Three facades are now
completed; they are tenanted by the various Public Departments of the
Civil Service - the Halls of the Legislative Assembly alone remain to
be built and the foundations are now in process of construction in
consequence of the vote of Parliament in 1881. The main facade, now in
process of construction, will look towards the city walls and face on
St. Eustache street, or rather on the splendid new area to constitute
Dufferin Avenue, should St. Eustache street be closed; this street
being altogether too narrow and in too close proximity to the
buildings. The Lieut.-Governor will occupy a handsome suite of rooms
on the second story in the portion of the edifice which lies parallel
with and faces towards St. Louis Road. The northern facade faces on
St. Augustin street and the fourth or western facade looks towards St.
Julia street.
The style of architecture is that which was used in French edifices of
the XVII. century. Pointe Levi greenish sandstone was used for the
basement.
The second and third story are divided by a continuous band, supported
by an Ionic entablature of Deschambault cut stone.
Embossed pilasters in rustic work, rising from the basement up
to the cornice, close the salient angles of each projection. Hard
Murray Bay sandstone has been used in constructing the interior
revetment wall of the court, but Deschambault limestone forms the
masonry of the basement, the bands, cornices, mantle-pieces, and
lintels.
The roof of the building, a handsome one, is of galvanized sheeting,
the ornaments of zinc; some cast, some wrought and hammered. The
height of the body of the edifice from the ground to the great cornice
is 60 feet English measure, and 72 feet to the top of the cornice
above the attics.
Each angle of the square has a pavilion and contains a stone
sculptured dormer window provided with a costly clock constructed by
Duquet.
Access is had to the inner court by two passages in the centre
pavilion, which faces St. Julia street.
A heraldic Lion passant, between two fleur de lys and three maple
leaves, display the arms of the Province of Quebec. On the piers of
the first story are cut in relief the escutcheons of the two first
Lieut.-Governors of the Province of Quebec, sculptured on the central
window of the second story, is visible from afar, the "year" when the
structure was commenced, "1878," and on the side windows are inscribed
the monograms of the Governor-General and Lieutenant-Governor, under
whose administration the edifice was built.
The frieze of the main entablature shows the cypher of the reigning
Sovereign V. R. wreathed in oak leaves.
There are at present three main central entrances, the pavilions of
the angle also contain one each with Ionic pillars.
The main facade, only just commenced, differs from the others; instead
of a pavilion in the centre, it will have a tower or campanile 160
feet high, flanked by two projections. The ground floor of this tower
will show a stately entrance to the halls of Assembly of both branches
of the Legislature, accessible through two semicircular inclined
planes.
The inequalities in the level of the soil at that spot will be
concealed by terraces on three sides of the stately pile. At the foot
of the tower the design shows a basin 115x42 feet embraced within the
walls of the inclined plane, to receive the water of a fountain in a
portico of Tuscan order of architecture. Four Ionic columns with
entablatures will deck the main entrance.
Niches on different points of the edifice will exhibit statues of
Jacques Cartier, the discoverer of Canada; of Champlain, the founder
of Quebec; of deMaisonneuve, the founder of Montreal.
On the lantern of the tower will stand forth prominently the Royal
arms of England, supported by winged genii and wreathed in oak leaves.
The tower on four sides will contain four huge clocks lit up by
electric light.
Lofty, roomy halls with ceilings arched and decorated with stucco
panelling; devices and symbols of the quarterings of the Provincial
arms, lead to the interior of the buildings, which though simple,
seems well adapted for public offices. Broad, well lighted corridors,
divide in two each wing and afford ready access to the various
departments located on both sides.
Each flat communicates with the adjoining one by broad, splendid black
walnut staircases decked with arabesques in gilt carving.
The design, elevation and general plan of the edifices, were prepared
and drafted by Mr. Eugene Tache, the Assistant-Commissioner of Crown
Lands. The internal divisions and specifications were laid out under
the direction of Mr. P. Gauvreau, the Engineer of Public Works; the
contractor was F. X. Cimon, M.P.
Messrs. Beaucage & Chaliauvert, undertook the cut stone work, which
was carried out by their foreman, Mr. Bourgeaud.
Messrs. Cerat & Vincent, of Montreal, are contractors for the
sculpture in stone, and the galvanized iron roof and ornamentation in
the same material and in zinc was executed by Messrs. De Blois &
Bernier, of Montreal, whilst Mitchell & Co. contracted for the heating
apparatus.
The whole building when completed is expected to cost about $800,000.
Opposite looms out the long tea-caddy-looking building, built by the
Sandfield Macdonald Government in 1862, - the Volunteer Drill Shed. Its
length, if not its beauty, attracts notice. "Ferguson's house," next it,
noted by Professor Silliman in his "Tour between Hartford and Quebec in
1819," is now difficult to recognize; its present owner, A. Joseph,
Esq., has added so much to its size. This antiquated dwelling certainly
does not belong to a new dispensation. Another land-mark of the past
deserves notice - the ex-Commander of the Forces' lofty quarters; from its
angular eaves and forlorn aspect it generally went by the name of "Bleak
House." I cannot say whether the place was ever haunted, but it ought to
have been.
