1
Joseph Roy, known as Desjardins, with his violin1910 - 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. P2005.107 (detail)
2
Émilie Dumont dies on January 23, 1913. In her will, as a final effort to heal the rift between her son and her husband, she leaves Joseph the house and the grounds in front of the foundry. So Joseph, once more, takes possession of the house, which he had given back to his father in 1902. In spite of this, Joseph will never be completely reconciled with Charles-Alfred. He cannot accept not being allowed to devote his life to music. His talent is widely recognized in the region where he is considered an excellent organist. He often plays at the church of Saint-André as well as in certain neighbouring parishes. Furthermore, he is equally well appreciated when he sits down at the piano or takes up his violin. He even composes pieces of music. But this pastime is not enough to satisfy his ambitions and his work at the factory bores him.3
Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins, with his great-granddaughter, Lilliane FillionAround 1933
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. P2005.59
4
However, the relations between Joseph's daughter, Ida Desjardins, and her grandfather are very good. As newlyweds, Ida and her husband Armand Morin will go live in the family home to take care of her grandfather, Charles-Alfred, during Émilie's illness. After her death, they live with him. Moreover, it is here, in this house, that Charles-Alfred Martin, great grandson and godchild of Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins, will be born on October 15, 1913. This birth will be a great source of happiness and pride for the patriarch of the Desjardins family.5
A baby in the home of Charles-Alfred Roy, known as DesjardinsAround 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. P2006.312
6
Baby in a carriageAround 1908
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. P2005.165
7
The farmhouse of Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins, at the feast of Corpus Christi1900-1920
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. P2005.98
8
The death of his wife allows the extent of the property that the industrialist had accumulated up to this time to be revealed. His fortune is valued at well over a million dollars, something very rare for a French-Canadian of that era, and even more so for one living in a rural setting. In addition to the buildings making up his enterprise, his houses in the village and his residence, he owns a farm on a piece of land measuring one square mile, behind the mountain. On this property, there is a magnificent orchard with more than a thousand fruit trees, a forest, an artificial lake stocked with trout, and an assortment of domestic animals.9
"Horseback riding" on a bull1900-1920
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. P2005.170
10
Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins, and his second wife, Eugénie Godbout21 February 1915
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. P2006.232
11
Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins, coming out of church with Eugénie GodboutAround 1925
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada
Credits:Collection of Isabelle Poyau and Yvon Robert
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
12
Charles-Alfred will not spend a very long time as a widower. On September 4, 1913, he weds a second time, marrying Eugénie Godbout in the church of Saint-Louis-de-France in Montréal. His new wife is the aunt of the future premier of Québec, Adélard Godbout.13
Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins, and Eugénie GodboutAround 1934
Saint-André de Kamouraska (Québec), Canada
Credits:Collection of Isabelle Poyau and Yvon Robert
Photographer: Éva Roy, known as Desjardins
14
The family of Charles-Alfred Roy, known as Desjardins29 July 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. P2005.48
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