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Sainte-Flavie in La Mitis, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)
 

Le magasin général / The General Store

Sainte-Flavie, "Porte de la Gaspésie"

 
 
<i>Le magasin général / The General Store</i> Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 16, 2018
1. Le magasin général / The General Store Marker
Inscription.  


Commerce de détail à Sainte-Flavie

Au début du XXe siècle, le magasin général est un élément important de la vie villageoise. Habituellement, on y trouve presque tout ce qui sert à l'usage domestique, de la nourriture à la ferronnerie. Le petit commerce est accessible à tous, que l'on soit habitant de la région ou voyageur. Stratégiquement placé au centre du village, il se situe tout près de l'église et de l'intersection des deux principales voies de communications. Si bien que de 1911 à 1941 on y trouve aussie le bureau de poste.

Au plan architectural, on constate la présence d'un toit mansardé. L'architecte français François Mansard popularise le style au XVIIe siècle. La forme parvient au Québec par le biais des influences américaines et françaises. Pour un propriétaire de magasin général, un tel toit a l'avantage de créer beaucoup d'espace au grenier afin d'entreposer diverses marchandises.

La vocation commerciale de cette mansarde de la fin du XIXe siècle ne se dément donc pas. Pendant environ 50 ans, la famille Langlois tient le magasin général de Sainte-Flavie. Lorsque
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son propriétaire, Diogène Langlois, décéde en 1945, ses enfants en héritent et l'administrent quelques années encore. Signe des temps, ce commerce, une véritable institution pour les habitants du village, disparaît au cours des années 1950.

En 1963, l'artiste Louis-de-Gonzague Leblanc le transforme en boutique d'artisanat. Monsieur Leblanc y expose et vend ses œuvres, dont des meubles fabriqués avec du bois trouvé sur la plage et des agates serties dans ce même bois. Cette nouvelle vocation témoigne de la présence grandissante du tourisme à Sainte-Flavie.

Un édifice qui fait la Une
L'inauguration du Centre de l'agate et de l'artisanat en 1963 retient l'attention des médias régionaux. L'hebdomadaire reimouskois Le Progrès du Golfe en fait même sa Une pour l'occasion. Quelques années plus tard, l'édifice fait de nouveau parler de lui. À l'époque, les accidents étaient fréquents à l'intersection de la route 132!


[English translation]


Retail trade in Sainte-Flavie

At the beginning of the 20th century, the general store was an important element of village life. Usually, there was almost everything for domestic use, from food to ironwork. The small business was accessible to all, whether you lived in the region or were a traveler. Strategically placed in the center of the village, it was close to the
<i>Le magasin général / The General Store</i> Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 16, 2018
2. Le magasin général / The General Store Marker
Marker is at far right side of photo
church and the intersection of the two main communications routes. So, from 1911 to 1941, the post office was in the general store.

Architecturally, there was an attic roof. The French architect François Mansard popularized the style in the 17th century. The form reached Quebec through American and French influences. For a general store owner, such a roof had the advantage of creating a lot of space in the attic to store various goods.

The commercial vocation of this garret of the late nineteenth century did not fade away. For about 50 years, the Langlois family owned the Sainte-Flavie general store. When its owner, Diogène Langlois, died in 1945, his children inherited it and administered it a few more years. As a sign of the times, this trade, a true institution for the inhabitants of the village, disappeared during the 1950s.

In 1963, the artist Louis-de-Gonzague Leblanc turned it into a craft shop. Mr. Leblanc exhibited and sold his works, including furniture made from wood found on the beach and agates set in the same wood. This new use reflected the growing presence of tourism in Sainte-Flavie.

A building that makes the first
The inauguration of the Agate and Crafts Center in 1963 caught the attention of regional media. The Rimouski weekly Le Progrès du Golfe even made it for the occasion. A few years later, the building was once
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again talked about. At the time, accidents were common at the intersection of Highway 132!

 
Erected by Municipalité de Sainte-Flavie.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: ArchitectureArts, Letters, MusicIndustry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
 
Location. 48° 36.646′ N, 68° 13.835′ W. Marker is in Sainte-Flavie, Québec, in La Mitis. Marker is at the intersection of Route de la Mer (Québec Route 132) and route Flavie-Drapeau (Québec Route 132), on the left when traveling north on Route de la Mer. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 494 route de la Mer, Sainte-Flavie QC G0J 2L0, Canada. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. La Vielle Auberge / The Old Inn (a few steps from this marker); La maison Langlois (within shouting distance of this marker); La maison du bedeau / The Sexton's House (within shouting distance of this marker); Le presbytère / The Rectory (within shouting distance of this marker); La grange à dîme / The Tithe Barn (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); L'église de Sainte-Flavie Church (about 90 meters away); Place Clément-Chouinard Plaza (approx. half a kilometer away); Les Jardins de Métis (approx. 7.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sainte-Flavie.
 
Also see . . .
1. Sainte-Flavie. (Submitted on January 13, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Un peu d'histoire sur Sainte-Flavie. (Submitted on January 13, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Les route des Arts. (Submitted on January 22, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
 
Additional keywords. Le magasin général / The General Store
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 214 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on January 13, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

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Apr. 18, 2024