Diamond Harbour School - 1854 - 1888

Diamond Harbour School - 1856 Presentation drawing

The Diamond Harbour School served the children of Protestant sailors and shipbuilders in the working class Cap-Blanc neighborhood. Originally located in the the basement of the Mariner's Chapel, it moved to a new building in 1863.

Former Diamond Harbour School - 1900

This elegant neo-gothic schoolhouse was the second to be created by the Protestant Board of School Commissioners of Quebec, after the Artillery Street School.

With the decline of the shipbuilding trade, attendance at the school fell and part of the building was transformed into a Lutheran Scandinavian Church in 1876. The school finally closed in October 1888, but the building later housed the Sarsfield Athletic Club and the Quebec Harbour Authority, and has since been converted to a private residence.

Former Diamond Harbour School became a Scandinavian Church - 1900

The institution should not be confused with the Catholic Diamond Harbour School also known as the Foulons School.

2012

Diamond Harbour School is now a private residence.


Copyright (c)2016 Linda Sullivan-Simpson

St. Paul's Mariner's Chapel 1832 - 1921

Saint Paul's Mariner's Chapel was used by my Irish great-grandparents for several births, baptisms, and funerals. It was built on the infamous Rue Champlain where many a disastrous rock slide had and would continue to occur. My great-grandfather was a stevedore, working on the timbers wharves of Quebec City, living in Wolfe's Cove at one time.

St. Paul's Chapel aka Mariners Chapel

1831 St. Paul’s Anglican Mariners

Québec - Rev. J.E.F. Simpson, presiding in 1848, at which time the church was referred to as the Chapelry of Saint Paul, earlier names assigned to that church were Mariners' Chapel on Champlain Street, and the Church on Munn's Cove. The latter was consecrated on June 23, 1832 by the Bishop of Quebec.

Mariner's Chapel - 1889

Saint Paul's (the Mariner's Chapel) was initially a church for the Anglicans of Cap-Blanc, but a new congregation under the same name later set up in Loretteville.

Anglican services in the Cap-Blanc district were first held in the attic of a workshop, then at the home of John Munn, but it wasn't until the construction of Saint Paul's, commonly known as the Mariner's Chapel, that these became official. 

The plain chapel was consecrated on June 3, 1832. The basement eventually housed the Diamond Harbor School, and in 1875 the chapel became an autonomous congregation. With the decline of the harbor side Protestant population following the collapse of the shipbuilding industry, the registers were closed in 1915 and the building was deconsecrated on June 15, 1921.

Saint Paul's was sold to an ice merchant who demolished it.

Saint Paul's Church - c. 1980

St. Paul's at 81 boul des Etudiants
Loretteville G2A 2N4

Consecrated June 11, 1920

The furnishings came from St. Paul's Mariner's Chapel in Quebec City's lower town when that chapel was deconsecrated in 1920. 



Copyright (C) 2016 Linda Sullivan-Simpson

Quebec City Fire - 1881

A FAMOUS CITY IN FLAMES

MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED BUILDINGS BURNED IN QUEBEC.

THE OLD WALLED CITY AGAIN DEVASTATED BY FIRE----A TOTAL OF 657 HOUSES DESTROYED---THE LOSS ESTIMATED AT $1,500,000---FIVE LIVES LOST AND SEVERAL PERSONS MISSING.

QUEBEC, June 9.---One of the most disastrous fires which this unfortunate city has been afflicted with broke out last night, and was only got under control at 6 o'clock this morning. The first alarm was from the corner of St. Olivier and St. Claire streets at 10:50 o'clock. A few minutes later the bells from Basilica, St. John, and St. Roch's Churches rang out a second alarm, and the whole force of the Fire Brigade was soon upon the ground. The reflection of the flames was so visible that in a short time half the city appeared to be attracted to the scene, and by 11:30 o'clock all the avenues around and leading to the fire were so completely packed with people that it was next to impossible to force a way through them. The scene near the conflagration was one of utter confusion. Half of those present seemed panic-stricken, and three-fourths of the others only added to the confusion by running against each other and really contributing to the destruction of property while believing they were helping to save it. Parents, partly clothed, hurried along in every direction, with infants wrapped in bed clothing in their arms. Cows and horses, let loose from burning stables, rushed through the crowd or stood dazed by the uproar.

