Because the Quebec government has no intention of acquiring the 1864 house on Rue Saint-Flavien in Old Quebec, it is unlikely that the ministry will oppose the sale.
Louis Garneau knew it when he put it up for sale. The house, listed as a Historic Monument in 1966 for its external and internal richness (a rare case), could not be bought by everyone. You had to have the means and show an interest in your story.
“I got a call on Sunday,” says Louis Garneau, smiling. It was my friend Pierre Karl Péladeau. He went to the Remparts on Saturday evening, he looked at the house. He didn’t come in, he looked out the window. He had already seen pictures on the Internet. The next day he called me and said, “Louis, I want to buy the house.”
Louis Garneau consults a document in the home library during a 1998 Radio Canada report.
Photo: Radio Canada
Protection of heritage was the primary concern of the seller, a distant cousin of François-Xavier Garneau, historian and author of the first history of Canada in French. He also reflected on the responsibility of businessmen in this type of investment since the government does not have the resources to purchase all the houses of historical interest.
Mr. Garneau thought of examples of small châteaux that businessmen in France acquired to promote them in the community. That’s what he wanted for the house of François-Xavier-Garneau.
“We have an unwritten pact with Pierre Karl, he will protect Quebec’s heritage. As we know, Pierre Karl is a big culture lover. »
– A quote from Louis Garneau
So it’s a relief for the seller who said to himself: if Pierre Karl hadn’t done it, who could have bought this house? This question made me a little sleepy!
Cultural heritage value of the François Xavier Garneau house, also called Hamel house
- Architecture: Neoclassical style townhouse built circa 1815 in Lower Canada [l’édifice] stands out in particular for its side walls, its height over several floors, the sobriety of its decorations and the organization of its living space around a central hall.
- F.-X. Garneau (1809-1866) spent the last moments of his life there.
- Cardinal Maurice Roy (1905–1985) was born there.
- No major work has been done in most of the rooms and furniture, with the exception of the kitchen.
- The collection includes several hundred books.
Sources: Historic Places of Canada (New Window) and Louis Garneau
Annual maintenance alone cost an average of $25,000. “I tried to popularize it, but we lost a lot of money every year,” explains Louis Garneau, without complaining of a strain. For me it was cultural sponsorship, it was a passion.
The kitchen, one of the few rooms to see major changes, houses an impressive collection of bottles.
Photo: Courtesy of Péladeau, real estate agency
It was the Péladeau real estate agency that had the contract of sale for the building. A few people came to visit, mainly curious people at the beginning, Louis Garneau admits. One of the agents reminded that the house is not necessarily what buyers are generally looking for today. In addition, it had to be made clear to the prospective buyers that it was not about carrying out work there, for example to make an Airbnb-like accommodation out of it.
The sale amount is $515,000. In the transaction, it is agreed that Mr. Péladeau will also buy all the contents of the house, including the library of several hundred books, some of which Louis Garneau says date back to the 15th century. The additional amount of this part of the sale will not be disclosed by Mr. Garneau and wishes to keep it confidential.