Most of us 55 and older will have various memories of the Cold War and spies. But I suspect none of us knew just how close the spies were.
I recently bought a non-fiction paperback book in a second-hand book store and while reading it, discovered the Verdun Cold War Connection. The book is called "FOR SERVICES RENDERED" by John Sawatsky, originally published by Doubleday & Company in 1952, and in 1953 a paperback version was published by Penguin Books. It is about RCMP spymaster Leslie James Bennett.
The Verdun Cold War Connection described in this book is all too brief - no more than a couple of paragraphs - but left me fasinated and wishing I could remember more about the location mentioned. In 1952, a Soviet spy (code named "Gideon" ) set up operation in Verdun. Here I will quote directly from the book (remember, this is non-fiction and the year is 1952):
"Weeks later word arrived (from his controller) to start setting up shop as a photographer. Gideon settled on a small shop on Bannantyne Avenue ... in Verdun, a suburb near downtown Montreal. The store had previously been a one-woman beauty salon that succumbed to competition from two other beauty shops within a block. Low-income homes ... mixed with the smattering of mom-and-pop outlets such as the Joe and Alec Restaurant across the street dotted the neighbourhood... Before he had finished purchasing photographic equipment he went out and bought a short wave radio and propped it up in his living quarters..."
In 1953 Gideon contacted the RCMP and became a double-agent working for the RCMP. Gideon continued to broadcast to Moscow from his photography shop on Bannantyne (sending material provided to him by the RCMP) until he was recalled to Moscow in 1956 for the usual briefing. He never returned.
So, how are your memories? Where on Bannantyne was this Cold War spy located? By the way, no other information is given in the book - and I no idea.
The only clues (some are quoted above; others from the book) are:
- In 1952 a photographers shop opened in a former beauty salon on Bannantyne Ave.
- In 1952 there were two other beauty shops within a block.
- The Joe and Alex Restaurant was across the street.
- There was a short wave antenna situated at the back of the building.
- In 1952 he was a short blond man in his late twenties, with an European look.
- While in Canada he used the name David Soboloff.
Can anyone help solve this Verdun Cold War Mystery?
46 comments:
AAAAAAHHHHHH! Gremlins. The publishing dates mentioned in the second paragraph of the previous post should be 1982 and 1983 (not 1952 and 1953). Sorry
Banjo4141. I can't solve any of that. BUT. There was a guy named "Red Starky". He was a communist and lived at approximately 810 3rd Avenue. I was only a kid, but I remember him coming over to our house when my brother-in-law, Joe Coleman was there. He was explaining some things about the party. He was also running for election in Verdun. He even put my brother-in-law on the mailing list for the commie publications. (Connie Coleman- pay attention. You may not know about this part). Anyways, my sister and brother-in-law fly to New York City in the 50's for a vacation. When they got off the plane, the FBI was waiting for them. They were taken to Ellis Island for interegation. I think they may have been there for a couple of days, then they were deported as communist sympathizers. All because they were receiving a communist publication. Tell me the government doesn't know what
we as private citizens are doing. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. Winston Allison
Hi Winnie3ave: Interesting story - terrible vacation! Which just goes to prove that during the Cold War, everybody was watching everybody! Including "Gideon", a Soviet spy watching us! And operating for some 5 years in Verdun!
This message has been deleted by the author.
In what section of Bannantyne was located Joe and Alex Restaurant ?
"Uncle" Winston: My mom had told me about that! It was really funny but when I was filling out the forms to immigrate to the USA in 1999 they asked all sorts of info about parents etc LOL I thought to myself.....surely to God what happened back then won't affect me now! I guess that info is long gone from their system because they let me in LOL Connie Coleman
Hi Jean-Marie: Where indeed was the "Joe and Alex" restaurant. I don't know. All that I know of the general location of Gideon's photographic shop is that it was on Bannantyne, located in what had previously been a one-woman beauty shop that was near two other beauty shops, and that the restaurant was across the street. "Gideon" was known to the public as David Soboloff (which, of course, was not his real name) and apparently either lived behind the shop or above it. The time frame was 1952 to 1955. I was hoping that someone would remember something that would pin point the location. For all we know, we could have walked past this shop (and the spy within) on our way to school. Or even lived nearby. Or, since "Gideon" did actually run a legitimate photography business to keep up his "front", perhaps some of us even had our photos taken by him. Hopefully, one of our members will remember something.
