The ruins of the Calvin Presbyterian Church and the LaGuerre cemetery sit on a small hill in Saint-Anicet. Little more than the fieldstone walls of the Gothic Revival-style church remain. It was completed in 1851, around the same time as the Village of LaGuerre began to decline. The final service took place in 1931, when it was abandoned.
Now, some 95 years later, local craftsman Marc Walsh has restored the church to its former glory as a scale model. He hopes to unveil it inside the actual church ruins as part of a special presentation in partnership with the Société Historique de Saint-Anicet (SHSA) on July 25.
Walsh is best known for his meticulous rendering of the town of Walnut Grove from the television series Little House on the Prairie, which is now on permanent display at the Rodrigue Museum in Saint-Sauveur.
He aims to preserve history through his models, including a replica of the one-room Newfoundout schoolhouse, which was located near his family’s farm in Saint-Anicet. He spent approximately 500 hours working to recreate the exterior and interior of the school, complete with a wood-burning stove, benches for about 30 students, a 1945 calendar, water station, as well as a passageway to the restroom and a storage area for firewood. The model is currently on display at the SHSA.
His replica of the LaGuerre church required around 600 hours of work, including 175 hours spent meticulously shaping and placing each of the stones in the four walls. Walsh considers this to be his “best work,” which he hopes will allow visitors to discover the architecture and grandeur of the church.
Following the event on July 25, visitors will be able to see the model on display at the SHSA along with the schoolhouse. “These projects are an opportunity to showcase regional history and the admirable work of Marc Walsh,” said SHSA president Luc Quenneville.
If the weather cooperates, the replica will be unveiled inside the ruins on July 25 at 1:30 p.m.