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  • 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, Robert Harcourt Carington

    Robert Harcourt was the first of the Smith family to own Dufferin House, buying it in 1911 Smith, Robert Harcourt Carington Robert Harcourt was the first of the Smith family to own Dufferin House, buying it in 1911 Back to ALL Bios Robert Harcourt Carington Smith 1858 - 1913 & Mary Valliere Gunn 1865 - 1931 Harky, as he was known, was born in Quebec City in 1858, and was the eldest son of Robert Herbert Smith and Amelia Jane LeMesurier. He was educated at Bishop College School, in Lennoxville. He was a keen sportsman his whole life, winning many events in local sports and participating in the Thistle Lacrosse League, Quebec Snowshoe Club, and the Quebec Golf Club. In business, he was a partner in the square timber and lumber firm of J. and W. Sharples and Co. and was recognized as one of the ablest and most reliable lumber merchants in Canada. According to his obituary, “He was a man of unusual business acumen and was devoted to his firm’s interest as well as his family.” In 1894 he married Mary Valliere Gunn of Kingston, Ontario. They had four sons (Eric who died in infancy), Alexander (Lex) born in 1895, Gordon, born in 1906, and Guy, born in 1908. In 1911 he purchased Dufferin House from the Dale family, and thus began the long history of the Smith family in Tadoussac. Harky died in 1913 of pneumonia at the age of fifty-four. He is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery in Quebec City. 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

  • Wallace, Michael Sydney

    An award-winning sportsman and family man with a great love for Tadoussac Wallace, Michael Sydney An award-winning sportsman and family man with a great love for Tadoussac Back to ALL Bios Michael Sydney Wallace - March 21, 1927 - June 12, 2007 Michael Sydney Wallace was born in Montreal in 1927, the son of Mary(Williams) and Jack Wallace of Westmount, PQ. Michael was the youngest brother of Nan (m. Bob Leggat) and Jack (m. Mary Hawkings). Michael’s great love for Tadoussac remained with him his whole life; spending every summer and holiday with his loving family, extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles and close friends. He had wonderful memories of learning to sail, chasing whales, fishing, boating, playing golf and tennis. It remained a special place in his heart even when he was away. Growing up in Montreal, Michael spent his early years in boarding school at Bishop’s College School. He was so proud of his grandfather, Bishop Lennox Williams and his great grandfather Bishop James Williams who had a founding role in the school. The education and experience there had a lasting effect on Michael. After graduation Michael spent extra years as the ski instructor to continue his experience as a committed alumni. He excelled in all sports, playing anywhere he could. Being on the National Squash team was a proud achievement as was winning awards in tennis, rugby and hockey. His deep love of hockey carried his devotion for the Montreal Habs throughout his professional commitment to the Winnipeg Jets working with Bobby Hull and the management team of the WHA. Enjoying all aspects of the world of accounting throughout his career as a Chartered Accountant, Michael was also proud of his role as Chairman of the Board at St. John’s Ravenscourt in Winnipeg, Manitoba where all his children attended. His commitment to the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the WHA will also be remembered. Michael met Josephine Dill in 1953 and they were married a year later. Together they raised four wonderful children; Christopher (m. Katie Thompson), Derek (m. MaryAnn Lee), Sarah (m. Paul Hambleton) and Alistair (m. Corinne Schuster). They raised their family in Montreal, then Toronto and Winnipeg, ending finally in Toronto again. Michael was a wonderful husband, caring father and delighted grandfather of nine grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He passed at the early age of 80 to cancer in 2007, surrounded by close family. He and Josie spent 53 beautiful years together. Michael’s love of life, never-ending support, love and encouragement, along with his great sense of humour will be with us always. Sarah Wallace Photo at right Michael Wallace and Peter Turcot Photos below Lennox Williams, not sure, Sidney Williams, ?, Michael Wallace, Mary (Williams) Wallace, Bar (Hampson) Alexander Campbell, Jack Wallace, Enid (Price) Williams ~1940's Ron Alexander, Joan Williams (Ballantyne), Susan Williams (Webster), Michael Wallace ~1935 Back to ALL Bios

  • Tides of Tadoussac

    Tadoussac Historical Photos and Stories - History of Tadoussac CLUB de TENNIS TADOUSSAC TADOUSSAC TENNIS CLUB 1890's - Houses at the top of the hill. The hotel was enlarged in 1898 so this is earlier, before golf? 1890 - Maisons en haut de la colline. L'hôtel a été agrandi en 1898 donc c'est plus tôt, avant de golf?