Banjo, I wonder if Yevgeni Vladimirovitch Brik could have been Gideon due to the fact he was denounced by the infamous RCMP Agent Morrison. Info came from the following link:- http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/1999/Intelligence_Mitrokhin.html Still no luck here about the Verdun connection of address and location of the photo studio. I might suggest that the Verdun Library may have telephone directories going back to that era and if they do you might be able to find addresses that way. I see that you are in Markham so maybe someone who still lives in Verdun could research that source. I know that the Victoria Library has telephone directories in their research section going back decades. I have had occassion to use them. Gary Victoria, BC NOTE below:- The Soviets used Canada as a place to establish "illegals" (often with the support of Canadian Communists) and then to move them -- once their new identities were sorted out -- to the US. In 1951 Yevgeni Vladimirovitch Brik landed in Halifax using the identity of a Canadian "live double" -- presumably a Communist Party member -- who had volunteered to disappear to Europe while Brik was active. Later, Brik assumed the identity of another man who had been born in Canada, but whose parents had taken him to the USSR before the Second World War. No great success as a spy, Brik ended up working for the RCMP and identified five agents to them. At least two of these were Canadian Communists themselves, and one had handed the Soviets part of the plans for the Avro Arrow. Brik's career as a double agent came to a halt in 1955 because of James Morrison. This rogue RCMP officer was selling the Soviets information from the Mounties' counter-intelligence office to finance his own vices.
Banjo, An additional mention of Brik found at folllowing link:- http://members.iglou.com/jtmajor/Mitrokhn.htm Though not all went well for the Center. As they learned when their would-be Canadian illegal Yevgeni Vladimirovich Brik (Agent HART) defected which they only found out after he had compromised almost all of the new agents they had recruited in the fifties. (The exception being Hugh Hambleton Gary
Hi Bill, Some sources to retrieve the address on Bannantyne: Lovell’s Directories of Montreal of the 1950s Bell Canada Directories of the 1950s Interlibrary Loans (ILL) from Canada National Library: for the papers published in Verdun in the 1950s: available as microfilms. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/ill/s16-211-e.html Note: Papers published in Verdun in the 1950s Verdun (newspapers on microfilm) Guardian. NJ.FM.1491 Ja 23, 1931- De 28, 1934; Ja 22,- Mr 5, 1966 AN 9931835 Journal de Verdun. NJ.FM.1702 28 oc 1953 AN 8363427 Another edition NJ.FM.2427 28 oc 1953 AN 8363427 Le messager / The messenger. NJ.FM.860 22 d챕 1927- 30 d챕 1929; 4 f챕 1932- jn 1994 AN 7296079 http://www.collectionscanada.ca/8/18/r18-220-e.html Library and Archives Canada: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/index-e.html I hope this can help to solve the Verdun Cold War Mystery ! JMH
Hi Arbutus: Brik certainly fits the expanded description of "Gideon" (or David Soboloff as he was know in Canada) contained in Sawatsky's book, For Services Rendered. In the book, Gideon is described as entering Canada at Halifax in 1951 using the name of an existing Canadian. Once in Canada, he was instructed to pick up his new Canadian identity papers which were taped to the inside of a toliet. His new identity was David Soboloff, the son of Russian immigrants who had returned to Russia some years earlier taking their Canadian-born son with them. Within the first year, his soviet handlers instructed him to investigate the possibility of moving to the USA some time in the future. Also in 1952, his handlers instructed him to set up a radio repair shop in Montreal. Gideon countered with the suggestion that he set up a photographic shop instead so that his frequent absences from the shop (trips to Ottawa to meet his KGB handlers, meetings with low-level spies who would hand him information, etc.) would be seen by the public as photo assignments. Hence the photography shop on