761Reid Street
Description
Nadeau House is a quaint single storey wood frame house built in 1913 that is set back from the street on the west side of Reid Street in North Quesnel, BC. The historic place includes the building and the parcel of land it occupies.
Heritage Value
Nadeau House is located in North Quesnel which is an older residential neighbourhood in the city. While not in its original form, the house is a physical reminder of the people who shaped the development of Quesnel.
Jim W. and Margaret (Pickard) Williams built this house in 1913. Jim was born in 1885 in Esquimalt, BC. He worked in the boat building industry as a caulker and sternwheeler repairman. In 1910, Jim was hired as the foreman for the Barnard Express sternwheeler at Soda Creek. The Barnard Express, known as the BX, began in 1864 by Francis Barnard to deliver mail, people and supplies. It was the longest single stage line on the continent. As travel technology improved, the express expanded to include steamboats which moved freight and people along the Fraser River. The Barnard Express ended when the Inland Express Company was awarded the mail contract.
During WWI, Jim worked at the shipyard in Tacoma, Washington while his wife, Margaret and their children lived in Victoria. The family returned to Quesnel in 1921. Jim was employed by the Department of Public Works to build bridges and ferries until his retirement in 1950. Margaret died in 1949 and is buried in Quesnel Pioneer Cemetery. Jim died in 1972.
Other occupants of the house include Reginald and Helen (McKenna) Boothe. Reginald was born in 1894 in Ontario. He arrived in Quesnel prior to WWI and worked as a clerk for J. A. Fraser’s General Store on Front Street. In 1915, Reginald enlisted in the 54th Battalion and then the 7th Battalion where he was wounded twice and later received military honours for his service. In 1918, he returned to Quesnel and opened a grocery store that was later destroyed by fire. In 1920, he married Helen Teresa. Helen was known as ‘Terry’. The couple were local musicians. Terry was a pianist and Reginald played the drums. They formed a three piece orchestra that performed at the dances held at the Rex Theatre on Reid Street. Reginald was also an avid hockey player. In 1927, Reginald and Terry sold this house.
The house is named for Wilfred and Helen (Abbott) Nadeau who lived in this house for over 50 years. Wilfred was born in 1889 and grew up in Quebec. He came to Quesnel in 1919 where he was employed by the Forestry Department as a Forest Ranger. He also raised cattle and hewed ties for the railroad. Helen was the telephone operator in Quesnel in the 1920s. The couple was married in 1927 and moved into this house. From 1932 to the 1950s, Wilfred drove the mail truck between Quesnel and Barkerville for Wade Transport. In 1981, the couple moved from Quesnel to Peachland, BC. Wilfred and Helen are recognized for their contribution to the development of the community with streets named in their honour.
Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements of Nadeau House include:
- a relationship with its surrounding buildings;
- a single storey house of simple design;
- a projection on the façade with double sash windows and bracketed eaves;
- small windows on façade;
- a central peak in the roof with brick chimney;
- a wood clad exterior and window frames.