  • Evans to Fitzmaurice | tidesoftadoussac1

    Evans to Fitzmaurice Ancestry.com, Wikipedia, and a visit to the family ruins in Ireland! Warning - Contains obscure details of ancestors that may not even be yours NEXT PAGE This starts with someone we know, Thomas Frye Lewis Evans, the Dean, who was born in 1846 and came to Tadoussac to be our Protestant Minister from the 1890's until his death in 1919. He married twice, May Bethune (> Trevor Evans m Dorothy Rhodes > Phoebe Evans Skutezky & Ainslie Evans Stephen & Trevor Evans & Tim Evans> and then he married Emily Evans (> R Lewis Evans m Betty Morewood > Anne, Lewis, Tom, Alan Evans). Dean Lewis Evans' father was Francis Evans, born in 1803 in Ireland in the house shown here, which still exists. >>>>> Francis Evans came to Canada in about 1830 with his wife Maria Lewis, and had a parish in southern Ontario, near Simcoe. The Evans family came to Ireland from England in about 1600 (Robert Evans). Following a different line, I found other much older Irish ancestors. William Fitzmaurice 1633-1697 was the Baron of Kerry in Ireland, my 6-great grandfather (you have about 250 6-great grandparents) and he had a house that is now a very cool RUIN. Keep going, you're coming to the good part... So we're descended from all those Barons of Kerry through the FEMALE line All Daughters C Fitzmaurice Margery Cox Mary Gabbett Mary-Anne Thomas married Nicholas EVANS (Minor detail you can skip>> Unfortunately we jump out of the line just as they made it to EARL, Thomas Fitzmaurice in 1723 (he'd be my 5-great uncle). The Earls of Kerry seem to have moved back to England and have a pile in Wiltshire. Some have been british politicians including Lord Lansdowne who was GG of Canada 1883-1888 (a cousin!). Anyway in Wiki there's tons of stuff about all the Earls http://fitzmaurice.info/irish.html) The HOUSE, now a RUIN is in LIXNAW, Kerry, near Tralee, Ireland. As it says here they lived in this house for 500 years until it FELL INTO RUIN 1700's House Gazebo So I went there (June 2015). It's a very cool site, some curious cows and a few electric fences! In need of repairs. The Interior - the Living Room? Probably the Stairs Out in the back, a cute Gazebo, with a strange tunnel underneath. There were badger holes nearby so I didn't go in... The Family Tree? NEXT PAGE

  • Col.William Rhodes & Anne Catherine Dunn | tidesoftadoussac1

    Col William Rhodes and Anne Dunn Col. William Rhodes 1821-1892 Anne Catherine Dunn 1823-1911 Anne Dunn was the grandaughter of Hon.Thomas Dunn (1729-1818, Governor of Lower Canada in the early 1800's) William Rhodes was born at Bramhope Hall in Yorkshire in 1821, the son of William Rhodes 1791-1869 and Ann Smith ?-1827 Above, at Benmore with daughters Below, at Tadoussac with daughters and grandchildren John and Frank Morewood William Rhodes and his brother James At Benmore with daughter Minnie Col. & Mrs Rhodes and family on the lawn at Brynhyfryd about 1880's Family and friends early 1890's in Tadoussac Granny and some of her Grandchildren early 1900's Granny with family and friends about 1907 Biography of Col. William Rhodes from Quebec National Assembly website Né à Bramhope Hall, dans le Yorkshire, en Angleterre, le 29 novembre 1821, fils de William Rhodes, capitaine dans le 19th Lancers, l'ancien 19th Light Dragoons, et d'Ann Smith. Entra dans l'armée britannique en mai 1838, à titre d'enseigne dans le 68th Foot (Durham-Light Infantry); arriva au Canada en août 1841 et servit à Québec d'octobre 1842 à mai 1844. Retourna en Angleterre, mais revint dans la colonie en 1847; cette année-là, quitta les rangs de l'armée avec le grade de capitaine. En 1848, acheta le domaine de Benmore, à Sillery, où il s'établit et s'occupa d'horticulture. Engagé, avec Evan John Price et d'autres, dans l'exploration et l'exploitation minière dans les comtés de Wolfe et de Mégantic, pendant les années 1860. Administrateur de nombreuses compagnies, parmi lesquelles la Banque d'Union du Bas-Canada, dont il avait été l'un des fondateurs, et le Grand Tronc; fut président de la Compagnie d'entrepôt de Québec et de la Compagnie du pont de Québec, qu'il contribua à mettre sur pied, ainsi que des chemins de fer de Québec et Richmond, Québec et Trois-Pistoles, et de