THANKS for stopping by, I do my best to acknowledge when someone leaves a comment,you do not have to be a member here & everyone is welcome. Ps: This site is monitored but not actively posting on a regular basis. Mostly these are stories & some photos saved from a defunct site known as Verdun Connections which was on MSN Groups initially then on a social network called Multiply.
84 comments:
Hi Sabby, I'm sure that you will get many replies to your request. Tell us, who we are replying to?
Sabby there are a lot of topics and photos in here to check for your your research. http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.museevirtuel.ca/pm.php%3Fid%3Dthumbnail_gallery%26fl%3D%26lg%3DFrancais%26ex%3D00000141%26pos%3D19&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dverdun%2Bboardwalk%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/cmsprod/fr/arr24/en;jsessionid=89421C5064A4371FAF5CD609FA227DA3 Steve
i wish you good luck in your attempt to recreate a scenario of your days of youth in verdun, i too grew up on 6th, then 40 yrs on bannantyne ave ,coner of valiquette, and graduated vch 1962.
love to hear from you.
bennett realties was my dads office in verdun west, and during the time when sidewalks were being laid he opened his office, people who frequented it were DR. HEINZ LEHMAN, DR. CARL STERN, DONNIE MARSHALL, DOLLARD ST. LAURENT. SCOTTY BOWMAN AND HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS FROM POLAND ,UKRAINE, LITHUANIA.
IT WAS AN EDUCATION IN ITSELF.
CAROLYN BENNETT.
My married name is Dolly Dennis. In Verdun I was Dolly Filipavicius. I know, quite a mouthful! I'm Lithuanian and my parents were immigrants, dps after the war. I remember crossing the Aquaduct every Sunday to go to the Lithuanian church, Ausru Varta (sp) in Cote St Paul. We originally lived in Ville Emard. VCH was barely new when I attended and we had to share classrooms with the boys on their side. I remember sitting in a boys desk and his name was Michael Joly. Classmates teased me saying if I married him then I would be Dolly Joly. Cute. No, as an immigrant child w ho didn't know the language, I didn't have a good time in school but I loved learning.
Hi Sabby, There are a few of us on this site who originally came out of Ville Emard. Also a good place to grow up. Where did you live in Ville Emard? Did you happen to attend Holy Cross? I went to Connaught School. Cheers.
We lived on Briand Street. I went to Holy Cross from Grade 1 to 4 and then we moved to Verdun. My best friend lived on Mont Blvd.
Thank you so much for the links on Verdun. Wow, a wealth of photos and information! Everything I needed to know. I'm thinking that after my novel, I want to do a collection of short stories about the people who lived in Verdun. Anyone with stories to inspire me?
It's a small world after all...... We lived at 6534 Briand Street (nr Springland). I believe one of our members (Happy Di) went to Holy Cross. She often pops in. Welcome on board. Cheers
Wow LInda! My address was 6427 Briand Street--- we were close to the park. Yes, it is a small world. Everything seemed larger than life as a kid. You know, Holy Cross, with all its steps seemed so high. When I went back a few years ago, part of the yard was gone and everything seemed so small. I guess that's what happens when we grow up. Interesting!
Hi Sabby:
I went to Holy Cross from 1954 until 1960 or there about, then went to Marymount High in NDG. I lived on Angers corner of DeSeve which is just up from your church. What years did you go to Holy Cross? Do you remember any of the teachers or kids? I felt the same as you about everything being larger than life and whenever I go back to Montreal and visit the old neighbourhood everything does seem so small. I grew up in a wartime house and when I see them I just can't believe how small they seem to me. I guess that's life....Dianne
Dianne, did you know any Clements when you lived in NDG?
