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SHARPSHOOTERS, NEW BEDFORD

This website is dedicated to a little known and mostly forgotten aspect of Franco American culture, The Franco American Gardes! I've put it together in memory of my dearest mother Yvette Laura Lamarche Taylor who was a member of the Garde Doremy in 1939-1941. According to a book by Gerald J.Brault,"Franco-Americans in New England", published in 1985, paramilitary units called Guards or Gardes were begun in New England in the last quarter of the 19th century. They were often affiliated with and modeled after state militias.The word Garde is french for guard. The purpose of the Gardes was to foster patriotism and emergency preparedness. Since the first Franco American Gardes began in 1887, thousands of our people have been membwers. Today nearly all of those have passed away and we are dependent on their adult children to reestablish the memory of what the Gardes were like so many years ago.Through photos, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia we hope to do the subject justice.

According to Mr. Brault, these paramilitary units drilled regularly and were often supplied by the state militia with equipment etc.In his book he states that in 1906, twenty three Franco-American Garde units joined to form the Brigade des Voluntaires Franco-American (The Brigade of Franco-American Volunteers.) The Brigade was composed of three regiments with a band and a drum and bugle corps.It must have been an exciting and stirring spectacle to see them drill and on parade. Mr. Brault added that the Brigade had a three day encampment every year around Labor Day and in 1911, counted 1,100 members! In late 1916 the Brigade sent a telegram to President Woodrow Wilson offering their services in the World War.In fact so many members enlisted in the War that the Brigade disbanded altogether.After the war, efforts were made to reform the Brigade with limited results.However one Garde, probably The Sharpshooters of New Bedford was said to have 300 members. However beginning in mid 1930’s numerous Franco- American semi military Gardes began to flourish again in the Greater Lowell area and throughout New England, New York State and Quebec. Although there were Garde units from various ethnic backgrounds, the vast majority were sponsored by French Canadian parishes. Evidence has come to light that some of these Gardes were actually founded much earlier than thought. For example, the Garde Frontenac, of Lowell, was established as early at 1907. The Garde Rochambeau of Nashua, New Hampshire was founded in 1910. The Garde d’Honneur as early as 1913, the Garde Sacre Coeur as early as 1913, and the Garde St. Louis as early as 1917. The latter three were all from Lowell.

The mid 1930s era up until WW II, was perhaps the high point of the Garde movement. That is to say, it was the period when the largest number of Garde units were operating and when the largest number of competitions and championships were being held. The patriotic fervor of the years 1938-1941 more than likely had a lot to do with it. Had World War II not come along, the Gardes might have flourished for a much longer period. These Gardes functioned as drill teams, color guards, and regimental units. The Gardes also performed in exhibitions and ceremonial functions such as serving as an honor guard at weddings, parish events and funerals. The Gardes sponsored many different kinds of social events as an outlet for their members. Some events were a way to raise money for their own benefit and for the needs of the parish that sponsored them.

The newspapers referred to the Gardes as semi-military units because the men especially, mimicked state militia units which flourished in every state after the Civil War and thru the turn of the 20th century. The men dressed in military style uniform and marched with the precision and discipline of military personnel. They usually carried swords or rifles and usually wore white gloves. The men tended to wear military ribbons and medals on their uniforms. Women’s uniforms usually tended to be much more feminine. Members of the Gardes, both men and women held ranks from private up thru colonel. How were these ranks awarded? I would assume that new members were given the rank of private. From what I read in newspaper articles, tryouts were held perhaps once a year. Promotions were no doubt based on marching ability, precison of movement and overall presentation. If an officer such as a captain were to resign, most likely tryouts were held shortly after to fill his or her position. Aside from military ranks, in many of the Gardes there were elected positions for President, V.President etc. These officers took care of the administrative functions of the Garde such as event planning, fund raising, scheduling, policy making etc. The larger, more active the Garde the more officers were needed.Another feature, which distinguished the Gardes from marching bands etc. was that when requests or instructions were given to appear in full uniform or to attend a parade etc, the term “Orders” was always used.

