Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Buildings around Verdun/Montreal

This will be a busy spot ,next month:
Great War Memorial
 
,....I can Remember marching in parades with the sea-cadets ,.around Verdun,and CoteStPaul,........(why is it always cold & / or rainy,during a parade).......hahahaha
 

503 comments:

1 – 200 of 503   Newer›   Newest»
les__f MSN said...

In light of the recent overpass problems,.....would anyone be nervous living here:   ...............I imagine these expressways are inspected frequnetly (or they will be)  

les__f MSN said...

Here's a well known spot,...quite the aerial too !!   Takes up a lot of real-estate doesn't it,.......and it looks like they can watch any football game they want ................Nice old Shot

maggiemck MSN said...

Les, maybe I am having one of those "duh" moments but....just what does that aerial cover? It doesn't seem familiar to me at all.

guy5479 MSN said...

I recognize the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Molson Stadium where the Alouettes play. Guy

les__f MSN said...

Hi Maggie ,......Guy is correct,...Royal Victoria Hospital,......it is somewhat different when seeing this shot from an aerial,.......but that is the Molson Stadium in the background,......and you have to bear in mind this photo was taken in the mid 20's(roughly),........I thought it was a neat picture ,as it shows  the sprawling grounds, Would have been a real awesome photo in it's day,...considering aeroplanes (thought you'd like the old spelling,instead of airplanes,or simply planes)....hahahaha                      had only been around for about 20 years,..........

les__f MSN said...

Sure doesn't look like Our City Hall:                                            Westmount .................Nice old Building

les__f MSN said...

Two more Westmount Buildings,                            their Library,.............and their Firestation(where I guess ex-Verdunite Jim Adams (worked ......would this be correct)in anycase there is a sign on the front of the building ,that looks like it's scheduled to become Condos,....or something like that:   ..........Now the  Fire Station,................man they sure built these old things didn't they.......................................   .......................Ok ,one more How about their Post Office:            Sure built them strong,.........................................

les__f MSN said...

Montreal architecture is really a great mix of New & Old,.........but the older stuff really ads "Character",........to the City of Montreal, I wonder if we appreciated it as much ,when we lived there,as we do now that many years have gone by: Remember seeing great looking streets,.......that we probably walked by and thought at one time ,they were just old .................now we like them ,Because they ARE old,......and they are ever present reminders of Our History,   ................................No matter ,where ,any of us wind up on this globe,......We are still from Montreal,..................................and that's important:

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

makes one feel good to see pictures from our home
town.

Think we were lucky to be born there.


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johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

keep the pictures coming





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johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

on a different subject...I always wondered what happen
to Dective Walsh and Newlove, they were good
cops...did they stay till retirement..??
John





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les__f MSN said...

Sorry ,one more Jarry park shot: seems like a good aerial: ..................................Ok that it's I promise,............

les__f MSN said...

"Montreal in the Fall"............my guess is Montreal is starting to look a little more like this,street in Outremont:   ............ah ha gearing up for that spooky night at the end of the month: ..............How about  Greene Street in Westmount:    

les__f MSN said...

The Mountain always seems like a neat place to go: Remember this street ,it looks right at Mont Royal   .................................Lots of traffic,.......but not to far way (walking distance) a set of stairs,that takes you to the top on Montreal,........and a temporary escape from the City.................................................Go on up & have a coffee in the Lookout Chalet

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

I think JIm did work there
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johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

ha well put
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rutharmstrong MSN said...

Hi Les -F, I may be wrong but I believe that Westmount Fire Station is Station # 2 because of the traffic light. Station # 1 was at the top of a hill, a dead end street behind a Private school on Sherbrooke. Maybe Walter could shed some light on this and correct me if I am wrong. When I was doing reseach for a family project I found out that station number 2 was for sale to be converted to a single dwelling. Must be there were no takers and now it will be turned into a condo. My Dad was a Captain at Station #1. It's such a small world that Jim and Liz Adams were high school friends of mine. Ruth

les__f MSN said...

Hi RuthArmstrong,......Thanks for the background info,on those pictures of the Westmount Stations,....I came across those pictures and Remembered Jim Adams,and a few members here that knew him(of course including yourself),and so I posted those pictures,......but now I will be on a  quest to find a picture of the other Westmount Station,.......and when I find one I will be sure to post it here for us all: To be honest I never thought that there would be more than one station,in Westmount,...........So you see ,I again have learned something knew,..... You always seem to have pertinent info,to a topic at hand ,.......thats neat,.....Thanks  

les__f MSN said...

RuthArmstrong ,.......I am already starting my quest for Westmount Firestation info:   The Westmount Fire Department celebrated its centennial in 1992. This department provides first responder and fire protection services to the City of Westmount, a community of 20,000 inhabitants covering 3.96 square kilometres on the slope of Westmount Mountain on the Island of Montreal. Westmount is surrounded by the City of Montreal.   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Now to continue my search, ......   .........Am I getting Warmer....................... Opened in 1912 the station is located on the south west corner of Victoria and The Boulevard. The apparatus doors face east onto Victoria. While no longer an active fire station the building continues to be usef for the civil protection group in Westmount as well as storage.   I also came across this excerpt from the Montreal Gazette: WESTMOUNT, QC - If you couldn't find Jim Adams on the job at the fire station in Westmount, he was probably at a rink in LaSalle, coaching minor hockey. Adams was the last chief of the Westmount fire department before the 22 municipal fire departments on Montreal Island were amalgamated into a single force four years ago. A firefighter for 38 years, 12 of them as chief, Adams was 66 when he died Monday, apparently of a heart attack, in Ottawa Civic Hospital. "He was the fire chief right out of Central Casting," former Westmount mayor Peter Trent said. "He was perfect for the job. Here's another quote about Jim: WESTMOUNT, QC - Jim Adams, whose career with the City of Westmount's fire and protective services departments spanned more than 38 years, died suddenly on July 10. He was 66. Adams was the City of Westmount's last fire chief. He retired when the Westmount Fire Department was merged with Montreal's in late December 2001, at about the same time that Westmount was also being forcibly amalgamated with the City of Montreal.   Everything I have found about Jim Adams,........speaks very highly of him and also shows that everyone who knew him ,.had nothing but 'Great Respect',........for him................ Here's a direct link ,to the site where I have found these two excerpts,....there are more,and some ,may like to read them.........(I'll keep looking for more pics) http://www.firehall.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7879 ....................................................................I'll be back............hahahahaha

les__f MSN said...

ongoing Westmount Fire Station stuff.........................   ##The sale of the Fire Station No 2 building at Victoria and The Boulevard for $800,000 was expected to finally be approved by Westmount City Council at its July meeting on Wednesday.
The building was put up for sale six years ago, and tender bids were opened in December 2000, the successful one being by Groupe Axxys. It was one of the last actions by the City of Westmount before the Transition Committee began to control financial transactions as preparation for the forced annexation with Montreal.## ........Apparently ,as on most buildings,.there is a cornerstone,..that usually states ,when it was built,...and the usual mumbo jumbo from politicians of the time,........but as you can see in this next picture,the 'Dedication Plaque' seems to have been (relocated),................that's code for probably stolen,hahahahaha ....................Ahhh   is nothing sacred..............................   ....................I will now continue my search for another picture,this station is defineitly referred to as Station No. 2,..............so hopefully I will come across the other building.....................................

les__f MSN said...

Well how's this for a 'return on invested capital'  (ROIC), seems the $800,000 asking figure in the previous post,was very reasonable,   Check out these pictures of the new 'semi-detached' home For Sale Property Group Residential Property Type Home Waste System Septic Garage(s) for 2 Cars Price Can$ 2,300,000.00
For Sale

les__f MSN said...

Location Westmount (Montreal) Nearest City Montreal Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 4 Living Rooms 1 Kitchens 1 Terraces 1\   Well for 6 bedrooms ,4 bathrooms ,a living room,a kitchen(nice of them to include that)......and a Terrace (thats code for us  Verdun characters,...it means Gallery.................hahahahaha) Other than the 4 bathrooms,(which we would have ,had to go to 4 different houses,to see 4 bathrooms)..........I think we could have gotten a 6bdrm ,for about $65 bucks / month...................................We were living like millionaires,and we didn't know it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hahahahahaha

les__f MSN said...

Throughout the years Westmount High School has had many different faces. In 1873, the first Protestant school in what is now Westmount was founded in a small rented frame house on Clarke and Cote St. Antoine. When it first opened, its principal, and presumably its only teacher, was Miss Turnhill. It was called, simply, House.