Hi Maggie:
I don't recall the Clement's. I also didn't live in NDG but commuted by bus to school. Marymount was a huge school, large student body, girls on one side, boys on the other. Those were the days....Did the Clement's go to Marymount?......Dianne
Hi Dianne, I remember Mr.Lacombe in the 3rd grade. Seemed we girls were in the boys class...we baby boomers just took over the schools, didn't we? He made quite an impression on me as I froze in my boots that winter. When I got indoors, my feet were in such pain as I almost froze my toes off. I remember his rubbing my feet to get some warmth back into them. He had curly hair it seemed to me and very cute. This is what an 8 year old girl remembers. I walked to school and back with a classmate, Linda Dufresne (I think). There was a candy store we would stop in on our way home and one day, this German Shepherd (a police dog) attacked her and ripped part of her lip. Oh yes and in first grade I had Miss Hays. She instilled a love of reading and writing in this girl. She made it fun. Had to skip with her to the back of the classroom to get a new reader from the cupboard. I'll never forget her. And in Second grade, Miss Noonan. She was a witch. Grade 4 was a Lithuanian teacher whose name escapes me but she was another witch. Maybe because I too was Lithuanian, I seemed to spend a lot of time in the hallway outside her classroom being punished for something or other. Then Grade 5, we moved to Verdun and it was St. Willibrord's. How about you? Did you know any of these teachers?
Dianne, Forgot to answer your question re the years I went to Holdy Cross....from 1953 to 1956, so I probably ran into you in the school yard at recess!
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Hello Sandy, This is Dolly. I enjoy people bursting into song. Yes, I worked in the engineering department of CIP, secretary to Mr. Dormer. He has long passed away. Did you work for CIP also? Re St. Willibrord. I loved school and learning but the sisters spoiled it for me. I remember Mother Superior with this cut nostril and she was always fingering her rosary as she walked up and down the rows as we stood in twos in the schoolyard waiting to go in. She seemed to be on a search of finding something naughty so she could hit us with the ruler. I remember the ruler.. I joined the Legion of Mary and knitted squares for the poor in Africa. Isn't that a hoot! Almost joined the Sodality and the next step would have been the nunnery. I remember grade 5 and Mother St. Mary Ronald and hiding in my locker but there was also at VCHS Miss Copeland who told me I should be a writer and an art teacher who told me I should be an artist and Mother St. Marianne who was the best English teacher. I worked as an actress/dancer and studied art and drama at Sir George Williams at night.
With rehearsals and classes, I usually ended up with one hour's sleep before heading off for work. It's amazing the things one can do when young! I married an Albertan. He wanted to come home since 1977 once the PQ took power. I worked at CIP for 23 years and one day in 1993 came home and told my husband I had had enough with the politics and lack of a democracy and my company was being sold to Amercan and English companies and it was time to go. So we left for Edmonton which is where my husband is from. Our son was 8 at the time. It took me 2 years to get used to the culture here and I cried every night. Most of my friends left also except for my mom and brother who teaches English at John Abbot and is a published Quebec poet. I love it here. I wasn't ready to move here in 1977 but 20 years later, I was older and saw no future in Quebec for our family. My husband did not speak French. Alberta gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a writer, and I made more money here than I would have if I had stayed. And, no, money isn't everything, but I could send my kid to whatever bilingual school I wanted to ---French, Ukranian, Chinese, German and not have to go through a lot of bureaucracy to get my son into an english school. There is a freedom here that is not felt in Quebec. Sandy where do you live now and how would I know you. I am flabbergasted that we made a connection.
Hi Sabby:
I had Miss Hays too and yes she was wonderful. I had Miss Noonan but don't remember her as being a witch. In grade 3 I had Miss McGarvery, not sure of the spelling. She was a total [B] witch...lol...Mrs French in grade 4, she was great too. That year I was in a mixed class. Mrs Scott, grade 5, she was horrid, I am sure we passed each other in the halls or played hopscotch in the yard.
