BLOCK 4

BY

TERRENCE D. MACLEAN

January 1974

(Fortress of Louisbourg
Report Number H D 24)

RECONSTRUCTION CHECK LISTS: ALL LOTS
(1744 - 1745)

NOTE:

The features at Louisbourg were reconstructed to the period 1744 - 1745. To rank the credibility of the evidence described in a Block Report, the following criteria was used:

CREDIBILITY: "A" - Very high reliability of information - the most relevant documents support the conclusion: "B" Some major documents do not support the conclusions, but the weight is still clearly for the conclusion: "C" The evidence seems to be relatively equal "for" and "against" the conclusion, but internal factors (within the documents) and such things as experience of the researcher tend to weigh in the direction of the conclusion: "D" Much conflicting evidence with no preponderance in any direction, based mostly on an experience with the type of problem (generally), or, no primary evidence but based on experience and secondary sources, etcetera.

LOT C

(1) DATE OF BUILDING; Constructed during winter of 1713-1714, destroyed in 1751 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 ("A" credibility)].

(2) OWNER: Jacques Depensens (officer) 1713-1720; Pierre Cass agnolles (merchant) 1720-1730; Blaise Cassagnolles and Bernard Detcheverry (merchants) 1730-1751 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 ("A" credibility)].

(3a) FUNCTION: Residence 1713-1736 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 ("A" credibility)].

(3b) Uninhabited, used for storage 1736-1751 possibly used as retail outlet 1736-1745 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 ("A" credibility)].

(4a) BUILDING SIZE: 30 pieds east to west x 20 pieds in 1715 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 - C11B, Volume 1, folio 257 ("A" credibility)].

(4b) BUILDING SIZE: No subsequent changes [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 ("A" credibility)].

(5) BASEMENT: The building had a basement [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 - C11B, Volume 1, folio 257].

(6) FLOORS: The building was often described as a "petite maison", so it was probably one storey and attic or one and a half storeys. Planks used in floor construction [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 56-57 - C11B, 1, 257 ("A" credibility)].

(7a) WALLS: The house had piquet walls [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, Folios 255-257 ("A" credibility)].

(7b) The north-south walls may have been shared with the contiguous structures of Lots B and D built at the same time, but not with the post 1733, Lot D structure [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, folios 255-257 ("A" credibility)].

(8) INTERIOR PLANK PARTITIONS: Les "planches" used for partitions, i.e., boards [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, folios 255-257 ("A" credibility)].

(9) BASEMENT FLOOR CONSTRUCTION: Les "madriers" used for basement floor, i.e., planks [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, Folios 255-257 ("A" credibility)].

(10) FLOORING (PLANKS): All of the floors were constructed of "madriers" (planks) [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, Folios 255-257].

(11) ROOF SHAPE: Two slopes (north-south) joining Lot B and D structures [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, Folios 255-257 ("A" credibility)].

(12) ROOF COVERING: Board roof [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, Folios 255-257 ("A" credibility)].

(13) FIREPLACES: The building had one fireplace, made of "terre grâce", evidently a mixture of earth and mortar [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 56 ("A" credibility)].

(14a) CHIMNEYS: The chimney, common to Lots C and D, was stone [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 56 ("A" credibility)].

(14b) CHIMNEY LOCATION: East wall of Lot C building, with the chimney on Lot C only [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 56 - G2, Volume 209, dossier 494 ("A" credibility)].

(15) CHIMNEY CONSTRUCTION: Stone [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy - G2, Volume 209, dossier 494 ("A" credibility)].

(16) DOOR LOCATION: Main entrance faced Rue du Quay, at least one other door [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 55 - C11B, Volume 1, Folio 257 ("A" credibility)].

(17) HARDWARE: Strap hinges ("pentures") and other hardware, presumably a lock [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy - C11B, Volume 1, Folio 255v ("A" credibility)].

(18) SHUTTERS: Les "planches" (boards) used in window construction, likely for the shutters [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy - C11B, Volume 1, Folio 257 ("A" credibility)].

LOT C - STOREHOUSE

(1) DATE OF BUILDING: Constructed 1722 or 1723; moved or destroyed 1751 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 59-60 - G2 Volume 185, folios 121-123; Historical Plan 1752-11 ("B" credibility)].

(2) OWNER: Pierre Cassagnolles 1723-1730; Blaise Cassagnolles and Bernard Detcheverry 1731-1750 and Blaise Cassagnolles 1751-1758 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 59-60, G2, Volume 185, Folios 121-123, Historical Plan 1752-11 ("A" credibility)].

(3) FUNCTION: Storehouse [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 59-60 - G2, Volume 185, Folios 121-123; Historical Plan 1752-11 ("A" credibility)].