In 1875, it was realized that the House on Clark Street was not big enough to accommodate the growing number of students. A house was purchased on the north end of Stanton Street, and an addition was later made adjacent to this house. It was sold to the city in 1895 for $16,500, and was later transformed into what is now the Police and Fire Stations. During this period, branch schools were opened on Victoria Avenue (1892) and Elm Hall (1893). These were later closed in 1895 with the construction of the new Cote St. Antoine Academy, later renamed Westmount Academy.
  could this be the location of the second (or 1st rather) Fire Station in Westmount???????? ....................................................................................................

les__f MSN said...

Respectful trivia: it seems that there is a lot to be proud of from this Westmount Fire Department ......Again Montrealer's trying to make a difference, it seems that whenever the chips are down,and someone needs help,You can just bet ,You don't Have to Ask,...................but a Montrealer (all of us) Will Be There to Help...............................   A group from Westmount were among the many Montreal firefighters who travelled to New York to help after the attacks. Five Westmount firefighters went to Engine Company 54 in Manhattan, which lost 15 of its 16 firefighters in the attacks. Firefighter Mike Amesse remembered that they had a moving encounter with the company's captain and sole surviving member. "You could just see the emotion in his face, just saying I can't believe you drove all the way just for us," said Amesse. "He didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. You could just see it in his eyes, that he was thankful for us coming."   ........................................................................"Bravo"

les__f MSN said...

Bingo..................................

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

I tell people about that today, the rooms and what the
rent was..they lasugh..




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johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

I hung around Jim for many years at the hockey &
Baseball area in Riverside..He sure served his
community well..we use to go to the Crawforpark legion
for dews....Always a fair , no nonsense guy..He was
very proud of his background..




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maggiemck MSN said...

Les, I wouldn't say that. It seems that when our rent was a whopping $93.00 a month, the total family income was less than $400. a month. Not exactly rolling in dough!  

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Les_F, I will check with my brother because on his trip to Montreal a year or so ago he went all over Verdun and did take a picture of the Westmont Station #1. Althought the police Department had been added on since we were all kids. If I can figure out how to send a picture I'll have him forward one to me. As for the picture of the truck at a winter fire, Is it one you took that I can forward to my brother. It would fit in well with the Video that he is creating especially since the Westmount name is so readable. The police station was in the same building as the fire station so maybe that may help in your search. Ruth

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Les_F
Message 9 Is that picture bt any chance Dorchester St now called something
else, Somehere between Atwater and University. I worked on University for
Bell Telephone when I got out of High School in the Engineering Dept. That
picture reminded me of riding the bus #, can't remember to work.

Ruth


les__f MSN said...

Hi Rutharmstrong,....I'm not sure which street it is in msg #9,.......I will try to find out though,....I search so many places for Montreal stuff,....and don't always Remember which place I found the picture,...I will try to pay more attention,& provide more detail when I can (but I will find it again).............hahahahaha We don't give up easily........hahahah

les__f MSN said...

I would imagine ,that more than a few of us ,have been in here,......although it was never my favourite,it was still not bad (at least back then) Anyone recognise this spot.......   I can Remember when there would not be an empty chair at all,at any time of day either.................Wasn't it funny how ,if there was an empty chair at a table ,...anyone would just walk over & sit down,..it would seem odd to walk into a restaurant nowadays and just sit down to eat at a table with 4 chairs ,but only 3 people at it,..... There was no such thing as 'your' table.........it was just seats...........hahahaha

les__f MSN said...

Remember this spot: This is the city of Montreal's water reservoir - located on McTavish and Docteur Penfield Ave, near the downtown core of Montreal. It is situated very close to McGill University, set against a backdrop of a vast, green playing field where families, students, and other locals get together to play various field sports.

The McTavish Reservoir is the primary holding tank and distribution point for the city of Montreal's water. The water comes from the middle of the St Lawrence River and, after filtering and treatment, is transported over many kilometers of pipe to the McTavish Reservoir site.

..........................................Just some more Montreal Places ........................................Montreal ........Our Home .

les__f MSN said...

Indian Summer on the mountain.....................                      easy to Remember this time of year ,isn't it   Mount Royal,         a great Montreal escape....................

les__f MSN said...

Another great Food Spot in Montreal,......and a tradition & institution of Montreal...............the Barnoff family used to own this restaurant,and maybe they still do??  Danny Barnoff's uncle I think started the  Bar-B-Barn   ahhhhh Yes ,fill up on some good Ribs,...........and beverage of choice  

les__f MSN said...

Ok this one is inside Schwartz's: ......in the window  a platter full of Smoked Meat................. .......and People still stand in line ,just to get in,...... the Service is always Montreal Curt,...........but the grub's generally good:

rutharmstrong MSN said...

This is mt first effort at posting a photo. It is a picture that my brother Bob took. The police dept was first going up the hill and the fire station is the second half. Next we will see if I did it right!!! Ruth

sabby MSN said...

Hi Les,   Looks like Ben's to me.   I hear it's gone downhill since the owner died, but it was a great hang out for us theatre types after a rehearsal or show in the late sixties and early seventies.  That was the place to go and it's in my novel.  Ha!  I loved the chopped liver sandwiches with cherry coke.   And the Bar B Barn was a favourite too.  Always a line up.  Still around?  A friend of mine knew one of the chefs there in the seventies and got the ribs receipe.  They are as I remember them.  My favourite recipe!  And Mont Royal!  Yes favourite time of the year to go a wandering!   Dolly

les__f MSN said...

Yes, Sabby, right you are,......Bens it is: 990 Maisoneuve   How's this for a students list of 'must haves' Montreal is a city of cultural diversity with over 5000 restaurants. In order to enjoy some of what this city has to offer, I have put together an informal guide of some of the interesting places that the McGill group frequents. All of these restaurants are walking distance from McGill Campus. Following this guide, we have a few links to more comprehensive restaurant guides as well as general guides on what to do while in Montreal. Below you will find a map of the downtown core which will enable you to locate most of the restaurants described below.   Let's start with breakfast. Eggspectations (1313 Maisonneuve West, corner De la Montagne) and Chez Cora (1425 Stanley, corner Sherbrooke) are two restaurants that specialize in a wide variety of breakfast and brunch dishes. As you'll notice very quickly, downtown Montreal is sprinkled with cafes, another interesting place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or even dinner. The main franchised cafe chains include Second Cup (1800 McGill College, 2200 McGill College, 1122 Ste Catherine W. corner Peel, 1602 Ste Catherine W. corner Guy, 625 Ste Catherine W. corner St. Denis), Starbucks (1171 Ste Catherine W. corner Peel), and A.L. Van Houtte (1616 Ste Catherine W corner Guy, 1255 McGill College, 2000 McGill College, 1538 Sherbrooke W corner Stanley). All serve reasonable coffee and decent snacks. Some other interesting cafes to note are Olio (3407 Peel corner Sherbrooke) and Brulerie St. Denis (2121 Drummond, in the Alcan Building) , both of which serve good coffee and more hearty meals. Finally, you can get great coffee and sandwiches at Cafemania (677 Ste Catherine W in the Eaton center).   Just a start for the todays' group of students: Here's the direst link to the whole page: http://www.scs.carleton.ca/~jit/resto/rest.html ....................I'm tryong to find a list of the Montreal Coffe Houses (of the 60's),..........but they are so far proving to be more elusive than I had thought:  

les__f MSN said...

I just came across this article,......it seems that it was about this time last year ,that Magnans Tavern in the Point ,had it's employees on strike,....... Deli employees switch pickles for pickets as contract negotiations go awry Ben’s remains closed for the eighth week in a row, but workers are confident By Sara Freeman
News Writer Ben's strike Steve Campbell for the McGill Daily Robert Mayrand has been serving smoked-meat on rye, club sandwiches, and half-sour pickles for more than half a century at Ben’s Delicatessen, the Montreal landmark on the corner of Metcalfe and Maisonneuve.

But not for the past seven weeks.

Mayrand and his 21 unionized colleagues walked out on July 20, after months of complaints over deteriorating working conditions and their employer’s failure to present an adequate contract after the last one expired in February.

Mayrand, who is 72 and has been an employee since the early fifties, said that the strike was a last resort.

“It’s not because I want to complain. Ben’s is a part of my heart, I’ve spent more time there than with my own wife, but [the management] have lost their respect,” he said.

