Farmer Germain Dugas built the Dugas house. Born in 1824, he married twice and from both marriages had 15 children. His first wife was Véronique Robichaud and his second wife was Marie Paulin. We know that, over the years, Germain lodged many people in his home: his blind sister Suzanne, 8-year-old Théotiste Dugas, 23-year-old Florence Dugas, 45-year-old blind Jude Dugas, 19-year-old French-Canadian Olive Cyr, 23-year-old teacher Ursule Godin and servants George Dugas and Lazarine Dugas.

The Dugas house is built in a very different way from what was done at the time. It features a vertically-timbered frame structure filled with bauge (a mixture of clay and hay known as torchis). This type of construction is very old and can be found in Normandy and northern France. Acadian architecture experts know of no other dwellings of this type.

Originally, cob was covered with whitewashed mortar. Later, the mortar was covered with clapboards. It’s also possible that this house was built from another building that was destroyed. Some pieces have holes and markings in various places, while others are squared off with an axe. After several years, a cornice was added to the house, above the main door.

As for the dating of the Dugas house, if we go by tradition, Germain would have built his house before his marriage to Véronique, which took place in 1854. However, a dendrochronological analysis prepared in 2007 shows that the house was probably built around 1866-1867.

The house was acquired by the Village historique acadien in 1972. That year, the owners had begun demolishing the building, but when it was discovered that the house was built of cob, the Village acquired it. The Village historique acadien has turned the house into a restaurant serving traditional Acadian cuisine, with dishes prepared according to the recipes of our Acadian ancestors.

• Cob construction: a mixture of clay and hay that fills the spaces between the vertical half-timbering.
• Half-timbered structure