I also took the following photos yesterday.
Guy
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.
43 comments:
In the bottom photo Beaurling & Brown,...you can almost see the very corner building,SW corner,......a friend of mine used to own the Video Beaurling store,as well as a little Depanneaur immediately behind it,.....He sold it about 5 or 6 years ago,.... also it used to be a Grocery Store (the whole thing) during the late 60's and early 70's,,,,,,,I forget the name,....... Thanks for the pictures Guy,./................ Is the bridge at 4th avenue and the Acqueduct still ,that big arch style,.....it was the only bridge along the Acqueduct that had character: .......picture taken from the photo album Verdun 2003 (on page 4 of albums link) posted by Gord.........great picture.............Thanks
Les, Yes, the bridge is still there. Its been there since the 30s and the 40s as I remember well from my groing up in Verdun. Guy
Les, I will take a picture from the other direction so that we can see the SW corner on my next trip to Verdun, probably Saturday. Guy
Thak You Guy,much appreciated..............
Les, There is a bicycle trail now along the aqueduct made of asphalt so you don't get the muddy condition as shown on your photo. Guy
Merci Guy pour les belles photos JM
That picture of the bridge at 4th Avneue certainly brings back memories. From the front room of the house at the top of 6th. and Champlain you could see it clealy. My buddy Paul Hein and his parents used to live there. Sadly, Paul passed away 5 years ago.
But my memory is looking at that bridge one afternoon many many years ago (in the 60's) and realizing there were a couple of kids walking on the arches!!! Blew me away.
BobB
Hi Bob,......I have seen that too ,a few times climbing over the arches,was done by quite a few,....I tried it,...but could never get enough traction to get past that point of no return,........(glad I didn't, now that I think about it) some kids could do it so easy,(or at least made it look easy) but that is a neat old bridge .....I wonder if they have made it harder to get up on now (with a fence or something) Have to say ,though that I can't recall ever hearing of anyone falling off or getting hurt,......saw kids jump off the lower part,to swim in the Acqueduct......( I never did that either)..........but I do Remember people fishing from under these bridge,.or close to them,...
My brother, mother and I, wearing our Sunday best, would cross that bridge to attend mass at Our Lady Gate of Dawn, (Ausro Varta (sp), the Lithuanian church on the other side into Ville Emard. We lived on Brown then and I hated to have to get all dolled up to see the Lord. Easter Sundy, my mother would insist we take photos of everyone in our new outfits, near the aqueduct/bridge. I can remember slippy down the slope looking up as my photo was taken. Dolly
Hi Sabby,.do you still have those pics around,.they would be neat to see, I Remember a big church on the other side (ville Emard/CoteStPaul side). It had a huge stained glass on the front,....I think it was Holy Cross Church or something like that..........as you went over the bridge from Verdun,.the church was to the left,.and to the right of the bridge was a really large park,that seemed to run from Joliceaur,......quite a ways down towards Church Av,....football/soccer fields ??? they ran right along laverendrye blvd
Les ...Holy Cross Church was on Jolicoeur street above Laurendeau, near the corner of Eadie, and almost opposite Holy Cross School.... Dianne
No, that would be the Lithuanian church--- Ausro Varta or in English it's called Our Lady Gate of Dawn. The stain glass is of the Virgin Mary. Quite a beautiful church built by the Lithuanian community after they immigrated to Ville Emard/Verdun after the war. . My mother sang in the choir and I recall midnight mass and the church decorated in all its splendour. Huge real fir trees and nativity scene adorned the altar area. And there was this blue glow around the church from the lit trees outside. It felt very magical and like a scene out of a movie, it was always snowing as we left the church and walked home in the cold to Brown Blvd. I remember Midnight Mass and sitting in the darkened church, listening to the organ and choir hum in the background and as midnight approached, the lights came on to the loud strains of Hallelejah. Boy did I ever wake up then! After Midnight mass, we gathered in the basement to socialize and eat sweet baked goodies like "ears" made of flour and coated with icing sugar. In later years when I returned, the real fir trees at the altar were replaced by a couple of artificial ones. Sad. The population is dying and the young people don't attend. I have photos somewhere and maybe one of these days I'll find them. I don't have a scanner so will have to find out how to post photos. I'm not technically inclined. Dolly
Les, see my post. Dolly
Thanks HD2,.........What is the Church I'm thinking of,...it had a very large arch type stained glass,right on the front of the Church,..and the building could be seen as you crossed the bridge (Rainbow bridge),.and seemed to be set back ,quite a ways,....but seen from Laverendrye Blvd,.....easily ? Do you know which one I'm thinking of?
