Then and now: Exploring L'Orignal's Architectural Gems

If you enjoy heritage architecture, then the village of L’Orignal should be on your list. Halfway between Ottawa and Montreal, L’Orignal is waterfront, north of Highway 17. At its origin (1674), the land part of New France. In 1798, Nathan Treadwell, an American civil engineer, bought the 23,000 acres of seigneurial land. He recruited settlers, and he had expansion plans. But when the War of 1812 began, Treadwell was asked to pledge allegiance to the British King. He refused and his land was confiscated. He moved back to the States. In 1823, his son Charles returned and eventually regained part of his father’s land.   

Present-day L’Orignal is rich in well-preserved historical properties. The perimeter defined by John, King, Court and Queen Street is where you will find many of them. Each structure has a marker, a plaque, that explains the heritage and links to the families who owned them. The Proulx House is located at 8 John Street. This Victorian beauty was built in 1865 by Eden Johnson and his wife Isabella Treadwell. It is red brick with two gables and a tower at one end. For over ninety years, it was owned by the Proulx family. 

Crossing the road to King Street, the property at 1050 draws attention with its imposing turret. Chatelain House was built in 1908. Alexander Chatelain, a respected businessman, built it and later passed it on to his daughter, Gabrielle (Chatelain) Daigneault. Sitting next to is the Sterling Bank building. Built in 1908 and owned by Alexander Chatelain, the Sterling Bank later became the Hochelaga Bank and National Bank. Now it is apartments. 

Next on the street at 1038 King, stands in all its grandeur the Poulin house. The Queen Anne style home of general store owner Basile Rock Poulin was built in 1913. The end tower is wrapped by a balcony on each of the two levels. The third-storey silver dome is decorated with stylized Fleur de Lys. Continuing down the street, at the corner of King and Court, is a stone building that now houses the Ontario Court of Justice. Built in 1821 by John W. Marston, it started as a hotel and later became the Poulin-Clément general store. It is one of the oldest stone buildings in Eastern Ontario. The foundation of this massive building stands on tree trunks, some with the bark still attached. The exterior walls are two feet thick.

There are more treasures to be seen along Court Street such as the land registry office and at the top end of the street L’Orignal Court House and Jail. Built in 1825, it is the oldest courthouse and jail in Ontario. If you are eager to explore further, L’Orignal is only ten minutes from Vankleek Hill, the “gingerbread capital of Ontario.” 

Written by Ginette-Guy Mayer; her interest as a writer revolves around history, genealogy and women’s stories within those contexts. Now retired, she lives in Cornwall, Ontario, where she volunteers with various heritage, history and genealogical groups. She is the author of the biography Unforgotten Mary Mack, the Elizabeth Grant Mysteries, set in 1930s Cornwall and the DS Henry Stafford Mysteries series, set in 1980s Winchester/Chesterville.