Montebello in Papineau, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)
La Boutique de Forge Bourgeois / Bourgeois' Blacksmiths
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 by Société historique Louis-Joseph-Papineau, Montebello.
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. Marker 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. La Maison Charlebois / The Charlebois House (within shouting distance of this marker); Magasin Bonichoix / Bonichoix Store (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Montebello Vit À L’heure Solaire ! / Montebello Is On Solar Time! (about 210 meters away); Joseph Papineau (about 210 meters away); Le Cadran Solaire de Montebello / The Montebello Sundial (about 210 meters away); L'Hôtel de Ville / Town Hall (about 210 meters away); Le Presbytère / The Rectory (about 210 meters away); La Maison Quesnel / Quesnel House (approx. 0.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montebello.
Also see . . . La Boutique de Forge Bourgeois / Bourgeois' Blacksmiths. (Submitted on June 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 16, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.