Cross of Gaspé
The Cross of Gaspé was originally erected on July 24, 1534 overlooking the bay of Gaspé, by the team of Jacques Cartier on his first trip exploration in the Gulf of St. Lawrence[1]. Planting the cross symbolized the ownership of the premises on behalf of the King of France, François Premier. This wooden cross of thirty feet would probably be planted on the edge of the basin north of the York River.[2]
Granite Cross at Gaspé
This cross of Gaspé was commissioned by the federal government to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the French explorer Jacques Cartier[3] in the Bay of Gaspé on July 24, 1534. This cross was unveiled on Aug. 25, 1934. It cost $ 7,000.
This monolithic granite cross, installed in Gaspé, was carved in 1934 from a block of gray granite, extracted from the Auguste Dumas career Rivière-à-Pierre, Quebec. This cross of Gaspé that weighs more than 42 tons, was transported to Quebec City on two cars by rail from Rivière-à-Pierre, Quebec. Then the cross was carried on a coaster to dock Gaspé. From the dock, the cross was drawn on rollers using hoists by one of the first tractors to be used in Gaspé.
Notes and references
- ^ "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online - Jacques Cartier".
- ^ Mimeault, Mario, "Où Jacques Cartier a-t-il planté sa croix?" (Where did Jacques Cartier planted his cross?)", La Revue d'histoire du Bas Saint-Laurent (The History Review of lower St. Lawrence), vol. X1V, no. 1 (January 1997), p. 32-34.Template:Fr
- ^ "Catholic encyclopedia - Jacques Cartier".