The staff’s demands include air-conditioning, improved heating, a 10 per cent salary augmentation over two years, changes to the shift scheduling policy, and the implementation of a retirement package.

Waiters have also complained about the overall management of the restaurant, and claim that the owners have little loyalty toward their staff.

“In March, one of the waiters who had been there for 42 years quit, and they never even wrote him a note,” said Charles Mendoza, the head of the union and a Ben’s employee since 1987.

In the early nineties the restaurant came under the control of Jean Kravitz, the widow to one of three Kravitz sons, and her son. Neither could be reached before printing, but Danny Kaufer, their lawyer, said that all parties were re-evaluating their positions, and that he would be in touch with the strike conciliator some time this week.

“I don’t negotiate through the press,” he said.

The original Ben’s, founded in 1908 by Ben Kravitz, was located on St. Laurent. Having made its way to the corner of Metcalfe and Maisonneuve in 1950, it became a place you might have spotted Pierre Trudeau and Leonard Cohen sitting at opposite ends of the large dining hall.

It now primarily serves lunch to tourists and people working downtown, in an atmosphere of decaying vinyl and friendly multilingualism.

“Some of us speak French, some of us speak English. We’re Arabic, black, Jewish, Greek, Bangladeshi. We sing, we dance, we joke. We’re 100 per cent united,” Mayrand said.

The deli once employed 72 staff members, and now has 22. Striking staff have complained about having to simultaneously perform the duties of a cook, slicing meat, and making sandwiches while serving customers.

As the strike continues, the tables have turned, as regulars show their support with offerings of food, drinks, and friendly banter at the picket line.

......................................Youch ,                   "the Times they are a Changin"  ----Bob Dylan

tinytina19581 MSN said...


Hi Les!
1st Don't fall over yes it is me .  Is is Norman's
Tina HF & SY

les__f MSN said...

Hi Tiny Tina,........and yes I almost did fall over,............Glad to hear from you , How's the sunshine coast (roughly),,,,,,,,,,,,,,hahahahahha it was actually Ben's ,but now your making me head out on  another quest ,.and that will be to find some interior shots of a Norman's store,.......Although I'm not sure if they are still around,.........Thanks for the idea kiddo,................and Good to Hear form you

maggiemck MSN said...

If you are talking about Norman's Patate Frites, yes, there is at least still one in Verdun.

les__f MSN said...

Back to buildings around Montreal,..........this undeniably is a shot of Buildings Around Montreal,.......(one view anyway)   ............. ..............in keeping with the A-ROUND  Montreal,.......here's an old shot of Montreal ,with the McIntyre Building n the forefront............ here's another close up of Montreal........................... ..............and Here's an interior shot of a well known Montreal Building get out your Pennies & chuck 'em into the basket when it comes around:   ...............................Montreal ......a great place for All

les__f MSN said...

Check out the billboard on top of one of the buildings,.advertising Pontia Taxi??  I didn't know that Pontiac had been around this long.......   .....or is that an ad for Pontiac Automobiles??  and whats the #1542, ...or is this an old phone number  PONTIAC 1542 (PO-1542) ........anyone have an idea??

les__f MSN said...

Anyone know where this is,??................I'm sure someone can pinpoint this spot,.....I do not recognize it,....but I would think that those steeples in the background,can help determine where,the shot is taken from? JMH,.........Guy,............Ed..........Jimmy(kungfu),..........You guys know the city fairly well,...........any ideas................   Looks like some sort of running track in the foreground,......but where??

les__f MSN said...

Getting a little closer to those steeples it seems,....these are the same ones I think? and I think I know where it may be,.....but still not certain.....How About You   Now here's a laneway...........................they were great to play in as a kid .........How about a 'street party ' of sorts,......I like the sign ,about plastic bags .....................There's your virtual visit to Montreal for awhile (I've got stuff to do...............hahahahahah)                  "Enjoy your ThanksGiving Sunday"

les__f MSN said...

Just had to ad this shot of Bonsecour Market: the colour in the photo,just struck me as a little different,and really seems to set off the old Building   ...............................................................HF&RV

jmhachey MSN said...

Hi Les ! I think that the church (re: Buildings around Verdun/Montreal, message 50) is Eglise Ste-C챕cile 7390, avenue Henri-Julien H2R 2B2 http://www.lieuxdeculte.qc.ca/fiche.php?LIEU_CULTE_ID=59073&LieuSuivant=246&LieuPrecedent=244&debut=225&nlieux=298&type_requete=lieu&lignes=25&RefMunicipalite=66025&mrc=66023 JM

mom1945-linda MSN said...

JM, Guy, Ed, Kungfu So nice to know that we have our own "on-the-spot" historians, and thanks for taking time to help find pictures and answers to our questions.   Merci beaucoup!   Cheers.

edbro68 MSN said...

Les, I seem to remember an old track and field park behind Gadbois Pool near Notre Dame. There was a renovation center on St.Paul Road which later converted to a used auto parts joint. I think it was called St.Paul Auto Parts. This is a possibility. Ed

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Hi Les, Pertaining to the phone number in message 48, the pontiac exchange was pontiac 6. At least it was were I lived in Verdun, Trenmore 2681 became Pontiac 6-2681. Funny how some things stick in our brains after almost 50 years. But that is the kind of thing I enjoy so much at this site. To be able to put in my 2 cents worth, Ruth

bobb MSN said...

Wonderful shots of Montreal , Les. Love those skyline shots from the mountain. No place like it!

BobB

bombog2004 MSN said...

That's a super lane shot, Les!  Do you have any more?   Jack

les__f MSN said...

Hello Jack  Bombog,.......I will try to find more lane pics,.....(are you referring to msg #50??),.........becuase I notice that Maggie or Sharon has added a nice back lane shot ,...on the front page today,.........We sure never had swimming pools in our backyards as a kid,.......there was no room ,with the old sheds and all: .

guy5479 MSN said...

Les-F, Don't forget we had (have) the biggest and best swimming pool in town, the natatorium. Guy

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

thought it was pontiac 7...in Crawfordpark...could be
wrong tho.
john
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mom1945-linda MSN said...

55 years ago, the telephone prefix in Ville Emard:  PO7-3397 and PO6-8925.  Like Ruth said, some things stay with you forever.   Cheers.

mom1945-linda MSN said...

One of those "just remembered" thoughts:   Before the PO7-3397 our telephone prefix was HEmlock 3397.  There was also, I believe, a taxi company called Hemlock Taxi.   Cheers.

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

Does anyone know how Liz Adams is doing..Jim Adams
wife..She was a nice person, my wife and I thought so
highly of both of them..
John & Heather

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

just love those just remember thoughts....i think verdun and crawfordpark was a great place to grow up in... I have so many just remember thoughts about those places...soon my wife and I will be going to verdun & Crawfordpark  to  look around for old time sakes.. John & Heather

les__f MSN said...

Remember this old building:   .............................the old Montreal Star Building How about this place:   .............................Does it ring a 'bell'

les__f MSN said...

Anyone recognize this old building?   ...the old Tramway Building...................................................

waynefeb2940 MSN said...

John Taylor Saw your query re Liz Adams.  I talked to her once after Jim died and she was hanging in ok. Her address and phone number are below.  Maybe you could give her a call and lets us know how she is..   Wayne Brien           J R  Adams
514 Anderson Dr
Cornwall, ON K6H 5N3
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dzldawg1 MSN said...

Thanks Les for the Star picture, my dad worked there for years as a pressman until it closed and then when the Gazette took over the building he worked for them until he retired. Also I remember the phone prefex PO standing for POntiac and Hemlock taxi being in the same block as Kosta's

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

were all the sheds in Verdun used for a coal bin...Ours  were..  

maggiemck MSN said...

We had a big oil tank in our back shed.

les__f MSN said...

Hi JOHNMELINVIN2,.....  I think that was the idea initially,,...seems many of the sheds I Remember were at one time used for coal,......and then of course many switched to Fuel Oil as the primary source of heat,..and then Natural Gas,.... Some people who had a self contained house,had the coal bin in a corner of the basement,........ but with all those years of storing coal (coal dusr remnants ),...it's no wonder those sheds would burn so quickly,........ Have to admit the lanes sure look a lot more usable,....you can have a backyard ,and actually sit out there,without being shadowed by a shed,.or have garbage strewn about,...(they pick up the garbage out front these days),.. but Maggie had a picture of a laneway,on the front page the other day,showing a few yards with above ground pools in them,.......never saw those when I was a kid (not in Verdun anyway)

jmhachey MSN said...

