By putting the François-Xavier-Garneau house up for sale, businessman Louis Garneau brings the fate of one of the most beautiful interiors of old houses in Quebec to the public space. If the place is not in itself threatened since the exterior and the interior of the building as well as the ground are protected, it is the conservation of its furniture and the access of the public to the places which are in play today.
As evidenced by the photos of the place, the house has undergone very few transformations. Its successive owners have taken great care to keep the pieces of furniture they inherited when they took possession of the premises and to recreate the decor so that the house reflects the time of François-Xavier Garneau and gives a wink. eye to Cardinal Maurice Roy, who was born within its walls. Such a decor, which highlights with as much care the way of life of the bourgeoisie of Quebec in the middle of the 19e century, is to our knowledge unique in the Capitale-Nationale region. The city certainly has the Henry-Stuart house, but it reflects the daily life of the bourgeoisie in the 20th century.e century. What is at stake today is the future of the furniture, some 3,000 books and newspaper collections found there, as well as the chest that would have belonged to the historian. The dismantling of this interior preserved and reconstructed with such care would constitute a heavy loss for Quebec.
If access to the places had been rarefied for a few years, these remained no less accessible to some. We therefore call not only on the authorities to invest themselves so that the house is preserved, but also so that it is enhanced and made more accessible to the general public. If Old Quebec does not lack museums, it has few places that allow you to travel to another era, the time of a visit. The building is, to our knowledge, in good condition and there are several organizations in Quebec ready to take over its management as long as they are given the means to do so. The Government of Quebec and the City of Quebec must continue the work begun by François-Xavier Garneau in the mid-nineteenthe century by ensuring that this house continues to give Quebecers a taste for history. We therefore invite them to acquire the premises and turn it into a museum, or to ensure that whoever buys the place preserves the interior and gives access to as many people as possible. The Government of Quebec and the City of Quebec owe this to the preservation of the memory of the first national historian of French Canadians and the second clerk of the city (1844-1864), the one who contributed the most to its stability during the establishment of a permanent municipal office.
* This letter is supported by 140 players from the history and heritage community, including Éric Bédard, Patrice Groulx, Francine Lelièvre, Myriam Wojcik and Martin Pâquet.
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