Saint-Charles Farm, Montréal (Côte-de-Liesse)

A Prosperous Farm for Almost 50 Years

With part of the proceeds from the sale of land at Pointe Saint-Charles, in 1907 the Grey Nuns acquire a parcel of agricultural land in the Côte-de-Liesse municipality. Subsequent acquisitions increase the property to a total of 575 acres, aptly named the Saint-Charles Farm in memory of their former land. When the Nuns settle on Côte-de-Liesse, they have two objectives: to operate a farm that would provide food for their missions, and to establish several of their works in a rural setting. These are the Notre-Dame-de-Liesse Orphanage, the Youville Nursery (Crèche d’Youville) and the Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix Agricultural School.

Saint-Charles Farm, 1923. Sister Marie-du-Rédempteur, s.g.m. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Collections, 2017.006

Stone House, 1930. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-Y1

Stone House, 1930. Photography:  author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-Y1A

Saint-Charles Farm, [194-195-]. Photography:  author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-Y3B

Location plan of the Saint-Charles Farm on Côte-de-Liesse/Sister Saint-Jean-de-la-Croix, s.g.m., 1907. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-G-1-Planche2

Location plan of the Saint-Charles Farm on Côte-de-Liesse/Sister Saint-Jean-de-la-Croix, s.g.m., 1907. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds

Until its closure in 1954, produce from the Saint-Charles Farm contributes to feed the residents of the nearby missions, as well as other Grey Nun missions on the island of Montréal.

In 1945, the number of people benefiting from food produced at the farm is estimated to be 500 adults and 1,200 children. This underlines the farm’s importance for the Congregation!

Being mixed use, the farm combines cultivation and livestock. Of the 575 acres, 500 are tilled for large-scale cultivation of crops such as clover, alfalfa, hay, barley, oats, flax and wheat. Another 50 acres are used for row crops such as beets, rutabaga, corn, carrots, podded beans, green peas, sugar beets, etc., are produced. There is also a grove with 1,200 maple trees, 50 beehives, an orchard and a vineyard on the site. Roughly six tons of vegetables are preserved yearly!

Sugar Party: a Sister with students from Family Institute (Institut Familial), 1944. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Family Institute (Montréal)’s Fonds, L066-Album 1

Sugar Party at Saint-Charles Farm: students from Family Institute, 1944. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Family Institute (Montréal)’s Fonds, L066-Album 1

Sisters and employees in front of the sugar shack, undated. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-F

Sister Clémentine Martin, s.g.m., taking care of the beehives, [194-195-]. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-F

“The mercury reaches 70, the bees begin to collect pollen.”

Chronicles of the Saint-Charles Farm, 22 April 1952. Transcription.
Archives of The Grey Nuns of Montréal, L071, H

Exhibition stand: ‘Everything comes from the Earth, God created the earth’, [195-]. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-F

Crops harvested at Saint-Charles Farm, in Chez nous (Our Place) (extract)/Sister Flore Barrette, s.g.m., [195-196-]. Film 8 mm. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, F054B

Crops harvested, in Chez nous (Our Place) (extract)/Sister Flore Barrette, s.g.m., [195-196-]. Film 8 mm. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, F054B

A Prosperous Farm for Almost 50 Years

Animals, Women and Men

A Model Farm

Departure

Animals, Women and Men