Conflicting stories

Where are the Old Deschênes manhole covers?

When Vanier Road in Old Deschênes was refurbished last summer and early this fall, some of the old manhole covers, dating back to the Town of Deschênes (1920-1974), were replaced with new ones, leading some residents to question the fate of the originals.  The original cast-iron covers are quite valuable, monetarily and historically. Claims by the city and contractor about the fate of these heritage-worthy items conflict, presenting a puzzle.

“The contractor collected the outdated covers, which are typically recycled,” reported the city’s spokesperson. According to the contractor, the manhole covers were returned intact to the city.

One Aylmer contractor told the Bulletin that manhole covers generally don’t end up in their hands. “It depends on the contract. Sometimes the city can specify that it wants the covers returned to them. The cast iron certainly has value,” he explained.

The city says that the old manhole covers were replaced during remedial work on Vanier Road because they were outdated and did not meet Gatineau’s specifications.

The city’s specs for manhole covers changed in 2008 following a design contest called Reg'art d'égout (artful covers). Open to residents and city employees, this competition required designing two manhole cover models, one for storm sewers and one for sanitary sewers.

Deschênes’ councillor Richard Bégin told the Bulletin that even if the city has the covers no one has a venue large enough to display them.

According to historian Lynne Rodier who specializes in Deschênes’ history, the manhole covers do have heritage value.

“The value belongs to those who may want to preserve them or refer to them. The interesting aspect of these covers is that they are physical evidence holding history about the former Village of Deschênes. They are proof Deschênes was a precursor to small municipalities in the region, having developed a sewer and water system,” she told the Bulletin.

Ms. Rodier believes the water and sewer system was installed in the 1960s when Jean-Paul Poirier was Mayor of Deschênes.