REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CREATES A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

In the late 1930s, a wave of shoe factory closings throughout Québec leaves thousands of workers jobless, and buildings full of unused industrial machinery. A group of 20 prominent businessmen from the Beauce region decides, in 1939, to acquire one of these vacant industrial buildings in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, and what was previously a shoe factory will be Baronet place of business from 1942 to 2008.

During World War II, operating permits are awarded for war-related activities. From 1939 to 1942, the factory turns out wooden ammunition boxes. Despite government restrictions on commercial manufacturing, production rapidly shifts to furniture and, from 1942 to 1944, the number of employees increases from 15 to 60.

Roland Lacroix, who becomes General Manager in 1947, successfully tailors to post war manufacturing needs by developing furniture lines for use in colleges, elementary schools and government offices, as well as home furnishings.