|
1. These homes had hipped or gable ended roofs and
a pitch of more than 45 degrees, a good angle for shedding snow. Quite
often, but not invariably, this style featured a mild upturned bell
curve at the eaves.
2. The face on, main wall was asymmetrical in
small houses, the walls characteristically high, often with a small
triangular dormer window somewhere on the roof. The timber framing was
sometimes visible externally although this does not seem the case with
De Monts dwelling.
3. Doors openings were typically rectangular, on
the tall side, with arched tops and doors to match. Windows which were
often on the protected side of the building and were usually
rectangular where the building material was wood. Both doors and
windows were protected from winter winds by outside full length
shutters.
4. Construction methods could vary but widely
spaced framing posts with angled supports were frequently called for.
The spaces between might be filled with mud, stone or wood, or some
combination of these three, The French also built lesser structures in
palisade-style by driving logs into the earth along a trench to form
walls. Narrowly spaced infilled studs were also seen. Acadian builders
later built in the log cabin style using horizontal squared logs,
dovetailed at the corners. |
|
French Colonial
When
Sieur De Monts made his unsuccessful attempt
to settle St. Croix Island, the housing materials came with him,
the houses having been prefabricated in France. That was probably wise
since the trees on the
island were limited in quantity and the French feared the local
Indians who lived on the mainland. The style of these buildings is known
from Champlain's map of the habitation show top, right. The style is
essentially medieval European
Renaissance.
The buildings on St Croix Island which stands within the State of Maine
at the border between Canada and the United States, were removed
to Port Royal, Nova Scotia in 1605. Below, right are some of the same
buildings shown after
reassembly at Port Royal, near present-day Digby, Nova Scotia. Here the
plan for the village was a little less grand, since the habitation now
served a smaller number of settlers. Many of them had died of scurvy
on that exposed wind-swept island. Also notice that better provision
has been made for facing winter winds and for protection against
potential enemies. As it happened the settlers had absolutely nothing
to fear from their Micmac neighbours.
Buildings of this sort exist as reconstructions at Fortress Louisbourg,
Cape Breton and at present day Port Royal. A skeletal representation of
this style stands on the New Brunswick side of the St. Croix River
overlooking St. Croix Island. Open on four sides it serves as a lookout
during inclement weather.
Structures of this sort did exist upon the south shore at La Have in the
1730s, when the French used this place as the base for their operations
after Port Royal was burned by the British. Time and tide have had
their way at this place and even the relics of that time have been
largely lost to the Atlantic Ocean.
|
|
