Picture this a grand mansion standing proudly on Rue Saint-Louis in Terrebonne. This is the Maison Fraser-Mackenzie-Masson a remarkable piece of Canadian history. Built in 1807 it boasts a neoclassical design with Palladian influences. Its massive main building rises above the ground floor a monumental pediment adorns its portico. Symmetry is key with a hemicycle bay and balconies gracing the rear elevation.
This wasn’t just any house. It was the residence of notable figures. It all began with Dr Simon Fraser who originally commissioned the home. Later it was sold to the Honourable Louis-Rodrigue Masson and Louise-Rachel McKenzie. Masson a son of seigneurs served as Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec from 1884 to 1887. The Globensky family relatives of the Massons also owned the residence.
The Maison Fraser-Mackenzie-Masson’s story is intertwined with the fur trade. The land was part of the Seigneury of Terrebonne. Simon McTavish the “Marquis of the Fur Trade” purchased it in 1802 for a hefty sum of £25100. He had big plans investing heavily in improvements. He established a thriving operation. This included building bakeries and a larger more efficient sawmill.
The Mackenzie brothers Henry and Roderick played a significant role. They were associates of the North West Company. They leased the seigneury for twelve years. Henry lived in the seigneurial hotel. Roderick bought the house from Dr Fraser. He even created beautiful English-style gardens.
William Mackay a colleague of Mackenzie ran an inn nearby. This inn became a popular spot for Scottish travelers and even hosted the explorer-cartographer David Thompson. A fascinating confrontation occurred in 1815 when Hudson’s Bay Company recruiters showed up. A clash was averted thanks to the intervention of John McDonald and James Mackenzie Roderick’s brother. The uninvited guests were promptly removed. This incident highlights the fierce competition between the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company for control of the fur trade.
Roderick Mackenzie eventually bought the Seigneury in 1817. He later had to return it to McTavish’s estate in 1822. As seigneur he granted land for a church near the Royal Institution’s English school. The church was built and still existed around 1840. Terrebonne was unique for having both French and English schools.
The Maison Fraser-Mackenzie-Masson stands as a testament to a rich past. A house with its own distinct story. It is a significant example of a bicentennial bourgeois house. It reflects English influence. Its location within a bourgeois setting with a grand park and riverbank slope adds to its charm. The house speaks volumes about life in Terrebonne during a pivotal time in Canadian history. Its legacy continues to fascinate us.