The writings and maps of the time are clear: a log cabin overlooked the Chaudière Valley in Saint-François-de-Beauce, now Beauceville. But what happened to this small fortress built in 1778, three years after the remarkable passage of American General Benedict Arnold on his way to Quebec? Patrimoine Beauceville is always looking to learn more about the daily lives of its residents.
As soon as you enter Andrée Roy’s house in Beauceville, a journey into the history of Beauce immediately begins.
The co-founder of Patrimoine Beauceville has hundreds of books and documents on Beauce’s history and also provides a detailed website for history buffs.
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Andrée Roy in her library, surrounded by several pages of Beauce history. In her hands she is reading a book about the history of Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Philippe Grenier
But in his corner of the country, the Saint-François-de-Beauce log cabin, a mystery remains to be solved. Where is he?
According to the writings of Abbot Benjamin Demers, about a mile from the present church, northeast of the river, there was a fairly substantial wooden fort, which would have had one floor and a second floor, probably an observatory.
How did the people live in the log cabin, what did they do, what activities did they do? There had to be life.
She is interested in history and wants to know more. If it came from people, [pour] digging to find artifacts because it doesn’t say enough about what exactly it was, she says.
Preventing the return of Americans
With a magnifying glass and a keen eye, geographer and historian Pierre C. Poulin examines a tiny slide on the light table at the Beaucerons Heritage Society in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce. This is the map of the area created by Jeremiah McCarthy in 1792. It shows a reference to the Old Block House.
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The map was created by Jeremiah McCarthy in 1792.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Philippe Grenier and excerpt from Jéremiah McCarthy’s 1792 map
What do you have to do? Pierre C. Poulin questions aloud why this fortress was built in 1778, three years after Benedict Arnold’s expedition on the Chaudière River toward Quebec.
They wanted to protect the border from possible invasions or from possible spies or deserters. “We will be working with the Abenaki Native Americans who will be next to the fort and camp there,” he explains.
Arnold, he had proven something that it was possible to escape across the American East Coast.
According to Pierre C. Poulin, the entire British army wanted to protect itself by building forts from New Brunswick to Ontario.
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Pierre C. Poulin wrote the book “History of Beauce-Etchemin-Amiante”.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Philippe Grenier
The Saint-François log cabin was abandoned in 1783 at the end of the American Revolutionary War.
In the commercial area?
According to the writings of the time, the log cabin is located on the site at the entrance to the Beauceville industrial park. What remains today?
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Andrée Roy holds a model of a log cabin in Halifax in her hands. “It certainly has to be the same model. »
Photo: Radio-Canada / Philippe Grenier
Andrée Roy looks at the view, holding a vintage telescope to admire the horizon. You could see people crossing the river, from north to south, east to west.
After searching for it, I finally found it.
Andrée Roy doesn’t lose hope, she hopes that one day more clues will appear on the horizon.