A Prosperous and Model Farm
From its beginning, the farm provides food and milk to the Hôtel-Dieu of Nicolet and the Christ-Roi Orphanage. In 1918 there are 318 residents including Nuns, orphans, children, elderly, and lay employees at the Hôtel-Dieu itself; this increases rapidly to nearly 373 residents at the Hôtel-Dieu in 1940 and nearly 250 children at the Christ-Roi Orphanage.
Sister Marie-Louise Forcier, s.g.m., at the stove, [195-196-]. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Métairie Saint-Joseph (Nicolet)’s Fonds, L054-I-Album 1-page 61
Sisters Cécile Désilets and Marie-Ange Granger, s.g.m., in the female boarders’ refectory, 1964. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Métairie Saint-Joseph (Nicolet)’s Fond, L054-I- Album 1-page 78
Hôtel-Dieu de Nicolet kitchen, 1961. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Hôtel-Dieu de Nicolet’s Fonds, P07-N150
Butter mold, [19-]. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Collections, 1997.030
The farm produces butter, honey, soap and flax; its garden provides vegetables and fruits including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, currants and apples. Records show that over three thousand tomato plants are sown in 1940. Chickens, hens, turkeys, pheasants and rabbits are also raised.