Théotime Blanchard House

GENERAL

Type / Purpose

Private Residence

Location

279 St-Pierre-Ouest Boulevard, Caraquet, New Brunswick

Description

Théotime Blanchard House is a vernacular Picturesque, triple-gabled residence on St-Pierre-Ouest Boulevard in Caraquet.

Heritage Value

Théotime Blanchard House was erected in 1870 on St-Pierre-Ouest Boulevard in Caraquet. It exhibits Picturesque vernacular architecture, a preferred style among 19th-century Acadians. This style can be seen in the symmetrical rectangular massing, the cedar shingle siding, and the steeply gabled roof. In 2006, the house underwent a renovation.

The house's first occupant was Théotime Blanchard, a prominent Acadian politician in late 19th-century New Brunswick. In 1870, Mr. Blanchard was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. In office, he headed the opposition to the Common Schools Act of 1871. The act, which would later pass, would replace the contemporary church-run schools with government-controlled "common" schools, a move opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, which Blanchard was a member of. Blanchard resigned from the Legislative Assembly in 1876. In 1894, he was the first Acadian from Gloucester County to be elected as a Member of Parliament. He left politics after exiting the position in 1904.

Outside of politics, Mr. Blanchard was a civil servant, businessman, and teacher, having worked at the village school prior to his time with the Legislative Assembly. He was killed in a car accident in 1911 at age 66.

Heritage Recognition

Municipal Register of Local Historic Places (2006/11/01)

ARCHITECTURE

Date of Construction

1870

Character Defining Elements

- One-and-a-half-storey rectangular massing with small back extension
- Steep roof with front and side gables
- Cedar shingle siding
- Symmetrical front façade
- Protruding entrance with windows on each side and window under gable

Builder/Building Company

Théotime Blanchard

OWNERSHIP HISTORY

Notable Historic Occupants

Théotime Blanchard (???? - 1911):
Original owner. Blanchard was one of the most prominent Acadian politicians in late 19th-century New Brunswick. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1870, where he headed the ultimately unsuccessful opposition to the Common Schools Act of 1871. After resigning from the Legislative Assembly in 1876, Blanchard was the first Acadian from Gloucester County to be elected as a Member of Parliament from 1894 to 1904. Prior to joining the Legislative Assembly, he taught at the village school and additionally worked as a civil servant and businessman. He died in a car accident in 1911 at age 66.

SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

Photos

Photograph by Fidèle Thériault, taken from the Canada's Historic Places website

Sources Contributors

Gabrielle Byrne

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