| Madawaska Historical Society Exibits/Artifacts |
| Admission to all exibits is free. Donations are welcome. |
The Tante Blanche Museum: The main building of the society's grounds, the log-house museum
should be the starting point of any visitor. The grounds guide and local historian is stationed here,
and will gladly answer any questions you may have. He will also bring visitors on a tour of the
grounds. The building itself houses various artifacts...
The building is named in honor of Marguerite Blanche Thibodeau, wife of Joseph Cyr, who, during the
winter of 1796- one of the hardest winters in the history of the colony- worked to keep the colony from
extinction. With the colony's crops destroyed by an early snow, deprivation and hunger set in. As a
party of able bodied men set out to hunt for scarce meat, Marguerite moved tirelessly from house to
house, on snowshoes, with loads of clothing for the freezing and food for the starving. She doctored
the sick and laid out the dead for those others too weak to do so.
Tante Blanche, as she became affectionately known, became the object of veneration among the
colonists. Her powers became the stuff of legends. She cured the sick, chased out evil spirits, found
lost objects, and brought good luck just by wishing it. When she died in 1810, she was exposed in the
Church of St. Basile, a privilege never before accorded, and to very few since.
should be the starting point of any visitor. The grounds guide and local historian is stationed here,
and will gladly answer any questions you may have. He will also bring visitors on a tour of the
grounds. The building itself houses various artifacts...
The building is named in honor of Marguerite Blanche Thibodeau, wife of Joseph Cyr, who, during the
winter of 1796- one of the hardest winters in the history of the colony- worked to keep the colony from
extinction. With the colony's crops destroyed by an early snow, deprivation and hunger set in. As a
party of able bodied men set out to hunt for scarce meat, Marguerite moved tirelessly from house to
house, on snowshoes, with loads of clothing for the freezing and food for the starving. She doctored
the sick and laid out the dead for those others too weak to do so.
Tante Blanche, as she became affectionately known, became the object of veneration among the
colonists. Her powers became the stuff of legends. She cured the sick, chased out evil spirits, found
lost objects, and brought good luck just by wishing it. When she died in 1810, she was exposed in the
Church of St. Basile, a privilege never before accorded, and to very few since.
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |
Madawaska School District No. 1: Built circa 1870, this structure is the only remaining schoolhouse
from the nineteenth century in the community. It stands virtually as it was during the period after its
construction.Today, the interior of the school is furnished with collected artifacts, textbooks, and the
basic teaching aids of the period of its occupancy. Preserved are the original teacher's chair and
desk, as well as the original wooden blackboard.
School district No. 1 is located directly behind the Tante Blanche building.
from the nineteenth century in the community. It stands virtually as it was during the period after its
construction.Today, the interior of the school is furnished with collected artifacts, textbooks, and the
basic teaching aids of the period of its occupancy. Preserved are the original teacher's chair and
desk, as well as the original wooden blackboard.
School district No. 1 is located directly behind the Tante Blanche building.
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |
The Albert House: Believed to be built circa 1840, this home was originally located on the Francois
Albert homestead, which he had received in a land grant from the King of England in 1786. The Albert
House passed through Albert's descendants until the last occupant passed away in 1970. The house
was donated to the Historical Society by the family.
Typical of the farming community that existed at that time, the house is constructed of squared
dove-tail logs. A small part of the interior pannelling has been cut away to show the original log
construction. The windows are classic in their proportion and placement. Interestingly, a trip to the
attic reveals that the framing for the roof is actually inverted ship's knees.
The building houses many of the housekeeping implements and religious artifacts of the Society.
Including spinning implements, beds, baby cribs, kitchen artifacts, tables and chairs..
Albert homestead, which he had received in a land grant from the King of England in 1786. The Albert
House passed through Albert's descendants until the last occupant passed away in 1970. The house
was donated to the Historical Society by the family.
Typical of the farming community that existed at that time, the house is constructed of squared
dove-tail logs. A small part of the interior pannelling has been cut away to show the original log
construction. The windows are classic in their proportion and placement. Interestingly, a trip to the
attic reveals that the framing for the roof is actually inverted ship's knees.
The building houses many of the housekeeping implements and religious artifacts of the Society.
Including spinning implements, beds, baby cribs, kitchen artifacts, tables and chairs..
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |
The Tool Shed:
| Click to enlarge |
| Click to enlarge |