Petit-Saguenay, at Anse aux Petites-Îles and at Anse au Cheval. After a few years of operation, these two mills were sold to William Price, who did not continue to operate for long. L'Anse au Cheval was therefore abandoned for a few decades until Joseph Desgagné, son of the famous schooner builder Zéphirin Desgagné from L'Anse-Saint-Jean, took a lease there from the land agent of Tadoussac in the 1880s or 1890s. The activities of Joseph Desgagné at Anse au Cheval are not known, but we can assume that he does either cutting or sawing, since he regularly transports wood with his schooners. He then transferred his rights to Onésime Gagné of L'Anse-Saint-Jean, who obviously operated a mill there, since when the latter sold his facilities to the Price company in 1902, the notarial contract mentioned a " mill with machines, machine, kettle, shingle machine, carriage complete with saws and other accessories, ridges, edging saws [...], as well as the house [...], booms and docks used to pound the planks and other woods. " A small colony even developed around these installations, with some families affected by the fire in the village of Saint-Étienne in 1900. The Price company, for its part, operates debarkers there in a factory supplied with energy by steam. The pulpwood thus freed from its bark is then exported by ship to pulp and paper mills in Ontario and the United States. The Anse au Cheval mill was thus in operation for several years, until a law came to prohibit the export of pulpwood in 1910 and thus led to the decline of activities on the site. In 1914, the installations were dismantled and the kettle was transferred to Desbins, where the Price company operated one of the five pulp and paper mills in the region at the time. L'Anse au Cheval was abandoned for good. Price installe des écorceurs à l'Anse au Cheval En 1838, la Société des Vingt-et-Un installe ses premiers moulins à scie dans la région à Petit-Saguenay, soit à l'Anse aux Petites-Îles et à l'Anse au Cheval. Après quelques années d'exploitation, ces deux moulins sont vendus à William Price, qui ne continue pas l'exploitation bien longtemps. L'Anse au Cheval est donc abandonnée pendant quelques décennies jusqu'à ce que Joseph Desgagné, fils du fameux constructeur de goélettes Zéphirin Desgagné de L'Anse-Saint-Jean, y prenne un bail auprès de l'agent des terres de Tadoussac dans les années 1880 ou 1890. Les activitéss de Joseph Desgagné à l'Anse au Cheval ne sont pas connues, mais on peut présumer qu'il y fait soit de la coupe ou du sciage, puisque que celui-ci transporte régulièrement du bois avec ses goélettes. Il transfère ensuite ses droits à Onésime Gagné de L'Anse-Saint-Jean, qui y exploite manifestement un moulin, puisqu'au moment où ce dernier vend ses installations à la compagnie Price en 1902, le contrat notarié fait mention d'un "moulin avec machines, engin, bouilloire, machine à bardeaux, carriage complet avec scies et autres accessoires, buttes, scies à déligner [...], ainsi que la maison [...], booms et quais servant à piler les madriers et autres bois." Une petite colonie s'est même développée autour de ces installations, avec quelques familles sinistrées après le feu du village de Saint-Étienne en 1900. La compagnie Price, pour sa part, y exploite des écorceurs dans une usine alimentée en énergie par la vapeur. Le bois de pulpe ainsi libéré de son écorce est ensuite exporté par bateau vers des usines de pâte et papiers d'Ontario et des États-Unis. Le moulin de l'Anse au Cheval est ainsi en opération pendant plusieurs années, jusqu'à ce qu'une loi vienne interdire l'exportation de bois de pulpe en 1910 et mène ainsi au déclin des activités sur le site. En 1914, on démentèle les installations et on transfère la bouilloire à Desbins, où la compagnie Price opère l'une des cinq usines de pâte et papier de la région à l'époque. L'Anse au Cheval est définitivement abandonnée. 