History of Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

1748 - Seigniory (St. Hyacinthe) Granted Sept. 23, 1748, to Sieur F. Rigaud, seigneur de Vaudreuil
The birth of the city dates from 1748, the year when Pierre-François Rigaud de Vaudreuil received from the King of France Louis XV, the seigneury Maska as a reward for his good and loyal services. The territory was located in the middle of the forest, on both sides of the Yamaska River, and the Marquis de Vaudreuil sold it five years later to Jacques-Hyacinthe Simon Delorme.

However, the new owner did not come to his seigneury until 1757 and it was in that year that the first settlers settled there.
grandquebec.com

1772 - Église Saint-Matthieu established at Saint-Hyacinthe

www.gcatholic.org

1777 - Parish of Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire-de-St-Hyacinthe opened

Le Programme de recherche en démographie historique - Univeriste de Montreal

1830 - The comté de Saint-Hyacinthe was created in 1830 though people began to settle the area between 1756 and 1779.
It was part of the district of Montreal and was wedged between the comtés de Richelieu and of Rouville in the north, Shefford in the south and the districts of Trois-Rivières and Sherbrooke in the east...
richardjohnbr.blogspot.com/ 2010/ 11/ saint-hyacinthe.html

1831 - In 1831, the village of Saint-Hyacinthe had a population of around a thousand people. It contained an important seminary where the sons of some Patriote leaders, including Papineau, studied...

richardjohnbr.blogspot.com/ 2010/ 11/ saint-hyacinthe.html

1832 - ST. HYACINTHE,
seigniory, in the co. of St. Hyacinthe, is bounded N.E. by St. Ours, Bourchemin and De Ramsay; S.W. by the aug. to Monnoir and the T. of Farnham; N.W. by Rouville, St. Charles, and St. Denis; S.E. by Milton and Granby. - 6 leagues in front by 6 in depth, being 3 leagues on each side of the R. Yamaska. Granted Sept. 23, 1748, to Sieur F. Rigaud, seigneur de Vaudreuil, and now belongs to Mons. Desolles and the Hon. P. D. Debartzch. - The local situation of this extensive grant renders it a most valuable and highly improvable property. So great an extent naturally embraces many varieties of soil, but the best kinds predominate, and the proportion below mediocrity is very trifling. The least improvable is towards the N. and N.E. sides, where the land is low and in some cases swampy; approaching Granby it rises and presents a valuable tract of rich dry soil...

There are 5 parishes, St. Hyacinthe, St. Cesaire, St. Damas, La Presentation and St. Pie. Although these parishes are tolerably ... Read MORE...

1848 - December 26 - Rail - First train runs between Longueuil and St-Hyacinthe, Québec

canadachannel.ca/ todayincanadianhistory/ index.php/ December_26

In 1849, Saint-Hyacinthe was incorporated as a Village municipality, three years later as a City municipality, and in 1857 as a City.

grandquebec.com

1853 - Cathédrale Saint-Hyacinthe-le-Confesseur established at Saint-Hyacinthe

www.gcatholic.org

1854 - Destructive Fire in Lower Canada
Montreal, Wednesday, May 17.
The village of St. Hyacinthe was almost wholly destroyed by fire to-day.

The New York Times
New York, New York
May 18, 1854

1866 - A Noble Act of Heroism
One night last week while a train on the Grand Trunk line was passing through St. Hyacinthe, C. W., a young gentleman, Mr. Bachand, noticed that a house was on fire, while the people seemed not to be awakened up. He urged the conductor to stop the train, or at least to slacken it, but met with a refusal. - The courageous young man leaped from the cars, broke his leg, and yet crept to the burning house, which was that of Mr. Urgele Desmarais, merchant. The family were all asleep, as Mr. Bachand had supposed, and he roused them just in time to save their lives, with one exception, that of a young lady 22 years old, a niece of Mr. Desmarais.