The fire originated in a stable on St. Olivier-street, near St. Marie-street. The flames quickly spread to the surrounding wooden buildings and to the streets above and below.

St. Olivier Latourelle, St. Marc, and Richelieu streets were quickly a mass of fire for some hundred feet of each in extent, the flames from the other sides of the streets overlapping in the middle, and completely closing them to all traffic.

The scenes common to all great fires were readily discernible at this stage. Even the Police and firemen were to a great extent demoralized. Daring robbery was carried on freely in full sight of everybody. Liquor stores and private dwellings attacked by the flames were ransacked for liquor, which was openly drank by the people of the lowest grade of society, who are common to the locality in question and who frequent low hovels, whose destruction is the least regrettable feature of the disaster. There were, of course, striking contrasts to the numerous instances of generous humanity. The sparks, which everywhere blew from the burning wooden buildings, were themselves a terrible source of danger to the rest of the city. It was no uncommon sight to see men's coats and hats ablaze from the burning pieces of shingles which lighted upon them. The wind being from the north drove the fire rapidly in the direction of St. John's Church. The rush of cold air caused by the rapid spread and large volume of flames seemed to divide the wind into local currents, which scattered the fire around in every direction, and the Fire Brigade found it more unmanageable than ever.

The firemen allege that four wooden houses were found on fire by them when they arrived upon the scene, and that with water absent and unattainable for some 20 minutes it was impossible for them to obtain the mastery. The hydrants threw good streams when the water came into the ward, but too late to be of much service. When the fire spread as above described, the Fire Brigade lost all control over any part of it, their necessary subdivision into so many parties making them weak at every point, and the flames swept onward with almost lightning rapidity.

A great part of Daguillon, West, and St. Genevieve streets had been destroyed when the flames appeared in St. John street, a little further out than Hetherington's bakery. At 1 o'clock the clanging of the bells of St. John;s Church in rapid tones told of danger to that property, and summoned assistance from all who had it to give. The whole efforts of the Fire Brigade were immediately bent on saving the building, but to no avail. Nothing was saved but the sacred vessels and some of the most valuable of the plate and furniture of the sanctuary. The fire had possession of the structure in a very few minutes, and the finest and largest church in the city was doomed to destruction.

It was a grand sight to witness the flames climbing the steeples of the church and to see the [their] them fall a few minutes later. The more northerly of the two was the first to go. It tottered and fell into the roof of the structure. the other steeple gradually sunk and telescoped. Next after the church came the Friars' School opposite. The people in the neighborhood, confident that the church would not be burned, had carried their household goods to the front of the building and there piled them up. Everything was consumed. The church was worth at least $100,000, upon which the insurance amounts to only $10,000.

At the foot of Jupiter-street, below Berthlot Market, the flames had crossed from the lower side of St. John-street, and from this point they rapidly progressed westward along that fine avenue, keeping pace with the other division of the conflagration opposite. Nor was the fire now confined to St. John-street. At Jupiter-street it spread southward to Berthlot-Market-place, destroying property on Gabriel and St. Patrick streets as far out as there were buildings to be destroyed. A lower field alone staid the progress of the fire. At Scott-street the fire ran upward toward Grand-alley at a terrible rate, there being no water, men, hose, nor other appliances to stav it. Only a gap caused by the recent conflagration here stopped the total destruction of the whole street. The only thing that the firemen succeeded in doing was to curb the fire east of Genevieve-street, and here, in fact, the wind was blowing from the east and north-east. From Latourelle-street, and up nearly to St. John, the westerly side of St. Genevieve-street had been swept away. To the north the fire extended as far as Richmond-street. The western limit is a little beyond the street car stables at Mount Pleasant near the city boundary.

Briefly summed up the streets consumed are running east and west; Richmond in part, principally the south side, Latourelle, St. Oliver, Richelieu, Daquillon, and St. John's Ward in Montclam; St. Gabriel, Mouvelle and Breton. Running north and south the principol[sic] streets were Sutherland, Deligny, St. Clair, St. Marie, and St. Genevieve, west side, besides Jupiter-street, in Montcalm Ward, also west side. Among the property destroyed on John-street were a large number of handsome buildings used as stores and private residences.