At Marymount there were a couple of nuns who were really mean, I don't know why they were, maybe they were jilted at the altar, then joined the convent and forever after took great pleasure in being so horrible......Dianne
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Yes Sandy, I remember you and Mike now. Lucky you to live in New York! I always loved that city and would go on weekends visitng friends and taking in all the plays and dancing at Studio 54. Yes, I was there. I rmember Maurice Pilon and Jim McEwan. Didn't Maurice eventually become manager at the La Tuque Mill? Did you know Pauline Gravel or Bastien as her maiden name was. I sometimes wonder whatever happened to her. I still keep in touch with Marietta Freeland and Bob Sliskovich. If you remember them, they haven't changed at all. Yes I also had Mother St. Dorothy and Theresa. The Motherhouse was so strick. I remember wearing a navy suit and hat and white gloves to go for a job interview. The population here is so casual. I work for the Federal government here and yes Alberta is so different, but I got to tell you it is more than just the West Edmonton Mall. Edmonton is a well kept secret from the rest of Canada. While Calgary has its oil and gas companies and cowboys, Edmonton has its arts and theatre and literary scene which is unparallel in the country. Life doesn't begin and end in Toronto. I am trying to get more people to read western writers. Such a huge country and we know nothing about each other. I had my son at 37 also and he is now 20. I don't recall the people everyone is searching for on 3rd. My mother, brother and I lived in a new 3 storey walk up on 3rd and Wellington. I was 17/18 about that time and not too aware of the people who lived there. I remember there was always a fire on that corner...I was always looking out the window and something was burning. We only stayed in the walk up for a year and then we moved to Brown Blvd. As I mentioned before, my mother still lives there. Can't budge her out. Whereabouts do you live in New York? Are you retired yet? Do you keep in touch with any of the employees from CIP? I believe the company is now called Avenor and has 50 employees. In 1970 when I joined, they had 1,000! Yes, I remember wearing a mini! Everybody was hitchhiking at that time. My husband was doing the same from Edmonton until he met me in Montreal...and so he stayed. My novel is about that era....from 1967 to 1977. It starts with Expo 67 and ends with the PQ taking power in 1977 and in between, the FLQ crisis and that whole hippie culture. It's fun doing the research and jogging my memory on those times. I enjoy the nostalgia but I've moved on!
SABBY ................where can us common folk ,find a copy of your book ,assumming we have not lived that same adventure Ourselves
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Hi Dolly & Sandy We must all be of "that certain age" as I remember having a job interview at The Bell Telephone Company of Canada, as it was then called instead of Bell, and my high school teacher, Mr. D.G. Cumming, bless his soul, reminding me to wear my white gloves and hat for the interview. But then again, all young ladies, did the same so I didn't feel too out of place. Short story true about the Motherhouse. I didn't attend there, but my mom used to threaten me that she would send me there if I didn't do well in high school. She told of horror stories like they not only taught you, but if you didn't 'pass the grade' so to speak, they made you live in there and wouldn't let you go home until they thought you were ready!!!! Scared the begeezus out of me. Came 2nd in my class, and hence my teacher got me the interview with Bell. But, we all seemed to do just okay, didn't we? Cheers.
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I was brought up Catholic and attended Catholic schools all my student life which was years ago [ I am going to be 60 next April 20th], My mother was Anglican and my father Catholic. Mom, at times had a hard time dealing with the catechism we had to learn at the time. But apart from that I was the beneficiary of a wonderful education. Sure, like everyone, we had our share of mean tyranical teachers. I am amazed that non Catholics had such preconcieved ideas of the Catholic School system and the Motherhouse being some sort of a horrible institution. It must of been horrible to be threatned to be sent to the Motherhouse and have the Nuns take care of you, because God knows what would have happed to you..I would like to hope in this day and age that we should know better. Perhaps that is wishful thinking when we hear of certain events taking place around the world today. History repeats itself...where did I hear that phrase before?....Dianne
Chris, Yup, got the job.....heck I even made more $ a week than my father!!!! But I learned very early on, that if a company teaches or trains you, they quite often never give you full credit, it's like you owe them something. But the stenographer skills got my foot in the door and I've never looked back. Done much in my 'work' life...typist; stenographer; teletype stenographer; computer programmer; ......having a senior moment here....anyhow ended up working for the pencil pushers in Canada Customs as a financial analyst. As I look back at my working life, now that I'm retarded (ahem, I mean retired, lol) I absolutely don't regret anything. It's all good, but it's gonna be better tomorrow. I'm forever an optimist. Cheers.
