This house was built by Onésime McGrath in 1901. Formerly located in Losier Settlement, it was acquired by the Village historique acadien on October 31, 2007 and restored between 2008 and 2009 to its 1915 condition.

Born in 1874, Onésime McGrath, descendant of an Irish emigrant who settled in Tracadie in the late 1790s, married Catherine Drisdelle in 1900 at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Joseph parish in Tracadie-Sheila. Shortly after their marriage, Onésime built his own house, which the couple moved into in 1901. The following year, a room was added at the rear to serve as a kitchen. Between 1900 and 1921, the couple had eleven children, all born in the house, but unfortunately, three of them died in infancy.

The youngest daughter, Laurraine, was the logical heir to her father’s house, but she died in 1951. Her husband, Pierre Rousselle, married Clara Duguay for the second time. Her mother, Catherine Drisdelle, died in 1952, and Onésime in 1959. On his death, the house was bequeathed to Pierre Rousselle. In this way, the McGrath house passed into the hands of the Rousselles.

It’s worth noting that, according to parish registers and census records, Onésime was born McGrath, but died McGraw. So it’s safe to say that it’s his generation that marks the name change in his line.

Used as a licensing office in the 1960s, the house became obsolete and Pierre decided to build a new home in 1973, abandoning the old one. In a state of neglect for nearly 34 years, the house was donated by Rosella Robichaud to the Village historique acadien, to be restored and preserved as an Acadian heritage building.

Soon available