Bannantyne. Also in 1952, he began a love affair with a woman who was married to a member of the Canadian Army. This affair resulted in his being found out as a Soviet spy, and the RCMP turned him into a double agent until 1955 when he was recalled back to Moscow (supposedly for 6 weeks) but was never heard from again - at least until the 1980s as we now know he was then spirited out of the USSR. It was only later it was discovered that his role as a double agent for Canada was reported to the KGB by James Morison, an RCMP officer, who was actually a Soviet spy. It would seem, therefore, that you are correct: Gideon's (aka David Soboloff) real name was Yevgeni Vladimirovitch Brik. Great "detective" work! Now, if we can only figure out where that shop was..... Bill
Hi Jean-Marie: Thanks for the information sources. I'm determined to solve this mystery. Bill
Thinking back (as best as I can), it seems to me that the "clues" given in the book (a couple of beauty salons within a block and a restaurant across the street) would indicate that the location of the photography shop most likely was in one of the following four areas of Bannantyne Ave where commerce was concentrated: Hickson to Church - north side Gordon to First - north side Third to Demarchais - north and south sides Argyle to Egan - north and south sides While there were other areas of commerce scattered along Bannantyne (and these areas can't be discounted), these scattered areas would seen to lack the concentration of commerce required to fit the known clues. So, for example, can anyone remember what stores, shops, business, etc. were located in the first possible area - Hickson to Church - during the period of 1951 to 1955. Bear in mind that the two beauty shops referred to as being within a block of the photography shop on Bannantyne could mean that they were actually located on Church. Don't you just love a mystery! It's possible one of us actually lived above a spy!
the content of a message unrelated to this one caught my eye: From: ColleenMurphy1 Sent: 1/11/2005 3:16 PM MOstly Beurling Park. I lived on Rolland Ave right on the laneway near Bannentine. Went to VCHS, hung at the beauty parlor on bannentine and of course the Nad and the Boardwalk, where we were not suppost to go. Anyone know what else was/is on that block of Bannantyne?
Hi Bill, Another approach would be to contact the author, John Sawatsky. The last reported position held by John Sawatsky is Adjunct Professor, School of Journalism, Carleton University, 1991-Present http://www.carleton.ca/sjc/facultystaff/ John Sawatsky John holds a B.A. [Honours] Political Science from Simon Fraser University 1974 He has distinguished himself in Academia: Teaching Assistant [Political Science], Simon Fraser University, 1974 Sessional Lecturer, School of Journalism, Carleton University, 1982-84; 1985-90 Visiting Max Bell Professor of Journalism, University of Regina, 1984-85 Adjunct Professor, School of Journalism, Carleton University, 1991-Present Other positions in Media and in Industry: Reporter, Vancouver Sun, 1970-74 Research Coordinator, B.C. Petroleum Corporation, 1974-75 Ottawa Correspondent, Vancouver Sun, 1975-79 Professional Honours Michener Award for meritorious public service in the field of journalism, 1976 Best non-fiction paperback of year award for For Services Rendered, 1983 Outstanding Alumni Award for Professional Achievement, Simon Fraser University, 1985 Ottawa Citizen book of the year, for The Insiders, 1988 Ottawa-Carleton Book Award for Mulroney: The Politics of Ambition, 1992 Publications MEN IN THE SHADOWS: THE RCMP SECURITY SERVICE
Doubleday 1980; Paperback [General Publishing] 1982 FOR SERVICES RENDERED: LESLIE JAMES BENNETT AND THE RCMP SECURITY SERVICE
Doubleday 1982; Paperback [Penguin] 1983 GOUZENKO: THE UNTOLD STORY
Macmillan of Canada 1984 THE INSIDERS: GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND THE LOBBYISTS
McClelland & Stewart 1987; Paperback 1989 MULRONEY: THE POLITICS OF AMBITION
Macfarlane, Walter & Ross 1991; Paperback [McClelland & Stewart] 1992 http://www.carleton.ca/sjc/facultystaff/
This message has been deleted due to termination of membership.
