Description of Historic Place

The house of La Petite Ferme is a simple, sober, one-and-a-half storey stone building. This low-massed structure comprises a long main wing of imposing dimensions, with a later and smaller perpendicular wing at the back. Regularly spaced window and door openings pierce the parged masonry walls. The steep gabled roof features dormers, massive chimneystacks and a flared overhang that protects the front verandah. The house, which faces the St-Lawrence River, is located amongst four other farm buildings set on a flat plain that lies within the Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The house of La Petite Ferme is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical value
The ensemble of La Petite Ferme, established on a site occupied by aboriginals for over 2000 years, is associated with several national themes. The house is the oldest surviving building of the complex, the most important farm operated by the Québec Seminary in the area for over three centuries, under the seigneurial system. As such, it contributes to illustrating the evolution of farming methods as well as the progress of agriculture in Québec over the last centuries. It also testifies to the development of the area from a function of farming to one of wildlife preservation. In addition, the building is associated with a person of regional importance, Joseph-Michel Cadet, an important businessman and civil servant during the French Regime, who rented and operated La Petite Ferme on behalf of the Seminary, during the last years of the French Regime.

Architectural value
The house of La Petite Ferme is a very good example of domestic architecture of the French Regime, to which neoclassical-derived elements were added during the 19th century, making it a prime model of the typical Québec farmhouse. The building’s simple and good functional design has allowed its continuous use for more than 250 years as a residence for farmers, in addition to housing various activities in its larger spaces, and on occasion, lodging vacationing Seminary students. Its use of solid traditional construction methods, including heavy local sandstone walls and a cedar wood roof framing, exemplify the very good quality of its craftsmanship and materials.

Environmental value
The house of La Petite Ferme establishes the agricultural character of its setting and recalls the historic vocation of the complex through its imposing dimensions, the profile of its roof and chimneys, and its prominent position along the road. A prime destination for the many visitors to the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area and a meeting place for researchers specialized in the preservation of fauna and flora, the building also constitutes a familiar landmark within the region.

Sources: Christine Chartré, Bâtiments de la Petite ferme à Cap-Tourmente, Québec. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 91-039; House on the Little Farm, Cap-Tourmente, Québec. Heritage Character Statement 91-039a.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the house of La Petite Ferme should be respected.

The building’s aesthetic and functional design, typical of both the French Regime’s domestic architecture and of the later classically-inspired Québec farmhouse, and its very good quality materials and craftsmanship, as manifested in: the building’s basic massing and construction technology, representative of the early architecture of New France, including the long storey-and-a-half volume, built close to the ground, the thick walls of rubble “Côte de Beaupré” sandstone covered in parging on all but one of its elevations that are pierced with regularly spaced, almost symmetrical openings, the steep gable roof, covered with wood shingles, framed with a mortise-and-tenon jointed cedar frame, and dominated by massive chimneystacks; the elements added during the 19th century, such as the rear wing, designed to conform to the overall lines of the front wing, and the classically-inspired curved overhang of the roof, verandah with its ornate posts, dormers and doors, all of which contribute to making the building a model of the typical Québec farmhouse; the layout if the ground floor of the main wing, reminiscent of that of the 18th century, including the enfilade of four large rooms, the partition on the north side of the central room, and the location of the doorways and stairs; structural and ornamental period detail, such as the fireplaces, coffered ceilings, lath walls, woodwork, etc., which contribute to the simplicity of the interior; evidence of the building’s history and evolution, including traces of the 1759 fire in the east section of the building, and the two foundations, which may testify to the phased construction of the main wing.

The manner in which the building establishes the agricultural character of its setting and serves as a significant local landmark, as demonstrated in: the house’s silhouette, its materials which contrast with those of neighboring structures, and its prominent position next to the road, all of which make it the dominant feature of La Petite Ferme complex; the building’s relationship to the four other remaining structures of the complex, located behind the house, along a north-west axis, and the overall profile of La Petite Ferme in contrast to the flat landscape of the plains; the building’s inclusion within the boundaries of the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area and its use as a symbol for marketing of the site, a recognition of the complex’s long historic relationship to the area, which contributes to its visibility to visitors and researchers alike.

