District de Hull in Gatineau in Outaouais, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)

Philemon Wright

(1760-1839)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 27, 2024

1. Philemon Wright Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[Français] En 1800, l'entrepreneur et colonisateur d'origine américaine Philemon Wright fonda une colonie agricole qui fut à l'origine de Hull. Pour assurer le financement de son établissement, il dut cependant se rabattre rapidement sur les ressources forestières de la région. En 1806, il achemina ses premiers radeaux de bois équarri jusqu'à Québec et, plus tard, pour contourner les chutes de la Chaudière, il installa les premiers glissoirs à bois au Canada. Son leadership assura la prépondérance de la vallée de l'Outaouais dans le commerce canadien du bois durant le deuxième quart du XIX^e siècle.

[English] In 1800, American entrepreneur and colonizer Philemon Wright founded an agricultural settlement which later became Hull. Soon compelled to turn to the region's rich forest resources as a source of income for his settlement, Wright pioneered the timber trade in the Ottawa Valley, floating his first raft of square timber downstream to Québec in 1806. He later developed the first timber slides in Canada in order to bypass the Chaudière Falls. Wright's business and financial leadership ensured the dominance of the Ottawa Valley in Canadian timber exports during the second quarter of the 19th century.

Erected 2000

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by Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada/Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1800.

Location. 45° 25.49′ N, 75° 43.315′ W. Marker is in Gatineau, Québec, in Outaouais. It is in District de Hull. It is at the intersection of Alexandre-Taché Boulevard and Promenade du Portage, on the right when traveling west on Alexandre-Taché Boulevard. The marker is mounted on a tall granite monument in front of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau QC J8X 4B1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Ottawa Metropolitan Area

and in the Outaouais & Eastern Townships.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

Philemon Wright Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 27, 2024

2. Philemon Wright Sculpture

It is mounted on the granite monument, above the historical marker.

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: L'édifice Jules-Léger / The Jules Léger Building (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Les débuts modestes de l'usine E. B. Eddy (about 180 meters away); Place de la Francophonie (about 180 meters away); Le ruisseau de la Brasserie (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Le métier et les combats des allumettières (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Bienvenue à Wrightstown (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Le village d'Argentine, dernier témoin d'une époque (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Hull, une ville ouvrière dans l'âme (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gatineau.

Also see . . .
1. Philemon Wright (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Philemon Wright was a farmer, lumberman and entrepreneur who founded the Ottawa River timber trade in 1806. He was also founder of what he named
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 27, 2024

3. Philemon Wright Monument
(Looking south; Alexandre-Taché Boulevard is in the background. )
Philemon Wright
Fondateur de / Founder of
Hull
1800
Columbia Falls Village, mostly known as Wright's Town, Lower Canada (or Wrightstown) and Wright's Village to others, the first permanent settlement in the National Capital Region of Canada. Wright's Town, later became incorporated in 1875 and renamed Hull, Quebec, and then in 2002, as a result of a municipal amalgamation, it acquired its present name of the City of Gatineau.
As a pioneer and an entrepreneur, Wright had few equals. He was the point man for every builder, land speculator and government project in the region. Although he and his family spent their lives as lumber barons, Philemon Wright was always a farmer at heart. He was a strong advocate for "scientific farming" and selective breeding, and he was the first person to import prize Devon and Herefordshire cattle to the Ottawa Valley.

(Submitted on March 27, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Philemon Wright (1760-1839) (Gatineau Valley Historical Society).

(by Bruce S. Elliott) Excerpt: Wright led a group of five families and 33 labourers to the then isolated and unsettled township of Hull in March 1800, following the opening of British
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 27, 2024

4. Monument à Philémon Wright/
Philemon Wright Monument
(mounted on the base of the monument)
Érigé par les citoyens et dévoilé par le maréchal, son Excellence le très honorable vicomte Alexander of Tunis, K.C., le gouverneur général du Canada, le 20^e jour de juin 1950, en ce 150^e anniversaire de fondation et ce 75^e anniversaire d'incorporation de la cité de Hull.
Anno Domini MCML
• • •
Erected by the citizens and unveiled by the Marshal, His Excellency the Right Honourable Viscount Alexander of Tunis, K.C., Governor General of Canada, this 20th day of June 1950, the 150th anniversary of the founding and 75th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Hull.
A.D. 1950
North America to American settlement. The Hull venture was one of the most successful of the "leader and associate" group settlement schemes of the era. The associates signed over most of their large land grants to Wright, giving him ownership of almost the whole front of the township. Wright was not attracted to the area by its timber except insofar as stands of trees were an indication of good soil. He was eventually drawn to the timber trade by the possibility of windfall profits, but his aim was to establish a prosperous agricultural community.

(Submitted on March 27, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Monument à Philémon Wright/<br>Philemon Wright Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 27, 2024

5. Monument à Philémon Wright/
Philemon Wright Monument

(mounted on the base of the monument)
Membres du Conseil
Ville de Hull
1950
Members of the Council
City of Hull

S. H. Alphonse Moussette, maire/mayor

Conseiilers/Councilors
Edmond Bériault • Antonio Desjardins • Émile Dompierre • Wilfrid Dassault • Lionel Emond • Louis Gagnon
• Henri Gauthier • David Joanisse • Léo Labelle • Edmond Larmée • Arthur Lavigne • Alexis Maurice • Achille Morin
• Ernest St-Jean

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 26, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 27, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.