"A" Battery was called out and rendered efficient aid in saving property and in keeping order. Several remarkable whirlwinds were caused by the fire. In some cases men were lifted off the ground by the force of the wind. The fire extended even to the lower field, where most of the houseless people had camped out with what household effects they had saved; and these goods were almost all burned as they lay piled up on the grass. During the night burning shingles fell in the city as far out as Maple-avenue, endangering every part of the town. Several incipient fires in several streets were suppressed by the vigilance of the occupants. It is computed that there must be a loss of $2,000,000 between the buildings, stock and furniture. More than 1,500 families are made homeless by the conflagration. At least 800 buildings have been destroyed.
It is impossible to give a full and correct list of sufferers and insurance losses at present, but all the insurance losses at present, but all the insurance companies doing business in the city will probably be heavy losers. The Fire Brigade and apparatus was quite unfit to cope with such a fire, and to its weakness and the wretched water service the whole disaster is due.

Rumors circulated as to loss of life were not believed up to 3 P. M. It now appears that five lives were lost. Three bodies have already been recovered. They are those of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy, of No.118 Oliver-street, whose children were saved, and that of a man named Marois, a joiner, of Richelieu-street. Mrs. George Lapperiere and two children are missing, and are also believed to have perished in the flames.

St. John's Church is insured for $63,000. A subscription list in aid of the sufferers has been opened by the Governor-General, who gives $500. The Mayor gives $100, and the Archbishop $1,000.

The total loss is estimated at $1,500,000. The insurance will probably cover about $650,000 of the sum. The City Engineer estimates the number of houses destroyed at about 600. He bases his estimate on the fact that 567 properties on the Cadastral plan of the city were burned, and to these he adds 33 houses on double lots, making 600 in all.

The Governor-General's ball, which was to have come off this evening at Music Hall, has, in consequence of the calamity, been postponed until the evening of the 22d inst.

The discovery of the body of Mr. Hardy was made by men removing rubbish from some ruins. They suddenly came upon a human head so badly burned as to be hardly recognizable, which proved to be that of Mr. Hardy. Besides the five persons already mentioned, there are reports of others missing, who, it is feared, may also have perished in the flames.
Nothing but the walls of St. John's Church now remain, and the fine limestone blocks composing them are completely calcined. There is no doubt that the Fabrique will immediately decide to rebuild this structures. In the meantime mass will be celebrated at the chapel of the Bon Pasteur Lachevroderes. The official list of houses burned given this evening makes the total number 657.

In the Legislative Assembly this evening the Hon. Mr. Chapleau, in a speech in which he referred to the suffering that must result to the poor of Quebec from the terrible fire, moved a vote of $10,000 toward the relief of the sufferers. The Hon. Mr. Joly seconded the motion in a sympathetic speech. The Hon. Messrs. Lynch, Mercier, Robertson, and Irvine, and Messrs. Nelson and Murphy also spoke in a similar strain. The resolution was unanimously adopted.

Charles Renaud, of La Tourelle-street, began at noon to draw the necessary timbers for rebuilding his house. He is probably the first sufferer who has begun operations toward rebuilding.

Most of the sufferers being people in fair circumstances in life, the suffering will not be extensive.


The New York Times, New York, NY 10 Jun 1881

St. Columban Plaque

This plaque was made possible through a generous grant from the Irish Government, Dublin, Ireland - Department of Foreign Affairs Emigrant Support Program (2010). 

After 1821 the Irish immigrants settled on the territory of what is not called Saint-Columban. During subsequent years, despite inhospitable conditions, an Irish community thrived and grew under the auspices of Father Richard Jackson. After his departure in 1825, he was replaced by Father Patrick Phelan. Father Phelan was responsible for the Irish communities of both St. Columban and Montreal. He later rose to prominence in the Church as Curate for Bytown (the future city of Ottawa) and as Bishop of the Kingston diocese.

In 1830, a public meeting was held to decide on the best location for the construction of a chapel which would serve the growing Irish Catholic population of the area. Mgr. Jean-Jacques Lartigue named the new chapel St. Columban after the celebrated 7th Century Irish monk who was the founder of many monasteries throughout Europe.

A simple chapel was built in 1831 on a portion of land that is now part of the Church parking lot. On October 14, 1835, St. Columban acquired its autonomy from Ste-Scholastique and held its first meetings and elections as the self sustaining Parish of St. Columban.

