Hey! I don't wanna hog the message board here, give me a hand you guys!
Who remembers some of my fav things about growing up in Verdun, like:
That wooden GREEN THING...the toboggan slide near the river behind where Therrien Pool is now? Man....me and my pals spent HOURS there on winter weekends! ESPECIALLY after we had freezing rain and the slide was slick with ice....you'd FLY! You had to go up this wooden ramp that had wooden slats nailed down for rungs, there was a guy in a small booth waiting at the top, there were places (runs/tracks) for 3 toboggans if I remember right, you'd put your toboggan down up against this metal hook that held your sled in place and when the guy said GO and dropped the hooks down your toboggan would would fly down the ramp. It was pretty high and you went for a long time too...get to the bottom and climb that ramp over and over again...we had a BLAST!
I used to ice skate at Willibrord park. At that time I lived at the corner of 2nd and Verdun so I'd just put my skates on at home and walk to the rink! LOL Anyone else?
I can't remember what store it was, but I remember we used to be able to buy the potato chip CRUMBS in small wax paper packets for 5 cents! And they tasted even BETTER than the regular chips too.
When I was really young we'd go to Richard Park, the one behind the police & fire station on the boardwalk? Anyone remember when they used to have a REAL old fire station for the kids to PLAY on in that park? And they used to have summer programs where you could sit in the park with "monitors" and you could do arts and crafts or play games and they even had STILTS that the kids could use...they were MY favorite thing! And the pool there was a pretty good one for a kids wading pool too. That park was so popular that there was a crossing guard at the corner of Willibrord and Lasalle Blvd. for years just to cross the kids going to that park. Gone are those days man...it's so sad. The government cut funding for those kinds of park programs years ago, and as a matter of fact, that PARK has now been taken apart and CONDOS are in it's place. They have built a new really fancy and neat kids playground further down the boardwalk now tho near 5th or 6th Ave. I guess to make up for it.
What else...hmmmm...
How about the RESTAURANT that used to be on the boardwalk right behind the big apartment building near 1st Avenue, not far from that same park I mentioned? I can just barely remember my uncle buying me hot dogs there. It was just a snack bar sorta place...
There's a fairly new restaurant down where the old Boat Club used to be now. A real fancy place with prices to match. Good food tho I must say, my sis took me there for my birthday last year. :-)
And who remembers when there were all KINDS of docks down by the river for the boats? We used to walk all up and down them and even sit down and dangle our feet into the river on hot days.
Ok....My memory bank is starting to get overdrawn here hehe....surely somebody ELSE remembers these things and can remind us of even more? Remembering your growing up years is a blast, man!
Come on PEOPLE! :-)
Luv, Sharon 
54 comments:
OOOPS! That park didn't have a real old fire STATION for the kids to play on...they had a fire TRUCK, ok? LOL Luv, Sharon
I remember that tobaggan run. I thought it was just my imagination, but am I ever glad you mentioned that. That was really a wonderful thing, also of course ice skating at Willibrod park. Sometimes the rinks would be full of snow and we would get the shovels and start clearing the rinks. It was just beautiful with the lights on. What a time to be a kid. Those memories don't get any better. Also someone mentioned the milk at Willibrod park. That was a great thing they did for us. The weather was hot and that milk was the best milk I have ever had, even to this day. I have so many wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing. I lived at 835 3rd ave. Winston Allison
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By the way. You are not "HOGGING" the board. Continue to share your memories. They will help to jog ours. Thanks. Winston
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Oh wow...I had forgotten all about the milk! I remember that now! I think they stopped doing that after awhile too thanks to governments cuts. :-( Yep...we'd just go into the "hut" and grab the shovels too if the rinks weren't cleared in the winter. I remeber the rink wasn't always in the best shape either but we really didn't care. Glad to hear that you don't think I'm hogging the board here hehe. Luv, Sharon