Hi Les ! Nice pic of the old tramway bldg on Craig W. (now St. Antoine W.) Does someone recognize this building ?   Photo taken in Oct. 2006 JM

fresco750 MSN said...

Hi Jean-Marie, The Trafalgar Apartments-Walter

les__f MSN said...

Here's another building on the side of the Mountain: .......and another ,   ....................Montreal has some great looking buildings,....MaggieMck,mentioned that her daughter was even impressed or at least interested in the different architecture,......that's great,to Appreciate these neat old places,...that we were lucky enough to grow up with:

les__f MSN said...

Hi    JMH  ,....Here's a drive right by the building in your photo,... I can Remember walking up this hill: Interesting run from Mont Royal to Downtown,............ Hope you got t see the Bus Ride Videos,from the past few days,..... I'[m sure everyone is into these YouTube videos by now,....... Check this one out if you like m,withing a few seconds you will see the same building from your poste pic,....appear on screen,,,,,,,,,, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyL7tEjmpPo

les__f MSN said...

Hi Synergize,.........yes I Remember the old stove pipes,.....and when I was a kid ,I had to help clean these out,every so often,....can't recall if it was every year or not,...but at least every few years to clean the soot out,.......also Remember the sparrows wood fly into the chimney's to escape the cold ,...I guess till the stove came on...........Youch................

gpilon MSN said...

Hey Folks.   Just wondering whatever happened to the "Chat" option in this site? Is it still available? Thanks.

les__f MSN said...

Oddly enough Glen ,I believe yesterday was the final day ,of the Chat feature,..I'm sure MSN has it's reasons to discontinue the Chat,......and I guess it may become a pay type of feature,.......?But who knows , MSN is changing all the time ,.and perhaps they will replace it with  anew format ??, but as far as I know ,today is the 1st day without Chat

les__f MSN said...

An Autumn shot ,of Centre Ville,......Downtown                                              .......still look great no matter what season it is.....   ................Always looking good............................................Montreal

les__f MSN said...

Remember cruising down Notre Dame St,.........and when you got closer to the east end,..you could smell the Linseed Oil,fromsome of the plants when nearing Molson's or just past it.........   ..........Yes Notre Dame was quite the diversified street,..travelling throughout the island of Montreal,..............and then some......>>>>>>>>

les__f MSN said...

I would imagine a few of us have travelled this particular street a few times .............Look Familiar to anyone????????? Ok from Center in the Point,.....................to .........the Ackie................... ............Not a bad looking waterway,Can't help but think it could be used for recreation purposes by both communities on each side,.....Ville Emard/CoteStPAul,......and Verdun........(actually all the way to Lasalle as well................allow no boats ,but just kids & families to have fun,and float around on inner-tubes.......Would be easy to do,...and relatively safe :   ..........Imagine to be a kid again,......an have clean water spaces,...... ...............................................................................

les__f MSN said...

An here's an oldie from the Saint Denis/Beaubien area,....... .............note the ad on the billboard, promoting 'tubeless' tires, Remember when they first came about,........before that ,it was all tubes & patches....................................................and at this time of year ,you would start to plan for the particular weekend,that you would choose to 'put on your Winter Tires',........cause you didn't want to be caught by a surprise early snow..........................   ..................Now we 've had you from one end of montreal to the other, ............Hope you enjoyed your visit..................................

les__f MSN said...

A Montreal Night: ......................                            .............................                        .........................                           Mont-------------------------------------Real

les__f MSN said...

Hot Dog Joints all around the island,.... Michigans,.......Sous Marins,.........brochette,.............Steamies,..........              Food   all  around you,............Way before they came up with those, non-descript American Fast Food Joints ,............Montreal had food as fast as you wanted it,................and these are just some of the HotDog Joints,...... .......of course Smoked Meat stores are in no shortage either, and,,,,,,,,,,,,,Pizza,......(one of my favs too,......)..........and then there's the steak places,.......the BBQ Chicken Places, the Chicken & Rib Places, and we haven't touched the ethnic food yet,.... .........How come we are not all 300lbs,  ???m  hahahahahahaha Probably because we washed all that stuff down with a pile of Beer,......and not those calorie filled ,soft drinks they drink today,.......Real Beer,..Spruce Beer,........Root Beer,.....Ginger Beer,........................is there a theme 'brewing here'................hahahahahaha and we drank StLawerance River Water from the tap...............(before they cleaned up the river).....................So folks throw out that bottled water,....and those vitamin supplements,......and all those garden salads,.........etc etc ,......and start eating all that stuff that's no good for you:

jmhachey MSN said...

Hi Les ! Thank you for the superb photos of Montreal, the Point, ... Good videoclips (C척te-des-Neiges, Verdun, buses). Have a ice day ! JM

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

Yes..when i think of it today ,those sheds that stored
coal for the stove would burn fast..and to think my
older sisters & friends used to sneak in the sheds to
have a cigarette when they were young...scary
There was at least one above pool that i knew in
Crawfordpark Verdun above ground..can not remember the
street tho..Could have been Crawfordbridge street.
A rich family who owned a busniess had a beautiful
house there..

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Les_F RE message 85. Where are those Michigans being served North of the U.S. Border? Ruth

judy MSN said...

We often stop on Sources Rd at Lafleur's when we go to Montreal for a steamed hot dog, and I think they serve Michigans Ruth. Judy

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

and they serve Poutine,,the best in town..
John

biking2006 MSN said...

I have always had a facination of Crawford Park. My more affuent cousin lived there. Was it a part of Verdun or did it have it's own mayor? In the 50s I'm referring to.
Btw what about today?
S.A.

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

Always been part of Verdun, BUT when people asks where
your from, we always said Crawfordpark,. The alderman
and provincial senator, the O'reillys were from
Crawfordpark.all the sons are now firemen in the
verdun fire dept...Or they might have retired by
now.There were some three storey flats there, I lived
in one. Five bedrooms...Had seven sisters.





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les__f MSN said...

Another familiar ,business that's been around for quite a while,..... I Remember when there were Richelieu Stores,.....and I Remember when they had Metro grocery stores,......and it seems that these two have obviously merged at some point,.....and have recently taken over the A&P grocery chain,................There was a Richelieu (or Metro) on Wellington Street,btwn 5th & 6th av,...about 2 or 3 stores from the corner of 6th actually , there was a Laundramat right on the corner,...blah blah blah   This store looks quite big,............lots of shopping carts in there:   It does look like a nice store,..............Any of you shop there????

les__f MSN said...

Remember crossing this bridge every so often,...but it was really almost a forgotten bridge in the late 60's   That would be Angrion Park over the bridge,..........that was a nice escape from the city as well,in those days..........................(I'm not tryinh to rush the season,..but it's the only picture of this bridge ,that I've come across...........hahahahaha

les__f MSN said...

view from Crawford Park Bridge:.....looking towards Laverendrye Blvd     and here's another of the bridge,with it's newlook lights   and Here they are at night 'lit' up   Verdun renovated this old bridge,which apparently was very near to collapse at one point,.........I beleive it now is used by Cyclist & pedestrian 's alike ....................................Just a little visit back to Our Community, (I know it's not a buildin around Verdun/Montreal,....but a structure is OK too,.......................................)

edbro68 MSN said...

Les, I remember when the Farmers used to drive the Douglas Hospital cattle across that bridge to graze on the other side. I believe at that time it was called the Verdun Insane Asylum.  Ed

les__f MSN said...

I'm sure you will Remember these homes,that dotted the streets in Crawford Park,........this one happens to be on Champlain Blvd. there was also houses like these of course on Brown Blvd,from Beurling up to Champlain ,..............probably the same developper,.....or at least possibly,the same one,....They do like a lot alike It looks like it's very well kept,...neatly trimmed hedges,and lawn,verynice ............................this is for Our Ex-Crawford Park members...... and all us Verdun Crew...................................HF&RV

les__f MSN said...

Some Interesting planning did go into the mkaing of Verdun,........ here's some idea of the developping plavs they had: Perhaps Guy5479,.....can shed some light on this company: The Greater Montreal Land Co.   David Rochon the article mentions that Verdun's population 1 year before this ad,was 4500, and had (at the time of this ad) reached an astonishing 14,000......with speculation of it growing even larger,....................How Right they Were

les__f MSN said...

Ok  one more Crawford Park house ,.this one is on Fayolle St:   ...................Virtual visit to Crawford Park,......the last street in Verdun;along the Lasalle Border.............................................................

les__f MSN said...

