The City of Quebec is so surrounded with beautiful summer resorts that such of them as are not easily reached are apt to be overlooked. Valcartier is an example of this, although only an hour’s ride by auto from the city. But it is well worth visiting, this beautiful Village and parish nestling to the great mountains, which overlook the lovely valley, of the Jacques Cartier River. More than a century ago upon the termination of the Napoleonic wars, emigrants from Great Britain and Ireland came to Canada, looking for land and as means of communication with western Canada were difficult. Many of them including a good sprinkling of retired officers and soldiers, settled in the vicinity of Quebec and Montreal. The lands in the St. Lawrence valley being nearly all taken up, they were obliged to push into the back country, and in this way were formed the English-speaking parishes of Valcartier, St. Catherines, Bourglouis, Frampton and Megantic.
Many names distinguished in this history of Canada are associated with Valcartier and the county Quebec, of which it forms a part. Such as Neilson, Ross, Wolf, Fairchild, Caron, Garneau, Chauveau, Stuart, Fitzpatrick, Lavigueur. Nor should we forget such pioneer settlers, as Crawford, McBain, White, Conway, Gauvreau, Etc.
Many names distinguished in this history of Canada are associated with Valcartier and the county Quebec, of which it forms a part. Such as Neilson, Ross, Wolf, Fairchild, Caron, Garneau, Chauveau, Stuart, Fitzpatrick, Lavigueur. Nor should we forget such pioneer settlers, as Crawford, McBain, White, Conway, Gauvreau, Etc.
The taking up of the different available lands in Valcartier pushed the colonization movement over the first range of the Laurentians and the valley of Riviere aux Pins became settled. How few people in Quebec seem to know of this lovely spot, its delightful scenery and prosperous farms, cultivated by a splendid population,
Different Creeds in Harmony
The three churches in Valcartier give evidence of the harmony which exists and has always existed between people of different creeds and different rights. The Honorable J. Israel ?? had a very fine farm some years ago, in the Riviere Aux Pins settlement.
Beyond Riv. Aux Pins, the valley of the River St. Anne is reached in a township named after Lord Gosford. The magnificent hardwood forests of that township attracted the attention of some English army officers in 1870, and in conjunction with some merchants of Quebec they built a wooden railway to bring that lumber to market. The railway notwithstanding the strenuous work of its promoters, headed by Sir Henri de Lotbiniere, Col. M. W. Baby, Cyrille Tessier, and Capt. Fitzgerald, R.V.I. Regt., Capt. Oakes and Major Rickon, R. I. E. was not successful owing to lack of city terminals and the wearing out of the maple rails. But it was the cause and the beginning of an enthusiastic campaign for railways throughout Canada, which has resulted in railway connection from ocean to ocean, and in the creation of one of the most prosperous dominions in the world.
Who will say, after that, that Valcartier does not stand for something in the history of Canada, or that its military tradition did not justify its becoming the assembly ground of the great, army of soldiers that Canada sent overseas to preserve liberty at a period of great anxiety.
Tourists visiting Quebec should not fail to see Valcartier, and the adjoining beautiful summer resorts of Lake St. Joseph and St. Catherines. And if they extend their trip to Tewkesbury, a few miles further up the Jacques Cartier, they will see scenery said to be equal to that of Switzerland.
J. G. S., (unknown author and date)
Quebec.
Recent Comments