From what I remember of the area of Banantyne around Church in the 1950s (I live on Claude between Church and Galt), there was a Pharamacy on the south-east corner, a TV & radio sales/repair shop on the south-west corner (this shop had a TV in the window which they would leave on all night - I can remember as a kid standing in front of this store window on a Sat. night, freezing my butt off with a crowd of people who probably didn't own a TV either, watching the hockey game), a Mom & Pop variety store on the north-west corner, and ????? on the north-east corner. Does anyone else remember what else was in this area of Bannantyne in the early 1950s, especially a couple of beauty shops and a photography store?
WOW whose neighbourhood was spy in? I lived a few blocks from Rolland on Allard near Banantyne. The convienience store on the NE corner of Banantyne was called Lowney's in the 50s and 60s which had a great Restaurant Lunch counter. I knew it more for the Lunch counter than anythng else. There was a nursery scool above it that I went to before I went to grade school in Riverview. I was born in 52 so would put it at about 54 or 55. Attached to Lowney's on the Rolland side was a Barber shop. There was a door that you could pass between the barber shop and store. The above information I am totally confident is accurate. I recall (not so confidently) that there was a beauty parlor beside the barber shop but not sure of the time period. The mystery continues. JohnnyO
I lived on the corner of Church and Bannantyne from 1942 to 1960. I lived on the 3rd floor on top of Aumais.They sold milk and bread etc. Across the street was Millards. They too sold Milk bread etc. On the other corner was the pharmacy. We used to dig quartz (altho we didnt know what it was at the time ) from the y fields on Gordon between Bannantyne and Champlain)and sell it to the pharmacy for 10 or 15 cents. He would polish it up and put it in his window .On the other corner was Kaminskys they sold the best donuts in the world. Remember we did not often have donuts in thise days so I can still taste them. There was also a cleaners next to this store. I too was one of the crown watching the TV in the window of this TV shop. I have many other memories of this area and some not too good. I cant remember any photographer in the area. We did not make too many appointments with a photographer when I was young. If anyone alsdo has these memories please get in touch.
Thanks to the information provided by Whenitwaschurch1, the probality of the spy's photographic shop being in the Church Ave area of Bannantyne has diminished significantly. Now, what do our members remember of the north side of Bannantyne between Gordon and First Ave. All I can remember is a corner store on the north west (?) corner of Gordon and the auto dealership between Willibroad and First. What else was in the area?
Keating Ford was there east of Willabroad
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Thanks Arbutus..... I thought that if there were businesses in Verdun that would be a record of permits of some sort at City Hall. Perhaps we can track them down ( photographers' studio, 2 hair dressers, fish and chip, etc). So off I went to City Hall, Archives, and they told me that there were no need for permits (for business establishments) in Verdun. They only started issuing them in the late 1980's!?!?! Arrgghhhh!!! No luck there. The only means at this point to track them down is phone books or photographers' association (if he was a member). There is another alternative. I recall from childhood my Uncle had an old, 4 foot high wooden radio receiver in Verdun and needed an annual permit from the Ministry of Transport to receive short wave during the Wartime years. Perhaps David Soboloff needed a permit for reception and there would be records. I doubt he would have applied for a transmission permit (he probably did so illegally). I asked at Verdun City Hall if they would have these type of records and they referred me Transport Canada. Thats as far as I've gotten folks. When I have time I'll be working on it. And the "Mystery" continues............................ Mac
The following was posted by VJB10751 under "Corner Rolland & Bannantyne (#10): I was just going back through a few posts from the last weeks and came accross the one about the restaurant at Bannantyne & Rolland. The picture posted is not of that restaurant but rather the grocery store which was on the other side of Rolland (closer to Stephens) You can see that the address is 6401 whereas the restaurant was 6397 (I worked there for many years while going to school) The owner was indeed Maurice Riendeau, previous to him it was owned by John Veilleux who also lived upstairs above the beauty salon on the side (Rolland) He sold it to Maurice and went on to operate the Dairy Queen in Ile Perrot/Dorion for many years.I believe that Maurice laster sold the store to his oldest son, Andre, and he bought a grocey store on Lafleur in LaSalle. Most people referred to the restaurant as Lowney's, I suppose because of the large sign outside for Lowney's ice cream. Interesting..... A Restaurant and a Beauty Salon on or near Bannantyne. Could this be the area of Bannantyne where our very own Soviet Cold War spy operated from? What do our members remember of this area during the early 1950s?
