I’d just finished building one of our log homes near Cascades Quebec and came to admire the early buildings there, particularly the ones with the curved overhangs over their porches. Inevitably, I found one to bring back to Ontario. It was large, being 35 ft. by 28 ft. with the customary piece-sur-piece method of cornering rather than the dovetailed corners typically used here in Ontario. The day after the truck arrived at our pre-building site we were sorting out the logs into its four walls when a snazzy car came into the driveway and a fellow got out to inspect our work. “What’s that,” he asked. “It’s a log house from Quebec,” I answered. He just stood there with his mouth agape, almost in shock. A more appropriate client had yet to appear on our premises. When he found his voice he explained that he’d collected Quebec antiques for decades and had always wanted a Quebec house to keep them in. It seems he knew enough not to step on serendipity’s fickle foot and chose to follow her lead. He bought the building right then and there and a couple of acres just north of Uxbridge in the following week. Turned out we had some things in common, our antiques, both of us loving the early Quebec pieces, while both of us being watercolorists. During the coarse of the project we became friends and even went painting together. Of course the entire upstairs design was given over to his artistic pursuit.
A Log House From Quebec
About the Author: Mel
Since 1969 Mel Shakespeare has been designing award-winning homes in the tradition of early 19th century Ontario. The company name, Tradition Home, is now synonymous with period homes of distinction.