Montebello in Papineau, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)
La Boutique de Forge Bourgeois
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Bourgeois' Blacksmiths
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 9, 2019
1. La Boutique de Forge Bourgeois /
Bourgeois' Blacksmiths Marker
Bourgeois' Blacksmiths Marker
Il y a à peine soixante ans, Montebello comptait trois boutiques de forge en pleine activité. Les familles Bourgeois, Cadieux, et Périard exerçaient ce métier à peu près complètement disparu des activités artisanales de nos collectivités. C’est sur ce site maintenant à vocation résidentielle, que se trouvait la boutique de forge Bourgeois.
La famille Grant possédait une boutique de forge avant 1872. Cyrille Bourgeois en fait l’acquisition en 1874, mais décédera peu après. L’aîné Ovila, forgeron avec son père décèdera en 1894. Les deux autres fils assureront la succession, mais en spécialisant l’activité. L’aîné, Onésime, sera forgeron et le cadet, Médard, sera voiturier. Rappelons la distinction importante entre ces deux métiers par ailleurs complémentaires. L’un travaille les métaux, l’autre travaille le bois. Traîneaux et carrioles sont façonnés à partir de ces deux métiers.
Cette forge sera en opération jusqu’au début des années cinquante. Elle sera également voisine d’une autre boutique de forge qu’exploitait la famille Cadieux. La compétition, ce n’est pas d’hier !
Les descendants Bourgeois mettront sur pied, par la suite, de nombreuses activités commerciales à Montebello.
Just sixty years ago, Montebello had three fully working ironworks. The Bourgeois, Cadieux and Périard families who practiced this art, almost completely disappeared from our community. This site where the Bourgeois blacksmith shop used to stand is now used for residential purposes.
The Grant family had a blacksmith shop before 1872. Cyrille Bourgeois purchased the ironworks in 1874, but died just after buying it. The eldest son Ovila, who died in 1894, also worked alongside his dad as a blacksmith. The two other sons assured inheritance of the works but decided to specialize. The eldest of the remaining sons, Onésime, was to be the blacksmith and the younger son, Médard, was to be the carpenter. The relationship between the jobs was important and they complimented each other. One worked with metal and the other with wood. Sleds and carriages were made from these two trades.
The blacksmiths were in operation until the fifties. It also neighboured the Cadieux family's ironworks. Competition isn't anything new!
Bourgeois family descendants later established many businesses in Montebello.
Erected 2006
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.
Location. 45° 39.025′ N, 74° 56.19′ W. Marker is in Montebello, Québec, in Papineau. It is at the intersection of Rue Notre-Dame (Québec Route 148) and Rue du Docteur-Marcel-Ménard, on the right when traveling west on Rue Notre-Dame. Marker is located beside the sidewalk at the northwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 611 Rue Notre-Dame, Montebello QC J0V 1L0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Québec’s Outaouais & Eastern Townships. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La Maison Charlebois / The Charlebois House
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 9, 2019
2. La Boutique de Forge Bourgeois /
Bourgeois' Blacksmiths Marker
Bourgeois' Blacksmiths Marker
Also see . . . Montebello history and coat of arms. Municipality website entry:
Scroll down to "The Heritage Circuit" for individual buildings. (Submitted on March 12, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 9, 2019
3. Ancien site de forge bourgeois /
Former Bourgeois blacksmith shop site
Former Bourgeois blacksmith shop site
Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 256 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