Here's a different view of the familiar old Church,.....looks to me like this picture is taken from about half way up Galt, looking towards Wellington? What do you think,...........between the Church itself,and the priests accomodation,.....this is one (hell of a ) Big Building   .............................Ok I've changed my thought ,(I'm allowed),.....I now see it as having been taken from a little ways up Church Av,looking towards Wellington

les__f MSN said...

Another Laneway Picture,from Verdun,....this one reflects more what it's like nowadays, in Verdun...............where do they expect kids to hide,or stash their smokes (and other contra-ban),.............at least we had Sheds.........hahahaha   Man they could see you coming for a block at a time...........

les__f MSN said...

..and now one from the other Recognizable Church in Verdun,,,,,,,,,,, ..................and a Verdun Sunset in the bargain........   ..............and now that will conclude tonight's "Buildings around Verdun/Montreal".................................(at least my adding pictures,tonight) ..........Hope you all had a good tour of the City of Verdun.............

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Les Everytime I see a current picture of the lanes I am always amazed how many clothes lines there still are there   Ruth  

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Les

That Home delivery truck(I believe that is the translation,) in front of the
Metro stroe. Does that mean one can call in an order and it will be
delivered. I haven't had much exposure to the french language in 45 yrears
and had to pull the translation out of the old memory bank
Ruth

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johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

weren't these homes in Crawfordpark built for the war
veterans coming home.Think they went for $10,000 per
house..They had a very strong legion there, ( the old
stone house)..





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johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

nice picture  les..stood often on  Crawfordpark bridge...   John

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

I remember taking in the frozen clothes off the line for my mother in the winter..my longjohns  were frozen stiff as a board.. John

les__f MSN said...

Yes RuthArmstrong,....it does mean free delivery,......I imagine they have a minimum order charge,or something like that,......

les__f MSN said...

Yes Johnmelvinin2,............Taking in the clothes from the clothesline,.....when frozen,I Reemember having to do that on occasion too !  Also trying to squeeze those wooden clothes pegs,without twisting them and wrecking the peg:........or dropping them to the yard below: Have also seen the odd sparrows ,frozen solid on the line,& when you go to move the line they fell off: Those were the real cold days ,when the mercury,read -20 F,......which happened every winter for our 'coldspell' Those were the mornings I would stand in the hall near the stove to get warmed up & ready to head outside to school......................Brrrrrrrrrr and when it was so cold that the 'good snow for snowballs 'from the ay before became useless powder that would squeek & crunch under each footstep,..................always hated that sound of your boots crunching the dry cold snow.......................Standing waiting for a bus,or walking to school with friends,in those frigid temps,......but we survived.............hahahaha  

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

AH Yes...How cold it was in those winter days..one
could almost see their breath freeze..Winter was
winter then.Snow up to past your knees..

les__f MSN said...

Man some of these artists arer really good,........here's a building in Montreal   How do they get up so high,and also be able to visualise how the end product will look? ...................Some of them really are talented

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Although I agree that some of this "art/graffitti" is really good, I do think that it does a disservice to the architecture and history of the older-style buildings.  Makes it very hard for me to reconcile the two different eras.   Cheers.

les__f MSN said...

I Guess you all know where this is: Remember all those neat Cannons ,they seem to be everywhere(parks) when we were kids........................I like them:   Don't yell Fire.....................   Well there you have it from era to another:Just like the buildings a great mixture of new & old,..............Montreal has it all

les__f MSN said...

how's this for a mixture of New & Old,.....Montreal is definetly a cool city:   ..........................................Montreal.......................for one and all

les__f MSN said...

Yes Mom'45 I have to agree,.....I am not for ruining any buildings,..and I think it's too bad that some of these kids are really talented and cannot find a more suitable outlet,............but some of them really are pretty good: We have a building area here in Victoria ,where they (the local gov't) invited anyone to come and paint on a wall that lines the E&N railroad track,.....and they did a good job,....at one time it was just graffiti tags by local hoodlums ,..the usual non-deciphral crap,.....but since then ,they've had some interesting stuff ,and people now go there just to see it,..... So I suppose in somecases,the art/grafitti/vandalism does do some good: Afterall it's just perception I guess,..The town of Chemanus has made a name for itself with it's Murals ,.....and that I suppose is just another form of Art except they are a little more appealing ,...........hahahahaha

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Chemanius' slogan....."The Little Town that Could"   They were on the verge of going under, but their murals not only brought the town back to life, but put it on the map as "THE" place to visit when here on the Island.  We have often spent a warm summer day just wandering through the streets .   I have often wondered why some of the 'graffitti' artists (such as the ones who put their works of art on the New York Subway cars) don't get legitimate jobs as graphic designers, or better still as 'artists'....they're that good.  But, maybe I'm totally out to lunch and they do have legitimate jobs, and this is just a hobby to them.  Who knows?   Cheers.

les__f MSN said...

....................a couple more of Montreal ,..I like the colour in the trees,

lllllllfranticlllllll MSN said...

did you take the pics ? if so very very nice




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les__f MSN said...

Here's an old one ,that a few of you might like ,.the Bus experts,... Look at the throngs of  people lined up for each bus,.......Montreal apparently is one of the largest City's that have one of the largest riderships of Public Transportation,............and when I think of it,...it always semmed to be a lot of people on the bus's,............until you start driving & then I very seldom have ever been on a bus,(right to this day) I have ridden very few bus's since the early 70's.........

les__f MSN said...

Another shot near the Acqueduc buildings: .................and here's a random shot in Verdun,anyone pinpoint where it is??? ............and this is one of some apartment building ,I'm not certain where,but safe to include it in the 'buildings around Montreal' category

mom1945-linda MSN said...

I can remember waiting in those long lineups for the busses.  I used to get so ticked off when the first bus was jammed full, and you were next in line to get on, but before it could take off, the bus that was behind would open his doors.  Of course the people way down the lineup would be extremely happy.   Last time I took a city bus was 1988 (egads 18 years ago) back in Ottawa.  I wonder if they're as popular for getting around a city as they used to be, what with the metros and skytrains.   Cheers.

les__f MSN said...

Ok momma san ,says get ready to go out for dinner ,so I will leave you with this Modern Day B&W,.........of   Montreal's most famous street: ..................Saint Catherine ,................at night time,which was always a great sight,at one time anyway,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,   .................................Have a good Saturday Night wherever you all may be:

jmhachey MSN said...

Hi Les ! Thanks for the post of Phillips Square with all the Canadian Car/CC&F/Brill buses. Are you planning to try these new Victoria Regional Transit System / Novabus LFS ?   Can you localize this bus ? More BC buses at: http://www.etspe.ca/cptdb/index.php?s=043230f6983b1f1ee21cc5fb44ddd68b&showtopic=606 JM

les__f MSN said...

It's on Douglas St heading South towards the Emperess Hotel & Parliment buildings,...Douglas & Yates is pretty much right Downtown,......I will take a picture down there this week and post it ,..... and it's funny you ask about this Bus,....i was walking Downtown on Friday,and I did see a bus like this,and I thought it was an interesting design,......as to riding it,...I don't know ,..I never take the Bus,...but perhaps I should,.....there are a few Newer type Double Decker Bus's that I have often thought I would like to try,not the tourist old British type,..but rather a BC Transit Bus...............I am probably missing out on a whole different view of Victoria.............you have put some thoughts in my head ,.and I just might get around to doing that:.............

les__f MSN said...

Hi  again   JMH,.....here's a few picturess of a website dedicated to Bus's Knowing your appreciation of Bus's of all types ,I thought I'd post the link for you,and you can check it out for your self,.......... **Here is a BC Transit Canadian-built GMC New Look parked in downtown Vancouver, Canada. As of 1996, BC Transit had a large number of GMC New Looks (as well as New Flyers, Flyers and MCI Classics) in their bus fleet. Photo taken by me in August 1996.   http://web.utk.edu/~gallant/gmcbuses.html I think you'll find lots of neat old stuff,......but knowing you I would almost bet you have already been to this site.........

les__f MSN said...

JMH  Here's another link to old pictures & story's about Bus's   http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/bjgcelt/brlpc.htm ........Have Fun ....................

les__f MSN said...

..been in here a few times, .........Quite well built actually:

les__f MSN said...