la Compagnie du chemin de fer de la rive nord. Élu député de Mégantic en 1854; appuya généralement les réformistes, puis les bleus. Ne s'est pas représenté en 1858. Entra au cabinet Mercier le 7 décembre 1888 en qualité de commissaire de l'Agriculture et de la Colonisation. Élu député libéral de Mégantic à l'Assemblée législative à une élection partielle le 27 décembre 1888. Défait en 1890; démissionna du cabinet le 27 juin. Cofondateur en 1851 de l'Association de la salle musicale de Québec. Président en 1883 et 1884 de la Société de géographie de Québec. Président de la Société d'horticulture; l'un des promoteurs du Mérite agricole, créé en 1890. Juge de paix. Lieutenant-colonel dans la milice, mais connu comme étant le colonel Rhodes. Décédé dans sa résidence de Benmore, à Sillery, le 16 février 1892, à l'âge de 70 ans et 2 mois. Après des obsèques célébrées dans l'église anglicane St. Michael, fut inhumé dans le cimetière Mount Hermon, le 19 février 1892. Avait épousé dans la cathédrale anglicane Holy Trinity, à Québec, le 16 juin 1847, Anne Catherine Dunn, fille de Robert Dunn, qui avait été assistant au cabinet du secrétaire civil, et de Margaret Bell; elle était la petite-fille de Thomas Dunn et de Mathew Bell. Juin 2009 Biography of Col. William Rhodes from Quebec National Assembly website Born in Bramhope Hall , Yorkshire , England, November 29, 1821 , son of William Rhodes , Captain in the 19th Lancers , the former 19th Light Dragoons, and Ann Smith. Entered the British army in May 1838 as an ensign in the 68th Foot ( Durham Light Infantry ) arrived in Canada in August 1841 and served in Quebec from October 1842 to May 1844. Returned to England, but returned to the colony in 1847 and left the ranks of the army with the rank of captain. In 1848, purchased the estate of Benmore, Sillery, where he settled and engaged in horticulture. Engaged with Evan John Price and others in exploration and mining in the counties of Wolfe and Mégantic, during the 1860s. Director of several companies, including the Union Bank of Lower Canada, where he was one of the founders, and the Grand Trunk. President of the Company Warehouse Quebec and Quebec Bridge Company, which he helped to establish, as well as railway Quebec and Richmond, Quebec City and Trois- Pistoles, the Company of the railway on the north shore . Elected MP for Mégantic in 1854, generally supported the reformists and the blues. Was not represented in 1858. Joined the Mercier cabinet December 7, 1888 as Commissioner of Agriculture and Colonization. Elected Liberal MP for Mégantic in the Legislative Assembly in a by-election December 27, 1888. Defeated in 1890 , resigned from the cabinet on June 27. Co-founder in 1851 of the Association of Quebec Music. President in 1883 and 1884 of the Geographical Society of Quebec. President of the Horticultural Society, one of the promoters of Agricultural Merit, created in 1890. Justice of the Peace. Lieutenant- Ccolonel in the militia, but known as Colonel Rhodes. Died at his home in Benmore, Sillery, February 16, 1892, at the age of 70 years and 2 months. After the funeral celebrated in the Anglican Church of St. Michael, was buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery , February 19, 1892. Married in the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity , Quebec City, June 16, 1847, Catherine Anne Dunn, daughter of Robert Dunn, who had been assistant to the Office of Civil Secretary , and Margaret Bell. She was the granddaughter of Thomas Dunn and Mathew Bell. June 2009 Longer (english) b iography on the Bios Page>> www.tidesoftadoussac.com/tadbios/rhodes%2C-col.-william-and-anne-catherine-(dunn) Col Rhodes made the cover of this magazine in 1998 put out by the National Archives, with an article about William Notman's Hunting Photographs, this one was taken in 1866. Col Rhodes was aquainted with the Canadian Painter Cornelius Krieghoff, in Quebec City, and bought several paintings from him. These paintings passed down through the family. Our family owned one called "Frozen River" which was sold at auction in the 1980's. It is now in the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. Col Rhodes is actually in this painting by Krieghoff. The text at left describes the painting. 29

