POINT OF INTEREST: Musée Dawson Trail Museum / Enfant-Jésus Historical Site

HISTORICAL NUGGETS: The Governor-General’s Visit (1877)

Enfant Jésus Heritage Site Exhibit

SEE GOOGLE MAP LOCATION

Continue east on Dawson Road through Richer and on the left (north) side you will see the Dawson Trail Museum building and grotto, and our permanent historical display.

Credit: This exhibit is a collaboration of the Dawson Trail Museum and Dawson Trail Arts and Heritage Tour.  The exhibit mural was inspired by a map produced by local historien Lorna Annell, with artistic and interpretive changes and enhancements provided by Pierrette Sherwood and Mireille Lamontagne.  The Ox Cart is a donation by the Richer Community Club. 

Musée Dawson Trail Museum / Enfant-Jésus Historical Site

The Dawson Trail Museum was originally Richer’s church and was then named “l’Église de l’Enfant-Jésus” (Church of the Child Jesus). It served many Voyageurs as it was the first stop to worship as they traveled on their way west. Indeed, the church is of historical significance because it is situated on the historic Dawson Road which provided easier access for early settlers. These families were mostly Métis and French. The church at the time, serviced 80 families and as many as 426 parishioners. Today, many residents of the town of Richer and the surrounding area are descendants of these families.

The Church of the Enfant-Jésus was designated a municipal heritage site by the Rural Municipality of Ste. Anne in 2008, paving the way for the transition of the church to the Dawson Trail Museum in the summer of 2013. Many families have donated items to the museum, some dating as far back as 1845.

The Dawson Trail Museum exhibits provide a narrative of the area, including an over 100 year history of the site itself, daily life of the people that lived in the community, and the importance of the Dawson Trail to the people that lived and traveled on it. Stop in for a visit and check out their website.

On October 22, 2008 with the passing of the By-law 5-2008, the Rural Municipality of Sainte-Anne designated the Enfant-Jésus site and buildings a Municipal Heritage Site. Renovations to the church in the 2000s were done as part of the Manitoba Prairie Churches Project. Inquiries should be directed to Yvonne Fontaine Godard (204-422-9369).

Source: Dawson Trail Museum website

The construction of the Dawson Road in 1869 led to an influx of Métis moving to Côteau-des-Chênes to work on road construction, joining the Métis inhabitants who had been settled in the area for several years. Father Alexandre Defoy came to work as a missionary in the region and in 1903 he became the first resident priest in the mission of Thibaultville where he built the first chapel on land donated by Pierre Michaud. In 1904, Bishop Louis-Philippe-Adélard Langevin, Archbishop of Saint-Boniface, erected the mission of the Enfant-Jésus to Thibaultville and named Father Defoy the first parish priest.[3] The chapel to the left was built in 1904 and the church in 1913. Dawson Trail Museum collection.

Historic site of the Enfant-Jésus Roman Catholic church in Richer, Manitoba built along the Dawson Trail in 1913 serves today as the Chemin Dawson Trail Museum (c1980). Dawson Trail Museum collection.

Doll of the Infant Jesus in the collection of the Dawson Trail Museum. The doll is made of beeswax and natural hair. The first Enfant Jesus doll was made in 1845 by Sister Eulalie Lagrave. The tradition of making wax jesus was brought to Canada by the Ursulines and adopted by other sisters, such as the Grey Nuns. The remarkable facts are the real aspect and the delicacy of the doll. The reason for making this baby was for the church nativity scene but also to raise funds for the poor. It embodies the serenity, peace and wonder of children. According to Patricia Gendreau and the St. Boniface Museum. Dawson Trail Museum collection.

Reaction of children and adults in the parish to the arrival of the “Enfant-Jésus” in the church newsletter in December 1845. Text translation: “In the chronicles of December 1845 the sense of wonder of the population is described when the “baby” made of wax was introduced during the Christmas holidays. One must understand that the toys at the time were rudimentary and that most children had never seen a doll in their life. Christmas evening on the way to Mass, the faithful found an impressionnant splendor not only with the lovely hymns of the Sister, but also with the nativity scene where the Enfant-Jésus lay. Most had never seen anything like it. Very moved by the realistic aspect of the “baby” made of wax, the children could not understand how the baby would be able to stay warm inside such a cold church! All of the children showed much tenderness for this “baby” wanting to offer him, for example, a blanket or a pair of small beaded moccasins. It is said that one child even wanted to bring him candy. That was a big sacrifice for a little one in 1845.” Source: De quoi de vieux au Musée de Saint-Boniface (n.d.). Print. Collection of the Dawson Trail Museum.

View from the rear of the Enfant-Jésus Church and cemetery, now the Musée Dawson Trail Museum facing Dawson Road. Credit: Mireille Lamontagne

Go to Next Tour Location: Dawson Trail Park Exhibits | Top

Previous page: Richer: Côteau des chênes
Next page: Dawson Trail Park Exhibits