Description of Historic Place

Lockstation Cabin 7 is located in Chambly on the Chambly Canal, and is part of the Chambly Canal National Historic Site of Canada. It is a charming, little wooden cabin with a steep roof with tall gabled dormers with ridges that meet at the central rising chimney. The walls of the building are clad in white wood siding with trim, and feature many window openings with decorative trim. The entry door is centrally located on the front of the building. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Lockstation Cabin 7 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
Lockstation Cabin 7 is associated, along with the other cabins and works on the Chambly Canal, with 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.

Architectural Value
Lockstation Cabin 7 is valued for its very good aesthetic design. A charming wooden cabin, it illustrates the desire of the authorities to beautify the Chambly Canal in keeping with the spirit of the ‘City Beautiful’ movement that marked the turn of the 20th century. Its eclectic look draws on Queen Anne style design vocabulary, a style that then had a considerable impact on domestic architecture. Fine materials and very good craftsmanship are the reasons why this dollhouse-like structure remains standing to this day.

Environmental Value
Lockstation Cabin 7 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 7et 8, canal de Chambly, Québec, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, Building Report, 96-067; Lockstation Cabin No. 7, Chambly Canal, Québec, Heritage Character Statement, 96-067.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Lockstation Cabin 7 should be respected.

Its very good aesthetic design, good functional design and very good craftsmanship and materials, as for example: the architectural lines of the Queen Anne style inspired wooden cabin, such as the complex profile of the steep roof, the tall dormers with ridges that meet in the centre (where the chimney rises), the contrasting textures and colours adorning the wood siding and the resulting compartmented effect, the woodwork detailing in the gables, and the small pediments over the doors and windows; the symmetrical arrangement of the elevations and the clarity of the architectural concept; the elements that illustrate a design driven by the demands of the lockmaster’s work, for example, the arrangement of the doors and windows which allowed the lockmaster to see in all directions; the building materials and construction techniques that have stood for a century reflecting the skill and expertise of the artisans involved in the construction of this cabin.

The manner in which Lockstation Cabin 7 reinforces the present character of its canal setting and is a well-known building in the 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. 7 has been designated as a “Recognized” building primarily because of its architectural qualities and environmental significance.

Historical Value
Lockstation Cabin No. 7, along with the other cabins and works on the 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. 7 is part of the Canal-de-Chambly National Historic Site of Canada.

Architectural Value
This charming wooden cabin illustrates the desire among authorities to beautify the Chambly Canal in keeping with the spirit of the “City Beautiful” movement that marked the turn of the 20th century. Its eclectic look draws on Queen Anne design vocabulary, a style that had then a considerable impact on domestic architecture. Fine materials and excellent craftsmanship are the reasons why this little dollhouse-like structure is standing to this day.

Environmental Value
This cabin has never been moved from its original site, and its relationship with the canal works, including bridges, locks, the drafting road and the canal itself, has changed very little. Located on a quieter stretch of the canal, it has played a larger symbolic role since the lockmasters’ and bridge operators’ houses that once dotted the canal disappeared. This building from a by-gone era and the other small cabins similar to it along the canal make a considerable impression on the many visitors to the park, especially American tourists.

Character-Defining Elements

- The architectural lines of this charming Queen Anne-inspired wooden cabin, such as the complex profile of the steep roof – four gables whose ridges meet in the centre, where the chimney rises; the contrasting textures and colours adorning the wood siding and the resulting compartmented effect; the woodwork detailing in the gables; and the small pediments over the door and windows.
- The symmetrical arrangement of the elevations and the clarity of the architectural concept.
- 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.
- Building materials and techniques that have stood a century reflecting the skill and expertise of the artisans involved in the construction of this cabin.
- The relationship between Cabin No. 7 and the site as well as the canal installations for which the lockmaster was responsible, 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 good visibility of the cabin, which, together with its sister cabins, gives structure to the linear landscape of the Chambly Canal.