Farm and Garden of the Saint-Joseph Hospital, La Tuque
In 1912, the Sisters of Charity of the Hôtel-Dieu of Nicolet assume responsibility for the Saint-Joseph Hospital in the village of La Tuque, with an orphanage to accommodate around 50 children added in 1918.
Saint-Joseph Hospital and Sacred Heart Orphanage, undated. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospital (La Tuque)’s Fonds, L079-Y1D
Although from its beginnings the mission owes its subsistence largely to the generosity and multiple forms of charity of local citizens and merchants, the Nuns decide nonetheless to acquire a farm in 1914. Located at Rivière-au-Lait (Fitzpatrick), it is known as the Saint-Marie Farm.
The shed built in 1933, undated. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospital (La Tuque)’s Fonds, L079-N17
A vegetable garden (the Saint-Joseph garden) contributes to supply the hospital with produce.
Field work, undated. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospital (La Tuque)’s Fonds, L079-N10-D
Pigs and horses make up the livestock of the small farm. The farmland produces cereals such as oats and wheat, as well as a wide variety of vegetables and fruits as shown by the 1939 harvest: beans, potatoes, carrots, berries, parsnips, cucumbers, onions, corn, radishes, lettuce, rhubarb, strawberries, cauliflower, cabbage, celery and tomatoes.
“Despite the experienced care of our good farmer, the harvest from our vegetable garden was not as abundant as in previous years; but it must be said that hail came to destroy the beans when they were in full blossom, consequently our canned beans which were 600 pints last year were reduced to 100 and the tomatoes suffered the same fate. In total the harvest is valued at $395; detailed as follows: potatoes 130 bags; carrots 20 bags; beets 5 bags; parsnips 4 bags; cucumbers 6 bags; onions 4 bags; corn 18 bags; strawberries 80 large pots; radishes 15 large pots; beans 500 pounds; heads of lettuce 24 dozen feet; rhubarb 300 feet; cauliflower 30 feet; cabbages 75 feet; celery 300 feet.”
Chronicles, 7 November 1939. Transcription.
Archives of The Grey Nuns of Montréal, L079, K
The canning process helps to feed children, patients and Nuns over the long winter. In 1939 the orphanage housed 100 children, and in 1936 alone the hospital has a total of 543 residents (patients, Nuns and employees).
Sister Robertine Goudreault, s.g.m. (to the left) and her assistants in the hospital kitchen, undated. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospital (La Tuque)’s Fonds, L079-N14A
“Eight Sisters leave this morning for a holiday at the farm. We will have dinner and supper outdoors. A multitude of mosquitoes take part in our holiday at our expense, The day passes pleasantly. We are happy to see that our wheat and oat fields look healthy and promising for a good harvest.”
Chronicles, 5 June 1923. Transcription.
Archives of The Grey Nuns of Montréal, L079, K