I was recently in Verdun and took a couple of walks accompanied with my digital camera.
The results are posted in the pictures section under "More present day Verdun Photos".
The pics were taken from the prespective of someone who no longer lives in Verdun but grew up in the 50s 60s till mid 70s.
I began my first walk at the corner of my Street. Allard Ave. and Bannantyne. Walked along Bannantyne going up and down a few streets along the way. Went up Woodland and along Verdun then up and along the boardwalk and rivers edge.
I have more pics from more walks and will post them later
Comments and corrections are definately welcome.
JohnnyO
40 comments:
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WOW those are great pictures. I went to Riverview school. It still looks the same. Cant wait to see the rest of the pictures. Chris
Hi JohnnyO ! Many thanks for your superb collection of photos. JM
JohnO - thanks for the pictures - my daughter was baptized at St. Thomas More and and my son and daughter went to St. Thomas More school and my son was married from there and last year his baby was baptized there. We lived on Egan and then on Osborne so they went to Dawson and my son played hockey and they both went to Day Care in the Church your parents were married in. Where is Kostas restaurant?
Hi Shirley.... I recently moved from 6th Avenue to Brown and while doing a few loads at the laundromat next to the old Ambrose cleaners, I thought I'd go for a coffee in the old Kosta's, which is now a very nice fish and chips restaurant. They have cleaned it up and decorated it with a fishing theme, it is really nice inside, but as I sat there by the front window, I couldn't help but remember all those Sunday mornings (when I was supposed to be at church) and Friday nights that I sat in that same place 35 years ago.....Johnny moved over to the corner of Allard and Bannantyne and opened another restaurant called Jawnies.....nicer decor, food pretty good. I don't know if he is still the owner or if it's been sold but that's the last place I saw him.
Thanks for the pics John, things sure have changed. Sorry to here of your loss.
Does anyone know the name of the restaurant that used to be on the corner of Osborn and Verdun - beside the New Verdun grocery store. That would be the north east corner of the intersection. They made great Pizza and good fries - I have never ordered pizza in the 25 years I have lived in Calgary - make my own now. We will be spending 3 weeks in Quebec in July - first stop after landing is Atwater market - second stop Super C across from Atwater market - third stop Hot Dogs and French fries from a place on Charlevoix sand Knox?? we had hotdogs last year from there after reading how good they were on the Pointe website - not sure if it is Paul's not a problem we will find it.
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JohnnyO, The pictuers are GREAT !!!!. Many fond memories of Kosta's, cherry cokes aand sharing an order of fres with my girl friends who all lived on Brown Blvd except me. I lived on Riverview down near Lasalle Blvd. As for what was upstairs over Kosta's, in 1961 there was a Commercial College that my Mom attended after my Dad died. Ruth
Hi Ruth et All, Thanks for your encouraging comments about the verdun pics. Ruth: I had a friend Bobby Armstrong who lived on Riverview near Lasalle. I think it was Riverview. He lived there during the earlier years of Elemenatry school. Late fifties early sixties. Any relation? J.O.
JohnnyO, Bobby, who now in his more mature days reminds me from time to time to call him Bob. He is my youngest brother. He now lives and works just outside of Washington D.C. Please contact me at my email address Rutharmstrong@aol.com with your email address and I will forward it on to Bob if you would like me to. I don't like to just give out email addresses because to me they are like an unlisted phone number. Also have some questions regarding your pictures Ruth
JohhnyO, I went to Riverview, walked the lanes, played in the NDMA league and attended The Dawson Boys Club as well. From your narration, on the photos, you amd I may have played hockey against each other when we were probably 8-10 yrs old. I remember I use to "hop" the fuel trucks in the lanes where you would sneak up behind one, hold on to the bumper for dear life, and hope he didn't hit pavement. Tried a few busses too by holding on to the gas tank cover and two inch wide bumpers. Drivers behind were in an panic to see a young fellow holding on for dear life trying to flag down the bus driver to stop. When it did, we took off- great fun, in retrospect, not too smart though but then again, we were immortal were we not? I also remember the vegetable gardens on Buerling where the Catholic High School is. People would have little gardens that they tended diligently and we would go in, pick some carrots and have a snack. The tomato stakes made great swords too. Bitter Sweet memories of a less complicated/sheltered life in the 50's/60's. Keith Harrison formerly 1211 Brown Blvd.