Oh Ok Thanks Sabby,.I tought it was a window of Mary,.....I guess I just thought it was Holy Cross,.........(don't tell anyone,.but I escaped the grasp of the Church early...........hahahahaha)........and as I've mentioned before spent many a dime destined for the collection plate,in the Candy Store down from StWillibrod's Church............hahahahahah Oh Oh here we go again
Les....I am not surprised!!!! Sabby....my kid sister went to the day care run by the nuns from your church. I lived on Angers Street corner of DeSeve and your church was on Drake corner of DeSeve......It was a beautiful church, I remember the stained glass window. Dianne
HD2 is this the one you were talking about,.it's listed as 1960 Laurendeau I haven't found the one I'm thinking of yet,.....but it wasn't this one
Les, yes, that is the one and thanks for posting it.....really looks old, doesn't it? Dianne
That's the street Di. Yes, the nuns had their residence across the street. I was bombarded by one Order on the weekends and then the CND's during the week at school. That's okay Les, I fled as soon as I could too! I was also in the Girl Guides but it was the Lithuanian version. I went a couple of Saturdays in the church basement. We were called Scoutou (bad spelling). I also took Lithuanian classes in the Church basement on Saturdays so I'd keep up the language ansd culture. But I've lost it, so now when I speak to my mother, it is partly Lithuanian and partly English. Just never kept it up. You can only do so much when you're in survival mode. Dolly
Les and Di, I remember going to Holy Cross Church also because I went to Holy Cross School for Grades 1, 2 3 and 4. Used to go there with the class for confession, but my Holy Communion and confirmation were at Our Lady Gate of Dawn. Dolly
Confession......now there is something to talk about.... Di
Re Confessions, Di. As a 6,7,8, etc year old, I never knew what to confess, so I always had the standard 4, 1. Ate meat on Friday 2. Hit my little brother 3. Disobeyed my parents 4. Told a lie (Even if I didn't do any of these things!) That'll be 3 Hail Marys and 3 Our Fathers, and may God be with you! I remember. I understand that eating meat on Friday is now okay. I couldn't understand as a child how the definition of sin could change! Dolly
Dolly...I did the same thing...made up sins to confess...wasn't that a lie in itself? If you want to know why I'm so screwed up? It is because I was brought up Catholic and my mom was a protestant....so there was a lot of confusion in my life.....like I was really worried that my dad was going to heaven and us kids, but my mom was going to hell! I came home bawling quite a few times over that one and when my kid sister was born, I was 20 years old and mom had had it with all the catechism so sis went to Connaught School. Dianne
Naw, you're not screwed up Di. We went through normality for that time. One of my friends was in the same situation but Catholicism won over. She's a dear heart and her family was great to me! It's interesting though to look back and reflect! Dolly
Dolly I married a Catholic and we raised our kids Catholic, but the they went to public schools here and to Sunday School classes on Sunday. One daughter practices the other doesn't. Life goes on..... Dianne
Still looking for the other church,but found some more pics of te old HC , ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Back to my search,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I've always thought there was alot truth in these lyrics from the Irish Rovers song .......the Orange & the Green, one paragraph / stanza , makes more sense than most to me anyway (have to have a sense of humour) One day my Ma's relations came round to visit me.
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sitting down to tea.
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight.
And me, being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight. ...........................................................................................Here's the Lyrics, disguised as That Awful Colour Problem,......of the Orange & the Green Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
My father was an Ulster man, proud Protestant was he.
My mother was a Catholic girl. From county Cork was she.
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough,
Until the day that I was born. Then, things got rather tough.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
Baptized by Father Reilly, I was rushed away by car,
To be made a little Orangeman, my father's shining star.
I was christened "David Anthony," but still, inspite of that,
To my father, I was William, while my mother called me Pat.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
With Mother every Sunday, to Mass I'd proudly stroll.
Then after that, the Orange lodge would try to save my soul.
For both sides tried to claim me, but i was smart because
I'd play the flute or play the harp, depending where I was.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
One day my Ma's relations came round to visit me.
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sitting down to tea.
