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PRESIDENT'S NOTE: 

One of the qualities of our people in history is to be recognized as a bon vivant and to love the holidays. What about marriages with Irish, Germans, Scots and English who have added beliefs and legends to our culture, not to mention all the other possibilities. We often talk about parties and receiving. Everything is conducive to rejoicing. The party is the time when we met as a family to tell each other about happy events and forget the unfortunate or more difficult times. It is not always abundance that prevails, but rather presences, the people with whom we like to be. During this reunion, one inquires; we "placate" relatives, new encounters, the attendance of the youngest, new births or the next generation. 

Music is often present. There is always an uncle, an aunt, or even a neighbour who, after a few entreaties, manages to get sounds out of any instrument. The range is quite varied, going through the most difficult: piano, accordion, violin, guitar, harmonica, to finish with the accompaniment with spoons, bombs and even with feet and hands. 

What about meals worthy of kings where one does not skimp with quantity, even if it means depriving oneself afterwards because, as we know, there were several periods of fasting in the year, lean days. And what about the little blow behind the tie that, according to the oldest, does not hurt, it unhinged, but always in moderation, yes! Yes! Yes! 

On the other hand, today, a little this is lost in the tradition: other times, other mores. Aren't we looking for things too much? perfect for skipping the essentials? 

This review will allow us to see that the festivities have been very plentiful. We take this opportunity to tell you about the Christmas family and our columns, the mayors, this time dealing with Mr. Elisée Lafrance, and many other topics to discover. 

I would like to take this opportunity to renew with you the invitation to come and meet us at the new premises. Your presence is very dear to us. May everyone take advantage of the time of these holidays to reconnect with the elders who have much to pass on to us. They are the cradles of our families and our history. 

To everyone, a happy holiday season! 

Renald Turcotte



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Academy Inverness 

We would like to thank all those who contributed to this text 

The first Inverness Academy was built of wood in the mid-1800s. It was located in the village of Inverness. The second academy dates from 1889. At that time, it was taught from grades 1 to 11. 

An imposing brick building, the Inverness Academy is an important part of the local heritage. The tower hides a bell and the decorative elements painted green are reminiscent of Irish culture. Due to the decline in students, the academy closed its doors in 1965. It was the last Protestant school in the township. A commemorative plaque, placed to the left of the front door, reveals the philosophy that inspired teaching for 75 years. 

Semper Fidelis 
With the motto above, this building, the foemer Inverness Academy, built in 1889, made a valuable, contribution to the advance of education ln this area for seventy-five years. 

Not only were the dedicated teachers within allways eager to impart knowledge to their pupils, but they also instilled in their charges a sincere boy alty to god, king and country. 

Truly, Faithful Always 

Subsequently, the Academy housed the Orangemen's Lodge from 1968. In 1985, the municipal library "the invertheque" moved there. In 1990, Hélène Coulombe, an artist specializing in museology and sculptor, rented the Academy. The following year, she became the owner and still is. 


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Ships of New France 

In the 18th century, New France's economy shifted to the growing forest industry. The state will control this industry fairly quickly, especially shipbuilding-specific woods. 

The oak will be used mainly for the building of ship masts. Because of its hardness, the cherry tree is used in the manufacture of ship's bowling. At that time, the merchant fleet ensured the economic progress of the colony while the navy defended its territory. On 8 May 1731, Louis XV agreed to subsidize shipbuilding in New France. From 1741 to 1757 he had several ships built for his navy. 

"Canada": a 500-tonne flute, capable of being armed with 40 guns. It is 119 feet long and 31 feet 10 inches wide. The launch took place on June 4, 1742. On his first trip, he had to take a load of planks, iron and oil. The flute was under the command of Charles-René LeGardeur de Beauvais. 

"The Caribou": 700-barrel flute, built of oak and pine wood, capable of being armed with 45 cannons. It is 130 feet long and 35 feet wide. The launch took place on May 13, 1744. After five years of sailing, it is put aside because it is already rotten. 

"The Beaver": a 22-gun frigate ready to take service in 1745. Mr. Du Bois was appointed commander and the crew was recruited in France. The ship was first intended to monitor the coasts of Royal Island. 

"The Wolverine": corvette 

"La Martre": frigate 

"The St. Lawrence": mounted with 60 guns, was put into the water in 1748. 

"The Moose": this ship capable of being armed with 72 guns was launched in 1750. It was the largest ship commissioned by the king at Quebec. It is made of red pines, oaks and cypress trees. During launch, the cable holding the ship breaks and the ship will run aground on a rock bank below Cap-aux-Diamants. It was a near-total loss. 

"The Alaonauin": a 72-gun ship. Its construction is based on the parts recovered from the Moose. It was ready in 1753. 

"The Wild" in 1756, under the direction of Captain M. de St-Victor. 

"The Outarde": Pinguet command. flute under the françois-Regis 

"The Abenaki": In 1756, the ship was under the command of Sieur Gervais.


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"The Supervisor": 

"Quebec": frigate 

The Royal Shipyard of Quebec was able to build a dozen ships for Her Majesty's fleet. The operation was almost unsuccessful. Important decisions were taken in France and were not valid for the colony. At the time, French methods were not adapted to Canadian conditions. The labour problem is significant and on several occasions qualified personnel have been sent from France. Finally, the Canadian climate poses a challenge to those who do not know it. Extreme cold, heavy snow and excessive frost are all the more devious enemies as they are poorly known. According to several historians, we had seen too big for the industrial possibilities of New France at the time. 

Source: 

Lacoursière, Jacques, Popular History of Ouébec, Origins at 1791, Volume1, Quebec Leisure Club Editions Inc., 1996

Feather officers 

Do you know the feather officers? I have just met with a few of them and I present them to you. 

"The feather officers are the King's writers, embarked on the fleet or ships of the privileged companies (East India Company, New France Company...) whose mission is to monitor goods, to deliver supplies loaded onto ships. 

The King's writer holds the keys to the shops. Nothing enters or leaves without his permission. He watches over the cargo until the port of arrival. Such positions are highly coveted, because we get rich quickly in the trade, picking up without control over supplies. Some of them take the opportunity to falsify their books and make up their accounts, without the slightest shame. »1 

For other historians, the pen officers were the main writers, ordinary and other, notaries, poets... 

1 Collective, Historical Research Bulletin, Vol XXXVIII, 47