Monument of the Braves

In 1855, the Quebec Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SSJB) formed a committee responsible for erecting a monument to the veterans. The first stone was laid on July 18, 1855 under the presidency of Sir Edmund Walker-Head, Governor General of Canada. The ceremony was scheduled for June 25, but when it was known that a French warship was in the St. Lawrence, it was postponed and the captain was invited. Joseph Larose got the contract to build the base and install the column for a price of 1000.00$. In 1860, John Ritchie, smelter, was awarded the contract to build the cast iron column, at a cost of 4000.00$. The pedestal, including the cast iron column, was erected on June 24, 1861. The SSJB members went to salute the newly installed cast iron column. In 1861 (?), the Quebec SSJB lobbied France for the donation of a symbolic statue to be installed on top of the column. Prince Jérome Napoléon donated a statue of Bellone, Roman goddess of war. The whole monument was unveiled on October 19, 1863 by Lord Monck, Governor General of Canada. On June 30, 1864, the land where it sits became public property and national monument through an Act of Parliament. That land had been bought from the Tourangeau estate by the Quebec SSJB on June 19, 1855, in front of Notary Huot, as well as another parcel of land acquired at the same time from Julien Chouinard. Since 1908, the monument and the land are the property of the National Battlefields Commission. Between 1962 and 1970, letters were exchanged between the City of Quebec and the National Battlefields Commission. The City wanted to widen Saint-Foy Road in front of the des Braves Park, which required moving the monument (24 feet north of its position). In 1970, the Commission initiated the proceedings towards completion of the necessary work. The City of Quebec committed to repay the real costs of the moving, up to an amount of 25,000.00$. The Commission may have restored the monument or landscaped the area in 1914. On October 10, 1892, repairs and improvements to the monument were made under the direction and supervision of M.F. Peachy and O. Lemieux, at an estimated cost of 659.00$. The monument was designed by Charles Baillargé.