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History of Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Journey back in time to Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Also known as(Fraserville) (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice)
Explore the history, people, photographs, newspapers, postcards, and genealogy connected to Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada.
ABOUT THE PLACE
About Rivière-du-Loup
Rivière-du-Loup: A picturesque town in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Rivière-du-Loup is famous for its waterfalls, ferry service, and stunning sunsets over the Saint Lawrence River.
Built at the mouth of the river of the same name, it sits on land that belonged to the former seigneuries of Rivière-du-Loup, de Verbois and du Parc, awarded in 1673 to Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye, the richest trader in New France.
Rivière-du-Loup's development owes much to its location at the entrance to the Temiscouata Valley and portage. In 1783 the British administration built a military route through the town to facilitate communications with the other English colonies. Rivière-du-Loup became a major railway centre in the last 40 years of the 19th century...
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
Pronunciation: Ree-vee-yere du-loo
Built at the mouth of the river of the same name, it sits on land that belonged to the former seigneuries of Rivière-du-Loup, de Verbois and du Parc, awarded in 1673 to Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye, the richest trader in New France.
Rivière-du-Loup's development owes much to its location at the entrance to the Temiscouata Valley and portage. In 1783 the British administration built a military route through the town to facilitate communications with the other English colonies. Rivière-du-Loup became a major railway centre in the last 40 years of the 19th century...
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
Pronunciation: Ree-vee-yere du-loo
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VINTAGE RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP
Rivière-du-Loup Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Artwork
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - A view of the bridge at Rivière-du-Loup, ( Quebec. ) 1785
Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1970-188-2142 W.H. Coverdale Collection of Canadiana
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca){kind=small}
A view of the bridge at Rivière-du-Loup, ( Quebec. ) 1785
Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1970-188-2142 W.H. Coverdale Collection of Canadiana
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1970-188-2142 W.H. Coverdale Collection of Canadiana
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Église de Saint-Patrice
121, rue Lafontaine, Rivière-du-Loup, QUÉBEC
Established 1833){kind=small}
Église de Saint-Patrice
121, rue Lafontaine, Rivière-du-Loup, QUÉBEC
Established 1833
121, rue Lafontaine, Rivière-du-Loup, QUÉBEC
Established 1833
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Railroad Station){kind=small}
Railroad Station
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Blais Park - Riviere Du Loup, P. Q.){kind=small}
Blais Park - Riviere Du Loup, P. Q.
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Les Chutes, Riviere du Loup, Quebec, Canada){kind=small}
Les Chutes, Riviere du Loup, Quebec, Canada
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Hotel Le Manoir, Riviere du Loup, Quebec.){kind=small}
Hotel Le Manoir, Riviere du Loup, Quebec.
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Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - La Pointe){kind=small}
La Pointe
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Bellevue Hotel, 1908){kind=small}
Bellevue Hotel, 1908
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Presbytere, St Patrice, Riviere du Loup){kind=small}
Presbytere, St Patrice, Riviere du Loup
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Presbytere et Monument Du C.S. St. Francois Xavier de Riviere-du-Loup, Que.){kind=small}
Presbytere et Monument Du C.S. St. Francois Xavier de Riviere-du-Loup, Que.
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Reserve des Sauvages, La Pointe, Riviere-du-Loup, Que.){kind=small}
Reserve des Sauvages, La Pointe, Riviere-du-Loup, Que.
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - La Banque Nationale, Fraserville){kind=small}
La Banque Nationale, Fraserville
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Rue Beaubien, Riviere du Loup, P.Q.){kind=small}
Rue Beaubien, Riviere du Loup, P.Q.
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Chateau Granville){kind=small}
Chateau Granville
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Hopital St. Joseph, Riviere du Loup, Que.){kind=small}
Hopital St. Joseph, Riviere du Loup, Que.
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Rue Lafontaine){kind=small}
Rue Lafontaine
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Chateau Grandville){kind=small}
Chateau Grandville
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Riviere du Loup, 1930s){kind=small}
Riviere du Loup, 1930s
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Carre Dube){kind=small}
Carre Dube
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
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 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Le Magasin 5-10-15 cents
G. Thiboutout
370 Lafontaine){kind=small}
Le Magasin 5-10-15 cents
G. Thiboutout
370 Lafontaine
G. Thiboutout
370 Lafontaine
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Restaurant Henri Potvin, Riviere du Loup){kind=small}
Restaurant Henri Potvin, Riviere du Loup
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Hotel Plaza, Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge){kind=small}
Hotel Plaza, Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Cabines Pingouin, St-Patrice, Riviere du Loup){kind=small}
Cabines Pingouin, St-Patrice, Riviere du Loup
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
Postcard
 (Riviere du Loup en Bas) (Saint-Patrice) - Henri Proulx (Agent Ford)){kind=small}
Henri Proulx (Agent Ford)
Genealogy gifts & optional resources
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Genealogy Gifts & Resources Related to RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP
CHRISTMAS - FRENCH CANADIAN Coffee Mug – Celebrate Family, Heritage, and Holiday Cheer
Sip Christmas the way your ancestors would have loved it with this festive French-Canadian coffee mug. Featuring the elegant greeting “Joyeuses fêtes de Noël à vous et vos proches!” (Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones), it’s perfect for genealogy enthusiasts, Francophiles, and anyone who cherishes family traditions. Joyeuses fêtes de Noël – literally “Happy Christmas holidays,” which is a common way to wish someone a merry Christmas and holiday season in French. à vous et vos proches – “to you and your loved ones,” adding a friendly, inclusive touch.
