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From sails to motors

Fourth generation: faster, stronger

Aboard the J.Z. Degagné, with Zélada at its helm, were his sons J.A.Z. (Joseph Arthur “à Zelada”), Roland and Maurice. Their cousins Gérard and Jean-Paul learned from their father Joseph on board La  Josuhée.

Black and white photograph Three men standing in front of the Josuhée schooner. The person on the left is holding a shovel, the one in the centre is holding a saw and the one on the right is holding an axe.

Gérard Desgagnés and his cousins J.A.Z. and Maurice Desgagnés in front of La Josuhée

Zélada, as his sons came of age, decided to build a second schooner with the help of shipwright Albert Audet. And so it was that the town’s homegrown sailor was now overseing the construction of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive’s very first motor schooner.

A black and white photograph with, to the left, a dock with lumber strewn about, and to the right, the Mont St-Joseph schooner. The name of the ship is partially hidden by the rigging. Four people are posing on the ship: three young men and their parents.

J.A.Z., Roland, Maurice, Mathilda and Zélada Desgagnés on board the Mont St-Joseph schooner

Christened Mont St-Joseph, the schooner paid homage to its birthplace and the timber that went into its construction. Zelada’s eldest son J.A.Z. became its captain. During the winter of 1938, Zélada began construction on a second schooner similar to the first, the Mont Notre-Dame, built on the hull of the old J.Z. Degagné.

A family tree representing the third and fourth generations of Desgagnés sailors. This specific chart focuses on the descendants of Zélada Desgagnés. Under the names of the family members, arrows point to their ships and their sons. Pictograms depicting each ship illustrate the family tree.

As for Joseph, in winter 1939 he started construction on a new schooner with shipwright Nérée Mailloux. Named in honour of the famous French general, the G. Montcalm drew inspiration from Zélada’s ships. However, the sharper slope of its stem closer resembled the shape of old sail-powered schooners. Joseph embarked on his new ship with his son Gérard who had just been made captain. He later gave command of La Josuhée to his second son Jean-Paul. The G. Montcalm would go on to sail from Anticosti Island to Lake Ontario.

A black and white photograph. In the foreground, a young man and woman are sitting on the grass near a tree. Behind them there is a wooden ship, on which three people are barely discernible. The boat seems to float on a narrow canal.

Valentine and her brother Roger Desgagnés in front of the G. Montcalm

 

Modern schooners

When Zélada passed away in 1939, Mathilda and her three boys started a company around the Mont St-Joseph and the Mont Notre-Dame. The Desgagnés’ fundamental principle was that a family’s livelihood depended on having a schooner. They were still missing one.

The Mont Royal schooner, floating on the water. The cabin in the back is clearly visible, as well as the ship’s masts in the front. The picture looks like a colourized photograph.

The Mont Royal schooner

A new ship was therefore built, again under the direction of Albert Audet. This schooner was designed to be larger, taking into account recent technological advancements. Painted white and staying true to the curves of its predecessors, the Mont-Royal was launched in the spring of 1944.

The D’Auteuil Lumber company in Quebec City also gave Albert Audet an order for a second schooner similar to the Mont-Royal. The D’Auteuil II was launched in spring 1945 and became one of the fastest in the county. The ship was later acquired in 1949 by Société Desgagnés et Frères, a company founded by Joseph’s four sons.

A family tree representing the third and fourth generations of Desgagnés sailors. This specific chart focuses on the descendants of Joseph Desgagnés. Under the names of the family members, arrows point to their ships and their sons. Pictograms depicting each ship illustrate the family tree.

From sails to motors Make room for women!