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight.
And me, being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
My parents never could agree about my type of school.
My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool.
They've both passed on, God rest 'em, but left me caught between
That awful color problem of the Orange and the Green.
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green
forgive me father ,for it's been.................oh yea I don't have to do that....... (but I still Remember it)....................hahahahahah
Les, thanks for the interior shots of my church....I haven't been inside it since I got married August 22, 1970. Dianne
Ok got it,......known both as "Our Lady Gate of Dawn" as well as "Paroisse Notre Dame-Porte-de-l'Aurore" (always good to have an AKA) ..............and don't try lighting any of those candles,Without Paying,...that's aticket straight to the Hot Spot..............................hahahahah
Di, It's still the same God. Dolly
Di, I also married a protestant and I sent my son to a Catholic school because I thought that at least I knew that religion and if there were any questions, or anything that was questionable, then I could answer them. My husband is an agnostic and my son does not practice. He's just a good person without going to church every Sunday. Dolly
I don't recognize the interior of HC. Had it been renovated? My memory is of an older church but maybe I'm thinking of St. Willibrord. Dolly
Dolly, I think the interior of HC was been refurbished, it looks quite nice. I also like the interior of your church too. I married a Catholic and we go to church when we want to go and not because we feel that we have to go. And I feel it is a personal decision if people want to go to church or not, or whether or not they believe...it is up to the individual and their own personal beliefs and conscience. dianne
Thanks Les. Yep that's my church. They've painted the doors grey. Bummer. Still a beautiful church. The Madonna on the front looks a bit faded with age though (like all of us!). And those pews! Wow! Brings back memories. I am surprised that the name is only in English and French and the Lithuanian name is no where in sight!. For Easter (Dawn Mass) because Jesus resurrected at dawn, my mother would schlep my brother and me to church, pose at the canal in our new finery for a photo, and half asleep we found a good seat in the church. We came early because the good seats went fast. We were always somewhere in the middle while my mother sang in the choir upstairs in the balcony. At Christmas and Easter the front pews were reserved for the "elite" of our congregation --- the doctors, lawyers and professinal types. The rest of the plebians sat wherever they could and if you ended up coming late, you stood at the back or leaned on the side walls. (I don't think they have that problem now because of the low attendance) People would turn around in their seats and look at the "elite" sashay down the middle aisle, a couple of minutes before the mass. Everyone would stare at their fur coats or new clothes. The only thing missing ws the paparazzi! I'll never forget the ostracism I felt. That these types could reserve a seat in the front pews in the house of God was so hypocritical and against everything I was led to believe. That memory hasn't left me today and looking at these photos, Les, I am reminded of that little girl sitting in the middle for Easter mass waiting for Jesus to rise from the dead. There must be a story in there somewhere. Once again thank you for your relentless search of my church and the memory. Dolly
Les, you are not the only one that spent their collection money elsewhere. Many adults did that also. Maybe that is one of the reason the Churches are is disrepair. But I am sure there is much more tyhan that. Things sure have change since we where children. the churches use to be packed. I am Protestant, but am still upset that St Annes is no longer around. I use to make a Novena every Tuesday at St Annes. I would walk from the Montreal Stock Exchange, and enjoy the calmness. I was surprised one day to find another person from the exchange there. He said he was going every Tuesday also.
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Yes, I agree with you there Di. I've slipped into a church during lunchhour to find a moment or during a world catastrophe to light a candle and pray. My mother would go every Sunday until a couple of years ago because it was a hardship, (she's going to be 80), but she told me she always felt better for the going. I say, whatever gets you through life. Dolly
My church, here in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia has 5 Masses, one on Saturday and 4 on Sunday and they are pretty well packed especially from September to June. Then during the summer months there are 4 Masses. but this is a fast growing area, not the same in Halifax and other cities, due to aging population and young families moving to the suburbs. Many churches in the cities have closed and some even converted to Condos...imagine that, eh? Dianne
Dianne. The saying is "confession is good for the soul". The confessional booth is open, if you care to unburden yourself.
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Winston I'll confess if you confess first! Dianne
I met many a good people that never went to church..
Of course you did! And there were/ are alot of people who go to church who are not so good! Dianne
Okay. I am ready to confess, to own up to my miss (spelling is correct)deeds........
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Winston, you better say 10 hail Mary's and Our Fathers....
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