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A Little History
In 1901 a forestry entrepreneur from Lac-Bouchette, Damase Jalbert, decided to build a pulp mill at the foot of the Chute Ouiatchouan along with the first houses of what would become the village of Val-Jalbert.
Source : Photo - Chabot Roberval, 1926
After the death of its founder in 1904, the company fell under American control, and three years later was taken over by the Chicoutimi Pulp Company, with Julien-Édouard-Alfred Dubuc at the helm. The industrial complex and the village then began to expand rapidly. Mr. Dubuc proceeded with the expansion of the pulp mill and the addition of several houses in the village to accommodate the newly arrived workers and their families. This work was done according to a well-established urban plan and all the commodities found in villages of the era could be found in the village: electricity, aqueducts, and indoor washrooms.
From 1907 to 1924, Val-Jalbert prospered. However, after this period, serious financial problems arose, causing the final closure of the factory on August 13, 1927. Suddenly, the two hundred workers and their families found themselves jobless and forced to leave the village. Abandoned and then closed to public access, the working-class village died.
Since the 1970s, the ghost town has come out of its slumber to tell us its story. As you walk through the streets of Val-Jalbert today, you discover an outdoor museum where the restored buildings and rooms speak of the past. The guided visits on foot or in a vehicle, theatrical animation (in high season), the cable car, offering a magnificent view of Lac Saint-Jean, the wealth of the natural environment, accommodations and restaurants are among the many treasures that this enchanting site has to offer you.
Anny Harvey
Conservator of Village historique de Val-Jalbert |
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© 2008 La Sépaq, all rights reserved.
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