Sunday, November 13, 2011

Verdun Guardian 1958

I was on duty yesterday at our sodiety (SHGV) and going through the old issues of the Guardian, I found these subjects which may interest our MVC members:

The Guardian April 23rd 1958:

Text:

 They are remembered. Personel of the three services, war veterans, civic leaders and cadets paid tribute to those who fell in battle at Sunday's service in Woodland Park. The service was preceded by the laying of wreaths at the war monument. Salute was taken by Capt. Ross c. Webster, Commanding Officer of HMCS Donnacona.

Remarks: I did not know that there was a war monument at Woodland Park. Also, most Verdunites will remember Woodland Park as there was always some activity going on there such as movies in the summer, skating in the winter and many other sporting activities.

Text:

Carling Sales appointments. Carling Breweries (Quebec) Ltd, announces the appointment of Claude Provost and Don Marshall as special sales representatives for the Montreal area. The appointments are effective immediately.

Remarks: They where Canadiens players from the 50s and 60s. Claude Provost died from an heart attack while in retirement in Florida. Don Marshall was a Verdunite and it would be interesting to know what he is doing now.

The Guardian May 21st 1958:

Text: Flames engulf the one time Woodland Park Tennis Clubhouse on LaSalle Blvd Monday night to add yet another alarm to almost thirty the fire department received. The Pavillion was undergoing conversion to an old folk center. It disapeared in hundred foot flames which did an estimated $3000.00 worth of damage. (Ted Church Photo)

Remarks: I believe this text is misleading as It is the Clubhouse and not the Pavillion that burned down as the Pavillion was demolished in 1970, unless it was rebuilt. Some readers may enlighten us on this. It is also interesting to note that the Pavillion was converted to an old folk center.

June 25th 1958

Text: Wrecked car is pulled from Aqueduct in the early hours thursday after it had plunged off Laverendrye near Woodland avenue. Cyril Cordrey of 1146 Moffat drowned.

Guy

 

 

 

8 comments:

Les F said...

All through the 60's the Pav as far as I recall was just the Pav,it had an old juke box in there, & they sold salami sandwich's ,it had a creaky old wooden floor.I cannot seem to recall it being and old folks home ? Since the Tennis club & the boat club were all still there in the 60's too ? Maybe someone has some more old photos from that era,............although I doubt it,as we had a hard time finding the few we do have.
....those are neat old Guardians................................HF&RV

Les F said...

as for the laying of the wreath, the article states that 'preceeding' this gathering at Woodland Park they layed wreaths at the monument,I would think they marched from the triangular park where the war monumnent was in those days at Lasalle & Wellington (now situated at Willibrord Park in front of City Hall) marched to Woodland to accomodate a larger crowd & make use of the Bandshell for the speeches etc etc.....just a thought.
Here is the Monument at the smaller park:


....and here is the complete album in slideshow,which contains the above photo as well as others:

Guy Billard said...

Les,
That makes sence. Perhaps they where talking about the war memorial in front of present day city hall.
Guy

robert jomphe said...

If you remember there were two tennis clubs at the time. One was at the corner of Woodland and Lasalle. The other was at the corner of Desmarchais just below the red top. Only the Woodland one was kept after the fire.

Les F said...

That is possible but the new city hall was just opened in 1958, & I doubt that the memorial would have been moved that soon,...but it is entirely possible.It would have taken probably at least a year or two to build that City Hall building,and then with the Verdun Legion situated on VerdunAvenue beside old Charles Halpern Funeral Hall..the new park would have made a good choice for the monument.incidently the monument was moved again,although this time still in the Willibrord Park,but it moved from the dead center of the park,to the left hand side of the park(while looking towards City Hall) this last move was to allow digging for the Metro station on the corner of Verdun & Willibrord.......
I hae another photo somewhere of when the Monument was standing in the center of the Park.....it had walkways that came directly towards it from each corner diagonally from Willibrord & from 1st Avenue off of Verdun,.also it had walkways leading diagonally away from the Monument towards the City Hall as well as one side walk going directly to the front door of the City Hall from the backside of the monument........
Guy, perhaps you know , what are the names of the streets immediately in front of City Hall & immediately behind City Hall (where the clinic & the drivers license bureau is,.....Do those even have a name ?



The above is the Monument at the center of Wiilibrord Park

Guy Billard said...

I think you are referring to the parking space in front and behind the present day city hall which would not have any names.
Guy

robert jomphe said...

I remember a tennis clubhouse burning when I was young. There were two clubhouses at Woodland park. One was at the bottom of Woodland and another one, just a changing room at the bottom of Melrose and Argyle just below the red top. when I look at the picture I see only a small roof. The roof of the clubhouse was much longer.
I wish I could read the article better and see what they say. I was only twelve then but I still have it in my mind.Much later on, I found out

Guy Billard said...

Robert,
If you read closely you will notice that I copîed the text on the bottom of the photo.
Guy