On December 28, 1836, John Plelan donated a section of his land to the Church wardens which is now part of the cemetery.

The story of the St. Columban Irish is part of a larger heritge, that of the Irish in Quebec. Gradually the families in St. Columban left their farms and settled elsewhere, but their Celtic mark remains in the village their ancestors had built.

In the spring of 2010, three monument walls were constructed. Mounted onto these walls were the broken headstones (some dating back to the early 1800's) that were found in the area. These monument walls are dedicated to over 700 Irish immigrants and their descendants who were laid to rest in the St. Columban cemetery.

Over the years their burial markers disappeared. On July 3rd a procession was held from the church to the cemetery. It was led by Father Mike McKenna. The walls were then consecrated in an emotional and heart-lifting ceremony.

The Irish Settlement of St. Columban

At the foothills of the internationally famous Laurentian Mountains, located some forty miles north of Montreal, lies the Irish settlement of St. Columban. This municipality marks one of the small centers in Quebec established by the people from the Emerald Isle. 

The Irish who emigrated to Canada around 1823 were mainly farmers who had been ruined by the fall in price of produce resulting from the slump following the Napoleonic Wars. There was a return to pasture land causing the eviction of the tenants-at-will. The general depression of the times in the British Isles following to the transition from hand labor to machinery put labourers out of employment which was already large and increasing fast. Previously, in Ireland,there was a partial famine in 1817 and another in 1822, due to the failure of potatoes, which was the chief subsistence of the Irish peasants.

Religious discontent, bad harvests, and disease added to the unrest. The miseries of these good people were emphasized by rents, tithes, and leases. In contrast, by emigrating to Canada with its vast acres of land, the Irish were removed from distress and want, and were given the opportunity for independence and happiness.

The first mention of the Irish in Montreal was in 1817. This small group of people used to attend Mass at the French-speaking Bonsecours Church. Reverend Father Richards Jackson, a member of the Gentlemen of St.Sulpice, was an assistant at this church and noticed the Irish faces among the congregation. This zealous priest became their shepherd. He opened a school for their children in 1824, in the old Recollect Convent on Notre Dame Street, near McGill Street. The next year Father Jackson restored the old Recollect Church which had fallen into disuse and which had been used as a barracks.

This building became the original church of the Irish. In 1829, Reverend Father Phelan was named pastor of the Irish parish, and in both that year and in 1834, it was found necessary to enlarge the Recollect Church due to the increase of Irish immigrants.As Reverend Father Phelan was the founder of the settlement and parish of St.Columban, it is fitting and proper at this time to give a brief account of his history. 

Patrick Phelan was born in 1795 at Ballyraggot, in the diocese of Ossory, County of Kilkenny, Ireland. He emigrated to Boston, U.S.A. while he was young. Choosing the sacred priesthood as his true vocation, he was sent by his Bishop, Msgr. De Chevrics, to the Grand Seminary in Montreal to study theology. Some years later, in 1822, Father Phelan entered the Society of the Gentlemen of St. Sulpice, and he was the first priest ordained by Msgr. Lartigue in 1825. After his ordination, the Superior of Montreal asked for and received permission from Msgr. de Chevrics at Boston to allow the newly ordained priest to remain in Montreal, as a Sulpician, to administer to the Irish Catholics. As previously mentioned, Father Phelan was pastor of the Church of the Recollects from 1829-43. He was consecrated a Bishop in 1843 at the historic Notre Dame Church in Montreal.

Bytown, now called Ottawa, was under his jurisdiction from 1843-47. Most Rev. Bishop Phelan was named Coadjutor to Msgr. Gaulin of Kingston, and in 1852 was named Administrator. In 1857 he became Titular Bishop and it was during his administration that the Cathedral was built. The beloved Bishop Phelan is buried in the Cathedral in Kingston, Province of Ontario, Canada.

After Father Phelan was ordained a priest in 1825, he was interested in establishing a township and surrounding settlement in the vicinity of Montreal, where Irish immigrants of the farming class could be placed after their arrival in Montreal. He had in view the people of his native county Kilkenny, as well as those of Carlow, Kildare, Offaly,Laoighia and Tipperary.

As the northern part of the County of Two Mountains was still unsettled, and as it was a seigniory of the Gentlemen of St. Sulpice, Father Phelan directed the voluntary immigrants to this section of the county which became the municipality and parish of St.Columban. This district was shaped in the form of a triangle with the North River as its base, and the County of D’Argenteuil on the west, and the County of Terrebonne on the east.