2020 there are some remains of the activities in Anse au Cheval. There are probably more remains in the forest. 2020, il y a quelques vestiges des activités à Anse au Cheval. Il y a probablement plus de restes dans la forêt. Marguerite Baie Saint-Marguerite The "MARGUERITE" is a beautiful place. Marguerite Bay is the mouth of the two Marguerite Rivers, which combine a short distance above the head of the bay. The bay is 2km deep and 1km wide. At high tide it is completely flooded, at low tide mostly dry, with the river running down the middle to the Saguenay. La "Marguerite" est un bel endroit. Marguerite Bay est la bouche des deux Rivières-Marguerite, qui se combinent à une courte distance au-dessus de la tête de la baie. La baie est à 2km de profondeur et un kilomètre de large. A marée haute, il est complètement inondée, à marée basse la plus grande partie est sec, avec la rivière qui coule au milieu au Saguenay. The Marguerite Parc Saguenay Visitors Center today Site of the movie set in 1972 Marguerite Rivers join here Ice Caves Banc des Messieurs Sand Dune Amazing Canal Petite Rigolette Remains of Wharf and crib Northwest Corner The Notch Remains of the Village Beach Saguenay River Belugas Village of Sainte Marguerite, built around the sawmill Circa 1910? Village de Sainte-Marguerite, construit autour de la scierie Periode 1910? About 1930's Remains of the town and the wharf, at high tide Environ 1930 Vestiges de la ville et le quai, à marée haute The "Muriel" anchored in the Marguerite, circa 1930 Below the "Hobo" and the "Bonne Chance" in the same location in 1956, the rocks in the background are the same. This is in the middle of the bay, in the river channel, which never dries out at low tide. Le "Muriel" ancrée dans la Marguerite, vers 1930 Ci-dessous le "Hobo" et la "Bonne Chance" au même endroit en 1956, les roches dans le fond sont les mêmes. Ceci est dans le milieu de la baie, dans le chenal de la rivière, qui ne sèche jamais à marée basse. A trip to the Marguerite in about 1935 Bill Morewood (my uncle) looking at the camera Jim Alexander with the crest on his sweater Not sure who the third guy is. Un voyage à la Marguerite en 1935 environ Bill Morewood (mon oncle) en regardant la caméra Jim Alexander avec la crête sur son chandai La "Marguerite" est un bel endroit. Marguerite Bay est la bouche des deux Rivières-Marguerite, qui se combinent à une courte distance au-dessus de la tête de la baie. La baie est à 2km de profondeur et un kilomètre de large. A marée haute, il est complètement inondée, à marée basse la plus grande partie est sec, avec la rivière qui coule au milieu au Saguenay. Putting up a beacon on the old pier at the Marguerite for 'navigation' July 1937 Herbert, Noel, Self (Jack Molson?) This marker (and other ones) stood on the 'crib' for many years. The crib was the pile of rocks that was the remains of the end of the old wharf, where it reached the river channel. Mettre en place un arbre sur le vieux quai de la Marguerite pour «navigation» Juillet 1937 Herbert, Noel, Self (Jack Molson?) Ce marqueur (et autres) se