Neat shot taken ,from behind a kitchen screen door,........of yet another lane in Verdun,......and again ,a pool in one of the yards,........without the sheds,.... it certainly opens things up and allows more light ,...Looks different but better,.........       Remember being reminded many times as a kid to 'Close the Door' hahahahaha  ...............then they got smart & put a return spring on the door, so you could let it slam,..........another often heard sentence in Verdun "Don't Slam the Door"...............hahahahaha  

les__f MSN said...

This looks very familiar,What do you think?   Remember it,.......where was it?..............

les__f MSN said...

Another shot from Verdun's Crawford Park area:   a lot of wires ,........and the familiar towers along the Acqueduct right of way:   It really was a nice part of Verdun,....looks neat & somewhat peaaceful like: ............................................Have Fun & Remember Verdun.............................

magmckiernon MSN said...

That looks like the "bell tower" of St. Clement's Church  

les__f MSN said...

Very good MaggieMck,.....................it's odd how we Remember jsut quick snippets of things,.....I guess  Verdun is indelibly marked in our memory banks,....and subconcious,we probably can recall many things when prompted:

les__f MSN said...

Hi  lllllfranticlllllll  No I didn't take those pictures,but I thought they were good too! I just saw your response ,sorry I didn't answer sooner,...i just didn't see the msg. I search all over the place for Montreal or Verdun pictures,....and seem to always find something to post...........    

les__f MSN said...

Aerial photo of the Douglas Hospital property,from a few years back,.......seems to be prior to the black wrought iron fence,........which I understand has since disappeared ................. That really was a large parcel of land ,wasn't it.....................Now didn't they also have community Gardens on the land too ?   I seem to Recall people growing vegetables & flowers ..............or am I mistaken ?

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

Yes, definitely, small part of that land was used for
gardening...Later they also built a YMCA on part of
the land.

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Les, I response to message 134. In my house it was "Close the door, where you born in a barn?"   Ruth

les__f MSN said...

Yes Ruth,.......I heard that one too,.......hahahahaha also  heard that "We're not trying to Heat ,the whole neighbourhood" hahahahahah or if we kids were just standing with the door open,.talking to a friend on the gallery or downstairs,....the directive from the authority figures (Mom) would  yell to  "Get In or Get Out"....."but close the door" Speaking of that old screen door,..Remember when Winter (late Fall) rolled around we would take the screen window out and put the glass window in,. also we would use btwn the two kitchen doors,to keep stuff cool,(Fridges were smaller then)BTW   you could hear the same "close the door"  requests if you stood too long at the Fridge too !!

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Remember in the winter .... the "double" windows that you hung on the outside...over your regular windows.  These also were removed in the spring.  We were the first on our block to get an aluminum front door that had a screen inset right in it!   Ahhhh.....yessssss.......the good old days   Cheers.

mom1945-linda MSN said...

At Christmas we used to gather at my aunt's/cousins house over in Crawford Park, on Ouimet Street, and the feast (turkey, potatoes, stuffing, etc) were all kept outside the side door to keep cold.  As kids we loved that place...a 'wartime' house with an attic we could play in.  But I digress...the food was kept outside and a couple of times it actually froze before we could eat it.   Cheers

les__f MSN said...

well here you  go want to buy a 5 apartments & 2 stores,in the 767Block of Church Avenue.............   ......."I've always said ,If I had my life to live over"              ------------I'd live Over a liquor store".................hahahahaha this building would be close,it's seems to have a Beer Vendor right downstairs.....................   ................Nows your chance to Invest in Verdun...........

guy5479 MSN said...

Les-F, That building is at the corner of Claude. I also took a picture of that building on the 25th of March of this year because I discovered that my wife was born there at 775 Rue de l'Église. I found this out in the Lovell's directory. Quite a coincidence. Unfortunately that section is not very commercial as people gravitate closer to Wellington. Guy

les__f MSN said...

Hi Guy Thanks for that info,......very coincidental indeed,......of all the commercial building I could have chosen,..I thought this one reminded very much of a real Verdun type of store & house,..............I was trying to picture roughly where that address was located,.....and now I know ,Merci Encore

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

Just think of all the people that has walked by that
depanneur...some now dead some still alive..

mom1945-linda MSN said...

My first reaction....."Is that thought ever gross".   My second reaction.....Egads that's exactly what I say whenever I visit a museum or an antiques exhibit.  It's kind of a compulsive thought process...I wonder what kind of life the previous owner had...where they lived....their occupation...etc.    I think the rest of my family think I'm nuts because I even have those thoughts when I visit second-hand or thrift stores (!!!!)   Cheers.

les__f MSN said...

Look at this building :   Now doesn't that look a lot like the City Hall In Verdun ? it's actually the City Hall in Vancouver................I wonder if it was designed by the same architect ?........sure looks similar

maggiemck MSN said...

Let's look at the pictures together......... There could be a difference in the number of floors?  

les__f MSN said...

Ok   No I guess it's a little different,.........but very similar   It also looks like the Vancouver building has a few more parts to it,.making it at least a bigger building,...............but stillmight be designed by the same firm ?? .............................

les__f MSN said...

Hey look at this ad,  good idea,and if you could start a movement of everyone renewing gallery's / balcony's,.........You have a lot of work ahead of you   Looks alright ,don't you think ??

guy5479 MSN said...

I prefer the old wooden structures. The aluminium structures are too imposing and take away the caracter of the old houses. You can't stop progress but the aluminium structures could have been designed to at least resemble the original galleries. What do members think ? Guy

les__f MSN said...

That is a good point Guy,.....but these newer galleries do resemble the balconies/gallery's of some I can recal in places like Rosemount,just a larger (more usable space,to play on as a kid) but the ones in Rosemount (back then) were of course made of Wood,....that's the look I think,the builder here was aiming at,.........but Yes Montreal/ Verdun's whole character is more along the lines f the wrought iron work,.which in itself would have been made by an artisan or a very skilled iron worker,......probably unaffordable at today's rates,.....but would definetly look better,.........  

mom1945-linda MSN said...

I like the look of the 'spiral' staircases.  There was a picture Les_F posted of a back laneway that also had the straight staircases.  Not as much character, imho.   Cheers.

les__f MSN said...

Yup,....Character,.....that's Verdun (Montreal too),.........                                           "L'Escalier"              (did I spell that right??)   ..........Might not be too far off to see this on the streets of Verdun,..a light dusting & still falling leaves..................Looks Great

guy5479 MSN said...

That's exactly what I mean Les-F, give me the old look anytime.Luckily we have those old photographs to remind us of the original architecture. Guy

edbro68 MSN said...

Speaking of architecture. There are very few galleries that still have the round, hollow wood support posts. They started changing from round to square in the fifties. I'm not sure what the center is. Ed

mom1945-linda MSN said...

I appreciate the use of the word "galleries" instead of 'balconies'.  My dad was a carpenter by avocation, and the round posts he made were plywood, scored on the inside (to make them formable) which he then nailed onto round pieces on the top and bottom.    _ _ _ _ _                       |_|_|_|_|_|    like this on the inside, smooth on the outside.     Cheers.

edbro68 MSN said...

That's wonderful, Mom. I always wondered how they got wood to be round and smooth. When those galleries were painted every two years they would last several lifetimes. I remember when the stairs were wood and straight but when they started widening the roads and sidewalks the spiral stairs were shorter.      Ed

les__f MSN said...

Another familiar building in Montreal,.whch of course has served two mainstays of the City,.......and which remains now the Only one with a long history of continous service,............................and a neat plain sign                           "THE GAZETTE"   I suppose most of us have ventured around this area,once or twice..........

les__f MSN said...

Ok,  so this one isn't a building around Montreal,...it's a Painting of a street ,we all know,and of buildings we have most likely been in,......I would bet at least 3 or 4 of the stores on this block ,have had a few of us visit on occasion whilst growing up in Montreal: .A painting by   William Morris........very colourful

les__f MSN said...

Peel & StCatherine...................ever heard of it ? What's the load speaker for,...does it announce the name of the street too ?  hahahahah..........  here's a link to the webcam that should be right above somewhere:     http://www.montrealcam.com/en-visitation.html  

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

many times


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mom1945-linda MSN said...

This must be an old picture.  "The Gazette" written in english only......I don't think so!!!   Cheers.

les__f MSN said...