There were Gardes for men only and women only; some members were still in high school, but primarily members were in their upper teens and early twenties. Past this age, most individuals would have married and dropped out. However, some Gardes did have older, more mature members among the men who functioned as the leader, drill master or president of the group. An excellent example of this was Albert Bergeron who founded the Garde Frontenac in 1907, in Lowell and was the captain and drillmaster until at least the late 1940’s. While still serving as captain of the Garde, Mr. Bergeron became a State Representative in the 1940’s.Other Gardes such as the Sharpshooters of New Bedford had numerous members who were on their rolls for 20,30 or even 40 years. Instead of playing golf and watching Monday night football, Franco American men and women attended Garde meetings, drills and social activities. Gardes served as a social outlet and as a fraternal organization which also helped meet the needs of the parish, a very important role. In an era before computer dating, Face Book and My Space, men in uniform always drew swarms of female admirers. Ladies in formation always got the men’s attention real fast, so it was a great way for the ladies and gents to meet. Many a wedded couple met that way.

When there was no television and few other entertainment choices, the Gardes provided a thrill for the crowds and proved to be extremely popular with all ages. The best part was that it was all free. The Gardes were very active back then and very popular in the French Canadian parishes especially. For example, nearly every week in 1938, notices and stories about the Gardes appeared in the Lowell Sun. Practically everyone knew someone who was in the Gardes. Among the Gardes of the 1930s in Lowell for example, were the all male Garde Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart), the Garde Frontenac, Garde St. Louis and Garde Ste. Marie. The all female Gardes included the Garde Ste. Jeanne d’Arc, Garde Notre Dame, Garde Domremy, Garde St. Joseph, and Garde Independente, all in Lowell. Garde d’Honneur was unusual in that it had a Company A. for women and a Company B. for the gents. The Gardes marched in parades on national holidays, took part in indoor and outdoor drills and competitions, and sponsored and supported other parish activities. In December 1937, movement was afoot for the more than 75 Franco American organizations in the Lowell area to join together in a Franco American Federation for the purpose of promoting their culture and especially promoting the use of the French language. The Gardes were among those invited to participate and each sent a representative to the Federation meetings.

Material for this site was developed by gathering information from my mother Yvette Lamarche Taylor, her lifelong friends Rita “Skip” Aubin Sawyer, Rita Bergeron Matte, my aunt Rita Lamarche Grenier, and another aunt Rita Langlois Lamarche. Three of my uncles were also members of the Garde. They were Arthur and Lionel Lamarche and Arthur Grenier. These three supposedly restarted the Garde St. Louis around 1936, but I have no proof of that. I also obtained much information from Conrad Sevigny and Lucien Matte, former members of the Garde Frontenac, for which I am most appreciative. Jeannine Matte Richardson, who had three aunts in the Gardes also was very helpful.In addition also researched newspapers, primarily the Lowell Sun, for the years 1937, 1938, 1942, and 1944-1953. Also used in research was the Nashua Telegraph, 1946-1950, the Plattsburgh, New York Press, the New Bedford Evening Standard and material drawn from various websites.As stated above invaluable information was obtained from the book Franco-Americans of New England by Gerald J. Brault.A special thank you goes out to Ruby Duhamel Cook of Lowell for providing us with some excellent photos of the Garde Frontenac, her Dad's Garde, a championship award ribbon which he won and a rare copy of a drill pamphlet from the Garde Frontenac.Because of the vast amount of material, I have divided information into three categories, Drill Competitions, Parades and Dances. I have also created a separate section known as the Roll Call of the Gardes which lists each known Garde in alphabetical order and includes all known information about each. Finally there is a Members Roster,with about 375 names gathered from various sources.

To learn more about the activities and membership of the Gardes, please click on the the various pages (upper left of Home Page) for the subject that interests you.

I hope you enjoy this website and I welcome your comments, photos and additional information.

Dennis Taylor, Atlanta, Georgia
Last Revised - April 12, 2009