On
May 28, 1934, this modest farmhouse achieved sudden international fame when the
Dionne Quintuplets were born to Oliva and Elzire Dionne. The house was
constructed in 1892 in Corbeil, Ontario by Oliver Dionne, the Quints'
grandfather.
The 'miracle babies' were soon whisked away to the Dafoe Hospital, which was
quickly constructed across the road. The Quints continued to live in their
hospital until 1943 when they were reunited with their family in a new larger
home.
The little log house was used only periodically until the mid-1960's when it was
moved from the Dionne farm to Highway 11 and opened to the public as a tourist
attraction. The building has changed little over the years, the most significant
alteration being the removal of the summer kitchen during the move.
In 1985, the building and collection of artifacts were in danger of being sold
and moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Dionne Patron Foundation was
established to raise funds to purchase the building. The City of North Bay
provided the new site, next to its Tourist Information Centre.
Today, the homestead houses artifacts and memorabilia about the Quintuplets. It
is open to the public as the Dionne Quints Museum. The North Bay & District
Chamber of Commerce has assumed responsibility for operating the Museum, and is
currently fundraising to reconstruct the summer kitchen in the near future.
A donation is made to the Museum from the profits of each model sold.
