Sunday, August 9, 2009

Verdun Monument at Parc Labelle

While in Verdun yesterday i took these photos at the Labelle Park wich commemorates the first pioneers to establish Verdun called "Les Argoulets" wich means sharp shooters in todays's terms. The plaque is in french but I think members should be able to understand the meaning:

"L'Argoulet"

"L'Argoulet inspire de l'histoire de Verdun, représente le nom donné à un groupe d'arquebusiers du XV11e siècle chargés de la garde du territoire. Ils portaient le nom de:

Jean Baptiste Gadodis, Pierre Ragideau, Jean Leroy, Étienne Campeau, Simon Cardinal,

Pierre Gadois, Jean Chicot et Michel Guibert.

ls devinrent les premiers résidents de la côte des "Argoulets qui plus tard s'est appelé Verdun en l'honneur de son fondateur "Zacharie Dupuis" venue de Saverdun en France.

The Labelle Park is situated at the beginning of Verdun at the interesection of Verdun and Henri Duhamel (continuation of Atwater).

I wonder how many are aware of these important Verdun historical facts, not many I bet.

Étienne Campeau was the first generation of the Campeau's to inhabit the continent and since my wife is a Campeau, she was quite proud to learn about this fact. I must admit that I am not impressed with this kind of architecture as I don't see any connection with the first settlers. It looks more like a giant Godzilla.

Guy

 

 

3 comments:

Les F said...

Guy this monument reminds me of "Illanaaq the Inukshuk" -------what ,I can hear most asking ,is that ? lol It is the logo for the Olympic games :
Illanaaq is Inuktitut for "friend," while an inukshuk is a traditional stone marker used by the Inuit to guide their way across the sometimes featureless Arctic.

..........................I wonder what the stones in the park are to mean (or perhaps it's just the artist's design) but most artist's get their inspiration from somewhere:
Personally upon further examination,those stones resemble the Labels on Molson Export Bottles (the old ones) also they sort of remind me of the large 'Man & his World Theme Pavillions' that dotted the old Expo 67 site,...............(well sort of) HF&RV

Les F said...

History - History of Verdun
Originally known as the Côte des Argoulets, the future city of Verdun served in the 17th century as a strategic fortification for Ville-Marie where the population took refuge during the frequent Iroquois attacks. The term Argoulets referred to a group of 16th century harquebusiers , well known in France for the effectiveness of their sharpshooters.

Verdun takes its name from a noble fief of 272 acres, bordered by the Saint-Pierre River near the Saint-Louis Falls and granted on December 26, 1671 by the Sulpicians to Zacharie Dupuis. Dupuis, who was a native of Saverdun in Ariège, a department of southern France, was, along with Lambert Closse, one of French Canada's military pioneers. Dupuis named his new grant the Fief de Verdun , probably drawing the name from that of his native city.

In 1875 the municipality of Verdun was finally created and officially separated from the parish of Notre-Dame de Montréal.

The early 20th century marked an exodus of working class families from central Montréal, with one result of this demographic shift being a large growth in Verdun's urban development. Thanks to the industrial development of the Lachine Canal, the city progressively expanded from north to south, from the Aqueduct Canal to the St. Lawrence River. During spring flooding, water inundated low-lying areas where new residents had been gradually settling, as well as the shores of Saint-Paul Island, home to a religious community. Efforts that were ultimately made to fill the river banks resulted in a more secure situation for the population.

On January 1st, 2002, Verdun became a borough of Montréal, under an order (Act 170) by the government of Québec.

Verdun residents now live in a primarily residential borough that enjoys a rich past dating back to the beginnings of New France. The borough enjoys unique features as a result of its geographic situation, its superb promenade along the river, its parks bordering the river and easy access to its public services.
..the above is from the City of Montreal archives site under 'Borrough of Verdun'

Brian Gearey said...

Les very interesting thanks for the history lesson