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Hi Dolly. Have you ever read Laurel M. Buck's books? She is in the age group of 70 to 80. Stream of Memories takes place mostly in rural Quebec but has a "Verdun Connection" (pun intended). I borrowed it from my local library who borrowed it from the Simon Fraser Institute. Stream of Memory:Reflections of Megantic County. M. Laurel Buck 1994. Shoreline, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec. Depot legal 1994: Bibliotheque Nationale du Quebec and National Library of Canada. ISBN 0-9695180-9-9 Roots Beneath the Pavement a Tribute to Verdun By One of Her Reluctant Children 1930s 40s I enjoyed Stream of Memory for the memories it jarred. I have not been able to get my hands on a copy of Roots beneath my feet yet.
sandy, reading your e mails takes me back to vch and st .willibrords,i also had st. dorothy, and mother st .elinor, grad. 1962 vch. did you know diane pigeon from mother house, st. willibrords. then she went to m.g.h. school of nursing. we are the best of friends. i live in clearwater fl[indian shores]love to hear from you. your maiden name?? carolyn bennett
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nice to hear from you, but--- what was your maiden name? where did you live?would appreciate. bahamas [freeport-nassau] is a long storey that began in my 43 rd yr, married a cdn. senior ,an exec. of the family that founded cara operations.[ bob phelan] from westmount. he resided in freeport and chanteclerc in summer. we married, i gave up my job at douglas, moved into his life and he died 2 yrs later. i stayed in freeport , as i had secured my roots there. met jack , my present husband who was with u.s. embassy freeport. married and now that he has ret,d from DEA.,we are in fl. he is working fed. court TAMPA. i think i will write a book too. ha ha. as for sr. theresa she left the order. diane pigeon told me. diane went out with johnny renahan from time she was 15-20. i remember the girls you mentioned very well. my dad was in real estate in verdun, sure your parents remember. lots to tell you, who was in your class?do you keep in touch? where in canada are you? gladys vigneau and i correspond, she is in calgary. claudette lamothe, arthene lauzon and others are on classmates.com. its great.recently obtained photos of class group pics from joan dore, rosemary bishop. hope you answer, hello to you all on this board, carolyn bennett. ni
Hi Maggie, No I don't know those books. Have made note of both and hope I can find them here. Thanks. Sandy, I remember Miss Maheu and those Christmas Carols. She really enriched the French language. Like you at Christmas time I go around singing Alto to Il est ne le divin enfant....Do you remember a Miss Maynard. She came after Maheu I believe. and what was the name of the music teacher. She wore black nail polish which was really risque for mid-sixties.
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Il est ne le divine enfant does have an english version. I heard it in church last year for the first time. It was really strange, my mind did not want to accept the words that I was singing. I had never heard any english words to that tune before. Of course I can't recall the name of it in english right now and I don't happen to have a hymn book at hand so I will leaf through one next time a grace a pew. details to follow...............................
I think this may be what you're looking for: English Translation: HE IS BORN, THE HOLY CHILD
Refrain:
He is born, the holy Child,
Play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy Child,
Sing we all of the Savior Mild.
Through long ages of the past,
Prophets have foretold His coming;
Through long ages of the past;
Now the time has come at last.
Refrain
O how lovely, O how pure,
Is the perfect Child of Heaven;
O how lovely, o how pure,
Gracious gift of God to man!
Refrain
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Coming as a Child among us,
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Grant to us Thy heav'nly peace.
Refrain
Doesn't sound right to me. It will come to me. might have been just the music set to another carol. I won't rest now until I find it!
Hi Sandy, Yes, they were excellent teachers. My memory isn't as good as yours as to when I had them. They taught us to love the French culture which wasn't on the school agenda. Seems to me we went around to old folks homes during Christmas and sang French Carols. I also remember going around St, Willibrord Street and singing carols with my friends. I was surprised this Christmas when 3 little girls knocked on my door and sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas". Why don't people do that more often? Thanks so much re getting the book for your library. Wow, that's terrific. It would be awesome if it became a best seller. I know that the publisher has sent a copy to Oprah, cause it's a subject she speaks about a great deal. They are hoping one of her producers will publicize it on the show or the magazine....well if it gets around.... Thanks again.
