Lachute

History

Originally in the seventeenth century, "La Chute" identified a cataract or falls on the North River (Rivière du Nord) located about 24 kilometres (15 mi) upstream from its confluence with the Ottawa River. In 1753, Antoine Brunet became the first francophone to settle in Lachute temporarily. In 1796, Jedediah Lane, from Jericho, Vermont, bought several thousand acres of land on both sides of the North River, where Lachute is today. That same year, Hezekiah Clark and his family, also of Jericho, settled near the falls on the North River, followed by Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. Two years later, the population of The Chute Settlement (as it was then known by its English name) consisted of five families.

The village grew quickly: by 1803 there were 30 families scattered on both banks of the North River and by 1810, Lachute counted 83 families, including 211 children of school age. In 1804, a mill was built at the falls and the first general store opened in 1813. One year later, Sir John Johnson bought a large part of the Argenteuil Seigneury. He built a sawmill and gave land for the construction of churches, helping to attract new settlers to Argenteuil. In 1825, Thomas Barron became the first judge, then the first mayor of Lachute. The Lachute post office was established in 1835.

From 1870 to 1880 Lachute went through another period of expansion, including economic and social development: the railway linking Montreal and Ottawa was built through the centre of the small town. Industries were established: Félix Hamelin and Thomas Henry Ayers established a wool mill and Irishman James Crocket Wilson opened a paper mill.

In 1885, the Town of Lachute was incorporated with a population of around 1300 persons, and in the same year Lachute high school was founded. In 1901, electricity was brought to the town.

In 1966, Lachute and the Village of Ayersville merged, forming the Cité de Lachute. In 1971, during the construction of Montréal-Mirabel International Airport, a part of the Saint-Jérusalem Parish was added to Lachute. In 1981, Cité de Lachute became Ville de Lachute. In 2000, about 10 square kilometers of Mirabel's territory was annexed by Lachute. In 2002, the Service de police municipale de Lachute was transferred to the Sûreté du Québec.

Expo Lachute Fair is the oldest Fair in Quebec and the second oldest in all of Canada, running from 1825 to present. In 1917, Argenteuil Agricultural Society purchased land to hold the Expo Lachute Fair permanently in Lachute. 1917 saw the construction of the grandstand and the track, with new cow and horse barns being constructed as time and money allowed. The Fall Fair was changed to a Spring Fair in 1925 so that it could be deemed strictly a Livestock show. Lachute, Québec, now the center for this bustling Fair was not always the host to the Exhibition. In the years 1825 and 1826, meetings of the inhabitants of the county of York met in the then bustling business center of St. Andrews, to form themselves into a Society to be called “The county of York Agricultural society”, later to the Two Mountains Agricultural Society and finally to the county of Argenteuil Agricultural Society, the object of which being to improve the mode of Agriculture in the county be every means in their power. Today, Expo Lachute Fair is still going strong. An annual agriculture fair is held in July as well as smash up Fall Derby in September each year. The fairgrounds are also used for several other local events throughout the year.

In 2013, Lachute was ranked last among the 200 Canadian cities and towns rated as places to live by Money Sense Magazine.

Education

The Commission scolaire de la Rivière-du-Nord operates French-language public schools.

Notable Lachutois

Media