  • Goelettes | tidesoftadoussac1

    PREVIOUS Goelettes NEXT PAGE Listen to the Foghorn in the 1970's! Click on the button to hear Tadoussac Harbour Sounds recorded by Patrick O'Neill Waves and Foghorns! Foggy Night at the Beach - Partick O'Neill 00:00 / 00:00 Cliquez sur le bouton pour entendre Sons du Port de Tadoussac enregistré par Patrick O'Neill Des Vagues et des Cornes de Brume! Two terrific photographs from the 1940's. Above, one goelette down to its ribs and others that may be still in use. Lots of boats, canoes, and interesting buildings along the beach. Right, the cover of a book by Camille Pacreau who took many great photos of Tadoussac. Is it the same wreck, if so it has rotated 90 degrees!? Deux superbes photographies des années 40. Ci-dessus, une goelette détériorée et d'autres qui peuvent être encore utilisées. Beaucoup de bateaux, de canoës et de bâtiments intéressants le long de la plage. À droite, la couverture d'un livre de Camille Pacreau qui a pris de très belles photos de Tadoussac. Est-ce la même épave, si c'est le cas, elle a tourné de 90 degrés ! My father, Lewis Evans, was fascinated by the boats in Tadoussac, especially the goelettes. He wrote this magazine article in 1979. Mon père, Lewis Evans, était fasciné par les bateaux de Tadoussac, en particulier les goelettes. Il a écrit cet article de magazine en 1979. JEAN RICHARD The JEAN RICHARD was the last goélette to be built, and one of the biggest. There was an NFB film made about the construction. It often wintered in the dry dock in Tadoussac. The remains can still be found, in Ottawa ! Read on>> Le JEAN RICHARD fut la dernière goélette à être construite et l’une des plus grandes. Un film de l'ONF a été réalisé sur la construction. Il hivernait souvent à la cale sèche de Tadoussac. On peut encore trouver l'épave, à Ottawa! Lire la suite >> The best collection of photos of Goelettes is the Facebook page "Amateur Goelette de Bois du Quebec" (use the button). I've included a few photos and screen shots from this great site! Thanks to everyone for the photos La meilleure collection de photos de Goelettes est la page Facebook "Goelette amateur de Bois du Québec" (utilisez le bouton). J'ai inclus quelques photos et captures d'écran de ce site formidable! Merci à tous pour les photos! Amateur Goelette de Bois du Quebec Paul-Emile Carré, on the left and Philippe Lavoie during the launch of the last schooner of the St. Lawrence: JEAN RICHARD in 1959 JEAN RICHARD, built in Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois in 1958, was the last Goelette from Charlevoix la JEAN RICHARD, construite a Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois en 1958, fut la derniere goelette provenant de Charlevoix In 1965 I went to Tadoussac with my family and of course we visited the dry dock, that's me and my brothers on the left, photos by Lewis Evans. The Jean Richard is the biggest! En 1965, je suis allé à Tadoussac avec ma famille et, bien sûr, nous avons visité la cale sèche, c’est moi et mes frères à gauche, des photos de Lewis Evans. Le Jean Richard est le plus gros! JEAN RICHARD was renamed VILLE DE VANIER and used as a tour boat on the Ottawa River. Eventually it sank and was dumped in a stream off the Ottawa River, in Lac Leamy Park. JEAN RICHARD a été renommé VILLE DE VANIER et utilisé comme bateau-mouche sur la rivière des Outaouais. Finalement, il a coulé et a été déversé dans un ruisseau au bord de la rivière des Outaouais, dans le parc du lac Leamy. JEAN RICHARD is still there! Photos from Google Earth JEAN RICHARD est toujours là! Photos de Google Earth If you want to see it, it's easy! Park at the entrance to the graveyard on Boulevard Fournier in Gatineau (Hull). Cross the road and then the pedestrian Bridge , and walk along the shore to the site. It's not visible from the bridge, you have to go through a small forest. It's very impressive! (Summer or Fall is best, when water levels are low) Si vous voulez le voir, c'est facile! Garez-vous à l'entrée du cimetière du boulevard Fournier à Gatineau (Hull). Traverser la route puis le pont piétonnier et longer le rivage jusqu'au site. Ce n'est pas visible depuis le pont, il faut traverser une petite forêt. C'est très impressionnant! (L’été ou l’automne est préférable lorsque les niveaux d’eau sont bas) I went there and took these photos, in SEPTEMBER 2019. There was this object sitting on the bank, VERY heavy, probably lead ballast? That's probably why the Jean Richard has stayed in one place for 30 years. J'y suis allé et j'ai pris ces photos, en septembre 2019. Il y avait cet objet assis sur la rive, TRÈS lourd, probablement du lest de plomb? C'est probablement pourquoi le Jean Richard est au même endroit depuis 30 ans. NFB Film about the construction and launch of JEAN RICHARD. It is 30 minutes long but very interesting. Check out 25:25 for the launch JEAN RICHARD Film de l'ONF sur la construction et le lancement de JEAN RICHARD. C'est 30 minutes mais très intéressant. Départ à 25h25 pour le lancement H.A.B. The H.A.B. rested against the Tadoussac wharf in the late 1960's, where many photos were taken, several by me! The bottom of the boat can still be found on the beach near the Clay Cliffs at low tide. Le H.A.B. reposé contre le quai de Tadoussac à la fin des années 1960, où de nombreuses photos ont été prises, plusieurs par moi! Le fond du bateau peut encore être trouvé sur la plage près des Clay Cliffs à marée basse. Port Alfred, Saguenay, circa 1960 The H.A.B. in the dry dock at Tadoussac, with the yawl of Lewis Evans, circa 1965. Le H.A.B. en cale sèche à Tadoussac, avec le yawl de Lewis Evans, vers 1965. LOUIS G. In about 1958 the "Jamboree" (seen in the corner) cruised the St Lawrence with Lewis Evans, Coosie and Harold Price. Crossing the river in fog on the return trip they followed this goelette for a while, but it turned upriver and they had to strike out to Tadoussac alone in the fog, blowing! a manual foghorn. They were almost hit by a russian freighter that mistook them for a buoy, but lived to tell the tale and bring us the photo. Painting by Tom Evans Vers 1958, le «Jamboree» (vu dans le coin) a navigué le Saint-Laurent avec Lewis Evans, Coosie et Harold Price. En traversant la rivière dans le brouillard lors du retour, ils ont suivi cette goelette, mais ils se sont dirigés et ils ont dû frapper à Tadoussac seul dans le brouillard, soufflant! un brouillard manuel! Ils ont été presque frappés par un cargo russe qui les a trompés pour une bouée, mais a vécu pour raconter l'histoire et nous apporter la photo. Peinture de Tom Evans Below Louis G & CSL Bateaux Blancs ALYS In 1972 I was in Tadoussac with some friends, and two of them were travelling on to the Maritimes via the ferry at St Simeon. On the way to the ferry I took them down to Port au Persil, and we found the Goelette ALYS there on the beach. I had a RolleiFlex 2 1/4 camera and took these photos. En 1972, j'étais à Tadoussac avec des amis, et deux d'entre eux allaient dans les Maritimes par le ferry de Saint-Simeon. Sur le chemin nous sommes descendus à Port au Persil, et nous avons trouvé le Goelette ALYS là sur la plage. J'ai eu un RolleiFlex 2 1/4 appareil photo et a pris ces photos. Above, Aida and Peter Below, Peter and Tom Evans (moi même!) Sheila St Simeon 1972 St Simeon 1972 When signs were bilingual We had my Dad's Ford Station Wagon! Thanks Dad! We had fun! St Simeon 1972 Quand les signes étaient bilingues Nous avions le Ford Station Wagon de mon père! Merçi papa! Nous nous sommes amusés! The best collection of photos of Goelettes is the Facebook page "Amateur Goelette de Bois du Quebec" (use the button) where I found several earlier photos of ALYS in operation which I have included. La meilleure collection de photos de Goelettes est la page Facebook "Goelette amateur de Bois du Québec" (utilisez le bouton) où j'ai trouvé plusieurs photos d'ALYS en opération que j'ai inclus. Amateur Goelette de Bois du Quebec