trouvait sur la «crèche» pour de nombreuses années. La crèche était le tas de pierres qui était les vestiges de la fin de l'ancien quai, où il a atteint le chenal de la rivière. Guy Smith and the 'Hobo' and Lewis Evans's 'Bonne Chance' anchored in the Marguerite in 1956 From the log of the "Bonne Chance" August 13th 1956: 4pm Entered Marguerite, schooner "Hobo" on anchorage, she reported having caught 18, and left for the Islets Rouge. Tuesday I fished half flood at dawn on the point above the crip - 4 trout, one a good size. Fished ebb all morning on Banc des Messieurs taking 17, all but 2 on flies. Trevor (Evans) and John (Price) fished Petite Rigolette (the smaller outlet of the Marguerite over the low tide flats), taking 26. Fished afternoon flood, I getting nothing on main channel, Trevor and John 18 on the Petite Rigolette. Sunny and calm. Below they are dumping water from the Nor-Shore Canoe from the deck of the "Hobo" Guy Smith et la «Hobo» et «Bonne Chance» de Lewis Evans ancrée dans la Marguerite en 1956 À partir du journal de la "Bonne Chance« Le 13 Août 1956: 16:00 Entrée Marguerite, goélette "Hobo" sur l'ancrage, elle a déclaré avoir pris 18, et a quitté pour les îlots Rouge. Mardi, je pêche la moitié inondation à l'aube sur le point au-dessus du berceau - 4 truites, une bonne taille. Pêché ebb toute la matinée sur le Banc des Messieurs prenant 17, tous sauf 2 sur les mouches. Trevor (Evans) et John (Price) pêchées Petite Rigolette (la plus petite sortie de la Marguerite sur les bancs de sable à marée basse), en tenant 26. pêché inondation de l'après-midi, je de ne rien obtenir sur le canal principal, Trevor et John 18 sur la Petite Rigolette. Ensoleillé et calme. Ci-dessous, ils déversent l'eau du canot Nor-Shore de la plate-forme de la "Hobo" In 1972 the movie "Journey" was filmed at the Marguerite, and a small village was built at the head of the bay. The movie was directed by Paul Almond and starred Genvieve Bujold. En 1972, le film "Journey" a été filmé à la Marguerite, et un petit village a été construit à la tête de la baie. Le film a été réalisé par Paul Almond et inclus Genvieve Bujold. Remains of the Wharf, 1951 Les vestiges du quai, 1951 Remains of the Wharf, 1970's Les vestiges du quai, 1970's In 2005 Lewis, Tom and Alan Evans spent a night in the Marguerite on Al's boat the "Trillium", a "reenactment" of the many trips we took there with our father. We fished in all the usual spots but did not catch anything. The trout have made a comeback in recent years, but they are smarter than they used to be! En 2005, Lewis, Tom et Alan Evans ont passé une nuit dans la Marguerite sur le bateau de Al le «Trillium», une «répétition» des nombreux voyages que nous avons là-bas avec notre père. Nous avons pêché dans tous les endroits habituels, mais n'a rien attrapé. Les truites ont fait un retour au cours des dernières années, mais ils sont plus intelligents qu'ils étaient! 2014 we visited the "Ice Caves". At the foot of the large rockslide on the nrth side of the bay, ice can be found under the large boulders in July, and even in August the air was very cold. Natural air conditioning! Look for the small stream and follow it up the hill. 2014 nous avons visité les "grottes de glace". Au pied de la grande éboulement sur le côté nord de la baie, la glace peut être trouvé sous les grands rochers en Juillet. même en Août l'air était très froid. Climatisation naturelle! Cherchez le petit ruisseau et suivre jusqu'à la colline. 61