Hi Sharon, I'm replying a little late here but.........I lived on Brown Blvd. and I used to always have my Mom lace my skates at home and walk to the rink accross the street. I was too small to tighten the laces enough. God, how did my Mom put up with me walking up and down those stairs with my skates on! They had three ice rinks on Brown Blvd. ;two for hockey and one for pleasure skating. They used to play music over a pa system and we used to form a line, holding hands, and twirl around the rink, the outside person going amazingly fast,eventually into a snow bank. I remember my poor dad watching me play hockey,standing on the snow banks along the boards, freezing to death ,banging his frozen feet together. One night while playing a scrub hockey game ,I went charging into the boards with another chap and after all the sticks went flying around, I lost my two front teeth!..........before helmets and masks were invented! We used to drive over to a neat hill in LaSalle to toboggan. On LaVendrye Blvd, I think, where the MonMart was first built. Remember that killer hill? I do remenber those little chip bags of crumbs, 'Laurentide' brand I think, had a fisherman on the front............I loved then. Remember 'KiK' cola or 'Mr. Cola",you used to get a bigger bottle for the same price. I used to go to the dances at Dawson's on Friday night and the dances at the YMCA on LaSalle Blvd. on Saturday nites. I belonged to the Y on LaSalle Blvd. ;was in the " Finippites" club there. I played football for VHS, also 'Black & Gold' in Crawford Park and for 'Leo's Boys' in the Pointe. Anyone remember those teams? ( or the crazy parties afterwards!). I even remember the Weston or POM bakery horse drawn wagons and the 'Guarenteed Pure Milk' horse drawn wagons. we used to rush in the house and get an apple or a few cubes of sugar to feed them. Does anyone remember the wagon of glass bottled bleach that would go up and down the back lanes ( they hat an airplane on the bottle label)? Also I remember the fellow with the knive sharpening cart going door to door. I miss the old 'neighboorhood' which appeared, to me at least, to be so friendly, welcoming and safe. I could go on for hours here............ Jim
jim,i remmember all those football teams,i had lots of buddys
that played on them.kenney nicolson,sonny busby,danny diall just to name a
few.great memories.
Just a note about one of the last horse drawn milkman in Verdun. It was just before I moved to Manning so this happened around 1961 on Godin ave. Our milkman was reluctent to use a truck. It was the horse that seem to know the route.Until one day we heard a crash outside and ran out to see the milk cart on our lawn and the horse grazing on some flowers. The next time he was using a truck. Barry
Hi Daveyp, Would I know you? I lived on Brown Blvd.,accross from the park, near Bannetyne. Actually Danny D'All lived right beside me. I played baseball with Sonny, who was a real natural athlete. You must have attended VHS. I graduated in 1965; had Mr. Leslie (Moose) as a homeroom teacher. Lynn Caldwell lived on Brown ,down the other end, near Beurling. Thanks, Jim
Hi Barry,
If it was the Guaranteed Milk wagon, the guys name was Roger. We used to run to Champlain Blvd and hop on the wagon with him up to Beurling. He had a twin brother who also did a milk route in Verdun, but he wasn't as personable. Roger used to leave a 2 piece pack of Chicklets on top of the bottle every once in a while.
Alan
Hi Jim, What hockey teams did you play on? What is your last name? I played on the Royals with Wayne Edwards and Redmond, and the Ravens with Owen Smith and Barry Grenchuk. Mike
Hi Mike,
I played at Wilson Park in the Norman Dawe league,
Super Pee Wee back then. Also played hardball there.
I played football for VHS, Black & Gold in Crawford
Park, Verdun Mustangs( with Bob Geary ) and with Leo's
Boys in the Pointe ,where we were in two Dominion
Championships, one in Winnipeg and one next to the
Verdun Auditorium.
Did you ever get to any of the Verdun Maple Leaf games
at the Verdun Aud?
I was also involved in the Canoe Club ,behind the
Auditorium, in kayaks and war canoes, fighting the
'shad ' flies in the St. Lawrence.
Regards, Jim Long
winston - we remember verdun........do you remember us??????????? Bev & Claude friends of Muriel & Stan.......... whom we miss very much. We are now living a short distance from Verdun.........in LaSalle........i am supposed to have lunch with Muriel tomorrow....(Nov. 13)we still keep in touch as she lives not too far from us.
