Ferme-Neuve

Ferme-Neuve is a municipality in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality. It is the largest incorporated municipality of the Laurentides region.

The village is located on the shores of the Du Lièvre River and Journalists Lake, and along Quebec Route 309, about north of Mont-Laurier.

History

In the 19th century, the area began attracting loggers because of its rich red and white pine stands. In 1850, the James MacLaren logging company built a large tree farm called "La Ferme de la Montagne" that was used as a supply camp for loggers. It was sold in 1888 to Cyrille Lafontaine and inhabited by his son Léonard who became the first settler and farmer of Ferme-Neuve. In 1898, the Ferme-Neuve Post Office opened.

In 1902, a group of 8 Montreal journalists, under direction from Lomer Gouin, Minister of Colonization, built a model farm in order to attract more settlers. They also launched a public subscription to build a school. In recognition, the lake adjacent to the settlement was called Lac des Journalistes ("Lake of Journalists").

Also in 1902, the United Township Municipality of Würtele-Moreau-et-Gravel was formed, with Toussaint Cloutier as first mayor. In 1917, the Ferme-Neuve settlement separated from the united township and became an incorporated village, with Henri Berthiaume as its firs mayor. In 1930, the United Township Municipality of Würtele-Moreau-et-Gravel changed statutes and was renamed to the Parish Municipality of Ferme-Neuve.

On December 24, 1997, both entities were merged again into the new Municipality of Ferme-Neuve.