CANADA - Canadian Roots Genealogy Coffee Mug - Curling and Olympics
"My ancestors came from Canada. That explains a lot about my love for curling and watching the Olympics!"
CANADA - Canadian Roots Ceramic Coffee Mug - Maple Syrup and Apologies Edition - Genealogy
Embrace your Canadian heritage with our "My ancestors came from Canada" ceramic coffee mug! Perfect for sipping your favorite brew while reflecting on your roots, this mug features a moose sampling maple syrup and a humorous caption that reads, "My ancestors came from Canada. That explains a lot about my love for maple syrup and apologizing!" Whether you're enjoying your morning coffee or unwinding with an evening tea, this mug is sure to bring a smile to your face.
QUÉBEC, Canada Roots Canadian Genealogy Coffee Mug Gift Idea - Celebrate Your Quebec Heritage in Style
Raise your morning cup to your rich Québecois heritage with this charming Québec Roots Genealogy Coffee Mug! Perfect for proud descendants of Québec, this ceramic mug features the bold phrase "Québec Roots" – a nod to the generations that have shaped your family’s history.
LOCAL HISTORY
Discover Rivière-du-Loup: History, News, Travel, and Stories
Explore the events, newspaper stories, people, and moments that shaped Rivière-du-Loup through the years.
1673 - Sieur Charles-Aubert de la Chesnaye
Rivière-du-Loup was originally established in 1673 as the seigneurie of Sieur Charles-Aubert de la Chesnaye.
Read more about Charles AUBERT
Originally, the mission of Saint-Patrice-de-la-Rivière-du-Loup, founded in 1683, was part of the seigneuries of Rivière-du-Loup, Verbois and Leparc.
1698 - October 14 - New France census shows: Rivière-du-Loup with 22 inhabitants
1762 - Parish of St-Patrice is established at Riviere-du-Loup
In Rivière-du-Loup, the population was only 68 in 1765
The first families of settlers came there after the concession of seigneuries along the river, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, by Intendant Jean Talon and the Compagnie des Indes Occidentales, to former officers of the Carignan regiment. Nevertheless, a census carried out in 1765 counts in Rivière-du-Loup only 68 souls.
1792 - First mass celebrated in Rivière-du-Loup
1832 - RIVIERE DU LOUP,
seigniory, in the co of Rimouski, is bounded in front by the St. Lawrence; S.W. by Granville; N.E. by the S. of Isle Verte; in the rear by waste lands of the crown. Nearly 5 leagues in breadth by 2 in depth. Granted April 5th, 1689, to the Sieur Villerai for Sieurs d'Artigny and Lachenaye: Alexander Fraser, Esq. is now the proprietor. - The general appearance of this C. is uneven and mountainous, but it contains some extensive patches of good arable and very fine meadow land, which are divided into several ranges of concessions, bearing the names of Ste. Andre Riviere du Loup, St. Patrick Riviere du Loup, Fraserville, Nouvelle Ecosse, St. George or Cacona, St. Anthony, St. Andrew, and St. Jacques: the first, a great part of the second, and a little of the third, are in very good state of cultivation and well inhabited. - The whole seigniory is abundantly timbered with beech, maple, birch, and large quantities of pine. - It is watered by several streams, but the principal is Riviere du ...
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1833 - Église de Saint-Patrice established at Rivière-du-Loup
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1850 - Rivière-du-Loup incorporated as the village of Fraserville
Rivière-du-Loup was incorporated as the village of Fraserville, in honour of early English settler Alexandre Fraser, in 1850, and became a city in 1910.
In 1852, the parishes of Saint-Antonin and Notre-Dame-du-Partage were incorporated within the territory of Saint-Patrice-de-la-Rivière-du-Loup.
1859 - Grand Trunk Railway chooses Rivière-du-Loup (Fraserville) as a place to build a railroad station.