Hi Bill, Re: locating the spy’s home on Bannantyne. Here are 3 beauty salons operating on Bannantyne in 1955: 1) Marlene Beauty Salon 5407 Bannantyne (corner Argyle) 2) Avenue Beauty Salon (Avenue Beauty Shop) 4615 Bannantyne (corner 1st Ave) 3) Model Beauty Salon 971 Rolland (corner Bannantyne) Source: Le Messager de Verdun/Verdun Messenger JMH
Did we ever get an answer to this mystery,...? the old Verdun Spy Story,...... From: Banjo4141 (Original Message) Sent: 1/10/2005 12:21 PM Most of us 55 and older will have various memories of the Cold War and spies. But I suspect none of us knew just how close the spies were. I recently bought a non-fiction paperback book in a second-hand book store and while reading it, discovered the Verdun Cold War Connection. The book is called "FOR SERVICES RENDERED" by John Sawatsky, originally published by Doubleday & Company in 1952, and in 1953 a paperback version was published by Penguin Books. It is about RCMP spymaster Leslie James Bennett. The Verdun Cold War Connection described in this book is all too brief - no more than a couple of paragraphs - but left me fasinated and wishing I could remember more about the location mentioned. In 1952, a Soviet spy (code named "Gideon" ) set up operation in Verdun. Here I will quote directly from the book (remember, this is non-fiction and the year is 1952): "Weeks later word arrived (from his controller) to start setting up shop as a photographer. Gideon settled on a small shop on Bannantyne Avenue ... in Verdun, a suburb near downtown Montreal. The store had previously been a one-woman beauty salon that succumbed to competition from two other beauty shops within a block. Low-income homes ... mixed with the smattering of mom-and-pop outlets such as the Joe and Alec Restaurant across the street dotted the neighbourhood... Before he had finished purchasing photographic equipment he went out and bought a short wave radio and propped it up in his living quarters..." In 1953 Gideon contacted the RCMP and became a double-agent working for the RCMP. Gideon continued to broadcast to Moscow from his photography shop on Bannantyne (sending material provided to him by the RCMP) until he was recalled to Moscow in 1956 for the usual briefing. He never returned. So, how are your memories? Where on Bannantyne was this Cold War spy located? By the way, no other information is given in the book - and I no idea. The only clues (some are quoted above; others from the book) are: In 1952 a photographers shop opened in a former beauty salon on Bannantyne Ave. In 1952 there were two other beauty shops within a block. The Joe and Alex Restaurant was across the street. There was a short wave antenna situated at the back of the building. In 1952 he was a short blond man in his late twenties, with an European look. While in Canada he used the name David Soboloff. Can anyone help solve this Verdun Cold War Mystery?________________________________________________ Wonder if we can Solve it now,....we do have a bunch more members------------- HF&RV
No answers yet to the old VerdunSpy question,......Remember the four hair salons were supposed to be nearby,...
