Description of Historic Place

Cabin 1 is located along the Chambly Canal in the Chambly Canal National Historic Site of Canada. It is a small, charming wood-cabin with a steep roof and tall gabled dormers whose ridges meet at the central chimney. The walls of the building are clad in white wood siding and feature decoratively trimmed openings. The entrance door is centrally located on the front of the building. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Cabin 1 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
Cabin 1 is associated, along with the other cabins and works on Chambly Canal, with the days when the canal was a major commercial route for the Québec logging industry. The cabin, built as shelter, storage space, and a workstation for the lockmaster, also recalls the years when the canal was a source of employment for the local community.

Architectural Value
Cabin 1 is valued for its very good aesthetic design. It was the prototype for the third generation of cabins built in the early 20th century along the Chambly Canal in keeping with the spirit of the “City Beautiful” movement. Its dollhouse-like look draws on Queen Anne Revival vocabulary, a style that had considerable impact on residential construction in Canada at the turn of the 20th century. The good functional design of the building is evidenced in the placement of openings, which allowed the lockmaster to see in all directions. The building also displays good craftsmanship and materials.

Environmental Value
Cabin 1 reinforces the present character of its canal setting. Prominently located, it is a well-known building in the area.

Sources: André Sévigny, Logettes des écluses nos 1et 3, canal de Chambly, Québec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 89-224; Lockstation Cabin No. 1, Chambly Canal, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 89-224.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Cabin 1 should be respected.

Its very good aesthetic design, good functional design and good craftsmanship and materials, as for example: the architectural lines of the Queen-Anne-Revival inspired wooden cabin, such as the complex profile of the steep roof, the tall dormers whose ridges meet in the centre (where the chimney rises); and the contrasting textures and colours adorning the wood siding and decorative openings; the symmetrical arrangement of the elevations; the elements that illustrate a design driven by the demands of the lockmaster’s work; for example, the arrangement of doors and windows allowed the lockmaster to see in all directions.

The manner in which Cabin 1 reinforces the present character of its canal setting and is a familiar building in the immediate area, as evidenced by: its overall scale, massing design and materials, which harmonize with the landscaped surroundings; its very good visibility, which, together with its sister cabins, gives structure to the landscape and makes it familiar along the Chambly Canal.

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.

Reasons for Designation

Lockstation Cabin No. 1 has been designated as a “Recognized” building primarily because of its environmental significance and architectural qualities.

Historical Value
Lockstation Cabin No. 1, along with the other cabins and works on Chambly Canal, evokes the days when the canal was a major commercial route for the Québec logging industry. The cabin also recalls the years when the canal was a source of employment for the local community. Lockstation Cabin No. 1 is part of the Canal-de-Chambly National Historic Site of Canada.

Architectural Value
This charming cube-shaped wooden cabin was the prototype for the third generation of cabin built in the early 20th century along the Chambly Canal in keeping with the spirit of the “City Beautiful” movement. Its dollhouse-like look draws on Queen Anne design vocabulary, a style that had considerable impact on residential construction in Canada at the turn of the 20th century.

Environmental Value
The environmental value of this cabin lies in its relationship with the setting, which has always been the site of intense activity because of the dock, the triple lock and the swing bridge. Aside from locks and bridges, no physical element is more closely associated with the Chambly Canal than the lockmasters’ and bridgekeepers’ cabins. These small houses form a string of visual guideposts that shape the Chambly Canal environment. Cabin No. 1 is especially visible because of its strategic siting.

Character-Defining Elements

- The architectural lines of this charming Queen Anne-inspired wooden cabin, such as the complex profile of the steep roof, the tall dormers whose ridges meet in the centre (where the chimney rises); and the contrasting textures and colours adorning the wood siding and decorative openings.
- The symmetrical arrangement of the elevations.
- The elements that illustrate a design driven by the demands of the lockmaster’s work; for example, the arrangement of doors and windows allowed the lockmaster to see in all directions.
- The relationship between Cabin No. 1 and the site as well as the canal works to which the lockmaster was assigned, and the open space that allowed the lockmaster to keep close watch on the area.
- The “clean” landscaping, which reflects the spirit of beautification of the landscape that led to the construction of this cabin.
- The very good visibility of the cabin, which, together with its sister cabins, gives structure to the landscape along the Chambly Canal.