The first colonists probably traveled by stagecoach, which went at the rate of six miles an hour. Leaving Montreal they likely passed through the villages of Ste. Therese, St. Augustin, Ste. Monique to Ste. Scholastique. From there the pioneers took a horse wagon to the North River, which they crossed by means of a raft.

At first the early settlers built shanties for their dwellings, which were later replaced by sturdy log-houses made from red cedar and with pointed roofs.The government supplied the colonists with farm implements, such as: ploughs, scythes, picks, spades, etc. They were also given blankets and utensils for setting up house. A vegetable garden was planted to help food needs for the family. For heating purposes, fireplaces fed by logs were used, while for lighting convenience, candles and lanterns were used. The immigrants brought in for themselves machine-made clothes which they had to make last as long as possible. Then,when they required replacement, clothing was mainly homemade.

The first colonists went to mass and made their Easter Duty at Ste. Scholastique which was situated about nine miles south of the settlement of St. Columban. If the weather was fine, they walked the whole distance through the woods. When the weather was inclement, they were accustomed to come to the crossroads located near the site of the
present church of St. Columban. The pioneers recited prayers at a wayside cross which was created there. A chapel was built near this cross in 1835, but for many years after its construction, the old folks would say: “to go to the cross” instead of: “to go to church”.

The first school in the settlement was in a part of the chapel. When the chapel was repaired, a separate building was built for the school, and the original classroom became the sacristy of the chapel. From 1825 to 1835, the number of families in the settlement increased, and in the latter year there were about one hundred. With Reverend Father Etienne Blyth, as resident parish priest, and with the opening of the first school, as mentioned above, around 1843, the settlement and parish grew rapidly, and towards 1850 there were two hundred families and at least three schools.

One now comes to the founding of the parish at St. Columban. On October 14, 1835, the parish priest of the Recollect Church in Montreal, Rev. Father Phelan, and the parish priest of Ste. Scholastique, Rev. Father Vallee, convened a meeting at the chapel of St. Columban which had already been built, for the purpose of electing trustees for the
administration of the temporalities of the said chapel. 

It was resolved that Rev. Father Phelan be appointed President, and three persons be named from each Cote, namely,Cotes St.Paul, St.Patrick, St.Nichols, St.George and North River. For Cote St.Paul the persons elected were: John Phelan, Richard Blansfield and James Conway. For Cote St.Patrick: Capt. Phelan, John O’Neill and William McGrath. For Cote St.Nicholas: Thomas McKenna, Felix Murphy and James Madden. For Cote St. George: Patrick Ryan, Philip Kennedy and Hugh Madden, and for North River: Captain Sexton, Richard Power and John Ryan. 

The following persons were unanimously appointed church wardens – in – chief: 1st, John Phelan; 2nd Capt. D. Phelan, and 3rd, John Ryan. This election was agreed upon and approved by the President, Rev. Father Phelan, and it was witnessed by Rev. Father Vallee of Ste. Scholastique. A short time after Rev. Father Etienne Blyth arrived in St. Columban. He subsequently became the first parish priest at St. Jerome. Rev. Father Dolan succeeded him and was cure for 1838-40. For the next forty-five years, Rev. Father Falvey was the pastor at St. Columban.

From the admirable sketch on St.Columban written by Most Reverend Lawrence Whelan, D.D., present Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal, one is indebted for the history of the parish and settlement up to 1935. St.Columban developed and reached its zenith during the pastorship of Rev. Father Falvey who spent forty-five years among the Irish. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1797, and came to the Province of Quebec as a youth. After his ordination he did parish work for a few months at two other towns in Quebec, namely, Sorel and Valleyfield. In 1840, he was chosen by Most Reverend Bishop Lartigue to direct the Irish people, both in their spiritual as well as their temporal matters. During his long pastorate this saintly priest was their shepherd, their lawyer, their teacher and benefactor. Father Falvey kept up the Irish tradition of saying the Angelus on hearing the ringing of the church bell; the custom of reciting the rosary daily; the ever faithful attendance at Sunday Mass; the great devotion which the Irish have for the Mother of God. He enrolled the young women in the Children of Mary and the school children in the Association of the Holy Childhood. Knowing the value of reading, he collected a library in his presbytery for the benefit of his parishioners, and these books included religious as well as profane ones. Father Falvey also improved the industrial capacity of the settlement by having more sawmills built, and these in turn not only enabled him to erect a bigger and better church, but also permitted the settlers to make more substantial homes. He retired in 1879 but continued to live with the new pastor of St. Columban’s.