I know what you mean. Every time I log onto the computer, I give one go-though trying to find those darn 3-D cows, just can't seem to not try. Ummmm perhaps one day.........ummm doesn't look like it though. They're pretty elusive. Good luck. Cheers.
Um....Linda...what are you talking about...hehehe...Cows?....Dianne
Dianne, Remember Upper Lachine Road....I think Elmhurst Dairy.....we used to drive up there with my Dad and get ice cream cones. Well outside the building the billboard had 3-d cows (Elsie, I guess) sticking out from the surface. Well, nobody has been able to find a picture of this billboard, even with writing to the company archives, etc. Short story long. lol. Cheers.
HI Linda...Oh now I know what you're talking about...Yes I remember Elmhurst Dairy too, they had the best ice cream...it was such a treat to go there, probably because our parents didn't have a lot of extra cash to splurge in those days. ...Dianne
Hi, I don't think the one you are looking for is here - but here are a few pictures of Elmhurst dairy laiteriesduquebec.com/ laiteries/mtl-elmhurst.htm Helen
Thanks Kitiara736 (Helen) ,...............they have everything from the olf cardboard milkbottle caps,..to the butter wrappers,.....and that picture of the actual Elmhurst Dairy building is as close as we have gotten to seeing that old sign with the 'laughing 3d cow'................Thanks for posting it ,.....and I'n sure that sooner or later someone will kick over an old shoebox full of old pictures,....and Voila,....there will be the familiar old sign.................hahahaha (at least that's the way I've dreamt it up)
It will be a day for celebration if we ever locate a photo of the 3-D cows. My mom used to say I had a stubborn streak, and when it comes to the cows she was right. Maybe we should advertise in the Montreal paper (don't know the papers....used to be the Star & Gazette) for anyone with a photo of these cows. My dream is that someone will post the picture and say "Hey, is this what you're looking for?" Cheers.
Hi Linda, The Elmhurst Dairy cows became famous in their own right but they were not Elsie. Elsie was the Borden's Dairy cow. One time as a kid I got to see Elsie. She was in a building on Dorchester Street near University. I remember waiting in a long line with a ton of kids and finally I got to see Elsie. When you passed Elsie there was a gift but for the love of me I can't remember what the gift was. I was pleasantly surprised to see when we moved to Florida last year that they sell Borden's Butter down here and I bought some. Elsie's advertising paid off, kinda. After my wife tasted it she said "Next time get Cabot Butter." I said "Yes dear!"
Fresco, I stand corrected. My first reaction was that you had found the billboard......high hopes I guess. But one day, somewhere, sometime, someone will say "I found it". Good thing that you keep listening to your wife about the butter, or else she just might shop at the "Husband Store". Cheers.
Hi Fresco, I also remember my parents taking me and my younger brother to see "Elsie, the Borden cow" and yes the line was long. As I recall she was in a pen that you got to walk by. Also I think I also remember that she had a crown like thing on her head of yellow follows. As for the Cabot Butter, I haven't seen it in the srores around Port Orange but have you tried Cabots "Seriously Sharp Cheese"? If you like a REAL sharp cheddar as I do,it is the best and well worth the extra cost.
Hi Ruth, You have a great memory. I forgot about that yellow crown thing Elsie had on her head. I still cannot remember what the gift was. A lunch pail or something. I will give the 'Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheese' a try. WalMart & Publix sell the Cabot Butter. Target sells the Borden's Butter. If you go to www.cabotcheese.com and look under 'other products' you'll see that Cabot Butter won top prize in 2003 at The US Cheese Championships. For anyone still in Verdun you can visit Cabot Village in Vermont. Directions are on the Cabot link. I've never been there but have been told it's great. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has a factory tour in Vermont also www.benjerry.com
cabot cheese absolutely is the best on the u.s. market costco has it at much lower prices,as for the cows, they all headed south to florida, they are now in front of sam seltzers steake houses. lets hear it for the seltzer family, remember N.D.G. meat market anyone? i love this site... carolyn bennett florida.
