Description of Historic Place

Building 16, also known as the Old Wash-house, is one of a group of buildings located on Grosse Île in an area known as ‘Cholera Bay’ in the Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada. The building is a long, wood structure that stands on piers and is covered by a distinguishing hipped roof with dormers and projecting brick chimneys. The north and south facades each have five regularly spaced doors, which contribute to the building’s elegant appearance. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 16 is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
Building 16 is one of the best examples of a building that illustrates the theme of immigration and quarantine in Canada. Grosse Île, converted into a quarantine station for the Port of Québec in 1832, was the principal port of entry for immigrants arriving from Europe. Some new arrivals were carriers of the major epidemics spreading across North America at the time, and were detained on the island. After the quarantine station had been operating for several years on an improvised basis, the wash-house was built to provide better facilities for the immigrants during their period of detention. As such, Building 16 is associated with the first major period of occupation of Grosse Île. Its construction also testifies to an important phase in the development of the island.

Architectural Value
Building 16 is valued for its very good aesthetic design. One of the most elegant buildings on Grosse Île, the long wood structure possesses one of the few hipped roofs on Grosse Île. The building’s interior layout and window arrangement were responses to specific requirements and illustrate the quality of its excellent functional design. Its functionality is also demonstrated by its accommodation of many uses over the years, including a tinsmith’s workshop and lavatory. The excellent quality workmanship and materials are worthy of note, such as the piers on which the building stands, as well as the shape of the roof, which have aided the building to withstand extremely windy conditions. The materials used in the building’s construction, including locally-made brick and wood, were appropriately selected and applied.

Environmental Value
The presence of Building 16 among the new detention hotels in the Cholera Bay area reinforces the current character of the western section of Grosse Île, where essential service buildings were located. As an integral part of a group of buildings, Building 16 is a familiar landmark at this National Historic Site of Canada.

Sources: History and Archaeology, Québec Regional Office, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 90-031; Old Wash-house, Grosse-Île, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 90-031.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 16 should be respected.

Its very good aesthetic design, excellent functional design and excellent materials and
craftsmanship, for example: the overall proportions of the long, wood structure which stands on piers; the wood frame hipped roof with dormers and masonry chimneys; the regularly spaced door and window arrangement, which contribute to the rhythmic composition of the north and south facades; the interior layout; the limestone locally-made brick, the wood frame construction, and exterior cladding; the surviving interior features such as large stoves and their chimneys, partitions and air vents.

The manner in which Building 16 reinforces the current character of its island setting at Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada and is a familiar landmark, as evidenced by: its overall proportions and roof style, which contribute significantly to the character of its associated grouping of historic buildings on the western section of Grosse Île; its location on a cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence, and its presence as an integral part of a group of buildings, which make it a familiar building to staff and visitors at the National Historic Site of Canada.

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 Old Wash-house was constructed in 1855-56, and is associated with the first major period of occupation of Grosse-Île. The building plans were prepared by the Department of Public Works office in Québec. Used as a warehouse during the Second World War, the building now houses workshops and is owned by Agriculture Canada. See FHBRO Report No. 90-31 (Part I: 1832-1 860).

Reasons for Designation

The Old Wash-house has been designated Classified because it is one of the best examples illustrating the themes of immigration and quarantine in Canada, and because its construction testifies to an important phase in the history of Grosse-Île. The quality of its aesthetic design is worthy of note. Moreover, its functional characteristics, workmanship and construction materials are considered to be excellent. Finally, its presence among the new detention hotels reinforces the current character of the site.

Starting in 1832, Grosse-Île was converted into a quarantine station for the Port of Québec, being the principal port of entry for immigrants arriving from Europe. Some new arrivals were carriers of the major epidemics spreading across North America at the time, and were detained on the island. After the quarantine station had been operating for several years on an improvised basis, the wash-house was built to provide better facilities for the immigrants during their period of detention. The Old Wash- house illustrates the provision of service buildings for the immigrants.

With its hip roof and several dormers, the Old Wash-house is one of the most elegant buildings on Grosse-Île. Its site on a cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River and its interior layout and window arrangement were responses to specific requirements and illustrate the quality of its functional design. The quality of workmanship and the materials used are worthy of note, since the Old Wash-house has withstood the ravages of time despite being exposed to the brutal winds coming off the river.

The Old Wash-house is located in an area known as Cholera Bay. Still an integral part of a group of buildings originally reserved for healthy immigrants, it reinforces the current character of the western section of Grosse-Île.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the Old Wash-house resides in its overall proportions, its roof style and window arrangement, and all the elements and components that attest to its functional design, workmanship, and appropriate choice of materials.

This long wood structure boasts one of the few hip roofs on Grosse-Île. The dormers, with their fixed louvers, are a harmonious complement to the roof despite the fact that they do not appear on the original designs, but were added later. The north and south facades each have five regularly-spaced door bays, which contribute to the rhythmic composition.

The presence of these doors is consistent with the building’s original role as a wash- house. The porches and stairways associated with these entrances no longer exist. Restoration should include rebuilding these elements. Inside, three of the original four large stoves and their chimneys have survived, and they also are evidence of the original role of the building. Preventive maintenance of the masonry chimneys and their bases is recommended.

The building was used for other purposes in the ensuing years, including a tinsmith’s workshop and lavatory. Evidence of various modifications for these purposes (partitions, holes in the floor, air vents, etc.) could be preserved and included in an interpretation program.

The piers on which the building stands were an effective solution, the building being used mainly in summer. The same holds for the shape of the roof, which has withstood often windy conditions; the same cannot be said of all roofs on Grosse-Île. These important characteristics of the structure must be preserved.

Many of the materials used in the construction of the Old Wash-house are still in good condition. The limestone, locally-made brick, and the wood in the structure and exterior cladding were correctly selected and applied. The roof framing is undoubtedly the best example of this. The only exception is the north facade, where surfaces, whose deterioration has been accelerated by surface water, should be repaired.

The western section of Grosse-Île still contains buildings associated with the essential services formerly provided to healthy immigrants. With the Old Wash-house and the hotels—despite the demolition of some buildings—this sector still resembles a complex. Development of this national historic site should not alter its present character.