Hey RuthArmstrong Over Kosta's was The Verdun Soccer Club the last time I was there.Next door to it over The Dominion Store was and still there I believe Our C.B. Club overseen by Wally Liddle(Bim's Father).Ask Bim he's on this sight. Steve
Steve, were you a member of that club? Did your handle happen to be "Big Irish"?
Hi Keith, Perhaps we played against each other in hockey. I played for the leafs from 58 - 60 three seasons. Pewee from 61 and 62 for the cheifs. I was born in Jan 52 makes me 53.. Not many remember the Gardens at the end of Allard on Beurling. We had a "field" at the end of Allard on Lassalle blvd. The size of a small apartment block. It was our place of adventure. When we were a little older and we discovered the "Gardens" where VCHS now stands it was a great discovery. Though it was quite a hike all the way from Bannantyne Ave. I remember the garden shacks. Great forts. what a great place for adventures. Ya the oil trucks were best for hopping down the back lanes. The buses were a lot more risky. JohnnyO
Hey Johnny O
Great pictures. Thanks for taking them and posting them. Your comment about the Gardens at Allard and
Beurling brought back memories of long ago. I remember when VCHS was built. I was in the first class to attend. the building as behind schedule and we got an extra couple of weeks of summer vacation.
BobB
Hey BobB
I remember that year in V.C.H.S. the first year it was built.
It was my first year in High School(8th grade).Was in 8c
Brother Mel was the teacher,there was too many students
for three class so they arranged another,it was 8d Norman
David was the teacher,I ended up with him.I had him back
in 4th grade at St.Thomas Moore.We didn't get along too
well, so I had him the next year.But he wasn't the real problem
I just couldn't grasp the Religon,it was a compulsery subject.
So I left and went to Trade School.Came back in Jan.1966
and past with good grades.Religon wasn't a compulsery
subject any more.
Steve
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Hey Dzldawg1 You could say I was Big Irish. You could say I was a member. You could say I was one of the starters of that Club along with Bim,Pig Pen,and a few others. If you said that you would be right . Steve
Hi Steve
You know I can't remember who I had in First Year at VCH. It wasn't Norman David (do you remmember his brother Richard?) or Brother Mel (a charactar). I've gone blank. In second Year I had Brother Victor. Hey, it's cpoming back to me....I think the last name in 1st year was Dowd....ring a bell?
There were so many teachers in and out of the classes, I don't recall all of the "home room" teachers. But I do remember Brother Augustine, Brother Martin, Brother Luke ( a full fledged charactar). Do you remember Mr. Gaffney from St. Thomas More who came over to VCH?
I also remember Brother Mel and another borther speaking Gaelic to each other in front of our class so that no one knew what they were saying.
Scary how many names I can't remember.Or which year I had them as teachers.
Here's some more names that are coming to the surface (many years) .... JC Weldon (English) , Mr. Woller (probably incorrectly spelled) for History. Mr. Woller was teaching us History when we found out about the Kennedy assassination.
BobB
Well Steve, I was one of the "others" you mentioned, I was called the "Sorcerer" or my real name is Laird Calder, do you remember me?
the restaurant corner of osbourne and verdun ave was "dennis".
keith and johnny o i probably played hockey against you. i'm sure i remember you keith shayne o'neill
Laird are you any relation to Jack & Helen Calder and Norm Calder?
