Farms in New France and the General Hospital (18th-19th Centuries), The Chambly Lands
The Chambly Lands Marguerite d’Youville and her companions also inherit the Charon Brothers’s property in Chambly owned since 1724. Wheat, oats, and peas are grown, and chickens, turkeys, beef, calves and lambs are raised, all of which supplies the General Hospital. Land owned in Chambly in 1747, in Notes and plans/Sister Saint-Jean-de-la-Croix, s.g.m., circa 1908. […]
Métairie Saint-Joseph, A Dairy Farm
A Dairy Farm Employees at the stable, 1931. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Métairie Saint-Joseph (Nicolet)’s Fonds, L054-I-Album 1-page 14. From left to right: Misters Thuribe Tremblay, Martial Chauvette, W. Richard, Sévère Paquin, Adrien Chauvette (son of Mister Martial) and Charles-Edouard Verville Sister Claire Lauzier, s.g.m., 1940. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns […]
Métairie Saint-Joseph, A Poultry Farm
A Poultry Farm Sisters Claire Lauzier, s.g.m. and Fernande Dumont, s.g.m., busy taking care of the turkeys, 1946. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Métairie Saint-Joseph (Nicolet)’s Fonds, L054-N5E Sisters Claire Lauzier, s.g.m. and Fernande Dumont, s.g.m., busy caring for the little chickens, 1946. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Métairie […]
Saint-Charles Farm, Animals, Women and Men
Animals… An impressive number of livestock is raised on the farm. In 1946, there are 150 Holstein cows including 90 dairy cows, 300 Yorkshire pigs, 3,000 chickens, 1800 hens and 60 draft horses. Sister feeding hens, 1945. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Charles Farm (Montréal, Côte-de-Liesse)’s Fonds, L071-F Hen, undated. Photography: author […]
Saint-Bruno Farm
Saint-Bruno Farm Located in what is today downtown Montréal, the Saint-Joseph Hospice was on the verge of expropriation for a new Grand Trunk Railway station when the start of the Great War put the project on hold. That same year, 1914, the Hospice is gifted a 135 acre farm in the village of Saint-Bruno, county […]
Farm and Garden of the Saint-Joseph Hospital
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 […]
Farm of the Hospice Lajemmerais
Farm of the Hospice Lajemmerais, Varennes Founded in 1859, the Hospice Lajemmerais in Varennes houses an orphanage, a wing where the elderly reside, a section for adult boarders and also a kindergarten. The early years are very difficult with the Nuns living in conditions described in the mission chronicles as heroic. The most severe poverty […]
Châteauguay, The Farm and Livestock
The Farm and Livestock The Nuns at the Châteauguay farm diligently apply technical and theoretical knowledge acquired from Provincial government agronomists and the Trappist Monks of Oka. Successive directors manage the farm with the goal of continually increasing production. Although very fertile, a major challenge is that sections of arable land are prone to annual […]
Châteauguay, The Apiary
The Apiary An apiary is installed near the chapel and though its origins are unknown it appears to be quite old. The bees were used to pollinize the orchard’s trees and to provide honey for the Nuns and the staff of the manor. In 1920, the apiary was still of modest size, consisting of only […]
Châteauguay, In the Fields
In the Fields Part of the tilled land is used for growing cereals such as wheat, oats, and buckwheat while a meadow produces hay for animal fodder. Over time, a vegetable garden is developed and eventually occupies a large space at the rear of the manor where a wide variety of vegetables are grown in […]