Father Falvey wished to remain where he had laboured most of his life among the Irish people whom he loved so much. He died in 1885 and is buried in the St.Columban cemetery.

Associated with Father Falvey in the teaching of the children of the parish was Reverend Sister St.Patrick. From an obituary published in a Montreal newspaper of 1905 called,“The True Witness”, a great tribute was paid to this devoted religious. Sister Mary St.Patrick was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and was the daughter of John and Mary Phelan who emigrated to Canada in 1830, and settled in St.Columban. As a girl of twelve years of age, she entered the Congregation of Notre Dame, but met with a painful accident within the convent, which resulted in the dislocation of her ankle. This injury caused her to return to her beloved parish of St.Columban. 

Her illustrious uncle, Most Reverend Bishop Phelan, hearing of the accident paid a visit to the settlement, and during his stay the dislocated ankle of reverend Sister Mary St.Patrick was restored to its former strength and vigor. By special privilege granted to her by Bishop Phelan, the reverend sister was permitted to pronounce her religious vows under her father’s roof, and to live her religious life in her aged parents’ household. She looked after the altar and sanctuary of the church; she cared for the sick of the parish; she taught catechism to the children. Like Father Falvey, she spent her whole life in St.Columban, and contributed her talents and energy to the cause of the beloved people of St.Columban. She died in 1905 and is buried in the parish cemetery.

The meteoric growth of Montreal by 1880, with a population of over 130,000 inhabitants, and with an increase of trade and commerce, affected St.Columban. Due to the difficulty of farming the land, bad roads, the lack of reforestation, the small financial returns, the mistake of the parents in not dividing the farms among their sons, the younger folk of St.Columban became dissatisfied, and many drifted to the large city of Montreal, where working conditions were better and good salaries were paid. But there were also some who went to the Province of Ontario, and even to the American cities of Detroit and Chicago. Many farms were sold at St.Columban and thus, only a smaller number of Irish still remained.

After the death of Rev. Father Falvey, new pastors were appointed to administer to the spiritual needs of the parish of St.Columban. There were Rev. Father Pierre Poissan in1885-89; Father Charles Cadot, 1889-91; Father Forget-Despatic, 1891-1905; Father Charles Descarries, 1905-1909; Father Ludger Desjardins in 1909-1935. In 1935, the Coadjutor Archbishop of Montreal, the Most Reverend Georges Gauthier,D.D., sent Rev. Father Presseault to St.Columban. This energetic priest faced a task that might discourage a mighty man, but as Father Falvey had done, Father Presseault rapidly transformed the parish, and set it on its course to greater activity. The people rallied with him for a fresh effort. By means of building, repairing and farming, the parish and settlement were becoming alive again. The Irish descendents of St.Columban residing in
Montreal were glad to help out in every way they could. They returned on picnics; bus excursions were organized to celebrate certain events; back-to-St.Columban slogans were published so as to have large gatherings at their socials. It was during the term of Rev. Father Presseault’s pastorate that St.Columban observed its centennial.

The actual year of the centennial was 1936. As the church was undergoing repair and renovation, only a preliminary ceremony was held. However, the next year, on August17, 1937, graced by the presence of His Excellency, Most Reverend Georges Gauthier, D.D., Archbishop of Montreal, a solemn Mass was celebrated and among the distinguished guests were: Msgr. Chartier, Apostolic Vicar of Montreal; Father Hall, O.M.I. of Ottawa; Father Labelle, P.P. of St. Dominic’s Parish of Montreal. Rev. Father Presseault presided at the banquet held on the church grounds after Mass, and in the afternoon a ceremony took place in the cemetery where a memorial cross was erected to commemorate the centenary. The celebrations were brought to a close in the evening by a display of fireworks. The parish priests who were appointed after Rev. Father Presseault were: Rev. Father Rene Pelletier, 1940-42; Father Misael Jodoin, 1942-46; Father Adrien Robillard, 1946-50; and the present pastor, Rev. Father Bernard Desjardins.

