1

The first Desjardins factory in Saint-André
1900-1920
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C. P2005.99

2

After his marriage in 1867, Charles-Alfred continues to run his business from Pointe-Sèche. However, the population of the hamlet is decreasing. Boatbuilding is in decline. Steel-hulled vessels are taking over from the wooden ones built at Point-Sèche. A number of Desjardins families have already left, in many cases, heading for the northeast of the United States. Therefore, in 1868, Charles-Alfred buys a house in Saint-André de Kamouraska. His new factory is installed behind it.

3

The dryer and cannery of the factory
The winter of 1907
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C. P2005.74

4

Professionally speaking, business is going very well and so many orders come in that two new warehouses and two more workshops for turning out new machinery must be built. The company diversifies its production.

5

The first Desjardins workshop in Saint-André
1900-1920
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C. P2005.100

6

Mould making workshop
1900-1920
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C. P2006.291

7

Desjardins Harvester
1900-1920
Unknown

Credits:
The Hélène Fillion Martin Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins

8

From then on, the company manufactures farm wagons, stone lifters, treadmills, threshing machines, bagging machines, grain elevators, millstones for flour, carding machines, shingle machines, waterwheels, turbines, stoves, boilers for farms, bench saws, two-man saws, land rollers, seeders, potato diggers, etc. Already in 1880, more than 10 000 threshing machines have been built in Charles-Alfred's installations.

9

A 6 and 8 horsepower gasoline engine
Around 1905
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C P2005.95

10

Postcard of a Desjardins Company gasoline engine
Around 1905
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Unknown
N.A.C. P2005.70

11

The home of Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins
1886-1900
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C. P2006.280

12

However, industrial manufacturing is not Charles-Alfred's only interest. He diversifies his services and will be the heart of Saint-André for many years. In December 1883, he becomes the postmaster of Saint-André. He will hold this position until November 1912. At the beginning of the 20th century, his personal office (set up on the first floor of his home) employs three people to carry out numerous tasks (secretarial work for the company, as well as tasks related to the post office, the telephone and the telegraph).

13

Blanche Francoeur in the private office of Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins
1906-1912
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C P2006.277 (detail)

14

The office of the Desjardins Company
Around 1905
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada

Credits:
The Collection of the Musée régional de Kamouraska
The Desjardins Family Private Collection
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
N.A.C. P2006.278