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Thanks Sandy, I mentioned it to the editor, Linda Goyette, and she was quite pleased. Got to get back to my writing. When I get stuck, I go to this site...procrastination...not a good thing!
Heather; this has been a very interesting read. You have a great talent for writing, and I would enjoy more stories that you might have. I have been close to Verdun all my life, I graduated from VHS 1972, also my Dad lived on Desmarchais until his passing away a few weeks ago. I have taken, and will continue to take photos around the Verdun area. Ralph Piercey.
Heather, Thank you so much for the beautiful memories. There are some remembrances that we both share. Please, if you have others, I would love to hear them. Although my book is fiction, as writers we do write about what we know, hear, experience, and then the imagination comes into play. My main character is 1/3 me and 2/3 of others I have known and their stories. Wellington and the Boardwalk are important locations for my main character, so really appreciate your input. Thanks.
Another question. Does anybody remember some of the night clubs in Montreal around the late fifties/early sixties and what they were like? I remember the El Morocco on Ste. Catherine Street. Ben's has all those photos of performers on their walls (a la Sardi's) who played Montreal and I know that in the fifties there were a bevy of clubs that a lot of performers from New York played. Does anybody recollect or can give me some names. Esquire show bar...Black Bottom...Rockhead's...?????????? Thanks.
Hi Ralph: I really wish I would have proof read my share before posting it; they are a whole lot of typo's but thank you for the compliment. If you graduated Verdun High in 1972, do you remember my brother, Gordon Holdgate and some of his friends like, Rick Pantridge, Steve Webster, Doug Kamura (I can't remember all the names of the guys, many of them live up here and Gord still sees the others when he's in Verdun)? I don't get home as often as I would like but since my Mother died in November I've been there a number of times; lots of family funerals. Not sure why they're all dying at around the same time - I guess it is "the age" - so many aunts, an uncle and cousin. Please accept my condolences on your Dad's passing. Losing Mom has probably been the most profound happening in my life; I never knew I could be this sad but here I am still crying for her (and me) but at least it's not daily anymore. Our next door neighbours on Egan were Mr. & Mrs. Peircey; John and Eva and they were from Cornerbrook, NFLD. You may remember Bonnie and/or Jimmy Mann (Jimmy played for the Winnipeg Jets and other teams, maybe); these kids were Mr. & Mrs. Piercey's grandchildren - they lived on Egan as well. I just lovethe pictures of Verdun; this is my favourite part of this site. Once I get myself unpacked in my new place I will drag out the old photos; I just might have some good ones for Verdun Connections.
Hi sabby: I do recall the Top Hat on Ste. Catherine St. I and friends would go once in a while even though we were underage at the time. Sssh
Hi Lulu, Top Hat rings a bell. So what was it like? Location? How did you get in? Was it a big space? or intimate? Did they have entertainers? Did you have dinner and a meal there? Was it elegant? I ask this because two of my characters in the book are performers from New York who come to perform in the clubs around Montreal after the war then decide to stay. Thanks for your help.
Hi Sabby, I loved The Esquire, the music was fantastic but it cost a lot. The Esquire had the cheaper bar off the main room & you could still hear the music a little bit. One really raunchy fun bar was Pal's Cafe on St Catherine near St Lawrence Boulevard. My friend Dave Higgins loved a bar near the Tramways east end streetcar barn. I can't remember the name of the place. One night Dave, myself & our dates were there and a comedian from New York was having a really tough time as only the four of us spoke English. About three weeks later we saw the same guy in the Edgewater Hotel using the same material but this time he was receiving tons of laughter.
Hi Fresco ,.....would you be thinking of 'Doc Circe' ,...........he usually played in the Vaudreuile Inn,........but may have played in the Edgewater at times,.......he had a good show that was considered 'risque' in those days ,......but would do little to be considered offensive or boudary pushing by todays standards
Hi Les, I think it was Doc Circe. He was funny, I remember that.