  • Alexander, James (Jim) Okeden

    An avid sportsman, Jimmy's life as an RAF pilot was cut short in a bombing raid during World War 2 Alexander, James (Jim) Okeden An avid sportsman, Jimmy's life as an RAF pilot was cut short in a bombing raid during World War 2 Back to ALL Bios James Okeden Alexander 1918 - 1941 Born in 1918, at Caterham, Surrey in England while his father was fighting in the trenches during World War I, he was the eldest grandchild of Bishop Lennox W. Williams and Annie (Nan) Rhodes. At age twelve Jimmy went to BCS. He ran in five cross-country races, wrote poetry, became a marksman and in 1935 won the Greenshields Scholarship to McGill University, which he declined because he entered the Royal Military College in Kingston. He graduated from RMC in 1939 with the first prize in mechanical and electrical engineering and the Harris-Bigelow trophy for the best combination of athletic and academic ability. Jimmy’s summers were spent in Tadoussac at his grandparent’s house, Brynhyfryd, with his mother, his sister Jean Aylan-Parker, and cousins Nan (Wallace) Leggat and her brother Jackie Wallace. Among his many childhood friends were Ted and Evan Price, Billy Morewood, Betty (Morewood) Evans, Phoebe (Evans) Skutezky and Ainslie (Evans) Stephen. In July of 1935, Jimmy and his friend Teddy Price stood on the wharf as the CSL steamship pulled in and a roadster bumped its way up the gangplank onto the dock. In the back were two beautiful young sisters Bar and Mary Hampson aged sixteen and seventeen. Teddy said to Jimmy; “That one’s mine!” and Jimmy replied; “the other one’s for me!” Four years later as World War II began, Jimmy married Bar and Teddy married Mary. When Jimmy graduated from RMC, he decided on a career in the air force. He trained with the RCAF at Camp Borden and Trenton and was awarded his wings and the Sir John Siddeley trophy for the highest marks and qualities as a pilot. As the then small Canadian force had few career opportunities for flying, he chose a career in the Royal Air Force and on graduation from RMC he was granted a regular commission in the RAF. The dark clouds of World War II were approaching and the summer of 1938 was the last time the family was all together in Tadoussac. His father, Major General Ronald Alexander would assume Pacific Command as the war began. His mother Gertrude would also move to Victoria B.C. with his brother Ronnie (aged seven). His sister Jean would marry John Aylan-Parker and go overseas to the war in early 1940. Jimmy sailed to England in March 1940, to join the RAF for a career in the permanent force. Bar followed soon after and they were married in England in early May. Jimmy went over to France with the Air Advanced Striking Force. As the German forces drove the allies back to the English Channel and France collapsed, the historic evacuation from Dunkirk and other French ports saved the retreating armies and brought them back to England to fight again. Jimmy’s squadron abandoned their aircraft and he found himself on the liner Lancastria being evacuated with over five thousand others. The ship was bombed and quickly sank. Jimmy went overboard, was rescued but soon dove in again to save a woman’s life and was later awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for Valour. During 1940 and 1941, Jimmy and Bar moved with his squadron wherever it was based. After a few months with his squadron in Iceland, he went to Northern Ireland. Bar was in Suffolk in December 1940 when their son Michael was born. They all settled in Belfast in January 1941, but their home was bombed while they were away at Easter. As war raged and the German Luftwaffe was bombing England’s cities, they were able to get together with Ted and Mary Price (Bar’s sister) and John and Jean Aylan-Parker (Jimmy’s sister) who were also stationed in England. Michael, Greville Price and Ronnie Aylan-Parker were all born within months of each other. Jimmy was now flying almost daily raids over enemy territory with RAF Bomber Command Squadron 88. In the summer of 1941, as Flight Lieutenant with two crew members, he flew his Blenheim bomber from their base in Norfolk. Their targets were the factories and shipping in German-occupied Rotterdam, Holland. The Dutch were friends and allies. Jimmy’s squadron flew in daylight, as low as possible over the factories, so they could bomb accurately and avoid killing the civilian population. Winston Churchill described it. “The devotion and gallantry of the attack on Rotterdam is beyond all praise. The charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava is eclipsed in brightness by these daily deeds of fame.” On August 28, 1941, Jimmy and his crew were shot down over Rotterdam. He is buried there in Croswijck Municipal Cemetery beside the graves of his two crew. He was twenty-three years old. Today, one hundred and thirty-five graves of young fliers from Commonwealth countries who were killed over Holland, 1940 - 44, lie there in rows. They were all under the age of twenty-five. In his memoirs, his father Ronald describes Jimmy’s outlook on life as “such a happy one and he hated seeing anybody unhappy. He loved all games, flying, seeing new places, and his fellow men. His God, his faith and his religion meant a great deal to him and were very real. Poetry appealed to him. In one of his letters from RMC he wrote: ‘Sometimes I think I’d like to take up poetry seriously, but it is rather a life for men of mind and not men who have physical abilities. But a poet does so much for mankind.’” While at BCS, seven years before, Jimmy wrote a poem titled ‘To Friends’. This is the final verse: Long after friends have left us, their memory still will last; The memory of those happy days, those days that now are past: And we will not forget them, until at last we be With them once more united, for all eternity. Jimmy’s short life was full. However, life goes on in his legacy: his wife, Bar (Hampson) Campbell who died in September 2008; his son Michael and wife Judy; his two grandchildren, Nan (Doyal) and Jim Alexander and five great-grandchildren, Alexander and Aidan Doyal and Joe, MaryJane and Rosemarie Alexander. They all spend part of their summers in Tadoussac. Michael Alexander Photos above Jim and sister Jean (Aylan-Parker) Jim and Bar (Hampson) Jim Jim Photos below Jim, Michael, and Bar (Hampson) Alexander, Mary (Hampson) and Ted Price and Greville Family Group at Brynhyfryd late 1930's Back Row Jack Wallace, Jim and Gen. Ron Alexander, Jack Wallace Middle Row Mary Wallace, Nan Williams, Jean Aylan-Parker, Nan Leggat, ?, Lennox Williams, Gertrude Alexander Front Row SIdney Williams with kids Jim, Susan and Joan, not sure who the boy in the middle, Michael Wallace on the right Back to ALL Bios

