La Maison Pierre du Calvet

Located in the heart of Old Montreal at the corner of Rue Saint-Paul and Rue Bonsecours, La Maison Pierre du Calvet was built in 1725.  Pierre du Calvet left Bordeaux, France in 1758.  He intended to travel to New France and become a merchant.  Du Calvet headed to the port in Quebec City aboard the merchant ship, Le Lion.  The ship got into trouble about 100 miles from the port and sunk.  Although du Calvet survived the shipwreck the merchandise he had bought from France to begin his business did not.  

Once he arrived in Quebec City du Calvet was forced to seek employment.  Appointed by the government of New France, du Calvet became a storekeeper in Acadia, territory disputed between France and Britain.    He was responsible for ensuring that supplies were given to thousands of Acadians displaced by the British government in 1755.  He remained there until 1759 when he embarked on a mission transferring British prisoners of war to Halifax.  He traveled between Montreal and Acadia performing missions until 1762 when he settled in Montreal as a trader, establishing an import and export business. 

 In 1764 du Calvet travelled to London and Paris where he was well received and appointed as the Justice of Peace at the new Court of Common Pleas in Montreal.  

On October 3rd 1771, at the age of thirty six, du Calvet married Marie-Louise Jusseaume.  She was twenty years old and the daughter of a friend of du Calvet. The couple settled in the house in Montreal and had a son, Jean-Pierre, who died within a year.   Their second son, Jean Dumas, was born in 1773.  Their third child, Guy, also died within a year of his birth in 1774.  His mother died soon after him.  

Pierre du Calvet went on to become outspoken about the abuses of justice by some of those in positions of power in the colony, making him both friends and enemies.  The first Continental Congress addressed a letter to all inhabitants of the Province in which the form of government given to the people by the Quebec Act, an act of the Parliament of Great Britain, set procedures of governance over the people of Quebec.  Under an air of suspicion accompanying the entry of the Congress army du Calvet was arrested but he was acquitted and freed by a jury becoming part of a committee who greeted the occupying Continental Congress. 

 During the six month occupation du Calvets stores were requisitioned by the army. He later claimed back £56394 from the Congress.  It is said that Benjamin Franklin had meetings in the du Calvet home discussing the revolution against the British. Du Calvet was sued for libel and acquitted but in 1780 he was arrested as a political prisoner and imprisoned without a legal trial from September 27th 1780 to May 2nd 1783.  

Once released from prison du Calvet travelled to London with the intention of putting the governed Haldimand to trial for violating the British Constitution.  While in London and desperately neeeding finances to fund his lawsuit he decided to try and reclaim the money owned to him by the American congress.  He travelled to Philadelphia but was only reimbursed some of the money.  He took a Spanish ship from New York to travel back to Paris.  The ship disappeared and was declared lost at sea. 

La Maison du Calvet was built in the Breton style from local grey limestone and represents an impressive example of the type of architectural development in New France. The stone facade with three foot thick stone walls is reminiscent of a small fortress.  The huge walls have a special s shaped anchor to stop them from bulging and the steep sloped roof was designed to stop snow building up.  The residence has French windows with metal shutters.  

Following Pierre du Calvet the house was inhabited by Jaques Viger, the first Mayor of Montreal.  The founder of the Beaver Club and a wealthy trader, Gabriel Cotte then purchased the house.  Following his death, Cotte's widow, Angelique Blondea sold the house to Pierre Delvecchio.  In the seventies the building was purchased by the Ogilvys and restored to be used as an art gallery.  Eventually the property became the very elite Hostellerie Pierre Du Calvet .  The boutique hotel has nine rooms, a restaurant, a private dining room and a Victorian Greenhouse.  The building is adorned with antique furnishings, family heirlooms and artwork.  

La Maison du Calvet is said to be haunted by Marie-Louise Jusseame, du Calvet's wife.  She has been known to visit guests in their rooms, even flirting and winking at the men.  A male and female ghost have been reported sitting on the edge of guests beds.

I was lucky enough to attend a dinner in the private dining room in the Hostellerie Pierre du Calvet .  The staff informed me that they did believe the building was haunted and infact the exotic birds in the gorgeous Victorian greenhouse react sometimes to unseen things.  This building is so beautiful and has such an interesting history it is well worth a visit.

 

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