I remember you and Claude. Stanley Allison was my uncle. Shirley and Joe Coleman were my parents. I just saw Winston and his family last month in Vancouver at Kevin's (Bumpy's middle son) wedding. I had looked forward to seeing Muriel also but since she had just returned a few weeks before from attending Maureen's funeral she wasn't able to make it. Giver Muriel my best when you see her for lunch:-) I just recently moved back to Calgary from Texas! Connie (Coleman)
Hi Jim, Sorry for taking so long to reply,,,,my puter was down and I just got back from a week hunting. I do remember you,,,,you are bit older than I am I think? You were in the same class as George Neil, Tommy Strapps, Danny D'All, Bill Pentacost, ,,Mr . leslie's class,,,tough class as I remember! I used to go to the Leaf's games all the time and the wrestling too!! Mad Dog, Don Leo jonathon and the Giant jean Ferre. great times back then. I also paddled a few times behind the Aud. and fished lots at the VMBC, just seems like yesterday. My Aunt still lives at our old address on third ave. She is 77 and still shovels snow and climbs 3 sets of stairs,,,,that's what keeps her healthy I guess!! Where are you now? I'm in the Vancouver area. Last I heard of Sonny he was in Edmonton. Have you heard from any of the old gang? Mike
Hi Connie - thanks for your reply.......we sure do remember your parents.......we used to go to the Black Watch dances with them...many good times spent together. I saw your mom at Stan's funeral and the time before that was at Janet's wedding. We were saddened to hear about Maureen...such a shock. I will let Muriel know you were asking about her. I knew there was the wedding in B.C. Our daughter Julie used to babysit for Bumpy and Louise's children. We have a daughter who lives in Calgary she has been there since 1996. Take care Bev
Jim Long: I was at the Verdun Reunion last night and all of Verdun's football finest were there. I'm sure you would fit right in. Recognize any of these individuals: Gary Butler Terry Diamond David Livingstone Tom Nichols Kevin Prendergast Terry Bethune Gord Gibbons
I guess my age will show through on this one but I remember the horse drawn carts in fact I helped the milkman on one around 1961-62. Dam horse knew every house and stop on the route. The driver liked the horse as he liked to have a drink or 2 and the horse knew exactly how to get back to the barn on his own. When the horse got retired the driver did too as he could not drive
Hi Jim, I see you remember my brother Dan - do you remember his bratty little sister Margaret? I do have some fuzzy memories of your family. Seem to recall spending time with them at a cottage somewhere. Your brother Micheal (?) and I got in trouble for building a grave in the yard - I think we put Danny's name on it. I guess I know now why my parents got angry! And your father had two sisters that Mum and I would see a lot around Verdun. Wow, this brings back a lot! Maggie (Margaret D'All)
Bordens>>>Cousins>>>Poupard>>>I worked for Elmerst Dairy for a little bit,, Harry Best and myself "They were the days my friend we thought the'd never end "
We lived down the street from Elmhurst Diary and I remember going with my Dad to pick up loads of horse poop (in my wagon) and dragging it down the street for Dad's garden. Also, Desautels Wood Yard was across the street from us, and they delivered wood with a horse drawn sled. I remember my Dad used to say if I put some horse &%$# in my shoes, I would grow a few inches taller....ummm.....never happened. I was always the shortest kid in my class (lol).
Dewline. Was that the dairy in Griffin Town, off of Wellington. Also Bannantyne School has been torn down. It is now low income housing. It couldn't be more lower income than when I was growing up on 3rd Avenue. s/Winston Allison
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If you knew Harry Best did you also know Hank Batten,Archie
Elson,Russel Dean,Mike Donegani?
I was married to Archie Elson until he passed away.
Margo
Knew them all,, Hank and i became great friends,,he just died a year ago,, great guy,, and Harry and i worked together at Elmerst dairy, another supper guy,,from Chuck Catto,,,Mickey and Hank served together in Korea,, and also worked together at the Northern Electric in Lachine>>chuck
I had a cousin who worked at Northern at the
LAchine plant. John Hunter. He was relocated to Bramalea many years ago. Not too
sure what he did there
Hi Winston I lived on third ave at 756.I grew up there till the age of 27.My father was a verdun policeman.Do you remember who I am. I went to St.Willibord high school. Bill Jacques
Your name sounds so familiar. If I recall, I think we called you Billy? What years did you live on 3rd Avenue?
