BLOCK 16

BY

ROBERT J. MORGAN

June 1975

(Fortress of Louisbourg
Report Number H D 25)

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 D

(1) DATE OF BUILDING: Constructed by the end of 1722; in 1768 still standing, though described as in "bad" condition, meaning floors, partitions and windows had been removed for fuel [BASIS: H D 25 - Marchant, Block 16; Plans 1722-1 and 1768-1; C.O. 217, Volume 25, Folios 135-145].

(2) OWNERS: Jacques dePensens (officer) 1720-1736; Michel LeNeuf de la Vallière (officer and family), 1736-1758 [BASIS: H D 25, A.C., C11G,12: 102-102v; G3, 2039-1, 140].

(3) FUNCTION: Residence [BASIS: H D 25].

(4) BUILDING SIZE: 42 pieds along Rue Toulouse x 23 pieds wide in 1736 [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140]

(5) BASEMENT: Unknown [BASIS: H D 25].

(6) FLOORS: House had two storeys [BASIS: H D 25 - A.C., E277, de la Vallière].

(7) WALLS: House had charpente walls [BASIS: H D 25 - A.C.,E277, de la Vallière].

(8a) ROOF SHAPE: House abutted against storehouse at north end. Roofs of two buildings appear incorporated into one roof structure turning right angle at corner and continuing along Rue Toulouse [BASIS: H D 25 - Plans 1734-4 and ND 89].

(8b) ROOF SHAPE: POSSIBILITY: Hipped gable on east end of storehouse with pitch roof on the house [BASIS: H D 25; Plan ND 89].

(8c) ROOF SHAPE: POSSIBILITY: Two distinct roof structures, with a hipped gable on the south end of the house, and straight gable on the north end of the house where it abutted against the storehouse [BASIS: H D 25; Plan ND 24].

(9) ROOF COVERING: Wooden shingles [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140].

(10) OTHER FEATURES UNKNOWN

LOT D - STOREHOUSE (1)

(1) DATE OF BUILDING: Built by end of 1722; still inhabitated 1767 but by 1768 in bad condition [BASIS: H D 25; Plan 1722-1].

(2) OWNERS: Jacques dePensens (1720-1736); Michel le Neuf de la Vallière and family (1736-1758). The de la Vallière family liek the dePensens were military people who dealt extensively in trade [BASIS: H D 25].

(3) FUNCTION: Storehouse [BASIS: H D 25].

(4) BUILDING SIZE: 60 pieds along Rue Royale x 23 pieds wide on Rue Toulouse. It adjoined the house [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140].

(5a) BASEMENT: A basement below the length and width of the magasin [BASIS: H D 25].

(5b) BASEMENT: A large soutte (storeroom) presumably separted from main storage area [BASIS: H D 25].

(6) FLOORS: Two storeys [BASIS: H D 25 - A.C., E277].

(7) WALLS: En charpente or en pierres. Perhaps stone fill [BASIS: H D 25 - A.C., E277; G3, 2039-1, 140].

(8) ROOF: Wooden shingles [BASIS: H D 25 - A.C., E277; G3, 2039-1, 140].

(9) SHAPE OF ROOF: See description of house roof [BASIS: H D 25 - A.C., E277; G3, 2039-1, 140].

LOT D - STOREHOUSE (2)

(1) DATE OF BUILDING: Unknown [BASIS: H D 25].

(2) OWNERS: Jacques dePensens (1720-1736), Michel le Neuf de la Vallière and family (1736-1758). Both families dealt extensively in trade [BASIS: H D 25].

(3) FUNCTION: Storehouse [BASIS: H D 25].

(4) BUILDING SIZE: 42 pieds deep within the yard x 23 pieds wide along Rue Royalle [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140].

(5) BASEMENT: Building had a basement running the length and width of the building; possibly a soûte storeroom [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140].

(6) WALLS: Masonry, probably stone. East wall used as a support for adjoining frame house in Lot C [BASIS: H D 25 - A.C., E 277].

(7) ROOF: Wooden shingles. Gable end on Rue Royalle. Perhaps hipped gable at opposite (south) end [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140; Plans 1730-2, ND 24 and ND 89].

(8) FLOORS: Two (2) floors [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140; Plans 1730-2, ND 24 and ND 89].

LOT D - BAKERY

(1) DATE OF BUILDING: Possibly built by 1722, definitely by 1736. Not on maps after 1744. ND 24, 1731-3 place it in Lot E. This may have been an old bakery used in conjunction with a guardhouse near Block 16 (c. 1717-1720?). [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140; Plan 1722-1].

(2) OWNERS: Jacques dePensens (1720-1736); Michel le Neuf de la Vallière and family (1736-1758) [BASIS: H D 25].

(3) FUNCTION: Bakery; but likely not used by 1736. Location near government garden suggests use as garden tool shed till 1738 [BASIS: H D 25].

(4) BUILDING SIZE: 25 pieds along the yard x 16 pieds wide. Part of the building was in Lot E - perhaps most of the building. Could be demolished at the wish of the governor who owned Lot E as government garden until 1738 [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140].

(5) WALLS: Building was piquet [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2039-1, 140].

(6) ROOF: Plank roof; 1730-2 shows gable roof [BASIS: H D 25].

LOT E

(1) DATE OF BUILDING: Constructed after 1738; was standing in 1772 [BASIS: H D 25 - Wayne Foster, Post-Occupational History of the Old French town of Louisbourg (1760-1930), Page 39].

(2) OWNERS: Jacques dePenses 1738; Pierre-Paul Despiet de la Plagne; John Chryostome Loppinot purchases lot in 1750 [BASIS: H D 25 - A.F.O., G3, 2041, 1 September 1750].

(3) FUNCTION: Residence [BASIS: H D 25].

(4a) BUILDING SIZE: Average size scaled from maps 60 pieds x 30 pieds [BASIS: H D 25; Plans 1745-33, 1746-2, 1742-1, 1746-13, 1745-36a, 1746-8a, 1745-24, 1748-2, 1757-12 and 1767-1].

(4b) BUILDING SIZE: An extension on east end of building is shown in 2 maps. Accurate estimation impossible. 1767-1 shows approximately 10 pieds x 30 pieds [BASIS: H D 25; Plans 1758-9, 1761-1; G3, 2041, 1 September 1750].

(5) FLOORS: Two storey house [BASIS: H D 25].

(6) WALLS: Frame house lined (garni) with stones and bricks and reveted with planks on both sides of the exterior wall. Extension is also 2 storeys of stone only and adjoining the house [BASIS: H D 25 - G3, 2041, 1 September 1750].

(7a) WINDOWS: Possibly two dormer windows and four frame windows in the north wall; two frame windows in the east wall [BASIS: H D 25; Plan 1745-1; Marchant, Page 20].

(7b) WINDOWS: Possibly an off-centre dormer window in the west end of the roof. Possibly a second storey window located to the right, under the eaves in the west wall [BASIS: H D 25; Plan 1766-1, Wright Sketch].

(8) ROOF: Pitch roof possible [BASIS: H D 25; Plan 1745-1].

(9) CHIMNEYS: 1745-1 shows one chimney at the north-east section of the roof structure. 1766-1 shows three chimneys [BASIS: H D 25].