(4a) BUILDING SIZE: 38 pieds north to south x 20 pieds [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 59-60 - Historical Plans 1730-2, 1731-3, 1734-4 and 1752-11 ("B" credibility)].

(4b) BUILDING SIZE: Like the Cassagnolles-Detcheverry House to which the storehouse was attached, this was probably one storey and attic or one and a half storey [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 59-60 ("A" credibility)].

(4c) BUILDING SIZE: Piquet construction [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 59-60 - G2, Volume 185, Folios 121-123 ("A" credibility)].

(5) ROOF SHAPE: Two slopes (east-west), joind to Duvivier House at north end, gabled at south end 1723-1751, detached by 10 pieds after 1751 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 59-60 - Historical Plans 1734-4 and 1752-11 ("B" credibility)].

LOT D

(1) DATE OF BUILDING: 1734 to 1768 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 ("A" credibility)].

(2) OWNER: Maurice Santier 1734-1743, Pierre Santier and Michel Vallée 1743-1756, Pierre Santier and Vallée heirs 1756-1758 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89].

(3) FUNCTION: North-south wing: inn, storehouse, butchery; east-west wing: residences [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 ("A" credibility)].

(4) BUILDING SIZE: Business wing - 21 pieds (Rue du Quay) x 47; Residence wing - 54 pieds (Rue du Quay) x 24 [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395; Historical Plan 1752-11 ("B" credibility)].

(5) GROUND FLOOR: FIRST FLOOR: SECOND FLOOR: ATTIC: We know from the 1756 inventory that the residence wing was one storey plus attic; and that the business wing was at least two storeys, probably two storeys plus a large attic within the mansard roof [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395 ("A" credibility)].

(6) GROUND FLOOR: ATTIC: The only part of the Santier building for which we have a floor plan is the middle section of the residence wing. To avoid time-consuming repetition (I've already engaged in enough of that) I am appending a xerof of Pages 84-86 of my draft report [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89].

(7) FLOOR JOIST: Mortise and tenon joinery [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 209, Dossier 505, Folio 2 ("A" credibility)].

(8a) ROOF SHAPE: The business wing had a mansard roof with a ridge line in the middle, gabled at both ends [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395 and Historical Plan 1734-4 ("A" credibility)].

(8b) ROOF SHAPE: The roof of the residence wing had two slopes (north-south), connected to the business wing on one end and gabled on the west end adjoining Lot O. [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395; Historical Plan 1734-4 ("A" credibility)].

(8c) ROOF SHAPE: Each of the two Rue du Quay houses on the west side of Lot D had at least one dormer [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 86 and 88 - G2, Volume 212, Dossier 554 and G2, Volume 209, Dossier 505, folios 2 and 3 ("A" credibility)].

(9) FIREPLACES AND CHIMNEYS: LOCATION: BASE OF FIREPLACE, ETC.: The documents indicate that there was a common fireplace and chimney between the business wing and the adjoining Rue du Quay residence wing; and another fireplace on the west end of the residence wing adjoining Lot C. The latter fireplace employed the chimney and base of the old Lot C piquet house, and so the Lot D fireplace had to be rebuilt or moved in 1751 when the Lot C house, including chimney and part of the fireplace base, was destroyed. Also, the west end fireplace was constructed of brick {BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 83, 86 and 87 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395; G2, Volume 194, Folio 302; G2, Volume 209, Dossier 494 ("A" credibility)].

(10a) DOOR LOCATION: The main entrances for the various sections of the Santier-Vallée building faced Rue du Quay [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 ("A" credibility)].

(10b) At least the middle section of the residence wing had a back door leading to the yard. Undoubtedly, the other two houses had rear entrances. It appears from the 1756 inventory that the west wall of the business wing had no door leading to the yard. There was a door on the magasin of the middle house, probably an interior door [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395 ("A" credibility)].

(11) TRAP DOOR: A trap door led to the attic in the middle house of the residence wing [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395].

(12) TRAP DOOR: LOCKING DEVICES: The trap door and the magasin door of the middle house were secured by lock [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395].

(13) WINDOW LOCATION: The business wing (north-south) had one window on the ground floor of the west wall facing the yard [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395 ("A" credibility)].

(14) SHUTTER LOCATION: The middle house had more than two windows facing south, while any window (s) facing north were secured by shutters [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Page 85 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395 ("A" credibility)].

(15) OUTBUILDING: What appears to be a gardener shed was located at the north end of the Lot D gardens [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - Historical Plan 1734-4 ("B" credibility)].

(16) DOWN SPOUTS: The west side of the business wing roof had drains [BASIS: H D 24, draft copy, Pages 80-89 - G2, Volume 205, Dossier 395 ("A" credibility)].