Across from the school, and separated by the church road, is the one hundred and nineteen year old cemetery, which contains the remains of over eight hundred Irish immigrants.

St. Columban’s Church possesses three rare treasures. There is a relic of the True Cross, and a relic of the patron of the parish, St. Columban. Both relics are kept in separate reliquaries. The relic of St. Columban consists of a small bone of the Irish Abbot of Luxcuil who died in Bobbio, Italy in 615. On November 21, this relic is venerated in St. Columbans Church. The third treasure is a chalice made of pure silver with the cup inlaid with gold dating from the period of George the Third. This sacred vessel has been used in the parish of St. Columban for over a hundred years.

Raoul Donat Gadbois

Raoul Donat Gadbois, was my 1st cousin, 2 X removed and younger brother to Father Charles Emile Gadbois and was born in Saint-Barnabé 29 March 1912. He is the son of Prosper Gadbois, merchant, and Celina Germain. 

After classical studies at the Seminary of Saint-Hyacinthe from 1924 to 1932 and accounting at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales, he was appointed chief accountant of the National Electrical Union in 1939.

 He is founder Secretary, with the father Albert Roger, Boscoville in 1940. on 13 August 1945, he founded the Society Inc. brokerage., a corporation of which he is the current president. He was elected in 1947, Councillor of the City of Montreal and set a record of motions presented to the City Council (1947 to 1950). 

1940: Secretary/founder Boscoville, an institution for troubled youth.
1949: Organized the first Trade Fair in Montreal.
1950: Organized the first flower parade in Montreal.
1960: Founded the Federation of Nautical Clubs of Quebec, and in 1961, the Water Security Council of Quebec.
1963: Member/founder of the Federation of campgraounds in Quebec and organizes the Ball of Flowers on the occasion of the Floralies of Montreal.

In 1953 he founded, with the collaboration of his brother Father Charles-Émile Gadbois, himself a founder of La Bonne Chanson, the radio CJMS (Canada, I Remember) he sold in 1955. The Federation yacht clubs in Quebec and the Water security Council of Quebec, based successively in 1960 and 1961, are the work of Raoul Gadbois. 

In 1962, he passed the Real Estate Brokerage Act of Quebec. He founded in 1968 Spiritex inc., Company importing French wine, and the Commanderie des Vinophiles Canada wine brotherhood which marks its 25th anniversary in 1994. He created, in 1986, the Fondation Abbé Charles-Émile Gadbois that allocates singing scholarships for youth 16 to 29 years wishing to sing in French and contributes to the survival of the French Canadian culture. Until 1996, the latest annual concert of the Foundation, it will have 407 candidates auditioned and paid $ 151,712 in scholarship. 

October 13, 1993 Raoul Gadbois is decorated by the President of the French Republic, François Mitterand, through the Consul General of France in Montreal, Mr. Jean-Pierre Beauchataud, for his contribution to the French culture in Canada. 

Raoul Donat Gadbois died in July 2002.

Copyright (c)2016 Linda Sullivan-Simpson 

Quebec City, QB Terrible Boiler Explosion, Feb 1891

Below is another account of a disaster in Quebec City around the same time my great-grandfather was a stevedore on the wharves of Wolfe's Cove, Quebec City.


QUEBEC WORSTED WORKS ALMOST ENTIRELY WRECKED.
THE DEATH ROLL NUMBERS TWENTY-ONE, WITH MORE EXPECTED TO DIE -- OVER TWENTY DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED -- A NARROW ESCAPE.

Quebec, Feb. 12 -- About 9:45 this morning the boiler in the Quebec Worsted Company's factory at Bare Point exploded, completely demolishing the engine house and about half of the factory. A large number of hands were buried in the ruins and a number are doubtless killed. T. TYLES, engineer, is the only name of the killed so far known. The work of removing the bodies from the debris is now actively going on. Thirty bodies have been removed up to the present.

