Joseph-Léger Sanschagrin, a businessman, is dressed in a chic three-piece suit with contrasting pocket square. He sports a relaxed appearance with his hands in the pockets of his pants and his pocket watch, of which only the chain can be seen, neatly stored.

He was born on February 6, 1878, in Grondines from the marriage between Lumina Hamelin dit Laganière and François-Xavier Robie dit Sanschagrin (1843-1897), a merchant/grocer. Joseph-Léger studied at the Collège du Sacré-Cœur in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, then worked in Portneuf-Station at his father’s business. Following the death of the latter on March 20, 1897, Joseph-Léger took over the business; he had just turned 19. Seven years later, he sold everything and settled in Trois-Rivières with his wife Anaïs Paradis and their children. He opened a grain and flour store there.

Active in philanthropic works, Joseph-Léger Sanschagrin also served as a municipal councillor and church warden of the Très-Saint-Sacrement parish. In November 1924, he was awarded the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius XI.

Then, in 1926, he purchased Crèmerie des Trois-Rivières & Régal ltée, which he managed for 22 years before selling it in 1949.

He died on June 23, 1955.

As for Blank & Stoller limitée, established in Montreal, it was acually a branch of the Blank & Stoller Inc. photographic studio in New York, which was active there between the 1920s and 1960. The photographers who worked at the Montreal branch took pictures of various business, religious, and political figures, many of which were published in newspapers such as La Presse, particularly between 1933 and 1955.

Musée Pierre-Boucher Collection
2008 478 F