  • Powel, Robert Hare

    Tadoussac's third summer resident who built the Bailey house Powel, Robert Hare Tadoussac's third summer resident who built the Bailey house Back to ALL Bios Robert Hare Powel – 1825 – 1883 & Amy Smedley Powel – 1825 – 1908 The Powel family came from Pennsylvania. Robert’s father - John Powel Hare (1786 – 1856) was an American agriculturist, politician, art collector, and philanthropist. He was born John Powel Hare and was adopted by his mother's widowed and childless sister, Elizabeth Willing Powel. He legally changed his name to John Hare Powel when he attained his majority and inherited the immense fortune of his late uncle, Samuel Powel. He was educated at The Academy and College of Philadelphia and after college joined a counting house. As part of his job in mercantile affairs, he travelled to Calcutta and returned at age twenty-two with $22,000 as his share of the profit. Robert’s mother, Julia (De Veaux), was the daughter of Colonel Andrew De Veaux. She and John married in 1817. They had seven children: Samuel, De Veaux, Henry Baring, Robert Hare, Julia, John Hare Jr., and Ida. The couple and their young family lived on the Powel family farmland known as Powelton, in west Philadelphia, where John began efforts to improve American agriculture. Robert Hare Powel married Amy Smedley (Bradley) who had been born in 1825, in Chester, Pennsylvania. Together they had six children: Julia De Veaux (1851), William Platt (1853 who only lived one year) Robert Hare jr. (1857), Amy Ida (1858), De Veaux (1861) and Henry Baring (1864) Robert and Amy purchased land in Tadoussac in 1865 from Willis Russell and built a house next door to him (The Bailey house). The adjoining lots were connected by a gate and Mrs Powel visited Mrs Russell nearly every afternoon. These Rhodes, Russell, and Powel properties were referred to as “our three cottages” by the men and the three of them often played whist together in the evening. Mr Powel was said to be “the life of every party” and they were very generous and hospitable to young people from Tadoussac who visited them in Philadelphia, not least some of Col. Rhodes’s sons who worked in Mr Powel’s rail yards. Both Robert Powel and Willis Russell were charter members of the Marguerite Salmon Club. There were a number of other charter members, all American, Willis Russell being the only Canadian. Robert died in 1883. His obituary, taken from The Daily News of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, describes his activities during his career. “Robert Hare Powel, the great coal operator, died suddenly at Saxton, Bedford County, on Monday evening last. His death was caused by indigestion … On Monday morning he was unable to get up and continued to grow worse until about 7 o'clock in the evening when he expired. Dr Brumbaugh, of this place, had been summoned, but the train did not arrive at Saxton until five minutes after Mr Powel died… The intelligence of his sudden death was received here the same evening, and could scarcely be believed, as he had been well on Saturday and was in the best of health. Mr Powel's loss will be greatly felt in this section. He was the first to penetrate the semi-bituminous coal region in this county and the first to ship the coal to the east. He continued to develop not only the vast deposits of coal but of iron and while wealth accumulated as the result of his foresight and sagacity, he sought other channels for investing his means, thereby giving employment to thousands of workmen. He was honest and honourable in business transactions, plain and unassuming in manner, a self-made man.” 4 His widow and family continued to come to Tadoussac in the summers and it wasn’t until 1906, a year before Amy’s death, that the house was sold to Sam and Alfred Piddington. Back to ALL Bios