Bangor Daily Whig and Courier
Bangor, Maine
June 18, 1866

1866 - A Canadian Duel
A Montreal paper gives an account of a duel that recently took place between a lieutenant in a Montreal militia corps and a clerk residing at St. Hyacinthe. It appears that the clerk and some of his friends had determined to hoax the lieutenant and invited him to play a game of cards. He consented, and the result was that $200 or $300 in Confederate money, which was passed off upon him as Federal money, soon changed hands and went into the lieutenant's. Some of his "friends," upon this, called on him to repay some money they had lent him.

This (although he thought he had $300 in "greenbacks" in his pocket) he refused to do, and from hot words soon came to blows, the general result being that he struck the clerk, was truck in return, and accepted an invitation for pistols and coffee for two. Early next morning both of the principals appeared on the ground as fierce as Galway blazers, duly attended by seconds and surgeon. After the usual formalities, the pistols were loaded and... Read MORE...

1873
ST. HYACINTHE, a county in the S. part, of Quebec, intersected by the Grand Trunk railway Area 168,123 acres. Capital, St Hyacinthe. Pop. 18,310.

ST. HYACINTHE, a city of Quebec, capital of the co. of St. Hyacinthe, on the River Yamaska, and on the G. T. R., 35½ miles E N.E of Montreal. The principal buildings and institutions are a Roman Catholic Cathedral, Bishop's Palace, St. Hyacinthe College, Hotel Dieu, Congregational Nunnery, City Hall and Market, and the Court House. The college is a fine cut stone building 700 feet in length, and has 12 professors. There are also in the town a branch bank, grist and saw mill, a number of stores, several hotels, a telegraph office, 2 printing offices, and manufactories of woolens, wooden ware, leather, lace, organs, iron castings, mill machinery, boots and shoes, &c. The head office of the St. Hyacinthe Bank is here. Pop 3,746.
Lovell's gazetteer of British North America; J. Lovell; Montreal, 1873

1873 - Accident on the Grand Trunk
Friday morning, at 5:30 o'clock, as the Portland express on the Grand Trunk Railway was passing the 27th mile post, near Soixante, the three last cars, a Pullman and two others, left the track from spreading of the rails, broke the coupling and rolled down the embankment over 30 feet high. Thirty-two persons more or less injured were brought to Montreal by the forward part of the train. The others were left at St. Hyacinthe and Beloeil. Several are frightfully hurt. Most of the passengers were Americans.
St. Albans Daily Messenger
St. Albans, Vermont
May 5, 1873

1876 - PARTIAL DESTRUCTION OF A TOWN - SIX HUNDRED BUILDINGS IN ST. HYACINTHE, PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, BURNED -LOSS ESTIMATED AT $2,000,000.
ST. HYACINTHE, Sept. 3. - A fire broke out in the western end of this city at 1:30 P. M. to-day, and , fanned by a high wind, soon totally swept the lower part of the city out of existence. The flames ran down both sides of Main street, taking in their course the St. Hyancinthe, Quebec, and National Banks, the Post Office, market, Court-house, factories, and over eighty wholesale and retail stores. At 3 PO. M. the fire had spread, by means of burning cinders, to the three parallel streets, and burned everything up. The people had no time to save anything, and at 7 P. M. 600 houses had been burned. A steam fire engine arrived from Montreal by special train at 5:30 P. M., but was too late to be of much service. Hundreds of families are homeless and without food. The loss is roughly estimated at $2,000,000. The Royal, Stadacona, Quebec, Providencial, and Royal Canadian Insurance Companies are heavily interested.
The New York Times
New York, New York
September 4, 1876

1895 - St Hyacinthe
ST. HYACINTHE, a county in the south part of Quebec, intersected by the G. T. R., C. P. R., Drummond County and United Counties Rys. Area, 172,823 acres. Capital, St. Hyacinthe. Pop. in 1891, 21,433.
Crossby, Peter Alfred. Lovell's gazetteer of British North America. (John Lovell & Son)., 1895

1903 - FIRE DESTROYS 250 HOUSES. One-fourth of the Population of St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Left Homeless.
ST. HYACINTHE, Quebec, May 20.- A fire which started shortly after noon to-day in the shoe factory of the Cote Brothers, destroyed half a dozen flourishing industries and 250 houses, leaving nearly a quarter of the city's population homeless. The loss is placed at $400,000. Nobody knows how the fire started. When it was first noticed it had secured a firm hold upon the Cote factory. The wind was blowing half a gale at the time, and the buildings in the immediate vicinity were of such a character as to fall easy prey to the flames. The local Fire Department did its best, but the water pressure was poor, and it was not long before the fire had gotten entirely beyond its control. Word was wired to Montreal for help, and two steamers and a supply of hose made the run of thirty-six miles in forty-four minutes.

