440, de Bonsecours St.
I t seems, according to a Louis J.A. Papineau’s letter written in 1894, that the first Papineau to set foot on the soil of New France in 1686-1687 had fled France because he was a Huguenot or Calvinist and therefore Protestant. He would be the ancestor of all the Papineau family.
A Joseph Papineau “dit Demontigny” possessed a land on Bonsecours Street. He had a wooden house built on the site. Colonel John Campbell bought everything and built a stone house in 1786. He was responsible of the Indian Affairs in Montreal. His house was two stories high. Acquired by the Papineau family in 1809, Louis-Joseph became the owner in 1814.
Changes were necessary when the Bonsecours Street was lowered by nearly two meters. The basement of the building became the ground floor and it was decided to extend the remains up to the nearby house and a carriage entrance was fitted out to allow access to the backyard. Louis-Joseph Papineau, well known for being one of the Patriots revolt executive heads had fled in exile for several years. During his stay in France, the home was transformed into the Exchange Hotel, and then Arcade Hotel. On his return he took again possession of the building but for a short time, preferring to settle in Montebello.
Then a few hotels occupied the building: the Empire Hotel, the Rivard Hotel, the Bonsecours Hotel, the Royal Hotel and even restaurants. The House underwent major changes. Two brick storey were added and disfigured it. The Papineau family remained there until 1919. Thereafter several owners followed.
In 1964 a savior arrived in the person of Eric McLean, a journalist who became a member of the Order of Canada. He was concern of the conservation of the heritage buildings. Following an old drawing of Rosewell Corsica Lyman, he gave the building its appearance of the 1830s. The Interior was also rejuvenated. It’s worth mentioning that nineteen tapestry layers have been removed. Mr. McLean remained forty years in this house that was designated a historic monument in 1965 and became property of the Government of Canada in 1982. The House is now leased to individuals. At the door, a commemorative plaque certifies that Joseph Papineau and his son Louis-Joseph have lived there as well as their descendants.
