Come annually to Grosse-Île and see the evolution of the historical site.
From the time of the station's opening in 1832, the central sector was occupied by British soldiers, who oversaw operations on the island. The last of these forces left Grosse Île in 1857 and were replaced by civilians, who inhabited the sector with their families. Some of these families would work on Grosse Île over several generations - five generations in the case of the Masson family.
Although the village of Saint-Luc-de-la-Grosse-Île did not have the administrative structures of a municipality per se, it was, however, subject to specific regulations by the federal government, which was the official owner. All employees came under the responsibility of the medical superintendent, who exercised absolute authority over the island. Beginning in the 1870s, some families lived on Grosse Île year round.
The superintendent's house stands imposingly at the entrance to the village and testifies to the importance of its one-time owner. A post office, a laundry and a bakery all served as gathering places for island-dwellers. The Catholic chapel stood at the centre of the village. It also constituted the focal point of the community, enlivening daily life on the island with religious holidays and celebrations. A strong spirit of sharing and neighbourliness developed among families, particularly during the winter, and wedding bells often tolled for young newlyweds from the village.
Several buildings - Anglican and Catholic chapels, summer kitchens, physicians' homes, Marconi station, school, etc. - continue 
today to recall the functions once filled by the village and parish of Saint-Luc-de-la-Grosse-Île, home to hundreds of inhabitants over the years.
