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

Le commerce de proximité à Masson

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2024

1. Le commerce de proximité à Masson Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Si la grande industrie du papier est bel et bien au cœur de l'activité économique de Masson à une certaine époque, les résidents de Masson, comme ceux de plusieurs villes et villages, étaient complètement autonomes et pouvaient compter sur des commerces de proximité pour répondre à leurs besoins quotidiens. Concentrés en partie dans le secteur de l'ancienne rue Notre-Dame, aujourd'hui le chemin de Masson, les restaurants, quincailleries, barbiers, hôtels et autres services répondaient autant aux besoins des résidents locaux, qu'aux visiteurs de passage. La maison du chef de gare ainsi que celle du premier maire du village étaient également situées sur le chemin de Masson. L'élargissement de la rue Notre-Dame vers 1930 et le prolongement en 1938, aux frais de la Compagnie MacLaren, de la rue Saint-Louis vers le pont démontrent le dynamisme du secteur.

Au fil du temps, le secteur que l'on nomme le Diamond devient le point de jonction d'axes routiers importants dont la route 148 et le chemin menant au traversier reliant Masson à Cumberland en Ontario. Le Diamond demeure aujourd'hui un secteur achalandé de Masson.

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La présence de l'ancien magasin général de la famille D'Aoust, que vous pouvez observer à l'angle des chemins de Montréal et du Quai, cristallise en quelque sorte cette période du commerce de proximité.

[English translation]
Local Businesses in Masson
While the large paper industry was indeed at the heart of Masson's economy at one point, the residents of Masson, like those in many towns and villages, were completely self-sufficient and could rely on local shops for their everyday needs. Partly concentrated in the area of the old Notre-Dame Street, today known as Masson Road, the restaurants, hardware stores, barbers, hotels, and other services catered not only to local residents but also to visitors passing through. The station master's house, as well as the house of the village's first mayor, were also located on Masson Road. The widening of Notre-Dame Street around 1930 and the extension in 1938, paid for by the MacLaren Company, of Saint-Louis Street toward the bridge show how lively the area was.

Over time, the area known as the Diamond became the junction of major roadways, including Route 148 and the road leading to the ferry connecting Masson to Cumberland in Ontario. The Diamond remains a busy part of Masson today. The presence of the former D'Aoust family general store, which you can

Marker detail: Le magasin D’Aoust et des membres de la famille, à la fin du 19<sup>e</sup> siècle. image. Click for full size.

Collection personnelle de M. Guillaume Charron

2. Marker detail: Le magasin D’Aoust et des membres de la famille, à la fin du 19^e siècle.

The D’Aoust store and family members, at the end of the 19th century.

see at the corner of Montreal and Quai roads, somehow captures this era of local commerce.

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 45° 32.63′ N, 75° 25.17′ W. Marker is in Gatineau, Québec, in Outaouais. It is in Masson-Angers. It is on Chemin de Montréal Est close to Rue Donat-Saint-Amour, on the right when traveling west. The marker is on the south side of Saint Amour Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Chemin de Montréal Est, Gatineau QC J8M 1B6, 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 19 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Église et dévotion à Masson (within shouting distance of this marker); Dompter la rivière, créer des industries (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Fondation de la municipalité de Masson (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Canadian National Railways Station (1908, Vars) (approx. 3.6 kilometers away in Ontario); Knox United Church 1904, Vars (approx. 3.7 kilometers away in Ontario); Foubert House / Maison de Foubert (approx. 3.7 kilometers away in Ontario); Carlsbad Springs

Marker detail: Le magasin D’Aoust suite à la modernisation de la devanture vers 1930. image. Click for full size.

Collection personnelle de M. Gérald Charron, provenant de la famille D’Aoust

3. Marker detail: Le magasin D’Aoust suite à la modernisation de la devanture vers 1930.

D’Aoust store following the modernization of the storefront around 1930.

(approx. 19.4 kilometers away in Ontario); a different marker also named Carlsbad Springs (approx. 19.4 kilometers away in Ontario). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gatineau.

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

Excerpt: 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 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Le <i>Diamond</i> et de l’ancienne rue Notre-Dame au début des années 1940. image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Village de Masson, Benoît Brouilette, Fonds Ministère de la Culture & Communications, QC

4. Marker detail: Le Diamond et de l’ancienne rue Notre-Dame au début des années 1940.

The Diamond and the old Notre-Dame Street in the early 1940s.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2024

5. Le commerce de proximité à Masson Marker

Looking northeast through Saint Amour Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on June 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on June 15, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.