  • Price, Colonel H. Edward (Teddy) C. & Mary Winifred (Hampson)

    Teddy had a very successful career in the military that took him and Mary around the world Price, Colonel H. Edward (Teddy) C. & Mary Winifred (Hampson) Teddy had a very successful career in the military that took him and Mary around the world Back to ALL Bios H. Edward C. Price 1916 - 1995 & Mary Winifred (Hampson) 1917 - 1977 Henry Edward Clifford (Teddy) Price was born in Quebec City in 1916, the eighth child and third son of Harry Price and Muriel Gilmour. He grew up in Quebec among his family at 2 and 18 rue Saint-Denis in old Quebec near the Citadel. He spent his summers in Tadoussac where he had many friends including Jim and Jean Alexander and met his wife Mary Hampson in the mid-1930s. From 1929 to 1931 he attended Trinity College School in Port Hope but was withdrawn when he became homesick. When he wanted to go back later, the family could no longer afford it having lost money in the depression. He graduated in 1935 from the High School of Quebec, and attended the Royal Military College in Kingston, just as many of his relatives did before him. Mary Winifred Hampson was born in Montreal in 1917, to Edward Greville Hampson and Helen Winifred Stanway. She grew up in Montreal with her younger sister Barbara Isabel and brother John Greville. They lived initially on Bishop Street and later moved to 1501 MacGregor Street at the corner of Simpson. (MacGregor Street had its name changed to Avenue Docteur Penfield long after the Hampsons sold their house.) As well as their house in Montreal, the Hampsons acquired a farm near Ste. Therese where they spent their weekends. Mary attended the Study School in Montreal and was a boarder at Elmwood School in Ottawa from which she graduated in 1935. She later attended finishing schools in Germany and England. She was not allowed to attend university by her father who did not believe girls should attend university. Instead, she used to audit the courses for her friends at McGill so they would be marked as present at their lectures when they were absent. For the rest of her life, she always enjoyed reading books to make up for her lack of a university career but made sure her daughters were properly educated. The Hampsons spent many summers in Murray Bay and Cap a l’Aigle. Sometime in the mid-1930s the Hampsons came to Tadoussac by boat and stayed at the Hotel Tadoussac. There Mary encountered many friends, including her future husband Ted Price, as well as Jim Alexander who would marry her sister Barbara. At the start of World War II in 1939, Ted joined the Canadian Army and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Permanent Force and went overseas with the Royal Canadian Regiment. Prior to his departure he and Mary were married on a week’s notice on November 18, 1939, at St. George’s Church in Montreal. Mary followed Ted overseas to Surrey, England where they set up house in Yew Tree Cottage in Lower Kingswood near Reigate, Surrey and their four children were born: Greville in February 1941, twins Tim and Ginny in January 1943, and Sally in September 1944. In 1942 Ted was transferred to the headquarters of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in England and served in the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy. After attending the British Army Staff College in 1944 he was posted to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division in the United Kingdom and North-West Europe until the end of the war. In August 1945, the family returned to Canada where they received a tremendous welcome coming off the boat in Tadoussac meeting parents, siblings, cousins, and friends they had not seen in many years. Ted remained in the Army after the war serving in a variety of military positions. His many postings included Kingston, Ottawa, Vancouver, and England. Then he was back to Canada in Petawawa before going to Germany, then Victoria, Newfoundland, and even Tanzania before his final posting in Washington. He retired from the Canadian army in 1970 with the rank of Colonel. The family went with Ted on all these moves, which came regularly every two to three years. It was up to Mary to find a home (if a PMQ was not allotted by the army), find schools for the children, make new friends or find out if they knew some of the military families from previous postings, and get to know some friends in the new location. In 1946 they purchased a house at 118 Lisgar Road, Rockcliffe as a pied de terre, whenever they were in Ottawa, and as a place to retire, which they did in 1970. Mary took advantage of the frequent moves to take the family with or without Ted on trips around British Columbia, England or Europe. When the family were older, they would bring their spouses and later grandchildren to the postings in Tanzania for the game parks, and Washington. The trips were always well-planned. He remained active in many charitable activities, particularly the Order of St. Lazarus as its Secretary General for several years. He was active as a golfer at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club and was a member of the Rideau Club where he served a term as Secretary. He also enjoyed tennis, squash and skiing. He was a keen fisherman belonging to several fishing clubs, particularly the Magnassippi Angling Club near Deux Rivieres, Ontario. In 1956, Mary bought Ted’s family’s summer house, the Harry Price House, in Tadoussac from her brother-in-law Jimmy, so she was able to spend most summers in Tadoussac. She was able to get to Tad from most places in North America, except the West coast, and for every summer after Ted retired. While in Tadoussac she enjoyed the picnics, played bridge with many friends, read books, swam in the lake and entertained friends and relatives. She introduced her many friends they had met during the army days to the Saguenay and their Tadoussac friends. During his retirement leave at the start of 1970, Ted and Mary embarked on a long-planned round-the-world tour to see their many friends in many places. After retirement, Mary and Ted lived in their house in Ottawa and watched their four children all get married between 1966 and 1972 and eventually grandchildren arrived. They enjoyed visiting Ginny and Randy in Newfoundland, Sally and Ross in Somerset, England, Tim and Frances in Montreal and Antigua, and Greville and Kerry who remained in Ottawa. Mary got sick in the fall of 1976 and died of pancreatic cancer in April 1977, three months before her 60th birthday. Ted remained strongly committed to the Price family corresponding with many relatives in various parts of the world in the 1970s and 1980s, building up voluminous files. He developed the initial family tree in 1974. He supported the start of the reunions in 1987 and gave the address to the 1992 Tadoussac reunion at the Tadoussac Protestant Chapel. In 1971, Ted joined the Standards Council of Canada on its formation, serving as its Director of Administration and Secretary General until his second retirement in July 1981. After Mary died, Ted married Martha “Marty” Eberts, who was also recently widowed. She had been the wife of Chris Eberts, the brother of Bea Eberts who was married to Ted’s cousin Charlie Price. They lived in Ottawa and were very supportive of their families. Marty developed dementia and in 1990 had to be admitted to a home, which was stressful for Ted. He developed prostate cancer and died on November 16, 1995, in Ottawa with his funeral being held two days later on the date of his original wedding anniversary. At his memorial service a few days later, the eulogy was given by his godson Tony Price. Greville Price Photo Below Jim, Michael, and Bar (Hampson) Alexander, and Mary (Hampson), Ted and Greville Price Back to ALL Bios

