Docithée LeBlanc House

The Docithée LeBlanc House is designated a Local Historic Place for its association with a family of Acadian farmers and workers and for its traditional architecture.

At a time when fathers could not have a job and run a farm at the same time without the help of their elder sons, there were a few rare cases of fathers who managed the feat of engaging in two such different occupations simultaneously. Docithée LeBlanc was one of these exceptional fathers. The Docithée LeBlanc House was built by one of the few Acadians who farmed and had a job at the same time. Although his father, Thaddée, had only two sons to whom he could leave his land, Docithée, the elder, later obtained a lot from his uncle and neighbour Laurent LeBlanc when he became engaged to a girl from outside of the village, Angèle LeBlanc of Memramcook. Circa 1880, shortly before his marriage, he built this traditional home on that lot and set up his own farm. The traditional house that he built was very suitable for farm life. Few elements differentiated it from the homes of the other farmers at the time since his second career as a builder did not start until later in his life.

However, circa 1890, calling upon the expertise of his relatives and neighbours who were carpenters, stone cutters, and masons, he became a contractor. Eventually, he even got a few contracts from the Intercolonial Railway under which he oversaw the construction of several train bridges, including those over the Scoudouc River in Shediac and Jonathan Creek in Moncton. His first-born son, Ernest, followed in his footsteps. Whereas several of his brothers and sisters emigrated to the United States, Ernest stayed in the area, purchased a great deal of land, and built up a large commercial farm.