Quebec City Armoury
| Grande Allée Drill Hall, Voltigeurs du Quebec Armoury | |
|---|---|
 Grande Allée Drill Hall, Voltigeurs de Quebec Armoury |
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| General information | |
| Type | Drill Hall / armoury |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival Chateau-style |
| Location | Quebec City, Québec, Canada |
| Address | 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue East, |
| Construction started | 1885 |
| Completed | 1888 |
| Destroyed | 2008 (fire) |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Canadian Forces |
| Architect | Eugène-Étienne Taché |
| Awards and prizes | National Historic Site of Canada;Canada's Register of Historic Places[1];Classified - 1987 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings [2] |
In the Canadian Forces, an armoury is a place where a reserve unit trains, meets, and parades. The Voltigeurs du Quebec Armoury, that used to be named Grande-Allée Armoury (French: Manège militaire Grande-Allée, or simply Manège militaire) was a Gothic Revival drill hall for the infantry regiment Les Voltigeurs de Québec in 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Avenue East, Quebec City, Canada. It was built between 1885 and 1888 and designed by architect Eugène-Étienne Taché.[3] It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.[4]
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[edit] Plaque
A Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque was erected in 1991 to commemorate the Grande Allée Drill Hall and its architectural uniqueness. The Grande Allée Drill Hall is an impressive example of a drill hall that retains its original parade square. Designed by Eugène-Étienne Taché, a Quebec public servant and architect, the stone building was completed in 1887, with an addition in 1913. The steeply pitched gable roof, conical towers and fanciful decorative details of the drill hall make it an early example of the French-inspired Château style. The use of the style here is unique among Canadian drill halls of this period and reflects the late 19th century interest in the historic French roots of the city. [5]
[edit] History
The armoury was destroyed by a fire on April 5, 2008 and all but a rear wall and turrets from the front door were destroyed.[6] Les Voltigeurs de Quebec Museum in the amoury which housed various artifacts from the regiment was also lost in the fire. Though, officials estimate 90 percent of the artifacts were saved due to efforts by members of the regiment and local firefighters.[7]
The armoury was to have been one of the venues for the celebration of Quebec's 400th birthday.[8]
The armoury wooden roof was one of the largest in Canada.[9]
Calls have been made by politicians to rebuild the armoury,[10] to which the federal government has responded positively by allocating $2 million for reconstruction planning.[11]
In the fall of 2008, the regimental association launched a lawsuit against the Department of National Defence, blaming negligence on the part of the government for the blaze. [12]
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United States Navy Band plays at Quebec City Armoury during International Music Festival
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Quebec City Armoury
[edit] Armoury
| Site | Date(s) | Designated | Location | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grande Allée Drill Hall 805 Wilfrid-Laurier Ave [13][14][15] | 1887 (completed) | 1986 National Historic Sites of Canada; Classified - 1987 Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings | Quebec City 46°48′22.68″N 71°12′50.4″W / 46.8063°N 71.214°W |
Designed by Quebec architect Eugène-Étienne Taché to house Les Voltigeurs de Québec, it was the precursor of the Chateau-style in Canadian architecture; unique among armouries in Canada due to its design, it was heavily damaged by fire in 2008 |
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/results-resultats.aspx?m=2&Keyword=armoury Canada's Register of Historic Places
- ^ http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/beefp-fhbro/FHB_RES_E.asp Heritage Buildings
- ^ Manège militaire Voltigeurs du Québec aujourd'hui
- ^ Grande Allée Drill Hall. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=6025 Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque
- ^ BBC NEWS | Americas | Fire guts historic Quebec armoury
- ^ Quebec regiment salvages history from armoury ruins after fire
- ^ Quebec City armoury destroyed by fire - photos and video | Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph Online
- ^ CTV.ca | Investigation launched after Quebec armoury blaze
- ^ Voltigeurs will rebuild Quebec City Armoury, burned to ground
- ^ Ottawa pledges help to rebuild Quebec City armoury
- ^ "Regiment sues DND for armoury loss," Canwest News Service
- ^ "Grande Allée Drill Hall". Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada. Parks Canada. http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/lhn-nhs/det_E.asp?oqSID=0690&oqeName=Grande+All%E9e+Drill+Hall&oqfName=Man%E8ge+militaire+de+la+Grande%2DAll%E9e. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ Grande Allée Drill Hall. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
- ^ "Final Report - Public Consultations on the Future of Quebec City's Grande-Allée Armoury". 29 September 2009. Public Works and Government Services Canada. http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/que/region/text/manege-armoury/rapport-report/index-eng.html#conclusion. Retrieved 4 September 2011.[dead link]
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Coordinates: 46°48′23″N 71°12′50″W / 46.8063°N 71.214°W
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