  • Powel, Herbert de Veaux

    Herbert was in the second generation of the Powel family and was killed in World War 1 at Ypres Powel, Herbert de Veaux Herbert was in the second generation of the Powel family and was killed in World War 1 at Ypres Back to ALL Bios Lance Corporal Herbert de Veaux Powel - 1890 – 1915 Nothing is known of Herbert’s earlier life when he must have come to Tadoussac along with his family. He was the son of Henry Baring Powel and brother to Harky Powel. He became a soldier in the 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment, 1st Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was a Lance-Corporal during the beginning of World War I. He went missing at the Battle of Langemarck during the second Battle of Ypres, on the western front. This was a battle in which the German army released its first gas attack. There was also heavy shelling and his body was never recovered. He is believed to have died on April 22, 1915. Herbert Powel is commemorated in the First World War Book of Remembrance and there is a cross for him at the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. Back to ALL Bios

  • Smith, Gordon Carington

    A career military officer, Gordon served in Italy and in the liberation of France during World War 2 Smith, Gordon Carington A career military officer, Gordon served in Italy and in the liberation of France during World War 2 Back to ALL Bios Gordon Carington Smith 1906 - 1974 Family, dedication to the Canadian Armed Forces, and Tadoussac, were the most important things in the life of Gordon Carington Smith. Gordon was born in 1906 in Quebec City to Robert Harcourt Smith and Mary Valliere Gunn Smith. He was the second of three sons. His older brother was Alexander (Lex) and his younger brother was Guy. They enjoyed a happy childhood growing up on Grande Allée in the English area of Quebec City. In 1911 the family purchased Dufferin House and so began the family love affair with Tadoussac. Following the family tradition, Gordon was educated at Bishop’s College School in Lennoxville, and the Royal Military College in Kingston, from which he graduated in 1927. He completed his engineering degree at McGill in 1929. Immediately, Gordon joined the Royal Canadian Artillery and was appointed a Lieutenant with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery with which he remained until the beginning of World War II when he joined the staff of General Worthington and participated in the formation of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps at Camp Borden. On April 30, 1941, while on his way to England to begin his war service, Gordon’s ship the S.S. Nerissa was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland. He was rescued and proceeded to London. Gordon then served in the Italian Campaign and was twice wounded in action, once while second in command of the British Columbia Dragoons. He served in the liberation of France and ended the war at the Canadian General Reinforcement Unit in Britain. He returned to Canada and his first posting was in Halifax, followed by Kingston, Washington DC, and his final posting was in Ottawa. He received an Honorary Discharge in March 1959. Following his retirement, Gordon and his family moved to Halifax where he joined the architectural firm of Dumaresq and Byrne. He was a loyal board member of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, the Royal Commonwealth Society, and the United Institute of Canada. In 1933 Gordon married Jacqueline Dumaresq of Halifax. They had two children, a son Arthur Harcourt Carington Smith in 1934, and a daughter Eve D’Auvergne Smith in 1939. Also, five grandchildren, Gordon and Christopher Smith and Donald, Janet and Ted McInnes. After family and career, Gordon’s main love was Tadoussac. Whenever possible he and his family would make the trip to Tad. He had sold his share of Dufferin House to Guy Smith in the 1930s so he and his family enjoyed many different cottages. His pride and joy, was his Cape Island boat, Penwa. He was never happier than being in Tad and spending time with his extended family, especially his two beloved brothers. That was his heaven! Gordon died in Halifax in 1974, aged sixty-eight, and is buried there in Fairview Cemetery. Eve Wickwire Back to ALL Bios