Quebec, Feb. 12 -- The works of the Quebec Worsted Co., where this morning's fatal explosion occurred are situated at Bare Point, on the northeastern outskirts of the city. They cover a large area, and employ more hands than any other manufacturing establishment in the city. They had been closed down for two weeks while the boilers and machinery were being overhauled and refitted. Operations were to have been resumed this morning and about three hundred operatives were on hand. Owing to some cause, however, the machinery was not started, and they were dismissed. Many of them, however, remained about the building, a number keeping in the vicinity of the engineer's room for the sake of warmth. About 9:45 there was a sudden explosion which completely wrecked the engine house and dye-house, and damaged a large part of the main building. An immense crowd gathered immediately and the work of rescue commenced. The brigade were called, but fortunately the horrors of fire were not added to the calamity. "B" battery of artillery had been ordered out to assist the police in keeping order and controlling the enormous crowd of excited men and women who blocked every avenue of approach. Gross confusion is prevailing and it is impossible to get a list of the killed and injured, nor will a complete list be obtainable until the ruins are thoroughly examined. About twenty bodies have already been taken from the wreck.

HARVEY, foreman of Messrs. Carrier Lane & Co., of Levis, who was carrying out repairs to machinery and boilers says he was in the engine room when the explosion took place. He instinctively threw himself under the shelter of a large wheel and so escaped being crushed by the falling bricks and rafters. He was rescued half an hour later and was only slightly injured. He cannot account for the accident. The work of rescuing the unfortunates buried under the ruins is still going on. The Marine Hospital, which is situated in the same locality as the mill, has been opened to receive the dead and wounded, and is besieged by people seeking for missing relatives. The body of Engineer FRANCOUR, of the works, was found crushed out of all shape by a mass of debris which covered him.

Quebec, Feb. 12. -- The following is a current list of the wounded and killed in this morning's disaster, but there may be killed under the ruins yet and three of the wounded may die tonight:

Wounded:
GEO. WARREN, spinner, from Guelph, terrible cut in head and other injuries about the body, recovery doubtful.
ALFRED PIERSON, aged sixteen, recovery doubtful.
THOS. MORRISON, slightly injured.
JOHN ENRIGHT, SR., bobbin carrier, slightly injured.
G. ROUSSEAN, leg broken in three places and other injuries.
ALEX. MARTENAU, head badly cut and body bruised.
ARTHUR ROUSEAU, internal injuries.
PETERSON, nose terribly bruised and head cut.
ALEX. MARTINEAUX, badly hurt about legs and body.
ASSELIN, a girl, cut on head, mind deranged from injuries.
FRED ANGER and JOS. COUTOURE, cut about the head, injuries slight.
MR. LINDAY, secretary, left side terribly bruised.
WM. ADAMS, CHAS. RICHARD, ARTHUR PIERSON, BENJAMIN HARVEY, all slightly injured.
EMILY BAULIE, aged 14, both legs broken and internal injuries, recovery doubtful.
EMILA COTE, slight bruises.
W. STOYLES, dangerously bruised, recovery doubtful.
CHAS. VILLENEUVE, dyer, arms broken and internal injuries, may recover.
F. D. YON, seriously bruised and scalded, recovery doubtful.
ETSCAR COUTOURE, severe injuries and fracture of skull.
MISS LACANCE, severely wounded about head and neck.
EMMANUEL FILTUR, engineer, broken arm.
JOS. BEDIGARE, slightly wounded about head.
ALFRED ANGER, slightly bruised.
THOS. LEMETIN, severe wounds in face.

Dead:
ARTHUR TWEEDELL, mechanical superintendent of the Quebec and Levis Ferry company.
WM. FORREST, foreman of Reading department.
JOSEPH MICHAUD, mechanic in employ of Carrier, Lavin & Co., Levis.
THOS. STOYLES, head mechanic.
JOHN LEE, boiler inspector, of Montreal.
WM. FRANCOUR, mechanic in employ of Carrier, Lavin & Co.
AMANDA MERCIER, aged 14, daughter of Henore Mercier, of St. Sauveur.
JOS. DUFRESNE, watchman.
H. LAHBERTE, message boy about 14.
JOS. LAMONTAGNUE.
AMANDA HAMEL.
PIERRE CLEMENT.
GUSTAVE BLOUIN.
ARTHUR ROUSSIN.
PIERRE GIIROUX.
WM. ADAMS.
FRED alias BEBE HANLEY, and one unidentified, who is dying.
EMELIO BOULE.
GEO. MORRISON.
PIERRE PETERSON.
ALFRED PETERSON.

Winnipeg Free Press Manitoba 1891-02-13