The administration of the village of North Hatley, located at the northern end of Lake Massawippi in the Eastern Townships, is singled out by Action Patrimoine, the national organization which, since 1975, intends to highlight and publicize the built heritage and landscapes of Quebec.
In a letter of protest sent to the elected officials of North Hatley, Action Patrimoine strongly opposes, through the voice of its director Renée Genest, the demolition of an old residence located in the heart of a heritage site that the municipality has owned. -even designated in 1987.
Built at the end of the 1930s, the red brick residence, in the tradition of loyalist residences in the region, is listed in the Directory of Cultural Heritage of Quebec. It officially belongs to a protected site because of its cultural importance since spring 1987.
The house contributes to the particular characteristics of North Hatley which have long made it a popular vacation spot. Over time, the village has been inhabited by various cultural and political figures, including literary critic Northrop Frye and novelist Hugh MacLennan. The poet Gérald Godin lived there and is buried there. The presidential couple Bill and Hillary Clinton stayed there more than once.
The village is characterized by its opulent bourgeois houses, its villas, its residences facing the fullness of the lake.
The sector targeted by the demolition notice “is of significant heritage and tourist attraction for the showcase of your municipality”, argues Action Patrimoine for this municipality which officially has less than 700 inhabitants.
From its offices in Quebec, the organization emphasizes “that a heritage site draws its richness from its plural character and not from the individualism of each element. It is enhanced by all the values that compose it, whether architectural, historical, landscape or urban planning.”
First request abandoned
A first request for demolition was abandoned. The North Hatley Heritage Committee claimed not to have been consulted in the process, which according to it goes “against the regulations of North Hatley”. In March 2023, the municipal council thus canceled, for the first time, the decision of the demolition council which was in favor of the building being razed.
The owners returned to the charge. A new demolition request has just been posted in front of the house.
However, despite the law, “no heritage restoration expertise has been carried out by an independent professional qualified in this field,” observes Action Patrimoine. The organization recalls the responsibilities of a municipality with regard to its heritage, as well as that of owners. Both are required “to take the necessary means to ensure its preservation”.