Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Norbert Provincial Heritage Park (Turnbull Drive, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Photos & Coordinates | Sources

The property where this Provincial Heritage Park was established was formerly owned by architect Herbert Henry Gatenby Moody. He planted numerous trees on the site and, in 1972, sold it to the Manitoba government for development as a park.

Two pioneer houses recreating the lifestyle of their original owners, the Turenne House and the Bohemier House, are situated in the park. St. Norbert’s proximity to St. Boniface and its prime agricultural land attracted many French-Canadian families. Restoration of the Turenne House was completed in 1986. The other restored house in the park is that of the Bohemier family. Opened in 1985, Bohemier House recreates the lifestyle known to the family from 1906 to 1912. Restoration of the Bohemier House was recognized with a Conservation Award from Heritage Winnipeg. Through these two houses, the Fort Garry Historical Society’s collection interprets Métis family life as it was during the late 1800s.

Other buildings at the site include the shells of two early examples of Red River Frame architecture, the Delorme House (built in 1857) and the Henderson House.

Also at the site are commemorative plaques of the Historic Sites Advisory Board of Manitoba. One pair of plaques, in English and French, relate to La Barriere (“The Barrier” in English). Near this site, on 1 November 1869, a group of men barred the passage of William McDougall on his way to Upper Fort Garry. Sent by the Canadian government, McDougall was to undertake the transfer of Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company to Canada. As a result of the actions taken here, plans to incorporate this area into the North West Territories were abandoned. Instead, Manitoba joined Canada as the new nation’s fifth province, on 15 July 1870.

A second pair of plaques, in English and French, commemorate the community of St. Norbert. The first inhabitants of this region were former fur company employees who settled here between 1822 and 1825. Their main occupation remained for many years the buffalo hunt and prairie freighting with Red River carts. In 1857, Monsignor Tache established a parish here which he called St. Norbert in honour of Monsignor Norbert Provencher.

Photos & Coordinates

The restored Turenne House (October 2014) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The restored Bohemier House (October 2014) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Delorme House (October 2014) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Henderson House (October 2014) Source: Gordon Goldsborough La Barriere commemorative plaques (October 2014) Source: Gordon Goldsborough St. Norbert commemorative plaques (October 2014) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.75452, W97.14409 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Henderson House (2112 Henderson Highway, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: McDougall House (3514 Pembina Highway, St. Norbert, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Delorme House / Delorme Bridge (RM of Ritchot)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Red River Frame Buildings

Historic Sites of Manitoba: La Barriere Monument (Pembina Highway, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Stopping the Survey Plaque (Whyte Ridge Park, Winnipeg)

Sources:

St. Norbert Provincial Heritage Park, Manitoba Conservation

We thank Jane Moody and Jim Smith for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Tim Worth.

Page revised: 25 April 2021

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