1861 - December 3 - Military - Trent Affair
British Secretary of War Sir George Lewis proposes to Lord Palmerston immediately to send “thirty thousand rifles, an artillery battery, and some officers to Canada”, then "engage a Cunard Steamer & send out one regiment & one battery of artillery next week." During December, they manage to send 11,000 troops to Halifax using 18 transport ships; between January 1, 1862 and March 13, 1862, five infantry battalions, three field artillery batteries, and six garrison artillery batteries will then move by sea from Halifax to Saint John, New Brunswick, then overland by sleigh to Riviere du Loup on the St. Lawrence.
1869 - The Merchant's Hotel at Riviere de Loup, Canada, was destroyed by fire on the morning of the 22d. Four of the inmates were burned to death and several injured.
1871 - A company has been formed to construct a railway from Fredericton, New Brunswick, to Riviere du Loup, on the St. Lawrence.
1873
BERTHIER EN BAS. See Fraserville.
BELLECHASSE DE BERTHIER. See Fraserville.
RIVIERE DU LOUP EN BAS or FRASERVILLE, a flourishing post village and watering place of Quebec, co of Temiscouata, situated on the S shore of the St. Lawrence, at the junction of the Grand Trunk and Intercolonial railways, and at the N.W. terminus of a railway in course of construction from Fredericton, 127 miles below Quebec. It has Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, about 20 stores, several hotels and mills, 2 foundries, a tannery, a telegraph office, and a number of handsome villa residences. Pop. 1,511.
BELLECHASSE DE BERTHIER. See Fraserville.
RIVIERE DU LOUP EN BAS or FRASERVILLE, a flourishing post village and watering place of Quebec, co of Temiscouata, situated on the S shore of the St. Lawrence, at the junction of the Grand Trunk and Intercolonial railways, and at the N.W. terminus of a railway in course of construction from Fredericton, 127 miles below Quebec. It has Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, about 20 stores, several hotels and mills, 2 foundries, a tannery, a telegraph office, and a number of handsome villa residences. Pop. 1,511.
In 1873, Fraserville was nicknamed the summer capital of Canada due, during the summer months, to the presence of the first Canadian Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Sir John Macdonald.
Many decades later, the region also welcomed the Right Honorable Louis Saint-Laurent, as well as certain members of his cabinet.
1875 - September - Twelve inches of snow fell Friday, at Riviere du Loup, P. Q., doing great damage to fruit and shade trees.
1883 - Rivière-du-Loup
Rivière-du-Loup is noticed in the following terms by Mr. Beanmont Small in his Canadian Hand Book: 114 miles below Quebec is Rivière du Loup (en bas). This is another favourite summer resort for sea bathing and fishing. It is very prettily situated at the confluence of the Rivière du Loup with the St. Lawrence and contains a more general mixture of english, scotch and french than is usually found in the smaller towns of Lower Canada. It commands an extensive prospect of the St. Lawrence, which is here upwards of twenty miles wide; ships are constantly passing and repassing and when, from their great distance, with the mountains in the back ground, all these objects are enveloped in a gauze- like atmosphere of summer haze, there is a magic influence in the scenery.
The name of this place is derived from that of the loups marins (seals) that in former times used to frequent the river in so great numbers that they disturbed the inhabitants by their brawling during the night. The town...
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The name of this place is derived from that of the loups marins (seals) that in former times used to frequent the river in so great numbers that they disturbed the inhabitants by their brawling during the night. The town...
1885 - Canadian Towns which are Infected
The State Board of Health of Maine announces, that besides Montreal and its suburbs, the following named places in the Province of Quebec are affected with small-pox; Batiscan, Oct. 22, 7 families; Bersenels, below Tadousac, Nov 6, 4 families; Cap St. Ignace, Oct. 29, 50 cases, Chambly, Oct 27, 2 cases; Grondines, Oct. 18, several deaths; Lachine, Nov. 4, another new case, Laprairie, Oct. 22, 1 child died and 3 sick, L'Islet, Oct. 29, 6 cases; Longueuil, Nov. 3, 7 cases, have been 20 in all, Lorette, Oct 28, six cases; Maissonneuve, Oct. 31; Mascouche, Oct 31; Montmagny, Oct 29, one case; Ottawa, Nov. 6, several cases; Pointe aux Trembles, Port Neuf, Oct. 29, six cases, Riviere du Loup, Oct 23 ten cases, Rimouski, Oct, 21, 8 cases, St Francis, Temisconata Co, Nov 7, 7 cases, St Joseph de Levis, Oct 31, St. Lambert, Nov 3, 1 case, St. I in, Nov. 5; St. Martin, Oct 27 2 houses, St. Michel, Oct. 27, 4 deaths recently, St. Paschal, Oct 23 3 cases; St. Remi, Oct 27, 2 houses, St Roch, Nov. ...
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In 1889, the Saint-Joseph Hospital was opened.
