Monday, February 11, 2008

La Tortue Wharf

I am doing some research on the ferries that plied the river between Verdun and the Laprairie side.The term LA TORTUE is used in many books that I  consulted wich seem to contradict themselves. For example, the 2nd ave wharf  (Leblanc), the Riverview wharf and the wharf in Laprairie are all referred as the La Tortue wharf. The Riverview (Allard) wharf  is also refererred to as the Torchy wharf  by some members.  
There is also referrence to the La Tortue Ferry Boat Channel on an old  map of Public Works Canada. There is also the Paroisse La Tortue in Laprairie, rivière La Tortue and gens de la Tortue.
Obviously the term La Tortue was used for many subjects over the years. Perhaps some members have some knowledge to help us shed some light on the matter. I bet Les will come up with something.
Here is a photo of one of these ferries unloading at the Riverview wharf around 1910. The ferries transported south shore farmers with their produce to be sold at the Bonsecours market:
Guy
 
 
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13 comments:

stephenfredmond MSN said...

Guy...La Tortue is French for Turtle cause when I googled that name all I got were turtles stuff Steve

carver3570 MSN said...

Guy.  I will send you an email re. this subject i am having trouble sending to VC. Maybe you can post when you get it. It is a list of names i had here.

carver3570 MSN said...

Its a big Computer when things get lost. Ron

Attachment: LaTortue0010.JPG

carver3570 MSN said...

Enlarge it to 150%.   Ron.

shirleyb-h MSN said...

I am thinking that Torchy is how the English mostly Brits pronounced Tortue.  For example there is a castle in England that is pronounced Bu lee and guess how it is spelled - Beaulieu

popdog0 MSN said...


at times i wonder, back then verdun was heavily populated
back then as little verduners, most of us played along the river banks, from fishing to hunting for snapping turtles.
torchy wharf was a favorite spot to go and visit, always
ask did you catch anyfish, they had fishing rods along the
front of the wharf, there was a tour boat, if you wanted a ride
the fellow would give you a tour for x amount of dollars.
it was a very well known place in verdun, yet what puzzles
me that there's no posts on torchy wharf stuff??

rcdave1 MSN said...

Torchy Wharf in the 50's.  

les__f MSN said...

Definetly a great shot of the Torchy Wharf,area,.& the Redtop on the boardwalk,.......interesting to see the cars on there. The wharf used to gather alot of 'old guys' fishing off the wharf ( Old ,they were probably in their late 30's & 40's)........hahahah      kids would ride their bikes down the embankment (quite a wild ride ,when your little),.......& of course playing on the banks all along the river ,was just a 'right of passage' .......       Good old Verdun photo for sure,......... RCDave ,.you also had some other neat pictures from Verdun in the early 60's ,at the stadium & a few others,..Have you since come across ,any other old neat photos?                                                                     HF&RV

guy5479 MSN said...

Dave, This is an excellant photo of the Torchy wharf for our archives (SHGV). You say it was at the foot of Allard st. on your previous post. The photo 1 that I posted of the ferry at Riverview would be in the same area. Are you sure your photo is at the foot of Allard. Guy

guy5479 MSN said...

Dave, I know you mentioned it before but can you tell me the year the photo was taken and the model and year of the auto. Guy

oshayne MSN said...

looks like a 1952 -53 buick

rcdave1 MSN said...

The car was my dad's (Herbert Adams) 1947 Buick 4dr sedan.  His sister still lives on Riverview.  Photo probably taken in the 50's as we could not afford a new car. At that time we lived in Point St. Charles and would go to the wharf to fish. There was a fishing pecking-order as I can remember. We moved to 739 Allard Ave. around 1955. Dave

guy5479 MSN said...

Dave, Thanks for the information wich will be added to your photo for our archives (SHGV). Guy