  • Piddington, Alfred

    Avid sportsmen, Alfred, his brother, Sam, and their sister, Eliza, brought the Bailey family to Tadoussac Piddington, Alfred Avid sportsmen, Alfred, his brother, Sam, and their sister, Eliza, brought the Bailey family to Tadoussac Back to ALL Bios Alfred Piddington 1859 - 1922 Alfred Piddington was born on August 13th, in 1859. He came to Tadoussac originally because his sister, Eliza Ernestine Piddington and her husband, Dr. G. G. Gale of Quebec City, had been coming here since the 1880s, renting the old Ferguson house. It is believed that Alfred, and his brother Sam, both bachelors, came to Tadoussac to visit their sister, and fell in love with the area. The Piddington family originally came from the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel. They immigrated to Quebec in the 19th century, and invested in companies like the Quebec-Lake St John Railroad, the Canadian Rubber company, Sun Life Insurance, the Royal Electric Company and the Quebec Steamship Company. In 1906, Sam and Alfred bought a house they called Hillcrest after the widow of the owner, Robert Powel, died in 1905. This house had originally been called Ivanhoe, and at this writing is known as the Bailey’s house. The Powels, from Philadelphia, had built the house in 1865 having obtained the land from Willis Russell of Quebec, both of whom were charter members of the St Marguerite Salmon Club. The Salmon Club, Hillcrest and the Protestant Chapel were built in the Gothic Revival architecture style, which was popular during the 1860’s in Canada. Sam and Alfred were avid sportsmen, enjoying fishing and hunting in particular. They made changes in the house that reflected these interests. For example, a wall was removed to create a large central room that would become a billiard room, and in that room, they mounted the spoils of their hunting trips, including a stuffed wooden duck, a brace of grouse, and a moose head. Other additions included a player piano and gothic-style chairs. Sometime between 1906 and 1914, Alfred went on to build what is now the Stephen-Skutezky house. After his death in 1922, it was passed on to Trevor Evans, and eventually his descendants. Alfred called this house Ivanhoe, the original name for Hillcrest. It’s interesting that many items in both houses are similar including furniture, a piano, a brace of grouse, and even a moose head on the wall. Many old family photographs show that the Piddingtons and the Gales enjoyed sailing on the yacht ‘Pirate’ and picnicking in various places up the Saguenay. Many pictures show them enjoying recreational activities on the Hillcrest lawn, which then extended to the Dufferin House property, where the school is today. They enjoyed lawn bowling, lawn tennis, cricket, croquet and horse back-riding. He even made a miniature golf course. The family still has a picture of Alfred Piddington playing golf in the early days of the Tadoussac Golf Club. In addition, their original guestbook records the names of many summer residents who attended elaborate tea parties at Hillcrest. Alfred’s brother, Sam Piddington, died in 1925 and left Hillcrest to his beloved niece, Ernestine Valiant Gale Bailey and it has been in the Bailey family ever since. Besides the memorial plaque in the Chapel, large cottonwood trees, unusual for this region and which are almost 100 years old, were planted in memory of Sam, Alfred, and Eliza Piddington, in front of Hillcrest, facing the bay. Ray Bailey / Alan Evans Group below Circa 19teens On a fishing trip at Dean Lewis Evans's cabin at "Cap à Jack" Sam Piddington, Dean Lewis Evans, his son Basil Evans, Alfred Piddington, Baron d'Avery (Mr Bailey) Emily Evans, Eleanor (Nelly) Stephen, Basil's wife Muriel Evans, Loring Bailey Back to ALL Bios