  • Burns, Louisa Jane 1846(?) - 1921

    Little is known about Louisa Burns but her Tadoussac connection seems to have been with the Smith family Burns, Louisa Jane 1846(?) - 1921 Little is known about Louisa Burns but her Tadoussac connection seems to have been with the Smith family Back to ALL Bios At the time of the compilation of the book, In the Quiet of This Place we could find nothing about the life of Louisa Jane Burns but since its publication a small amount of information has surfaced. Louisa Jane Burns was the aunt of May Dawson of Toronto and Aileen (Dawson) Smith of Quebec City. She had about ten other nieces and nephews including Charles Carington Smith (husband of Aileen) and Dudley Dawson. I’m guessing Charles Carington Smith was a nephew by marriage. Maybe Louisa’s maiden name was Dawson. Louise was born in about 1846 and, widowed, she was 75 at the time of her death. She lived at 90 Forest Hill Road in Toronto North. At the time of her death, she lived with May Dawson, who was 51, her grand niece and nephew, Carington D. Smith (18) and Noel Lavina Smith (16), and their cook, Emily Helen Padfield (51). It is probable that Louisa came to Tadoussac because of her niece, Aileen’s, connection to the Smith family. She died in Tadoussac on August 4th, 1921. Back to ALL Bios

  • Beattie, James R. & Anne Macfarlane

    James and Anne loved their home in Chambly and their summer-long vacations in Tadoussac. Beattie, James R. & Anne Macfarlane James and Anne loved their home in Chambly and their summer-long vacations in Tadoussac. Back to ALL Bios James R. Beattie 1900 – 1989 & Anne Macfarlane Beattie 1908 – 1984 James was born in Montreal in March 1900 - so we always knew how old he was! He was the youngest of four, preceded by brothers William and Donald, and sister Jessie Bertram. He spent his career in real estate. Anne was born in Montreal in August, 1908, and graduated with a B.A. from McGill University. It was while working in the library that she first met James, and they were married in August, 1934. Anne was the eldest of four children, followed by Isobel Farquharson, Robert Macfarlane and Alice Konow, all of whom later visited Anne and James in Tadoussac with their families. James and Anne bought an old stone house on the Richelieu River in Chambly, about 30 km southeast of Montreal and there they had four children; Nancy, Benny, Alison and Janet. James and Anne loved living in Chambly, where they had a large garden with lawns, grape vines, vegetable and flower gardens, six apple trees and a pond for James’s goldfish in the summer. He enjoyed fishing in the rapids behind the house, and in the fall, shooting woodcock in the woods nearby. In the winter, he used to shoot foxes, and there were a number of fox fur blankets in our Tadoussac house. During World War II, Anne did volunteer work with the local Red Cross. She was an avid reader, went for daily walks, and enjoyed skiing in the Laurentians. In Montreal she was active with the Grenfell Mission, the University Women's Club, the Red Feather (Centraide), as well as volunteering at the Montreal General Hospital cafeteria gift shop. James was first attracted to Tadoussac because it is hay fever free. As a child, Anne had summered with her family across the St. Lawrence in Cacouna, but after she was married, it was Tadoussac for the rest of her life. Here she swam in the lake and played golf and tennis. James, however, had absolutely no interest in using a racquet to hit a ball back and forth over a net stretched between two posts, nor using a club to hit a little white ball around a mowed field. His love was fly fishing; speckled trout in his secret lakes, sea trout in the Saguenay with Lewis Evans, and salmon fishing on the Saint Marguerite River. And he always wore a tie (usually a Macfarlane tartan tie, same one he wore gardening and going to church!) and jacket, even while gardening, fishing and at picnics on the beach. He often had a cigarette or cigar stub in his mouth, but never inhaled. (In 1919, a doctor advised him to try smoking to help his asthma!) His trademark was the jeep, an old Land Rover which he drove everywhere including down to the beach at Moulin Baude. James and Anne both loved picnics, be they day-long visits to Moulin Baude or birthday bonfires at night on the beach. They loved the fresh, Saguenay-mountain air and the Lower St. Lawrence salty air, and Anne never missed a chance to dash quickly in and out of the water, always accompanied by the shrieks and sounds familiar to those who brave these frigid waters. And berry-picking. Berry-picking was always an important household activity; wild strawberries, followed by raspberries and then blueberries. The house rule was “if you don't pick them, you don't eat them”. And always, those black flies! In late August, the adults picked cranberries, then spent an evening in the kitchen around the woodstove making the cranberry sauce for Christmas dinner. James was treasurer of our Tadoussac Protestant Chapel for a number of years. He and Jack Molson spent endless hours planning and creating the Canadian Heritage of Quebec in an effort to preserve both artefacts and some of the historic properties that were in danger of development along both coasts of the St. Lawrence River. They bought Tadoussac’s original Pilot House which was the red brick house beside Tadalac. This became part of the Molson-Beattie Museum, and is now a summer rental property. For many years, James and Anne would drive down to Tadoussac for May 24th and Thanksgiving long weekends to add to their summers here. Dad loved Tadoussac so much that he never wanted to travel anywhere else. Mom was happiest when her sisters and their families were holidaying with us. In the evenings after a day filled with various activities, she enjoyed a quiet read or a game of bridge. Anne died in her beloved Tadoussac at the age of 76 in the summer of 1984. James died in Montreal in the early summer of 1989 at the age of 89. Bottom Photo Trevor Evans, James Beattie, Stockwell Day on Lewis Evans's Yawl "Bonne Chance" in the 1960's Back to ALL Bios

