Crabtree, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Crabtree is a municipality in the Lanaudière
region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality
. It is located along the Ouareau River, a right tributary of the L'Assomption River
.
The most interesting local attraction is the Trou de Fée (lit. "Fairy Hole"), a cave on the west bank of the Ouareau River.
The real impetus for the town's development came in 1905 when Edwin Crabtree bought land in what would become the centre of the municipality to build a paper mill
. He founded the Edwin Crabtree and Sons Ltd. and built the mill also along the Ouareau River to take advantage of its hydraulic power. A year later, the post office opened under the name "Crabtree Mills".
In 1912, the mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt within a year. Gradually a small village grew near the mill, including the so-called "English Street" (la rue des Anglais) with its residences for the managers, boarding house, the entertainment hall "Beaver S Club", tennis court and park. A dam on the Ouareau River was built in 1917-18. Edwin Crabtree and Sons Ltd. joined the Howard Smith Paper Mills group (subsequently bought by Domtar
), and the plant was modernized.
In 1921, the Parish of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus was formed, and on December 27 of that year, it was also civilly incorporated as the Parish Municipality of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus. Kay Crabtree was the first mayor. On July 1, 1922, the School Commission of the Parish of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus-de-Crabtree was established. On March 9, 1930, the mill workers formed the Syndicat National des Travailleurs de la Pulpe et du Papier ("National Union of Pulp and Paper Workers"), one of the oldest unions affiliated with the paper and forestry sector of the Confederation of National Labour Unions
.
For a long time the place was also identified with the extended name Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus-de-Crabtree-Mills. In 1945, the village itself separated from the parish municipality and was incorporated as the Municipality of Crabtree. In 1991, Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus was renamed to Sacré-Cœur-de-Crabtree to avoid confusion with a municipality in the Beauce by the same name
. On October 23, 1996, both places were merged into the new Municipality of Crabtree.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1361 (total dwellings: 1399)
Mother tongue:
Lanaudière
Lanaudière is one of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec, Canada, situated immediately to the northeast of Montreal. It has a total population of 429,053 inhabitants.-Geography:...
region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality
Joliette Regional County Municipality, Quebec
300px|rightJoliette is a regional county municipality in southwest-central Quebec, Canada. The regional county seat is Joliette. The municipality has a land area of 416.285 km² and a 2006 census population of 58,354 inhabitants....
. It is located along the Ouareau River, a right tributary of the L'Assomption River
L'Assomption River
The Assomption River is the most important waterway in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, is over 200 km long, and has a drainage basin of 4220 km². Its source is the Mont Tremblant massif...
.
The most interesting local attraction is the Trou de Fée (lit. "Fairy Hole"), a cave on the west bank of the Ouareau River.
History
The area began to be populated at the end of the 18th century. In 1845, the first saw mills were built along the Ouareau River, but didn't survive for long as they were washed away by spring floods.The real impetus for the town's development came in 1905 when Edwin Crabtree bought land in what would become the centre of the municipality to build a paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
. He founded the Edwin Crabtree and Sons Ltd. and built the mill also along the Ouareau River to take advantage of its hydraulic power. A year later, the post office opened under the name "Crabtree Mills".
In 1912, the mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt within a year. Gradually a small village grew near the mill, including the so-called "English Street" (la rue des Anglais) with its residences for the managers, boarding house, the entertainment hall "Beaver S Club", tennis court and park. A dam on the Ouareau River was built in 1917-18. Edwin Crabtree and Sons Ltd. joined the Howard Smith Paper Mills group (subsequently bought by Domtar
Domtar
Domtar Corporation is the largest integrated producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade pulp....
), and the plant was modernized.
In 1921, the Parish of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus was formed, and on December 27 of that year, it was also civilly incorporated as the Parish Municipality of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus. Kay Crabtree was the first mayor. On July 1, 1922, the School Commission of the Parish of Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus-de-Crabtree was established. On March 9, 1930, the mill workers formed the Syndicat National des Travailleurs de la Pulpe et du Papier ("National Union of Pulp and Paper Workers"), one of the oldest unions affiliated with the paper and forestry sector of the Confederation of National Labour Unions
Confédération des Syndicats Nationaux
The Confédération des syndicats nationaux , is the second largest trade union federation in Quebec by membership.- History :...
.
For a long time the place was also identified with the extended name Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus-de-Crabtree-Mills. In 1945, the village itself separated from the parish municipality and was incorporated as the Municipality of Crabtree. In 1991, Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus was renamed to Sacré-Cœur-de-Crabtree to avoid confusion with a municipality in the Beauce by the same name
Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus, Québec
Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus is a parish located in the Municipalité régionale de comté des Appalaches in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 587 as of 2009....
. On October 23, 1996, both places were merged into the new Municipality of Crabtree.
Demographics
Population:- Population in 2006: 3441 (2001 to 2006 population change: 3.3 %)
- Population in 2001: 3330
- Population in 1996:
- Crabtree: 2339
- Sacré-Coeur-de-Crabtree: 1160
- Population in 1991:
- Crabtree: 2157
- Sacré-Coeur-de-Crabtree: 1143
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1361 (total dwellings: 1399)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 1.5 %
- French as first language: 97.7 %
- English and French as first language: 0.5 %
- Other as first language: 0.3 %