Margo
Margo, yes, they are uncles
rainy day man, I guess you've put "dennis" in brackets because you are not sure of the spelling? I can't remember the name but it was a greek family. They had at least one daughter, (very pretty) and I can't for the life of me remember her name. (It'll come to me !) Art
Yes it was owned by Greeks and for sure in 1975 it was not called Denis or Dennis or anything like that.
In the 50 & 60 it was owned by the Parasha (?? Spelling) who lived on Woodland near Wellington, the son's name was Tim & he had 2 sister can't remember their name. Tim played in a group called the Lincolns (??? memory could be anther car name) So him in St Agathe at resort in the 60's. Gordo
Hi ShirleyBH2, My friends and I hung around there in the late 60's and always called it Lui's Restaurant. I can't remember the owners name but maybe it was Lui. Danny
Maroonvet the spelling isn't quite right but it's close, but I can't come up with the right one, but it does sound just as I remember it! And one daughter, as I said earlier was a "knockout" and that alone should make me remember her name ( It was something like "Koola") but...............! ! ?? And yes, Tim was the son! Art
To message 31, Art your right it was Koola (??Spellcheck required) The restaurant was called Johnnies, and nexrt door was Jimmy meat market, and Binnette Hardware. My wife lived around the corner on Osborne and was a friend of Koola's(?). Must ask her if names are correct, Gordo
Hey BobB
Richard was his name.The meek Brother Martin who Ko a student at a Lachine
High School Hockey Game,it was our senior hockey team playing Lachine.How
about the Brother that was called The Beek of Earl.Brother Mel could have replaced
Rudolf with his red nose.Brother De Paul was the principal that year.Brother Paul
was incharge of the hockey.We had the Montreal Forum as our home ice.Any Boy
that was Catholic and had to go to High School that belonged to the Canadians
came to V.C.H.S. It use to be THE Old Montreal High School.That's where those Brothers taught school before,then went to St.Willabroad High School.
Steve
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Hey Dzldawg1
Sure do Laird those were the good days 10/4
Steve
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Hey Shayne
What ever happen to Terry Bethume?
Is that how to spell his name,he played
goalie for the high school before you
Shayne.
Steve
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Reply to message 33, it was Catholic High School on Durocher, Montreal High was the Protestant School board school. CHS was a private school ran by the Presentation Brother, most of whom were from Ireland. Gordo
Hi Steve
Yeah, I remember all those brothers. What a collection of charactrars. And I do remember the lachine hockey game and the incident yo umentioned. I was there. I remember going out there and back on a bus that must have been chartered by VCH. Didn't little Harry Mulrooney (Steve's older brother) also deck someone outside the arena?
I think the "beek" was brother Bernard. He was retired by then I think, but lived in residence there. My dad actually remembered him from is days at Willabrord . Way back..........way back there Steve.
BobB
maroonvet,one of tim,s sisters was named kola i don't
remember the other ones name.i think the resturants name was osborne sweets.then
it became dennis bar ba que owned by louie and deny voutis.
To DAVEYP - message 38 I think your right on the name, but the people around there in the 40 & 50's were not so politically correct and called it Johnny the Greeks, as I believe that what the owner's first name was, I'm from 3rd Avenue, but my wife lived on Osborne & hung out there, which I also did after meeting her. Gordo
To DAVEP- message 38, Koola was a nick name her name was Angelina (Angie) and her sister was Georgina. Gordo Remember Verdun!
maroonvet
i grew up and lived at 542 osborne from 1942 to 1964.i did'nt
hang out at johnny the greeks but some of the older kids from osborne did
like jim gallager,bobby collett,eddy nauf and others i can't remmember there
names.we were about four or five years younger than those guys.did you know any
of them.where did your wife live on osborne.
daveyp
TO DAVEYP Message 41; They lived at 641 just above Verdun, you are probably in her kid sister age group, I knew all the guys you mentioned, but didn.t hang with them, my wife name was Joyce & her sisters were Hazel & Francis and they went Woodland & Verdun High. Gordo & Remember Verdun
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