Hi PrimoHorace (Heather),....Great recollections of waking down Wellington st,......You mentioned Sally's store,....it was called Sally Shops,...and just yesterday I was over at my brother's place,.and my sister in law Rita Moran ,......told me she used to work in that very store part time (Chritmas Rush ) then more full time for a while later on,......as for myself,.....I used to ride my skate-board in the entrance way to that store,.because it was such a smooth surface,.....Remember when skate-boards first appeared on the scene in the early 60's ,......well I guess I was one of those little Bas&$%DS that rode around on the sidewalks of Verdun,.......hahahahaha,We didn't have SkateBoard Parks,.......and they 'outlawed 'skateboards in Montreal,..and would actually confiscate them if the police saw us on them..........hahahaha (if they could catch us,...cause we could be on a rooftop ,before they could get halfway down a lane...........hahahahah I lived right across the street on Wellington from that Sally store front,.....and I sat on the front gallery People Watching many times,...Wellington was a great spot and it seemed always busy ,..........and tons of People seemed to enjoy what you & your friends enjoyed ,...thwWindow Shopping...............and living right beside Normans Patate Frites,.....I could smell all the bags of fries ,..soaked with vinegar & salt,that people would eat while walking down the street.............sure was a long time ago,......but I still Remember Verdun ..............Thanks for sparking my memory Hope you get settled in your new place soon,.....and We can't wait to see some of your old photo's...............and I hope you have some more memories of growing up in Verdun to share with us,....... ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Have Fun & Remember Verdun
Hi Sabby, I recall the "El Morrocco" my relatives frequented .There is a photo taken at their table with Tony Bennett,must have been in the 1950's . What about the Coppacabana Club..that was a great hangout. At the El Morocco in the 1950's the M.C. was Wally Aspel. Wally ended up being my vocal coach for awhile....I had the urge to become a songstress back then! Hey,what about Toe Blakes Tavern,and the unforgetable "Arawana Club" I believe was in the point. Now that was a place where our Dads would go and come home late at night drunk. Ahhh,those memories.............The Esquire Showbar had the greatest rock stars in our era. Bo Diddley, Bil Hailey, The Drifters, Ben E King,etc etc.................. cookie
Thanks Cookie for your memories of the clubs. How far did you make it as a songstress?
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Sabby, How far did I make it as a songstress you ask? NOT !!. Although when I was 42 years old I would get up on stage whenever I could in B.C. and sing a few tunes..even got paid a few bucks with a trio now and then...I loved it. My daughter belonged to a band in Vancouver,they cut 2 C.D's......one of their tunes was played on that teenage CBC t.v. show every thursday night called "Falcon Beach"..so they were lucky and recieved some royalites from that. Unfortunately,her band broke up......... It was much more difficult to follow your dreams when I was a young one....the support wasn't there, too many negatives,and no one took you serious. But don't we all sound wonderful in the SHOWER !! see ya' cookie
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Hi Sabby, I grew up near the corner of Beurling and Valiquette and VCHS was practically in my backyard!! Before the high school was built along with the football/soccer field, that whole plot of land was used for public gardens. People would pay a nominal sum of money and in return have a plot of land on which they could grow vegetables, flowers or a combination of both. Our backyard looked out over the gardens and it was always so nice and so quiet in the evenings. Then the land was sold (or donated perhaps) to build the high school and the gardens were left to die and then be bulldozed to create what is now Beurling Park. I took figure skating lessons at the Auditorium (which my paternal grandfather helped to build -- he was the foreman I'm told). I used to take the bus from Valiquette and Beurling, then transfer to the Wellington bus and get off at Church Avenue and walk down to the 'Aud'. I loved to skate (and still do) and the best part was when you could actually get "free ice" -- usually during the day when we had a day off school or something, and nothing was scheduled. You could call the rink to see if free ice was available, and if so, just trto on down there and have the entire place to yourself. Nothing better than a half-lit rink with fresh ice! Oh the dreams one could dream.... We had a depanneur at the corner, but then it was just called the grocery store. The name escapes me right now but it