One of the most beautiful buildings in Vieux La Prairie is undoubtedly that of the Vieux Marché which today houses the premises of the Historical Society of La Prairie-de-la-Magdeleine (SHLM) and the Théâtre Optimiste, rue Sainte -Married. Built by the city in 1862, it initially housed a barracks and butchers’ stalls.
General Director of the SHLM, archivist Caroline Laberge does not hide her joy at being able to work in such a magnificent place. “We make other historical societies jealous!” she says, laughing.
A barracks and butchers’ stalls still occupied the premises at the beginning of the 20th century. (Photo: SHLM)
The space also serves as a tourism office for Vieux-La Prairie. “In the summer there are a lot of comings and goings. We welcome on average 2000 people per year. And our guided tours of Vieux-La Prairie attracted 1,500 people last year,” the general director proudly points out.
Ms. Laberge indicates that the place is frequented by many Americans with French-Canadian roots. “They come here and we show them the place where their ancestor lived, where he was baptized, where he did his shopping. Some people get very emotional!”
A little history
The need for a fire station was enormous after the violent fire of 1846. Due to lack of maintenance, the fire pumps refused to work. Only around twenty buildings escaped the disaster.
The Sainte-Marie butcher occupied the premises in 1920. Note on the right the Molson beer advertisement installed at the entrance to the Patenaude tavern, which disappeared in a fire in 1994. (Photo: SHLM)
Literary Society
As soon as the building opened, a theater troupe and the La Prairie Literary Society – the latter existing since 1853 – lived upstairs. “A literary society is a select club where men gather to smoke, read, discuss politics, culture and history,” says Ms. Laberge. We try to learn as a group under the aegis, of course, of the Church. Little by little, we also play billiards, ping-pong and cards. But not money because it is forbidden by the Church!”
The Literary Society will end its activities in 1983.
Police chief Germain Provost in front of the building in 1955. (Photo: SHLM)>
Cells
A police station occupied the premises in the 20th century, until the end of the 1960s. “It is a station with two or three constables. There are two cells to sober up those who disturb the peace. We are not talking about long-term imprisonment,” specifies the archivist.
Moreover, the door of one of the cells is permanently exposed to the premises which also serves as a museum. You can also admire an imposing model of the village of La Prairie.
The building abandoned in the mid-1970s. (Photo: SHLM)
At the turn of the 60s and 70s, the building was abandoned. “We have photos of Vieux-La Prairie at that time. It’s dilapidated and abandoned,” she continues.
Fortunately, during the 1970s, a revival of heritage emerged in the community. In 1972, the Historical Society was founded and in 1975, Vieux-La Prairie became the 2nd recognized historic district in Quebec after Old Quebec. The following year, the SHLM moved into the Old Market.
And the story still continues!
The Old Market in the heart of Old La Prairie. (Photo: Le Courrier du Sud – Sylvain Daignault)
Old Market of La Prairie
- Year of construction: 1862
- Address: 249, rue Sainte-Marie, La Prairie
- State: houses the premises of the SHLM and the Théâtre Optimiste
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