Richard Roy

In a world concerned with disarmament and the search for peace, why would anyone want to visit La Poudrière, an interpretation center in the oldest black powder manufacturing plant in Quebec, and one of the most hazardous places of employment of the nineteenth century? Perhaps the answer is simply that people are fascinated by things that affect their lives in such a dramatic way. And the making of explosives, whether for military or civilian purposes, in gunpowder or dynamite, certainly does that. At La Poudrière, which translates as "the Powder Keg", we can see exactly how and where gunpowder was made in the old days.


La Poudrière from the river.
(Photo: Courtesy of La Poudrière)

DEADLY EXPLOSION
The danger inherent in the production of explosives is clear to anyone who has studied the powder-making process. Explosions in this business were once commonplace, so it is no surprise that a massive black powder explosion did occur at La Poudrière, obliterating many buildings and lives. Unhappily, this horrific event was only one of many, but it gained notoriety because of the scale of the disaster. The Montreal newspaper La Presse detailed the events leading up to the early afternoon explosion in their July 17, 1901 edition: "…this was not the first event of the kind to take place here, but the enormity of the explosion, followed by an earthquake and thick billowing smoke sent terror through the hearts of the population, leaving local families grieving, knowing beyond a doubt their loved ones working at the mill were lost."

La Poudrière General Manager Denise Savard says, "Although today there is absolutely no danger of an explosion because we don't produce powder anymore, there have been approximately 50 buildings destroyed over the years with many lives lost when the powder magazines blew up. This happened often in those days." Savard explains that the explosions were "usually caused by sparks from the grinding action of the metal wheels that ground the powder at the mill." Visitors can still see the foundations of thirteen buildings destroyed in this manner.

General Manager Denise Savard. (Photo: Richard Roy)

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
La Poudrière, built in 1864, traces its roots back to the American Civil War. At that time, three American businessmen, hoping to capitalize on the hostilities, purchased ten acres (four hectares) of land on the Watopeka River in Windsor. The site would prove ideal, because the river, the main source of energy for the town, would operate the machinery needed in the making of black powder. And the close proximity of the railway that linked the area with New England would allow for easy transportation of the finished product.

One of the buildings still standing on the site is the magazine shed. Today it houses the original horse-drawn fire engine that once belonged to the town of Windsor, and which was used to extinguish the fires at La Poudrière caused by various explosions. "Everyone likes it here, kids, parents, grandparents - everybody. There's something to interest us all, even nature lovers and ornithologists who wish to walk our nature trail in Watopeka Park," Savard says, pointing from her window to the network of over five kilometers of trails and picnic areas. "People should plan to stay the whole day and bring a lunch, or take advantage of our licensed "café-terrasse" where we serve coffee, sandwiches, salads, and other goodies."

A wartime poster.
(Photo: Richard Roy)

EXHIBITIONS
La Poudrière features a permanent exhibition on gunpowder and the explosives techniques of the Civil War and World War I. Here, you can see different types of bullets from cap and ball to more modern turn-of-the-century cartridges, as well as the pistols and rifles that fired them. There are cannon shells, a hand grenade, bayonets, swords, powder kegs, dynamite sticks, and blasting caps. Visitors can also check out the collection of posters. One shows a soldier in World War I uniform asking people to help in the war effort: "Save your bones and fat to provide glycerin to make munitions for explosives, glue for aeroplanes and fertilizers for food production." The center features interesting temporary exhibitions, as well. All exhibitions and tours are accompanied by bilingual guides.

The trail in winter. (Photo: Courtesy of La Poudrière)


La Poudrière is open from May to November. For more information, contact Denise Savard at the Centre culturel et patrimonial La Poudrière de Windsor, 342, rue Saint-Georges, Windsor, Quebec, J1S 2Z5. Tel: (819) 845-5284. Fax:(819) 845-5615. Email: poudriere@interlinx.qc.ca