was owned by the Joanette family. It was great to be sent to the store to buy whatever Mom needed to amke supper. I still remember the wooden floors, the aisles that loomed so large when I was a kid and now seem ridiculously tiny, the rollers that boxes of groceries or cases of beer would be swooshed along. I recall the bicycle delivery boys (girls did not deliver anything in those day!!) with the large baskets on their bikes as they would take a shopper's groceries home for her -- for free! There was a candy store at the next corner (Rolland and Beurling) that we all called "Ponchos" which is still there to this day! Not much has changed in the store -- it was like walking into a time warp. Next door to Ponchos was a shoe store called Smith's Shoes and that's where my Mom always bought us our new school shoes in late August. We were forbidden to wear them until the first day of school! I'm sorry you do not have good memories of growing up in Verdun. I had a wonderful childhood and have many warm memories of live as it was in the 50's and 60's in Verdun. Pam
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You're right -- Beurling Supermarket -- how could I forget so simple a name! The family sold it to a chain I think.... The owner's wife's name was "Queenie" and I thought she was the best thing since sliced bread. She was the cashier and that machine fascinated me as a little girl. I was sure that's what I wanted to be when I grew up - LOL!!! I never did become a cashier, but I spend a lot of time on the other side of the counter handing over money!!! Bob, you must have frequented the "Nat" living so close. Do you still live in Verdun? I was back in Verdun last summer (my folks are now in Chateauguay), and we wandered all around the old neighbourhood (in the rain!). I was surprised at all the changes the Nat has undergone, and quite disappointed that they've closed the roof. Too bad -- guess it's too dangerous for today's kids -- one of them might fall off!!! It was always magical to be up there as dusk fell and the lights were turned on. It was like being in another world altogether. We spent hours there during the summer as kids -- nearly every day from 1:00pm - 4:30 or 5:00pm when we would head home for supper. I remember you could swim for a dime in the mornings, but it was generally too cool for me and I would shiver instead of paddling around in the water. My paternal grandfather helped to build the Natatorium, too! Lots of memories jumbling around in the back of my head..... Pam
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geez, the beurling market...brings back some memories...
also remember those gardens where vchs is now .....used to steal veggies there all the time...((((did i say that out loud))))....i'm going to have to return just to see ponchos...cant believe it's still there...thanks for the memories country girl..by the way....(((wink ..wink))..i'm in orangeville
Beurling Market we used to spend our lunch money there from V.C.H.S. Steve
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hey pam, i grew up in same area, bann.& valiquette. only great memories of verdun, i have been exposed to living in many parts of the world, verdun was the best. i am now a resident of florida, and i miss everything about verdun, its not here for sure. although i was an unhealthy child until age 12, i made up for it. i guess understanding another persons experiences is having an open mind. thats what i am all about. i know we are all able to look back on our struggles. made us whooo we are today. carolyn bennett
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Hi there Here's a project for those interested. I'm working on my novel and need to come up with a name for a club. Remember the Whiskey a Go Go? Need to come up with something similar...something that depicts the sixties and go go dancers in the windows/cages. Any ideas for names? Dolly.
Hi, Pam. I went to VCH in the 7th grade in 1966 or so. It was brutal being there with all the older kids. I always wondered when the school was built. I don't remember the Burling Market. I think I spent my lunch money on chocolate covered donuts in the cafeteria at VCH. They were awesome. They had the best tasting, watered down ketchup for the fries, too. Did you ever go to the Natatorium? I loved that place and probably was there every day it was opened from 1954 to 1970.
"It was always magical to be up there as dusk fell and the lights were turned on. It was like being in another world altogether. We spent hours there during the summer as kids -- nearly every day from 1:00pm - 4:30 or 5:00pm when we would head home for supper."
Pam what a magical trigger reading the above quote of yours. Yes, when the lights came on in the Nat pool, it was a different world. Thank for the memory.
Bill
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