'Fraid so  Mom,   ..............I thin you got some 'splainin to do Linda(Lucy)............hahahahah My bet is the most the language police could get them for is "le" instead of the,.........but I'm sure it has something to do with a corporate logo,...whatever..........................but thanks for making me find another picture

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Geez, your good Les_F.   Of course with the words The Dominion Square Building carved right into the facade, what difference would "Le" Gazette make?   I guess I jumped the gun, I shoulda just looked at the model of cars parked out front of the building.   Ya got me on that one......guess I'll go to my room now and stand in the corner.   Cheers.    

les__f MSN said...

Don't do that Mom45,..........a good friend of mine years ago gave me this advice            Never Stand ,when you can Sit,         & Never Sit ,when you can Lay Down     .....so as long as your off to your room ,make good use of it, and always Remember what the Wisde old Irish Woman used to say,            In Life ,there two things ,that you should buy the Best of:            1:  The best pair of Boots you can buy            2:   The Best Bed you can buy. .........................................the Reason was ,cause,---- ----"If your not inone Your in the Other....................hahahahahaha                                                    ---------Good Night Everyone--------

les__f MSN said...

Back to buildings around Montreal,............ .........Remember this old familiar spot"   Here's another bakery too ! called Matzoh of Montreal,on Rue du Rocher Man we had a lot of interesting places in Montreal,...that's what I find interesting (& rarely tiresome) is the Rich History & Heritage ,that we all seem to relate to,...........we've said it before,...                                                         .............in Montreal ,we had it all

les__f MSN said...

Well sorry for the size of this picture,I know it's a pain to have to scroll from side to side,.....or up & down,...........but it really is a neat picture of an old ,very old,.....building in Montreal,.............Remember this place ?     Well this really is a very large picture ,Sorry about that,.......but that about the size of it...............hahahahha   "Gare Windsor Station"

les__f MSN said...

Traces of two older Montreal buildings etched on the sides of an existing building,............sort of Ghostly a bit,.....a lot of history has passed this way,   Really gotta like the real old Stone House on the lower portion of this building,......I'll bet we (most of us) pass by interesting old places everyday,no matter where we live,....but in most cases we do not see ,what is right in front of us.................Take Pictures my friends,as they will be around longer than we will,.....and just may tell a good story for future History seekers:

les__f MSN said...

          Arret Already,                                                         Oh Just Stop

les__f MSN said...

Now is it my imagination,....or is this Jets Engines,.......blowing a little blue ?...............hahahahah   Sure look likee there smoking to me,Guess there lucky to have come across that four leaf clover down below..........   anyone know whereabouts this clover leaf is,....must be on approach to Dorval I would imagine.................................................  

les__f MSN said...

Another well travelled route for most of us at one time or another,....this photo should appeal to many ,as it's around Montreal,.......and it contains a very old Bus,......I'm sure can be identified by Our resident Bus expert JMH,..as well as a few others,....and it shows an old train overpass,with the old CNR insignia painted on the side:       This is on Bridge Street near Wellington (circa 1944)

dzldawg1 MSN said...

If the clover leaf is near Montreal then I would say it's the junction where route 20 and route 40 meet to get you to the big TO.

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

your absolutely right...we all look at old buildings
but don't see the importance...we should take picture
for sure..I remember the ice house in Crawfordpark,
but no one to my knowledge had a picture of it..yet me
and my parents walk by there thousands of
time..including the power house..old stone house on
lasalle blv.

john

les__f MSN said...

Remember 'Dominion Textiles' used to be a real busy place at one time: ..............Now this next photo is of montreal from a Coursol St Rooftop,in Little Burgundy:   ...literally from 'buildings in and around Montreal'.......

guy5479 MSN said...

Les, Can't you downsize your photos ? Guy

les__f MSN said...

Hello Guy,...those last pics were using the size as the original photographer had them posted on whichever site I had come across them,.... but thes ones fit easily in the message ,.at least from what I can see from this end,.....I have had the odd one which was a bit too large,.and then the viewer would have to scroll from sided to side or up & down,......but generally this isn't the case: I could download each pictures to my computer,then change the size ot format,.then re-post (and use up my storage space from MSN).I prefer to do it this way,but I will try not to post pictures that are too big,......this may mean I won't know till I post the message,.then I would have to 'delete it' (and we all know how sensitive,some are to delete's .........hahahahaha) but if anyone want s to save these photo's or any that I've posted ,they can save them & downsize them from there,this would save them storage space as well,..... I also review some of my msg's & pictures,from other machines around the city here,.and with few exceptions have I seen really large photo's........but I will try to keep that thought in mind........as I mentioned,.if I'm posting pics from my computer's ,memory then I would have more control over sizing.........sorry about that

les__f MSN said...

Well this shot is before my time,...but it seems Montreal has always had some big market places,.........                                        Marche St Antoine  (circa 1920) .........sort of has an Old Montreal Forum look to this marketplace:

les__f MSN said...

I can Remember seeing the movie "It's a mad,mad,mad,mad,World" in this old Theatre,..........the Imperial,on Bleury (I think it is) ........and the signs advertised 'Seen in Technicolor'...............whoopee hahahahaha.................................................   ........odd for a Theater,to not have a monstrous Marquis,.......but I think it did have in the ealry 60's ?   I have other Theater pictures around ,so I'll see if I can find one showing the marquis (if it had one)

les__f MSN said...

Past by here many times,.....and it's a fixture in Verdun,for sure,.......probably one of the most prominent buildings on Verdun Avenue,......(the other stand out style building,being the City Hall)....but technically the City Hall is ot on VerdunAv..........what other distinct building were on Verdun Av,....the Legion,.....,   ...................................................................Verdun..............................

les__f MSN said...

Look up on the roof of this station,...there is an old Siren,up there,...Remember when they used to test the Siren's around Verdun,,,,,,protecting us from imminent attack by the Russians,..and these Sirens would let us know to duck,roll,& cover,.........or if in school ,to sit under the desk,....just till after the Atomic Explosions stopped................hahahahahah   .........the way the world's going ,they should start 'Testing' those old Siren's.

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

we all are very lucky that you have these old black
and white pictures..Dress code is so diferrent then
today..If we had no past to think of,,we would have no
future..
John
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les__f MSN said...

This picture may be large,but it's a neat montreal shot,.right down to the MTC logo on the Bus that is driving by:   .......I imagine the name lithium on the bottom of the picture is the owner of the photo,I don't think it's mandatory to take lithium to view it..........hahahaha

les__f MSN said...

A good view of Beaver LAke,........and look at how many people are there waling around .......there that's better,a little smaller anyway,.......................................................

les__f MSN said...

Remember the 'potholes'..................Montreal had more than their share of these little axle benders........................................ .......................................................Remember having to be on the lookout for a splash from a passing car or bus/truck................always be aware

rutharmstrong MSN said...

Les Funny how you happen to mention potholes. Today I had to go to my local shopping center anfd on the way out was watching for a pothole because several days before,I drove trough it and its a wonder I did not get a flat tire. Had never had that experience here in Florida in 11 years. I made a pont to drive around it and the thought that went through my mind was, it was like spring back home. Ruth

les__f MSN said...

Yes the b&w's always seem to add more character to a scene,........well here's another montreal street scene..................   Always great to see these old shots of Montreal,................I thought this one is rather similar to the one JMH posted,.....Although this one is closer to Downtown than the other....................................

les__f MSN said...

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and Here you go,.........Montreal >>>>>>>> At Night,                                a Good Night,at that.........   ..................and I'll add my 'Good Night' at that too..............hahahahaha

les__f MSN said...

Nothing says Good Night,......at least a good Montreal Night,like StCatherine lit up,.....to beat the band.................................. Here's a shot that I think is great,and if this doesn;t conjure up memories of Montreal Nights gone by,.......then I guess you never lived there: Have a real good look at this picture & it seems StCatherine just continued on & on.......endlessly,with a parade of lights................(still a two street,at this time)...............................Remember cruising StCatherine: it was too ,cool for school//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

kungfu MSN said...

191   looks like Ste Catherine    Ogilvy's on N E COrner and  Birks on S W corner  , you know  Les , I read just about everything you post and for some reason have not been responding, just want you to know that I apreciate what you mean to us all , hang tough   Jimmy

daleb4 MSN said...

Birk's is correctly identified. But my recollection is that the buildings on the opposite side of the street are Morgan's (later taken over by The Bay) (bottom corner), Anglican Church (Christ Church Cath?) above that and then Eaton's at the top. My uncle worked at Morgan's in their art department and was responsible for store decorating. He used to give my family lovely decorations to use after the store no longer wanted them.   I definitely agree that these picture are priceless and bring back absolutely wonderful and very special memories. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who make such a huge effort to provide interesting information. I can feel the love. It's great.   Dale

winnie3ave MSN said...


