History

Chapeau

On May 25, 1885, Reverend Dosithée Leduc, formerly of Pembroke, succeeded to Father Lynch, and with him the advent of a term of material and perhaps spiritual transformation. Now as during the last years of Father Lynch the strenuous years of lawlessness, which always accompany the opening of the country, had passed, and nothing of a startling nature marks Father Leduc’s stay here. But if a man may be judged by the work that he has done, if it be true that “by their fruits you may judge them”, certainly from every point of view the late and venerated parish priest of Chapeau, was a grand old man. For though monuments of stone and brick second to none in the Ottawa Valley, stand as a perpetual memorial to his administrative ability, a monument more vital and a memory more lasting is engraved upon the hearts of all whom he left behind, the unfailing testimony of a loving people to the man of God.

When we realize that Father Leduc came here in 1885, and that May 3, 1888, the corner stone of the present church was blessed, and the present church blessed, December 12, 1888, we are surely allowed to conclude that the good priest’s activity lost no time in asserting itself (church 123 x 50, sacristy 36 x 30 stone). Following that the present substantial priest’s house was finished and occupied in 1894, and the school in which we are, Father Leduc’s contribution to education, in which he took such interest, was finished in 1905.

Desjardinsville

The Desjardins Hotel

In 1856, Félix Desjardins and his wife Marguerite Laurence moved from Stratford Township south of Pembroke, Ontario and settled at Desjardinsville, Quebec. Félix and Marguerite built their home and farm buildings on the shore of Pembroke Lake, a short distance away from the wharf that later served as the Quebec terminal for the steamboat ferry service between Allumette Island and Pembroke. Later Félix began offering overnight accommodations and stabling for the horses.

His son Polydore’s interest lay more in becoming an innkeeper than a farmer. On June 23, 1886 Polydore brought his bride Catherine Keon to the little settlement where the three-storey homestead now housed a full fledged hotel, a small store and post office.

In 1915, Polydore was appointed postmaster with the result that the little community received its name Desjardinsville. At that time it was customary for the Post Office Department to give the name of the postmaster to the rural area serviced by the post office.

Polydore hired Mr. Emmett Gray to manage the hotel. The Desjardins Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1924. Polydore and his second wife Elregina Gray rebuilt their home and hotel on top of the hill.

St-Joseph

In 1911 a church was built in the Village of St. Joseph. The village became known as “The Parish”. Two prominent families of the area wanted it named after themselves so a challenge was arranged between the Huckabone and McGuire families. The Huckabones won the fight and the village was called “Hucksville”, but like true Irishmen, the battle never ceased, so to stop the rivalry it was given the name “St Joseph”.

Demers centre

Demers Centre School

In September 1896, five commissioners were elected at the meeting of the rate payers chaired by Dr. John Judge in the Chapeau Council Hall. Nine men were nominated and the five men elected were: Donald McGillis, Daniel Coughlan, Thomas Duffy, Fletcher Warren and Vincent Demers, Sr.

A motion passed at this meeting « … il est résolu que la Commission scolaire de l’Isle-aux-Allumettes achète un terrain pour construire l’école No. 5 des 4ième rang du canton ». The contractors were George Demers and his brothers. In September 1897, School #5 opened its doors with Miss Angélique Lafrance as the school teacher. Miss Lafrance taught forty students from grades one to seven that year. Mr. L.G. Robillard, School Superintendent, writes in his report that “…. Sous la direction de Mlle Angélique Lafrance, est excellente sous tous rapports ». This part of the school was demolished on July 8, 1989 after 92 years.

As the population increased in the area and the school became too small to accommodate the students, an extension was built to the existing school in 1913-1914. Grades 1 to 4 were taught in the smaller school which was later known as “Petite École #5” and grades 5 to 7 were taught in the new part known as “Grande École #5”

The contractors were Josaphat Vaillancourt and his brother Mederic and they were paid $1,200. The little school was an important part of life for many students in the rural area. In 1915 one of the School Commissioners was Josaphat Vaillancourt.

Every morning before the teacher and students arrived at school, a local resident or an older student would be responsible to start a fire in the wood stove two hours earlier. In June 1961, this school was closed and the children were bused to Notre Dame du Sacré-Coeur School in Chapeau, Quebec.

The school was later converted into the private residence of Aurèle Chaput and his wife Madeleine Demers. After 81 years, this building was torn down on September 30, 1995 by Art Fleming & Sons Limited of Chapeau.

Demers Centre School (photo taken by Arthur Boigelot) Summer 1921

Back row: Dolarèse Chartrand, Willie Chaput, Emma Demers (teacher), Bertha Ellis (teacher), Cléophas Mainville, Horace Demers.

Second row: Lionel Chartrand, Nora Chaput, Anna Chartrand, Aldora Chartrand, Adélard Chartrand, Henri Chaput, Henri Collin, Laurent Vaillancourt.

Third row: Léande Vaillancourt, Léonard Allard, Grasiella Chaput, Alphonse Chartrand, Alphire Chartand, Léa Chartrand, Gérard Chaput, Laurent Collin, Léo Vaillancourt, Yvonne Chaput, Clémentine Chartrand, Roméo Vaillancourt, Ted Vaillancourt.

Front row: Wilfrid Demers, Cora Demers, Eva Demers, S.J. Mainville, Maurice Demers, Hélène Demers, René Vaillancourt, Théodore Chartrand, Aldéric Chartrand, Alfred Chartrand, Angéline Chartrand, Gérard Demers et Irène Demers.

The origin of the name L’Isle-aux-Allumettes

In 1686, Chevalier de Troyes traveling in a military expedition up the Ottawa River remarked in passing L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, “A Jesuit passing here another time forgot a box of allumettes (matches) which he carried to make a fire. This is why the voyageurs gave the name “L’Isle-aux-Allumettes”.

It appears that long after de Troyes’ expedition, there arose the legend that L’Isle-aux-Allumettes was named from the reeds that grew on the island and which were said to have been used for the same purpose as the allumettes (matches).

In his memoirs written during the second half of the 17th century, Nicolas Perrot mentioned the “One-Eyed Island otherwise called L’Isle-aux-Allumettes” (“Isle du Borgne autrement ditte l’Isle des Allumettes”). The name “One-Eyed” was a reference to the disability of Tessouat, an Algonquin chief in the region. The name “Allumettes” (literally meaning “matches”) was first given to the rapids south-east of the island. A map from 1680 refers to these as Sault des Allumettes (Allumette Falls).

It is also stated in Clyde Kennedy’s book, ‘The Upper Ottawa Valley – A Glimpse of History”, Ile-des-Allumettes is derived from the French name used in early documents and maps to describe portages around rapids.