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 House on the Little Farm was constructed in the late 17th or early 18th century; the designer is not known. It was used as a residence until 1969, when the property was purchased by the federal government as part of the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. The house was then converted into an administrative centre, and the ground floor was restored according to the 18th century designs. The Canadian Wildlife Service is the custodian. See FHBRO Report No. 91-39.

Reasons for Designation

The House on the Little Farm has been designated Classified because of the significance of the historic themes associated with it, its considerable environmental significance, and its architectural qualities.

Several Canadian historical themes are associated with the house and its site. Artifacts found on the site indicate an aboriginal presence for over 2000 years. Under the seigneurial system established by the French colonial authority to assure the survival of religious institutions, among other things, the Seminary of Quebec was allowed to operate a farm at Cap Tourmente for over 300 years. The evolution of farming methods at the Little Farm mirrored the progress of agriculture in Quebec as a whole. Finally, the inclusion of the site in the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, acknowledged as the habitat of the only population of giant snow geese in the world, relates to the theme of wildlife preservation.

The historical link between the house and its site and the other farm buildings has been partially preserved. The house provides the basis of the current character of its setting. Besides being a prime destination for thousands of tourists who come to the wildlife area every year, the house is also a familiar meeting place for numerous organizations and researchers from other nations who are concerned with the preservation of wildlife and plant species.

The House on the Little Farm is an excellent example of the architecture of the French regime, to which some neoclassical decorative elements were added during the 19th century. Its survival for more than 250 years is indicative of the quality of the materials used and the workmanship of the period.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage character of the House on the Little Farm resides in its architectural form, which reflects several phases of construction, the materials, the interior layout, and its relationship to the site and surrounding buildings.

The principal elements of the building which relate to the French regime include its long storey-and-a-half volume built close to the ground; its thick walls of rubble masonry covered with parging, except on the facade; its high gable roof surfaced with wood shingles; its large chimney stacks; and its somewhat regularly-spaced openings. Additions during the 19th century include the rear wing designed to conform to the overall lines of the main building, the curved overhang of the roof, the verandah with ornate posts, the dormers and the gate reflecting a neoclassical influence.

Given the number of alterations to the building, it would be preferable to abide by the choices made in the past, except for reasons of historical consistency. It is in this spirit that the exterior wall covering and window styles should be assessed; the style and materials selected should be consistent with those of the dominant period.

The layout of the ground floor of the main building is reminiscent of that of the 18th century; on the north side of the central room is a partition built during the 19th century. The layout of the remainder of the building was adapted to suit the needs of later occupants. It is recommended that no further alterations be made to the interior layout to avoid obliterating significant historical remains. Doors and stairways should also be left in their original locations to preserve the logic of the floor plan.

Some structural and ornamental period details remain in place (fireplaces, coffered ceilings, lath walls, woodwork, etc.). It is recommended that these details be documented and carefully preserved. The choice of finishing materials or lack thereof (masonry walls left bare) should be based on proper documentation, and the same applies to the restoration of missing elements. Any renovations or installation of modern equipment (lighting, heating, ventilation, etc.) should be discreet and consistent with the simple decor.

All significant structural elements should be preserved, including the very nice roof framing with mortise-and-tenon joints, and the two foundations, which indicate that the house may have been built in stages. Evidence (visible in the east section) that the building was set on fire by the British in 1759, if preserved, may yield some clues to a significant chapter in the history of the site.

This ancestral home was one of several buildings on the Little Farm, some of which no longer exist; it is the only one with stone walls (exposed on the facade) and a shingle roof. It is strongly recommended that these distinctive features be preserved and that the environment not be modified by further demolitions, additions or construction. It is also recommended that the profile of the complex within the landscape be preserved, and that the farm setting be maintained.