La maison LaBerge
Text compiled by Craig LaBarge
Photographs courtesy of Philip C. LaBerge
[Note: Since this information was originally compiled, it has been reported that the Laberge homestead has once again been sold outside of the family and no longer operates as a Bed and Breakfast inn.]
When Robert de la Laberge married Francoise Gausse, widow of Nicolas Durand, he assumed the responsibility for the Durand farm and built his first farmhouse in 1663. Nine years later, he built a larger, stone farmhouse which overlooked the St. Lawrence River, the Ile d'Orleans, and the area which would later become the city of Quebec. Still standing to this day, the house was called home by 13 generations of Laberges until it was sold in 1970. The last Laberge to occupy the house was Mr. Paul-Eugene Laberge who inherited the property in 1959 from his father, Eugene Laberge.
The property was acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Louis-Jacques Gagnon. Mr. Gagnon, himself, is a descendant of another early pioneer of the area who arrived in 1656. Thus, his desire to retain the original character of the property and to retain the name, "LaBerge." Through the efforts of Mr. Gagnon, the house was designated an historical monument by the Minstre de Affaires Culturelles of Quebec. According to a local newspaper article, Mr. Gagnon sought the special designation "to preserve this home that has great architectural and historical value and is a typical example of what was built during the 18th century."
After the passing of his first wife, Mr. Gagnon married France Maes from Paris, France. In recent years, the couple have operated La maison Laberge as a bed and breakfast inn, with France serving as the Innkeeper. Thus, it is now possible to sleep under the same roof as did many of our Laberge ancestors. A directory of Canadian country inns provides this colorful description of La maison LaBerge:
It is about 150 feet above the Saint Lawrence, just a fifteen-minute drive from Quebec City. In spring, large peony bushes add color to the hillside and accentuate the inn's traditional Quebecois look, with exposed beams and rafters highlighted by white plaster walls and country antiques. Such creature comforts as plump, overstuffed couches in front of the old hearth in the living room have been added. The informal bedrooms, with low-beamed ceilings and sloping dormered walls, share a modern bathroom. A farm breakfast is served in the dining room, overlooking the river.
The house, located in l'Ange Gardien at 24 rue de la Mairie, measures 25 wide by 70 feet long and is typical of the architecture of the large farm houses of rural Quebec. It is constructed of stone and covered with a chalk-based plaster over its exterior. The roof is constructed of sheet iron and there are three chimneys. The house has an attic and an unfinished basement. Mr. Gagnon has strived to preserve the authenticity of both the house's interior and exterior. Mr. Gagnon is quick to note that his wife, France, is responsible for the artistic decoration of the interior. She has chosen many historic etchings, linens, art, and arrangements to enhance the interior of the inn.
Another portion of the land once belonging to Robert de la Berge remains in the Laberge family today. The house located at 6385 Avenue Royale in L'Ange Gardien occupies a portion of what was Robert de la Berge's homestead. This home is own by a direct descendant of Robert.
References:
Duval, Monique. "La maison Laberge est classée monument historique." Le Soleil, Quebec City, date unknown.
Hitchcock, Anthony and Jean Lundgren. Country Inns, Lodges, & Historic Hotels. Publisher unknown, 1986-87.
LaBerge, Dr. Walter B. "L'Ange Gardien/Château-Richer." Extracted from a family history compiled by Walter LaBerge.
Tremblay, Michel G. "La maison ancestrale des Laberge, un voyage dans le temps." La Presse, Montreal, 14 November 1987.
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