Hi Bubbacut, You are correct about the grocerystoreand the convenience store being on the corners of Rolland and Bannantyne, and the drugstore being on the corner of bannantyne and Valiquette, but you are wrong about the beauty shop next to the drugstore. I grew up there 3 doors from the drugstore owned by Benny Shara. There was a beauty salon on Rolland around the corner from the convenience store, my Mom used to take my sisters and myself there for haircuts. HF and RV Wendyjo
you are right wendyjo what puzzles me here is the joe and alex restaurant
i'm thinking between woodland and argyle
How about Bannantyne & Rollande ?..Jackie from Galt
Hi Jackie (Mawsey1) ! Why are you suggesting Bannantyne & Rolland ? Some results from Lovell (1952): 5312 Bannantyne: Bannantyne Beauty Salon (btwn Melrose & Argyle) 5362 Bannantyne: Joe & Alec Restaurant (btwn Melrose & Argyle, South side) 5407 Bannantyne: Trudeau’s Hairdressing (btwn Argyle & Egan) 6203 Bannantyne: Alex Beauty Parlor (btwn Allard & Valiquette) Rem.: It’s funny, you suggest Bannantyne & Rolland and I have just fund from Lovell Directory of 1952, the following name at 6363 Bannantyne (btwn Valiquette & Rolland): D. Bogodonovitch. I know that the name given by Banjo4141 was David Soboloff (no trace of that name in Lovell for 1952). But this is a spy story ! JM
you have awakened the sleeping giant! Entry in Lovell's directory 1954: Portraits by Zoboloff, 5381 Bannantyne still there in 1957.... still browsing
Good spy work guys. Looks like that is good investigative digging. WOW. Maybe one of the names was a cover name. Whatda ya think, EH??????????
Maggie. Crippy doely.......another spy break thru. You people will break this code for sure. Just remember Christmas Story and The Ovaltine Secret Decoder........WE are on the hunt. Never give up. We will get those dasterdly buggers. Verduners never give up, they just keep plodding along!!!!! Keep tuning in fellow Verduners!!!!!!!
Your Right again Winston We never give up ........................................See.....................hahahaha
Good work Maggie ! Here is an excerpt (Lovell’s 1954): 5381 Bannantyne: JM
Acouple of Modern Day Sleuths,.............aren't you............Good Work to both of you now where the hell is the 3d Cows.............................hahahahahaha
Hello Les ! 2 still missing : 1) The laughing cow(s) in front of Elmhurst Dairy on Upper Lachine rd. 2) The Tramway bldg at 3980 Wellington (btwn Hickson & Church) JM
another piece of the puzzle may be answered with....also from Lovell directory 1954.....at 5362 Bannantyne, Walter and Mike Restaurant. This is likely across the street from 5381. These addresses are between Melrose and Argyle on Bannantyne. That seems to be in the area of the old VHS hangout called Barry's. Right? The beaty salons "within" a block could very well have been on Melsrose, Argyle or Verdun Avenues. Would not have been on Champlain as that is where VHS is/was. Authors aften replace names to protect the innocent.
There are actually 2 beauty Salons on Bannantyne within a block of that Zoboloff Studio. Bannantyne Beauty Shoppe 5312 Bannantyne and Marlene Beauty Shoppe 5407 Bannantyne. Now that the location is pinpointed, who wants to go to the location and snoop? In 1958 Zoboloff was gone and Ken Davies was listed as the occupant of 5381 Bannantyne
This Lovell directory is the greatest! Every time I use it, I find new features.....
Cold war. After the Cuban criisis, Adlai Stevenson asked Kennedy to give Kruschev a pat on the back for avoiding war. Bobby Kennedy was furious, he said, "No way we beat the bastards and it's our win." Stevenson knew that a word from Kennedy could save Kruschev. He also knew that Kruschev was a man they could work with. The President went along with his brother and so we ended up with 20 years of an unnecessary cold war. The arms race cost us all. Much as I admire J.F.K. , he dropped the ball on that one. Ed
Peace in the Holy land.
S.A.
have another for you - there was a camp in Whitby, Ontario in 1945 called "Camp X" which you can read about it on the internet. Ian Fleeming author of James Bond 007 was there - that is probably where he got some of his material. Also the book called "The Man callled Intrepid" also was trained there. It was in a Farm house and no one knew what was going on there as you were not allowed to go close. Was up in Oshawa where they have a museum with the radio etc that they used. quite interesting.
interesting john
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