Description of Historic Place

Building 67, also known as the Physician’s Residence, stands in the village and overlooks the St. Lawrence River on Grosse Île in the Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada. The elegant, two-and-a-half-storey, cubic-shaped brick building has a truncated, hipped roof, a chimney and dormers. The classically arranged façade has a monumental staircase that leads to a pedimented porch. A verandah runs the full length of the northern elevation and protects two entrances. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 67 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical value
Building 67 is associated with Canadian immigration and quarantine. The economic boom in the early years of the 20th century gave rise to a level of immigration that was unprecedented in the history of Canada. The immigrants were disembarked and passed health examinations on Grosse Île. In 1857, with the end of British control, the Canadian government became responsible for the Grosse Île quarantine station. From 1869-1899, Frederick Montizambert, was charged with relaunching operations at the Grosse Île quarantine station and acted as medical superintendent at Grosse Île.

Architectural value
Building 67 is valued for its good aesthetic design. The building derives from a model inspired by the late 19th-century cubic houses. Building 67, like its twin, Building 77, stands out from the other older houses on Grosse Île. Its elaborate interior layout and elegant finishing details clearly reflect the professional status of its former occupants. Very good craftsmanship and materials are evidenced in the brickwork, interior layout and elegant decor that includes some noteworthy fireplaces and woodworking details.

Environmental value
Building 67 reinforces the present historic character of its Grosse Île setting. The structure is a well-known local landmark.

Sources: The Physician’s Residence (no.67), Grosse Île (Part 4 1901-1920), Quebec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Report 90-031; The Physician’s Residence (No.67), Grosse Île, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement 90-031.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 67 should be respected.

Its good aesthetics, functional design and very good craftsmanship, for example: the two-and-a-half-storey, cubic-shaped massing with truncated hipped roof; the exterior walls of brick, the dormers and the chimney; the placement and type of doors and windows; the classical arrangement of the south-facing façade and the monumental staircase and the pedimented porch; the verandah that runs the full length of the north elevation; the interior configuration, finishes, trim and moulding, including the fireplaces, the panel doors, the fluted casings and entablatures, the turned staircase posts, the period hardware, the wooden floors and the original wall coverings and cast-iron radiators.

The manner in which Building 67 reinforces the historic character of Grosse Île, and is a landmark on the St. Lawrence River, as evidenced by: its scale, design and materials, which complement the related adjacent structures including the Nurses’ Residence and Residence 79; its visibility and familiarity within the local area due to its location at the eastern of the village.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Physician’s Residence No. 67 was built in 1912 according to plans that were undoubtedly prepared by an architect from the Department of Public Works. This elegant home has virtually always housed Grosse Île personnel. Between 1981 and 1991, Agriculture Canada carried out extensive work on this building, mainly on the interior. The Physician’s Residence No. 67 is the property of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and is part of the Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site. See FHBRO Building Report 90-31 (Part IV: 1901-1 920).

Reasons for Designation

The Physician’s Residence No. 67 was designated Recognized for the quality of its materials and construction as well as for its environmental characteristics.

Because of its cubic shape and exterior brick cladding, the Physician’s Residence No. 67, like its twin, Physician’s Residence No. 77, stands out from the other older houses on Grosse Île. Its elaborate interior layout and elegant finishing details clearly reflect the professional status of its former occupants.

The Physician’s Residence No. 67 is located in the centre of the village, on a wooded site well back from the road. This location affords an exceptional view of the St. Lawrence River. Together with the Marconi Station and the School, which are located nearby, this elegant home helps maintain the historical continuity of this sector of the island.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage value of the Physician’s Residence No. 67 resides in the quality of its construction, which is the result of the materials used, and its elegant interior decorative elements. Its relationship with the site and the other nearby buildings of the quarantine station is also a contributing factor.

The Physician’s Residence No. 67 is a two-and-a-half storey brick building built in an almost square plan. Its hipped roof, truncated at the top, is pierced by dormers and an imposing chimney stack. It should be noted that the composition of the various elevations does not follow strict rules of symmetry. The south-facing facade has a very classical arrangement, with a monumental staircase leading to a pediment porch; the northern elevation has a verandah running its full length, protecting two entrances to the building; the side elevations tend to reflect the internal functions. The adaptation of this residence to the new needs of users should not jeopardize this architectural scheme.

The exterior brick cladding and the square columns that support the verandah roofs give this building an image of stability. The type of doors, windows and dormers as well as the textures and colours of the materials - red brick and light colour painted wood - also define the building’s character. These distinctive characteristics should be respected. Any wooden components that are irreparable or missing should be replaced by elements that are similar to the originals in all respects. With regard to the masonry, care should be taken to ensure that replacement bricks and new mortar joints are of the same type (colour, material and profile) as the originals, for both technical and aesthetic reasons. The roof of the verandah on the north side used to support a full-length balcony, which could be rebuilt.
The spatial organization of this large house follows a very clear logic. The common areas are located on the ground floor, while the bedrooms are divided between the upper floors - four on the second floor and three in the attic storey. Of the two original staircases, only the main one which opens onto the entrance hall survives. The feasibility of restoring the original functions of the various rooms and recreating the service staircase now replaced by a closet could be studied.

The Physician’s Residence No. 67 displays a number of woodworking details which attest to its quality workmanship. These include the panel doors, the fluted casings crowned by a classic entablature, the various pieces of trim and moulding and the turned posts of the staircase. In certain cases, the surfaces are protected by a dark varnish which contrasts with the light colour painted walls.
The period hardware, the fireplace in the living room, with its commercially manufactured mantle, the wooden floors and all the original wall coverings are other elements that contribute to the heritage value of this residence. The cast-iron radiators add a noteworthy contextual note and could be recycled if necessary. Generally, efforts should be made to avoid introducing any “modern” furniture, light fixtures or other appliances that are incompatible with the building’s character.

Some of the integrity of the immediate environment of the Physician’s Residence No. 67 was lost when certain trees were cut down. This situation could be remedied by replanting trees of the same species in the appropriate locations. Consideration could also be given to moving, or at the very least camouflaging, the heating oil tank located along the east wall.

For further guidance, please refer to the FHBRO Code of Practice. Translation