Serge Goulet installs an olive wood crucifix from Jerusalem. A gift from Father Martin Grenier, a childhood friend from Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce.
Photo: Radio Canada / Philippe Grenier
The celery Garneau was abandoned and acquired by the municipality after the spring 2019 floods. She was in poor condition until real estate developer Serge Goulet took possession of her.
“This building would collapse in a year or two at most. We touched the structure and there were beams that fell apart. »
— A quote from Serge Goulet, owner of the saddlery in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce
Almost a year later, the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce resident behind the projects for the DIX30 and Solar districts in Brossard offers us a guided tour of the saddlery, the village’s listed building. The Joselois used his 35 years of real estate experience to move things quickly.
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The first floor before the restoration work. Photo: Radio Canada / Philippe Grenier
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I did what my parents and grandparents did for their city. They would have given according to their possibilities and abilities, he says and is proud of the result.
The change is extreme both on the outside – structure, paneling and roof – and on the inside. Everything has been restored according to the rules of art.
Several old beams are still in place and have been reinforced with new ones. On the second floor we were able to keep all the walls, ceiling and floor, he notes, adding that the building is insulated and air-conditioned to age well.
A service building with a kitchen and bathroom was built behind the tack room. A terrace was added to the side.
Photo: Radio Canada / Philippe Grenier
Architect, contractor, electrician, plumber: the entire team he surrounds himself with is from the community. Among its members is the carpenter Denis Labbé. He is used to working in the historic buildings of the oldest town in Beauce.
“When we work in heritage, we preserve what is healthy and what is damaged we simply exchange in parts.” »
— A quote from Denis Labbé, carpenter from Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce
Among other things, he helped to replace certain boards of the outer cladding and to make the openings for the windows. These are the original grips. “We made the window, it was renewed in the same way,” explains La Joselois.
Denis Labbé has been a carpenter for 35 years. He participated in the restoration of Celery Garneau.
Photo: Radio Canada / Philippe Grenier
A heritage complex
The site offers a unique insight into the institutional complex of Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce. Serge Goulet points to the church, the old monastery, the old orphanage, the presbytery and buildings located a few meters from the upholstery. We couldn’t afford to lose this building.
A pride for Mayor Serge Vachon, who welcomes Serge Goulet’s initiative. It’s great work, it adds value to our entire core heritage.
The second floor offers a unique view of the institutional complex of the oldest city of Beauce, including the church.
Photo: Radio Canada / Philippe Grenier
In the present photos, Paul-André Bernard, President of the Société du patrimoine des Beaucerons, speaks of the upholstery, formerly owned by Georges Garneau, a blacksmith, as a unique case in the region.
It is of extraordinary proportions. It’s very long, very narrow. “In my opinion, we would have to look a long time for such examples in the provinces,” he explains. It has withstood the threat of flooding over the centuries.
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La Sellerie Garneau, a 19th-century workshop. Photo: Beaucerons Heritage Society, Fund PR039 Georges Garneau and Angélina Cliche Family Fund
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We no longer have a welfare state
Paul-André Bernard, an activist for the preservation of historic buildings in the Beauce, hopes Serge Goulet’s commitment will encourage others to do the same. Too bad we wait too often for the government. Buildings worth saving are everywhere.
“There is something to do in Sainte-Marie. There is something to do in Beauceville […] Well, get started! »
– A quote from Paul-André Bernard, President of the Société du patrimoine des Beaucerons
Serge Goulet now intends to use the building for events, including the presentation of exhibitions or cultural activities. The planned use protects the architectural integrity and design of the building. I didn’t want to build a commercial building with lots of holes in the walls and such.
The welfare state, the welfare cities, we are no longer there, introduces Serge Goulet. In the spirit of the Beauceron tasks, the Joselois hopes that people will come together, engage and care about their heritage. It’s our wealth, it’s our past.