  • Urquhart, Alexander

    One of our first summer residents who converted and lived in what is now the Hotel Georges Urquhart, Alexander One of our first summer residents who converted and lived in what is now the Hotel Georges Back to ALL Bios Alexander Urquhart 1816 - 1897 Alexander Urquhart was born in Cawdor, Nairnshire, Scotland on April 14, 1816. He was the eldest of the family of the seven children of his mother, Mary MacDonald and his father John Urquhart. His two brothers were James Kyle and Charles Calder Mackintosh and his sisters May, Isabella, Jessie and Mary. He came to Canada in June of 1840 and joined the congregation of St. Gabriel Street Presbyterian Church in Montreal, which was then the wealthiest and best attended churches in the city. Shortly after his arrival in Montreal, he went to Quebec City where he lived for four years and was married to Elizabeth Cumming. He returned to Montreal in 1844 and established a business, Alexander Urquhart & Company. The enterprise started as a wholesale grocery business which grew and diversified over time. The company imported goods from Europe and the Caribbean. Its products were sold in Quebec and Ontario, and also in the burgeoning regions of the Canadian North West – the Red River District and beyond. He was an active member of the congregation of the St. Gabriel Street Church holding the position of treasurer from 1844 to 1846. He remained involved in the administration of the church before moving to St. Andrew’s Church in 1855. By this time his business had become well established, and he was a prominent member of the Montreal business community. His Montreal home was on Côte de Neiges just above Sherbrooke Street in the sector known as the Golden Square Mile. His sister May married Alexander Begg a druggist of Quebec City and his brother James Kyle came to Canada and was closely associated with Alexander’s business interests. His interest in Tadoussac was most likely kindled through his involvement in the Tadoussac Hotel and Sea Bathing Company. The company principals included others such as William Rhodes, William Russell and Joseph Radford. The group built the first Hotel Tadoussac which opened its doors in 1864. Urquhart was also one of the founders and Tadoussac Protestant Chapel which conducted its first protestant services in 1866. In 1864, he purchased the land and buildings above the wharf at L’Anse à l’Eau from David Price. The land was on the opposite side of the road from a house built in 1863 by his colleague Joseph Radford. He converted the large square building on the property into a spacious summer home. The redesigned residence included a windowed dome on the roof from which he could keep an eye on the shipping that brought his goods from Montreal to supply the needs of the Hotel Tadoussac. Alexander and Elizabeth Urquhart had three daughters: May, Charlotte and Mary. The family spent their summers in Tadoussac and the daughters, along with the two sons of Alexander and May Begg, participated in the social functions of the time. Godfrey Rhodes diary recounts evening dances with the Urquharts at Tadoussac summer residences. The youthful energy levels and late-night antics among the young in Tadoussac have a long history as does the patience of parents and grandparents. Alexander Urquhart continued actively in his business until 1875 when he retired. He died on May 28, 1897 in Montreal. The Urquhart family continued to spend their summers in Tadoussac until 1905. Prepared by: L. John Leggat Sources The McCord Museum, Montreal The Montreal Gazette, May 1897 A History, Scotch Presbyterian Church, St Gabriel Street, Montreal; by Rev Robert Campbell Tadoussac, The Sands of Summer by Benny Beattie Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America Vieux.Montréal.qc.ca Godfrey Rhodes Diary, 1862 to 1873 Photos at left Alexander Urquhart Mrs Urquhart Photos at right Miss Mary Urquhart Mis E C (Charlotte?) Urquhart Photos by Notman 1863 (McCord Museum) Back to ALL Bios

  • Smith, Lex & Mary Isabelle (Atkinson) 1911 - 1984

    Lex and Mary owned Bayview Cottage in the 1960s where they entertained many people Smith, Lex & Mary Isabelle (Atkinson) 1911 - 1984 Lex and Mary owned Bayview Cottage in the 1960s where they entertained many people Back to ALL Bios Alexander Harcourt Carington Smith 1895-1975 & Mary Isabelle (Atkinson) 1911 - 1984 Lex, as he was known, was born in Quebec City in 1895 and was the eldest son of Robert Harcourt Smith and Mary Valliere (Gunn). He had two younger brothers, Gordon and Guy. He was educated at Bishop’s College School in Lennoxville, Quebec. In 1931 he married Mary Isabelle Atkinson in Levis, Quebec and they lived for many years on Pine Avenue in Quebec. He and Mary had one daughter, Susan, born in 1942. During World War II, Lex and Mary cared for two refugee children from England, Richard, and Elizabeth. They returned to their family in London after the war but the two families remained in touch for many years. Mary was a talented knitter and a superb home chef as well as a community volunteer, especially with the Women’s Auxiliary, and during the war, she even learned auto mechanics! Lex was an importer and manufacturer’s agent of fishing and camping supplies and a long-time member of the Garrison Club in Quebec City. He was a keen outdoorsman and fisherman who tied his own flies. He was never happier than fishing at the Sainte Marguerite River with Uncle Art and his two brothers. Lex and Mary purchased Bayview Cottage (now owned by the Stairs family) and it became known to the family as the fun place to be in Tadoussac. Mary was the most gracious hostess. Serving dinner to ten or fifteen family and friends was not unusual. They were great friends with Micheline Caron and George Kenilworth Craig who often stayed with Lex and Mary in the summer. Lex died in 1975 in Quebec City. The last years of Mary’s life were spent living with her daughter Susan and her husband Keith Robbins in and around Guelph, Ontario. Lex and Mary are buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery in Quebec City. Eve Wickwire Back to ALL Bios

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