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In search of the lost cemeteries of Argenteuil
Public asked to help research project
JULIE GODIN julie.godin@eap.on.ca
LACHUTE: On a sunny Tuesday in the Protestant ce m etery in Lachute, Argen- teuil cultural agent Catherine Lapointe and historian Robert Si m ard explain their new project to index all the graveyards in the MRC of Argenteuil. The goal of the operation is to co m pile a list of grave sites in order to preserve the heritage of Argenteuil. At the sa m e ti m e, Lapointe issues a call for ever y one to help find private ce m eteries. The idea to locate all the ce m eteries of Argenteuil ca m e to- wards the end of 2011 when Lapointe ap- plied for subsidies to finance the search. For her, the initiative is vital as it will help to sensitize the fa m ilies of the people who are buried there. «It is i m portant to pre- serve the ce m eteries because the y are part of our histor y and of our heritage. So m e grave m arkers are illegible or co m pletel y erased. When we criss-crosses the ce m eter- ies, we see several ver y well-known fa m il y na m es. I a m certain that descendants of these fa m ilies would one da y be curious to see where their ancestors are buried,» she sa y s. The MRC is also tr y ing to index the m an y private ce m eteries in the MRC. «In the past, the churches were not alwa y s close to all residents. Certain fa m ilies proceeded to bur y their loved ones on their own land,» Lapointe recalls. At the m o m ent, she has catalogued 30 public ce m eteries and 30 private grave y ards. The difficult y in finding private plots lies in the fact that the y so m eti m es are over- looked. «There is as strong chance that cer- tain residents bought houses without even knowing the existence of private ce m eter- ies on their properties,» she sa y s. This wh y she has issued an appeal to the public and people whose land contains pri- In addition to contributing to the collect- ive m e m or y of a co mm unit y , ce m eteries re- veal m uch about the histor y and lifest y les of the first residents of Argenteuil. «The m aterials e m plo y ed in the m anufacture of the headstones and the s ym bols that are engraved are different according to the vate final resting places. Revealing plots
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Photo Julie Godin
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Catherine Lapointe and Robert Simard visit the Lachute Protestant cemetery, established in 1801, with cemetery com- mittee president Jeff Gordon.
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wealth and religion of the fa m ilies. There was a ti m e when the less fortunate people had gravestones m ade of wood,” points out Robert Si m ard. As a m e m ber of the tea m , the historian adds a new and valuable perspective. His research will help provide links between the burial plots and the pioneer fa m ilies of the region. The field work has just begun for the duo who will visit co mm unities throughout Argenteuil in order to find as m an y sites as possible. A preli m inar y report is expected to be deposited to the MRC in the fall. Fro m this report will co m e certain reco mm endations to preserve heritage and to recognize historic places. «With this tool, we could develop policies for the preser- vation of our heritage and decide if places warrant special attention for restorations. We can also alert fa m ilies about the condi- tion of the plots where their ancestors are buried,» sa y s Lapointe. People who have infor m ation that could assist Catherine Lapointe in her research can contact her at 450-562-2474 (extension 2311) or clapointe@argenteuil.qc.ca.
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