In the early 1860s, Édouard Masson (1826–1875), businessman and member of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada from 1856 to 1864, recruited the help of architect and politician Thony Ciallella to plan the village.

In 1864, he was granted land in this area and contributed to the quick development of the parish, including the construction of a sawmill and a flour mill at the outflow of the lake which would be named after him later on.

Masson and Ciallella did not talk to each other for 10 years, until their relationship was renewed due to a surprise encounter in Montreal.

Also that same year, the Mission of Sainte-Marguerite was established, and the Parish Municipality of Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson was officially formed, both named after Margaret of Antioch of the third century.

[5] In 1914, Emile Cochand began developing Canada's first ski resort two miles from Ste.