1891 - Fraserville in 1891
... the census of the town of Fraserville contains information on the origins of the railway men, their place of birth, religion, and profession in 1891. The station and railway shops only hired men who had completed a recognized apprenticeship, and therefore, attracted skilled workers. Many of the mechanics, locomotive engineers, and brakemen who immigrated to the town were born in Ireland, England, Scotland, the Maritime Provinces, and the United States...
The jobs offered by the railway companies attracted immigrants of various origins. Many were of English or Scottish origin, and most were Protestant. They represented 8% of the population of Fraserville in the 1880s...
The jobs offered by the railway companies attracted immigrants of various origins. Many were of English or Scottish origin, and most were Protestant. They represented 8% of the population of Fraserville in the 1880s...
1895 - Rivière du Loup en Bas / Fraserville
Rivière du Loup en Bas, ree've-aia' dii loopöN" bà, or Fra'serville, a post-village and watering-place of Quebec, co. of Temiscouata, on the S. shore of the St. Lawrence, at the junction of the Grand Trunk and Intercolonial Railways, 127 miles below Quebec. It has 2 churches, about 20 stores, several hotels and mills, 2 foundries, and a tannery. Pop. 1541.
1910 - Fraserville became a city in 1910.
1919 - The city of Fraserville reverted to its original name, Rivière-du-Loup, in 1919.
It was in 1919 that Fraserville, Saint-Ludger and Saint-François-Xavier merged to form the municipality of Rivière-du-Loup.
1950 - Atomic Bomb accidentally dropped
It was above Rivière-du-Loup that a serious air accident took place on November 10, 1950. An American plane then dropped an atomic bomb following an accident. The explosives contained in the bomb burst, without however reaching the atomic charge (the crew of the plane having succeeded in disconnecting the nuclear core of the bomb). About 45 kilograms of uranium are dispersed in the atmosphere of the region.
Rivière-du-Loup
Rivière-du-Loup, Qué, City, pop 18 586 (2006c), 17 772 (2001c), inc 1874 under the name Fraserville. Rivière-du-Loup is located 200 km east of Québec City on the ST LAWRENCE RIVER. Built at the mouth of the river of the same name, it sits on land that belonged to the former seigneuries of Rivière-du-Loup, de Verbois and du Parc, awarded in 1673 to Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye, the richest trader in New France.
Rivière-du-Loup's development owes much to its location at the entrance to the Temiscouata Valley and portage. In 1783 the British administration built a military route through the town to facilitate communications with the other English colonies. Rivière-du-Loup became a major railway centre in the last 40 years of the 19th century, a terminal of the GRAND TRUNK RY (1860) and a departure point for the INTERCOLONIAL (1870) and the Temiscouata Ry (1887-88).
The forestry, pulp and lumber, and tourist industries have been major factors in its economic development, especially ...
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Rivière-du-Loup's development owes much to its location at the entrance to the Temiscouata Valley and portage. In 1783 the British administration built a military route through the town to facilitate communications with the other English colonies. Rivière-du-Loup became a major railway centre in the last 40 years of the 19th century, a terminal of the GRAND TRUNK RY (1860) and a departure point for the INTERCOLONIAL (1870) and the Temiscouata Ry (1887-88).
The forestry, pulp and lumber, and tourist industries have been major factors in its economic development, especially ...
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Rivière-du-Loup:
Parc des Chutes: Start your visit to Rivière-du-Loup with a trip to Parc des Chutes. This scenic park is home to breathtaking waterfalls, walking trails, and picnic areas. It's an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll or a family picnic. In the winter, the park offers opportunities for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
St. Lawrence River Cruises: Take a relaxing cruise on the St. Lawrence River. Several companies offer boat tours where you can enjoy stunning views of the river and its wildlife. Keep an eye out for whales and seals, which are often spotted in the area.
Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent: Immerse yourself in the local culture and history at the Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent. This museum features exhibits on the region's heritage, including its maritime history, art, and indigenous culture.
Le Vieux Bureau de Poste: This historic building has been transformed into a cultural center and performance space. Check their schedule for concerts, theater performances, and art...
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St. Lawrence River Cruises: Take a relaxing cruise on the St. Lawrence River. Several companies offer boat tours where you can enjoy stunning views of the river and its wildlife. Keep an eye out for whales and seals, which are often spotted in the area.
Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent: Immerse yourself in the local culture and history at the Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent. This museum features exhibits on the region's heritage, including its maritime history, art, and indigenous culture.
Le Vieux Bureau de Poste: This historic building has been transformed into a cultural center and performance space. Check their schedule for concerts, theater performances, and art...
GENEALOGY IN RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP
Discover YOUR Roots: Rivière-du-Loup Ancestry
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BIRTHS & DEATHS
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, Canada
We currently have information about 255 ancestors who were born or died in Rivière-du-Loup.
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Updated: 2/6/2025 11:04:22 AM
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