Description of Historic Place

Building 77, also known as the Physician’s Residence, is situated in the village 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 with a chimney and dormers. The classically arranged façade has an open, pediment porch. The southern elevation has a large verandah that has been converted into a solarium. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 77 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical value
Building 77 is associated with Canadian immigration and quarantine. Situated on the St Lawrence River 50 km from the Port of Québec, which it served, Grosse Île functioned as the most important quarantine station for immigrants arriving into Canada between 1832 and 1937. 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, Frédéric Montizambert, was charged with relaunching operations at the Grosse Île quarantine station and acted as medical superintendent at Grosse Île.

Architectural value
Building 77 is valued for its good aesthetic design. The building derives from a model inspired by the late 19th-century cubic houses. Building 77, like its twin, Building 67, 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 77 reinforces the present historic character of its Grosse Île setting. The structure is a well-known local landmark.

Sources: The Physician’s Residence (no.77), Grosse Île (Part 4 1901-1920), Quebec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Report 90-031; The Physician’s Residence (No.77), Grosse Île, Quebec, Heritage Character Statement 90-031.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 77 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 north-facing façade and the open, pedimented porch; the southern elevation with a large verandah that has been converted into a solarium; 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 77 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 No. 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. 77 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. In the 1980s, Agriculture Canada carried out some repair and renovation work on this building, including modernizing the kitchen and the dining room. The Physician’s Residence No. 77 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: 1901-1920).

Reasons for Designation
The Physician’s Residence No. 77 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. 77, like its twin, Physician’s Residence No. 67, 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. 77 is located in the eastern sector of the “village.” Although its original environment has undergone some changes, including the felling of some trees and the disappearance of an old fence, the site’s character has been preserved. This residence, together with the Nurses’ Residence and Residence No. 79, forms an architectural ensemble that plays a major role in defining the sector’s historical character.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage value of the Physician’s Residence No. 77 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. 77 is a two-and-a-half storey brick building built in a 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 north-facing facade has a very classical arrangement with its pediment porch. The southern elevation, which has a large verandah that has been converted into a solarium, provides a magnificent view of the St. Lawrence River. The side elevations are irregular and reflect the internal functions. Any renovation or repair work on this residence should not result in any changes to 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 used - red brick and light colour painted wood - also define the building’s distinctive character. 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 the replacement bricks and the 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 south side used to support a full-length balcony, which could be rebuilt.

The spatial organization of this residence follows a very clear logic, which should be respected. 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. The basement provides very large storage areas. This house has two staircases, one of which leads to the second storey and the other to the basement; the main staircase opens onto the entrance hall, while the service staircase is hidden by a door near the kitchen.
The Physician’s Residence No. 77 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.

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 select “modern” furniture, light fixtures or other appliances that are discreet and respectful of the style of this former elegant residence.

Some of the integrity of the site of the Physician’s Residence No. 77 was lost when certain trees were cut down, the wooden fence along the road disappeared, an oil tank was installed along the eastern wall and a parking area was built in front of the house. This situation could be remedied by replanting trees of the same species in the appropriate locations; these trees could at the same time serve to camouflage the oil tank if the tank cannot be moved. The now-missing fence could be rebuilt following the model of the original. It would be advisable to move the parking area so that it is less visible. Finally, the ground around and below the building may contain architectural and artefactual stratigraphic vestiges associated with its occupation.

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