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ES i CERTAINLY REMEMBER YOU, YOU HAVE A SISTER
BERNICE,I THINK. YOU LIVED NEXT DOOR TO THE GIROUX'S.
MY NAME IS MARGO ALLEN I LIVED ACROSS THE STREET
FROM YOU. I REMEMBER WHEN YOUR FATHER OR BUCK TAMAHANT (WRONG SPELLING) WALKED
OUT THE DOOR YOUR DAD OR THE TOP GALLERY WE ALL KNEW IT WAS TIME TO GO IN.WHO
ELSE DO YOU REMEMBER FROM AROUND OUR PART OF THIRD. REMEMBER THE STORE OWNED BY
THE SANKAS'.REMEMBER GRANNY MADDEN SITTING ON THE FRONT GALLERY WATCHING OVER US
ALL.
MARGO
I lived on third ave from 1941 to 1967.I grew up with eddy featherstone and
jimmy gill and jimmy miller.I lived across the street from the little handy
store known as senkus.Also lived next store to winston tahamont.And many
other kids on third ave.
Bill Jacques.
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Hi Margo
Yes I remember you.You have a brother named Bobby,you lived on
the third story up stairs from the McCarthies.Yes I had a sister named
Bernice.She passed away 3years ago.I also remember Billy alexander I think
he lived down stairs from you.The Lazures lived across the street from you.I
remember a lot of people from third ave.The Tahamonts Winston John Bev and
Bunty.John passed away afew years ago while he was living in Tronto.Who else
do you remember from third ave,?
Bill J.
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just a note to tell you that fancy resturant on the boardwalk is owned by woodland pizza. It's currently being remodeled again. When it opens again I hope to have enough to put a downpayment on a steak. I remember everything you said. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Bill. I sure do remember you. We grew up with the same people. I never really knew how you spelled your name. As a kid I thought it was Billy "Jakes". So good to hear from you. Eddie Featherstone is still in Verdun, although I have not seen or talked to him since 1972. I just saw his sister, Bernice, a few months ago. She is living in Vancouver, B.C., and has been for a good 25 years, or so. Do you remember my brother "Bumpy". Winston Allison
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Do you remember Marion Taylor,Carol McCrae,The
Wilkinsons(Billy,Maureen,Donna and Sharon)the Scanlans,The Wongs, Brother Bob is
in Dartmouth now,the Millers,Robert & Barabara Booth,Bernice Marvin,The
Olivers,Bill Alexander in now in London,Ont still in touch once in
awhile,McCarthys,The Baldos,the Millers,The Hunts,The McManus sisters,the
Roystons, I think that is all for now that I can remember. Sorry the hear about
your sister.Talk to you soon, Margo
I hung out with Geraldine Featherstone ( I guess we
did not call it dating at that time) and Garry Kane and the Hansen sisters from
3rd avenue. Also I worked with John Flood from 3rd at Canadian Pacific Railway.
He lived next door to that small store
Hi Winston
Yes I remember you broyher Bumby,and a lot of other people of
third ave.I think people back in those days new just about every one on thir
ave.I hope to be headind out to Whistler B.. some time in March to do some
skiing.Talk to yo soon.
Bill J.
P.S.where is your brother now?
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Bill. Bumpy moved to Vancouver many years ago. Lost his job many years later and went to work in Calgary. In 1995, he went to work to open the business as he usually did at about 6:15am. The first person to work after he opened found him on the floor at about 6:20am. He had a heart attack, and passed away before they found him. He was 55 years old. I also lost all my other siblings, Shirley, Stan, and Maureen. So I am the last one left. My mother was still living at 835 3rd, when she died. I think Buster Cheeseman is living in Calgary.
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Hi papa3times, Did you know Gary Kane Has been dead now for about 5 or 6 years. He had a house on Gordon near Champlain.I had a beer or two with him once or twice.