Les. As always....you have come thru again. What great pictures. Takes us all bad to a wonderful time when downtown was  quite the place to go. Everything seemed so alive. On our last visit, which was quite a few years ago, it was like a slum. Young druggies roaming the streets, buildings boarded up, filthy conditions. What a heart breaker. Hopefully that has changed. Thanks again Winston Allison



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kungfu MSN said...

Dale you are 100% right, Morgans it is , don't know why I said Ogilvy's which is further west , and Winnie , Montreal Shines , Maybe you were looking to closely, Montreal is a big city with big city problems, however allow me to tell you its still a great and vibrant city, I understand where most of you are coming from, I stayed, Seppies drive me nuts, however , I have found that there are more good people than that lot, having said that I can also understand the shock of coming back, but its still the same ole city, I LOVE IT , hang tough Jimmy

les__f MSN said...

Yes I can Remember visiting Montreal,and being disappointed ,that a lot of the storefronts along StCatherine were boarded up,and looking rather sad, but I know that Montreal was constantly renewing itself over the years,.and these areas(not all yet) have been revamped,.....I think most of us start any tour of StCatherine from Atwater (the old Forum ,...the only Forum),......and head east down St Catherine,...and this area was once being boarded up quickly,....the old Texan ,closed, the Forum closed (before becomming the theater comples it is today),......then further along the Movie Theater's started to close,...the Legendary Toe Blake's Tavern ,closed (around 83),........but I understand now that Concordia now resides in the old Fauberg Towers,which housed the Tavern,........So slowly ,but with certainty,Montreal is being revitalised,........especially along the waterfront as we've discussed,....and now perhaps ( at least hopefully) SaintCatherine,will be completely restored and spruced up to become that Very Much Alive Street,that we all Remember: ......now part of Concordia The Faubourg Tower, home of Continuing Education and the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, is a newcomer to the Concordia family, but the site has a rich heritage. The complex sits on land leased from the Grey Nuns in 1925. It has seen a car showroom, a bowling alley, a pool room, and the legendary Toe Blake's Tavern (1952-1983). The adjoining three-storey food court and underground cinema are where a big Pascal's hardware store once thrived. The new office tower, bought by Concordia in 1997, was originally intended to be a hotel. Concordia, is really acquiring a lot more property all the time,it's a lot different than the original building that saw the Riots in the late 60's, Montreal is rebounding from many years of turmoil (which I would say ,was directly the fault of major Political Blunders,under some of the extreme regimes that held power (that's another story),....... However Congratulations are in order to the City for making Our old Hometown ,a Place to be Remembered Once Again ...................I don't know if they've rebuilt or updated the facades of the buildings ,from Atwater to say Guy St, but they have started,........ Jimmy (kungfu),......has this famous stretch of StCatherine been completely cleaned up now? (other than the ones I've mentioned) I have not been back in person for about 5 years now,so we need some present day Montrealer's(and I know,we still have a few members,still living at home),who can give us an update,.....maybe on one of your trek's to teh BelllCentre ,you could check out old StCatherine for us,............................I wish there were better webcams,available ,but unfortunately only the one at Peel & StCatherine is available right now,and it's not the most exciting,........hahahahaha http://www.montrealcam.com/en-visitation.html  

les__f MSN said...

We've had this site posted in the past,...and shared some of their old pictures ,of familiar buildings ,business's churches,...etc etc,....but they have updated their website,.so have a look,.in many cases,you will see a photo,..of what the buildings may look like today,....but move your cursor over the same photo,and it will bring up the same shot form decades ago,.... This is fairly new for this particular site,...So check it out,..and you'll find lot's of relatively interesting stuff,from StHenri,.........another large part of all of our History...................... http://mybis.net/itp/Montreal/html/sthenri56.html Search around the site,...it will(or should open on the Redpath Buildings,along the lachine Canal)..............................

les__f MSN said...

Look at the name on the Bus: ............a couple of more old Bus's in front of one of the Ymca's in Montreal   ............................Field Trips.............

mom1945-linda MSN said...

I remember my mom telling me that back in the late 1930's there used to be bus trips to "Nowhere".  For a set amount you would hop on and the bus would take you on a full day-trip somewhere.   You weren't told beforehand where the destination was, but she said you always got your money's worth!   Does anyone else remember these trips?   p.s. What tiny windows those buses had, eh?  And no airconditioning, eh?

sandy19465 MSN said...

This message has been deleted by the author.

les__f MSN said...

Forgot just how much usage Montreal Rinks got in the Winter: Looks like it needs to be cleared,....Remember grabbing a snowplow shovel,..and we'd all skate around the rink ,like a human zamboni,......but we got the rinks cleared,........and also created some great 'standing room' rinkside spots to watch a game,..........(and find those wayward pucks in the snowbanks..too...........hahahaha) Check out this notice & the tremendous efforts done by organizers,.(mostly volunteer's I'd imagine)...............but here's a notice saying that there would be 72 teams from various areas around the City (Montreal) that would be participating in Verdun Hockey Tournament.......(We really didn't realise the ,work that a lot of people did for us.....Thanks to all of them ,.& all those who volunteer their time nowadays to Help kids......... some of Our own members here like COACH BIM ,share a lot of their time ,to make sure kids have some fun & learn some life lessons,.......Thanks to all those ,who do these things..........Sports are Important,but Teaching Kids anything is especially important ,Keep up the good work:   72 Organized Teams ,..............a little co-ordinating  done there,that's for sure

les__f MSN said...

Here's a Good lesson to learn,   at age 79,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,wow ,now that's an achievment.........          I like the lesson -----------  "                                        "It is NEVER,.     too  LATE" !!!  

les__f MSN said...

Well  I don't Remember hearing this before,.......but            Sir George Williams,.............was the founder of the YMCA  did you know that ? George Williams George Williams, born on a farm in 1821, came to London 20 years later as a sales assistant in a draper's shop, a forerunner of today's department store. He and a group of fellow drapers organized the first YMCA to substitute Bible study and prayer for life on the streets. By 1851 there were 24 Ys in Great Britain, with a combined membership of 2,700. That same year the Y arrived in North America: It was established in Montreal on November 25, and in Boston on December 29. The idea proved popular everywhere. In 1853, the first YMCA for African Americans was founded in Washington, D.C., by Anthony Bowen, a freed slave. The next year the first international convention was held in Paris. At the time there were 397 separate Ys in seven nations, with 30,369 members total. The YMCA idea, which began among evangelicals, was unusual because it crossed the rigid lines that separated all the different churches and social classes in England in those days. This openness was a trait that would lead eventually to including in YMCAs all men, women and children, regardless of race, religion or nationality. Also, its target of meeting social need in the community was dear from the start. George Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894 for his YMCA work and buried in 1905 under the floor of St. Paul's Cathedral among that nation's heroes and statesmen. A large stained glass window in Westminster Abbey, complete with a red triangle, is dedicated to YMCAs, to Sir George and to Y work during the first World War. .......Sir George Williams ,knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894                                        (well I have to put that in the ,'learn something new everyday).................it's amazing some of the things and names we take for granted ,without really knowing the significance..........  am I just getting old................hahahahahaha  and starting to pay attention?

winnie3ave MSN said...





Les. Good one on the YMCA.... I know that in movies many years ago that the young ladies who were "from out of town" would stay at the YWCA's. Male visitors were strictly regulated. they could only meet male friends in the lobby.  AHHHHHHH------the good old days.
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johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

great picture les
you could see the snow on the ice...I remember often
scrapping the ice snow off the ice..Next also to see
all those people on it..Wonder where they are today..
John




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les__f MSN said...

I'm sure some of you have had a hotdog here,....and maybe shot a game or two ?   If you were here,.....you had a hotdog,.....unless of course you just filled up on Smoked Meat across the street..............................

les__f MSN said...

Have a look past the Montreal Forum (pre 1968) ,but look down Saint Catherine,.....and you can see all the way down and make out the Seville Theater sign,.....as well as a few other old Montreal landmarks,........ (sorry for the size of the picture,but it's taken from a website and not altered)   I still like it as an old Montreal Picture..................................

les__f MSN said...

We have seen some of these before,..but old B&W's of Montreal are cool anytime,..........here's a StDenis shot,....but the activity of te city seems to always come through in these old photographs:   ..................Montreal just screams  'Character'   (at least in my thinking)

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