37. French Colonial

               37a. French Colonial (Aylmer, Que.)

   This particular house (which has been an inn, restaurant and museum over its history) is located on a lowland area overlooking the Ottawa River a short distance upstream from Ottawa.

The French Colonial style was created in 'New France' (early Canada) and is the only colonial style originating in North America. The style followed the French Canadians along the St. Lawrence River and through its explorers down the Mississippi (1720) and related rivers to the Gulf of Mexico. It also proved to be an excellent plantation building (sadly with the accompaniment of slave shacks) and was used extensively in this region from 1769 to 1815. Due to frequent flooding from the Gulf, the bottom story was used primarily for storage making the second floor the main house.

                        37b. French Colonial (Elora)

What to look for (clues)

•  Normally three stories high with deeply shaded porches (called 'galleries') that extend all of the way around the house. Built basically  for a tropical climate, the main story has an entryway (see Late Georgian) and paired French doors or large rectangular windows that are used at the front and back to provide for the passage of air through the rooms. (Some buildings exist without the lower storage area.)

• The vast majority are symmetrical.

• Large, and sometimes dramatic, stairs lead from the ground to the second story. The stairs may be central at the front or consist of two sets, one at each end of the facade. (Happily, the second floor is high enough that it is usually above most flying bugs!)

• The roof style is gable (on the sides), fairly shallow and (at least in Canada) with a curved bell cast shape at the eaves. Large single or paired chimneys appear at the crest on either side of the house. Five dormer windows protrude from the roof.

• Vertical board shutters on strap hinges frequently appear beside the windows to provide protection during violent storms.

   37c. French Colonial (w. of Quebec City))

                                                    37d. French Colonial (Beauport Que.)

Other info

A modern day version, with hipped roof and wide galleries, is called 'Tidewater'.The closest related home in Canada (primarily Quebec) is the 'Quebec House'.

                 37d. French Colonial (Quebec)

Where to find it

The main locations are noted above. The beautiful example at the top faces the Ottawa River in Aylmer, Quebec. It has served as an inn, restaurant and museum.

Examples of the style appear rare in Canada, although fairly common in the Gulf States.

A favourite example of mine existed in Pensacola, Florida. Sadly, since I last saw it, two destructive hurricanes have passed through the area and I doubt that it still exists.