Masson-Angers in Gatineau in Outaouais, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)

Fondation de la municipalité de Masson

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2024

1. Fondation de la municipalité de Masson Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

D'abord appelé Le Bassin à cause de la forme que prend la rivière du Lièvre à cet endroit, la municipalité de Masson nait en 1897 en prenant le nom de son bureau de poste nommé en l'honneur du lieutenant-gouverneur du Québec, Louis-François-Roderick Masson. Le premier maire est Georges-Alphonse Dugal, principal instigateur de la création de la paroisse. Ancien chef de gare et homme d'affaires, il redeviendra maire à un moment critique de l'histoire massonoise, soit après la perte des cours à bois Maclaren vers 1905.

Village créé par une population ouvrière saisonnière et vulnérable aux aléas économiques, Masson connaîtra un deuxième souffle avec la construction d'une usine de papier et d'une centrale hydroélectrique. La manne apportée par ces géants permettra au village de survivre à l'incendie qui le dévastera en 1930.

[English translation]
Foundation of the municipality of Masson

First called Le Bassin because of the shape the Lièvre River takes at this spot, the municipality of Masson was founded in 1897, taking the name of its post office, which was named

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in honor of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, Louis-François-Roderick Masson. The first mayor was Georges-Alphonse Dugal, the main driver behind the creation of the parish. A former stationmaster and businessman, he would become mayor again at a critical moment in Masson's history, after the loss of the Maclaren sawmills around 1905.

The village, created by a seasonal working-class population vulnerable to economic swings, got a second wind with the construction of a paper mill and a hydroelectric power plant. The windfall brought by these giants allowed the village to survive the fire that devastated it in 1930.

Erected by Ville de Gatineau, Québec, Entente de développement culturel.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 45° 32.739′ N, 75° 25.316′ W. Marker is in Gatineau, Québec, in Outaouais. It is in Masson-Angers. It can be reached from the intersection of Chemin de Masson (Québec Route 315) and Chemin de Montréal Ouest ( Route 148), on the right when traveling south. The marker is on the recreational trail that parallels Chemin de Montréal Ouest. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gatineau QC J8M 1A0, 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,

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 21

Marker detail: Photo de la cour à bois de la Maclaren. image. Click for full size.

Bibliothèque et Archives nationales due Quebec, Gatineau fonds

2. Marker detail: Photo de la cour à bois de la Maclaren.

Photo of Maclaren's wood yard.

kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dompter la rivière, créer des industries (a few steps from this marker); Église et dévotion à Masson (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Le commerce de proximité à Masson (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Canadian National Railways Station (1908, Vars) (approx. 3.9 kilometers away in Ontario); Knox United Church 1904, Vars (approx. 4 kilometers away in Ontario); Foubert House / Maison de Foubert (approx. 4 kilometers away in Ontario); Carlsbad Springs (approx. 19.5 kilometers away in Ontario); a different marker also named Carlsbad Springs (approx. 19.5 kilometers away in Ontario). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gatineau.

Also see . . . Masson-Angers (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Masson-Angers is a former municipality and now a sector within the city of Gatineau. The former municipality of Masson was created in 1897, while its neighboring town, Angers, was created in 1915. The area was key for the lumber industry dominated by the MacLaren family in the early 20th century and a large mill was built in Masson near the Du Lièvre River. It was briefly merged with Buckingham in 1975 but later formed a new municipality with Angers which was now called Masson-Angers.

(Submitted on June 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Photo après le feu de 1930. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Société d’histoire de Buckingham

3. Marker detail: Photo après le feu de 1930.

Photo after the 1930 fire.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2024

4. Fondation de la municipalité de Masson Marker

The marker is on the recreational trail that parallels Chemin de Montréal Ouest.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.