Maison Joseph Royal
147 Boulevard Provencher

Built in 1873 for Joseh Royal, a champion of rights for French speaking Manitobans. Investigations of the homes stripped interior have revealed that the house was originally a log dwelling which was converted to a stud frame in the latter 1870s.Originally it was two storeys high and had two clear sections. There was the North side of Provencher (the front of the building) that was built in the Red River frame method, using horizontal tongue and groove. The rear section of the building however, was constructed using the balloon frame method, using vertical studs. The interior had a reception hall, a double parlour and a dining hall. As many as six room may have been on the upper level. In all the home was a radiant example of Quebec style architecture.

Since its construction the house has seen extensive alterations. In 1903 a rubble stone basement was added and the roof was raised to make a third floor. Other renovations have included the relocation of doors and windows, as well as the addition and removal of porches and extensions. The exterior has been covered with brick and stucco, and the interior structural supports have been reinforced. However, despite the extensive work done, the home still has traces of its nineteenth century wallpaper.

*Historical Buildings Committee