  • Barnston, George

    Factor of the Hudson's Bay Post in the 1840s Barnston, George Factor of the Hudson's Bay Post in the 1840s Back to ALL Bios George Barnston 1800-1883 George Barnston was a hard-working and very intelligent man who worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company. It was that work that brought him to Tadoussac late in his career. His strong interest and study in botany and insects were recognized by professionals in those fields. George Barnston was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and educated as a surveyor and an army engineer. He joined the North West Company in 1820 (at twenty years old) which united with the Hudson’s Bay Company a year later. Barnston started his career as a clerk at York Factory in Manitoba, then transferred to the Columbia District in 1826, where he assisted Amilius Simpson in surveying the Pacific Coast and later helped James McMillan establish Fort Langley (near present-day Langley, B.C.) before serving in two other forts in Washington State. In 1829 he married Ellen Matthews, a half-native daughter of an American Fur Company employee, and he fathered eleven children. The oldest of these was James who, in 1847, went to Edinburgh for a medical degree. After a year’s furlough in England, Barnston was appointed to Tadoussac in 1844. This was a move that he said made possible “having my children better educated, an object ever near to my heart.” It is likely that education took place in Montreal, as Tadoussac would have been a very isolated and undeveloped community at that time. In fact, Barnston described our beloved village as “an extended, troublesome, and complicated” charge, (as Simpson had warned him it would be); one beset by free traders, smugglers, and encroaching settlement. But it was an opportunity for him to prove his abilities and justify Simpson’s confidence in him, and in March 1847 he was promoted to Chief Factor. He served in Tadoussac for seven years, then later took posts in Manitoba and Ontario before retiring to Montreal in 1863. Retirement freed Barnston to pursue scientific research, primarily in botany and the study of insects - areas in which he had already done a great deal of work in the field and as a writer. Barnston first studied insects at Martin’s Falls and kept a journal of the area's temperature, permafrost, flora, and fauna for the Royal Geographical Society of London. He visited several scientific societies on furlough in England in 1843–44. “Finding that I was kindly received at the British Museum,” he wrote to George Simpson, “I handed over without reservation all my collection of insects to that institution, at which the gentlemen there expressed high gratification.” Over half of his specimens were new to the museum. He later gathered an extensive herbarium at Tadoussac, which he described in his correspondence with Hargrave, and in 1849–50 sent a collection of plants to Scotland. He also supplied specimens to the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C.) and to McGill College. After 1857 he frequently published articles, mainly in the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist. An active member of the Natural History Society of Montreal, he served as its president in 1872–73 and later became a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1882. It would appear that in his retirement, George Barnston lived in Montreal but spent summers in Tadoussac studying the natural world. George Barnston died in Montreal in 1883, and the funeral was held at Christ Church Cathedral. The Royal Society of Canada paid tribute to Barnston as both a “diligent naturalist” and “a man of kind and amiable character, loved and respected by all who knew him.”   Alan Evans Back to ALL Bios

  • Price, Frederick Courtnay & Llewellyn

    Two brothers whose lives were far too short Price, Frederick Courtnay & Llewellyn Two brothers whose lives were far too short Back to ALL Bios Frederick Courtnay Price 1877 – 1898 and Llewellyn Price 1878 - 1899 Frederick and Llewellyn were the youngest sons of Henry Ferrier Price and Florence Rogerson Price. They were both born in Chile while the family was living there; Frederick in 1877 and Llewellyn in 1878. Their older siblings were Sir William, Henry Edward, Teresa Jane, Arthur John and Florence Mary (Bradshaw). After the family returned to Canada in 1884 they lived in Toronto and both Frederick and Llewellyn attended Ridley College in St. Catherine’s, Ontario. Sadly, both brothers died at age 21. Frederick died in Toronto in 1898 of tuberculosis and is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Llewellyn died in 1899 of diphtheria and is buried in the family plot at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Sillery, Quebec. Back to ALL Bios

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