Dannyb--1 strange guy Gary but as a friend he was
always there for me growing up. He convinced my parents to give me a 16th
birthday party they had cancelled as I was in their bad books at the time. He
made all the arrangements and phoned everyone to get them to attend. I still
call him my friend although I guess former friend. I understand he took his own
life. Sad when anyone gets so low that they do that. Makes you wonder why we
cannot see it coming and stop it.
I remember Gary from the 1960's. He used to visit some family down at the country cottage on the Richelieu River (St. Blaise). We used to spend the summers there with my grandmother (oh glory days). He always seemed to march to a different drummer than the rest of us kids, nice enough, but different. Did he have reddish hair? Almost couldn't believe it when we heard he took his own life.
yes he did have red hair but strangely enough he
never picked up the nickname red that I remember. He also had a sister
Hi papa3times, Gary was a little different. Sometimes he would stop and talk and just say hi and another time he would walk by as if you were not there or he was not there. I seen him a day or two before his death and he was not there. Dannyb--
Hey papa3times. What years did you work at CP? I worked in the Central Reproduction Bureau from April 1973 till January 1998. I knew both John Flood and Steve Mundy from the Engineering dept. I saw Steve in Central station a couple of years ago. Except for more grey hair he still looked the same. Haven't seen John in many years.
Ralph Piercey
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I hired on in Montreal in 1977 and worked on the
7th floor in Manpower Planning & Development. I was transferred to
Weston Shops Winnipeg in 1979 and I was retired in November 2001 their
choice not mine. When I worked in the station I
remember a guy named Bill from CRB and Chuck Terry in the photo
lab
Just a few things that come to mind. Dances at Dawsons boys and girls club. along with endless games of floor hockey and basketball The gang at the (hole) near the Nat. Baseball games that went on all day long. The pool hall accross from Woodland school how many hours were lost there? Football games untill the lights went out. Walking along the boardwalk on a hot sunny day checking out the girls. Digging out a parking spot for the old man. Then digging him out of that spot after the plow passed. Sitting under the red cap on the boardwalk when it was raining and talking with your friends. We were very luckey
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BILLY JACQUES? We were wondering when and if you would hook up to Verdun Connections,and here you are! Welcome! We asked about your whereabouts about one year ago, but I mispelled your last named (Jakes) oops..... My brother and I knew you when we were kids on 3rd, Wayne Carlin and sister Sandra.....not sure if you recall us, we were at 818-3rd. I see Winston recalls you as well. cookie
Hi Sandra It has been a lot of years since we have talked.Yes I remember you and your brother on 3rd.ave.Time flies when your having fun.Would like to connect with yousome time if possible.Let me know. Bill J
Hi Billy.......sure we can connect, I emailed you a few minutes ago with my home email and filled you in on my brother...great to hear from you! cookie
Hey Cookie Sent you an e-mail on the one you sent me.Let me know if you received. Billy J
Hi Ralph: The last I heard about John Flood was that he had transferred to Calgary. The next time I am speaking to hiswife's former sister-in law I will ask if he is still there. George
Hi Billy...yup ,I received your email....thanks...Told Wayne you were on this site, he can't believe all the people from the past keeping in touch...he only wishes he had a computor! cookie
I remember Gary Kane from Bannantye School but also remember that he and someone else made a fire in the storeroom at Verdun High ,we were writing exams at the time and we all got a few days off while they tried to clean up the mess from the fire and water. I was in grade 10 so it was in 1965.
Hi sunnet,
Gee do you think he can be arrested after all these years now that you named him. hahaha.
I knew Gary Kane well and we thanked him for the holiday as we sat at " Ma's" sucking back an "Uptown" and eating fries and gravy.
I was in grade nine at the time. It wasn't just Gary who started the fire but I can't recall who else was involved now.
I bet "Bogwon" would remember. Great memory!
Smac
Hi Sandra: I believe that the other team members were John Mc.. and Red L... Sadly, Gary Kane passed away about five years ago. I met him at the Verdun Reunion (Strathcona) and about two weeks later he died. I tried to check in the Gazette Obituary Archives - unfortunately there is a Funeral Home named "Kane and ...". When I typed in Kane I got 500 listings. Gord Gibbons
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