Their coming was opportune, for by this time the fire had worked its way up to St. Antoine Street, and was attacking the finest business blocks of the town situated on the market... Read MORE...

1906
Saint Hyacinthe, a city and port of entry of Quebec, capital of the co. of St. Hyacinthe, on the river Yamaska and on the Grand Trunk and other railroads. 35 1/ 2 miles ENE. of Montreal. The principal institutions are a Roman Catholic cathedral, bishop's palace, St. Hyacinthe College, monasteries of the Precious Blood and Dominican Fathers, a nunnery, etc. The chief industries of the city are comprised in manufactories of woollens, wooden-ware, leather, organs, iron castings, mill-machinery, boots and shoes, etc. Pop. in 1901, 9210.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1938 - FIRE DEATH TOLL MAY REACH FIFTY. 19 KNOWN DEAD IN SCHOOL RUINS, 26 ON LIST OF 'UNREPORTED.'
St. Hyacinthe, Que., Jan. 19 (Canadian Press) - Two blackened skulls were found today in the frozen ashes of the burned college of the Sacred Heart, raising to 19 the total of known dead in the fire that destroyed the school for boys early yesterday.

It was feared the death list might reach 50. Twenty-six teaching brothers and students were listed as "unreported." Five of 21 injured, pronounced close to death, had last rites of the church administered to them in St. Charles Hospital.

Searching crews poking through the wreckage of the four-story college found the two skulls, unrecognizable as were most of the 16 bodies previously removed.

JEAN MARCEL PHENIX, 12-year-old pupil who leaped from the roof of the college when it collapsed, told today of the heroism of a teacher who lost his life to save a group of boys.

Brother PAUL ARMAND, born EDWARD DAUPHENAIS, whose family lives at Woonsocket, R. I., was in charge of the dormitory of "Les Petits" - the lower-form boys. The... Read MORE...

Saint-Hyacinthe
Saint-Hyacinthe, Qué, City, pop 51 616 (2006c), 50 394 (2001cA), inc 1857. Saint-Hyacinthe is situated on the St Lawrence River plain on the Yamaska River, about 60 km E of Montréal. From the beginning, St-Hyacinthe has been a commercial and service centre for a thriving agricultural region, known for its impressive religious and educational institutions.

History
The history of Saint-Hyacinthe began with the granting in 1748 of a seigneury which was purchased in 1753 by Hyacinthe Delorme. In 1795 the present site, farther upstream than the original settlement, became the seigneury's focal point because of the potential for hydropower of an abrupt drop in the riverhead. A village quickly developed as a market and communications centre, serving the needs of the immediate region and of the other parishes that later appeared farther upstream. A college for boys was founded in 1811; a convent for girls in 1816; a hospital in 1840.

In 1848 a railway was opened to LONGUEUIL, across... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Saint-Hyacinthe:
Parc Casimir-Dessaules: Start your visit by taking a leisurely stroll through this picturesque park. It's a serene spot with walking paths, a beautiful lake, and plenty of green space for picnicking. It's an ideal place for a relaxed afternoon with family or friends.

Hyacinthe-De-Confalon Museum: Discover the history and culture of Saint-Hyacinthe at this fascinating museum. It features a diverse collection of artifacts, documents, and exhibits that showcase the city's heritage. You'll gain insights into the development of Saint-Hyacinthe over the years.

Cathédrale Saint-Hyacinthe-le-Confesseur: This stunning cathedral is a must-visit for architecture and history enthusiasts. Its grandeur and intricate design are impressive, and the interior is equally captivating. Even if you're not religious, the cathedral's beauty is worth admiring.

Centre des Arts Juliette-Lassonde: If you're interested in the arts, check out this cultural center. It hosts a variety of events, including... Read MORE...