44. 'Quebec' House

The 'Quebec House' came into existence in the province of Quebec near the end of the 19th century. The style proved so popular over the years that it seemed to represent the province and hence the unusual name. The one shown here can be found, along with numerous other examples, on I'le d'Orleans, a beautiful island in the St. Lawrence River to the east of Quebec City.

What to look for (clues)

• Symmetrical. Small to medium in size, and raised a little from the ground. The longer side of the rectangle faces the street.
  

• The gable roof is quite large and steep. Dormer windows project through the roof. The roof is normally curved at the eaves (bell cast) to better deal with the snow in the area.

• Central stairs lead to the building-wide covered verandah.

• Large double-casement windows open inward. There may be two or four on the main level. When the house was built, wooden shutters would be employed during the winter to retain the warmth. Nowadays these may be replaced by a second set of windows covering the first.
  

• Walls may be masonry or stonework. Stucco is often applied over the masonry. A wood siding sometimes shields the wall that faces the worst weather.

Modern versions of the 'Quebec' house frequently have beautifully carved and painted frames around the doors and windows. Colours tend to be brighter and more dramatic than those used in Ontario homes.
Some of the verandahs are quite decorative.

Where to find it

As observed earlier the style is quite common in the older areas of Quebec. In addition, you are likely to find examples in the areas of Ontario and New Brunswick that border Quebec.
For some marvelous old Quebec homes, drive along one of the nation's oldest roads, the Avenue Royale, from Quebec City east towards Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre or the 1735 road, Le Chemin du Roy, from Quebec City west to Montreal.