A note from Ross Sauve.......
This is the home that my family lived in. My parents owned the store. My sister, Faye and I spent a lot of time working in it during our teen years. We lived in the small flat above the store until 1977 when my parents sold the property. The name of the store was DIAMOND HANDY STORE. At an earlier time, there was a Diamond Taxi Stand nearby and hence the store name. My parents were often called Mr.and Mrs. Diamond and my sister and I, the "diamond kids". Rather than confuse customers and tell them our name was SAUVE we allowed the name DIAMOND to stick! The address is 3539 & 3543 Lasalle Blvd. It is between Strathmore and Regina. The lane that cuts behind the property is Victor Lane. The building definitely has a triangular-shaped floor plan! The area that draws so much attention is actually a bedroom with three walls! My parents bought the building and store in 1955 from my father's older brother, HECTOR SAUVÉ. My Uncle Hector and Aunt Dorothy owned the business for 10 years prior to my parents owning it. After my uncle and aunt sold the store to my parents in 1955 they moved to Santa Ana, California. They had one son, RAYMOND SAUVÉ who went to the school just a stones throw away on Rushbrooke Street.
When my uncle bought DIAMOND HANDY STORE, his family was not living in the flat over the store. They lived in the duplex on Rushbrooke Street owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hendy. I have seen their son's name, JIMMY HENDY, mentioned a few times in Verdun Connections. Jimmy Hendy would probably be in his 60's today and the last we heard, he was out west.
My uncle and aunt, HECTOR AND DOROTHY SAUVÉ are 88 and 89 years old now and are living in a retirement community in Laguna Hills, California.
My cousin, RAYMOND SAUVÉ, passed away about 10 years ago in his early 50's. He was twice-married and enjoyed a great life from Montreal to Los Angeles, to Washington, DC, St. John, USVI to finally Washington state.
11 comments:
Great story on the Histroy of that little house Maggie ,............Thanks Ross for sharing that family history with us:
Wouldn't it be nice to have a present day photo of this same building? Ross mentioned (in a different message) that it is now being used as a coffee shop.
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I took this picture in 2005. My family (Melrose) used to live across the park at 3584 Wellington Street. I can't tell you how many times I was in that store as a child. We would go there after church for treats. My Great Great Uncle founded Notre Dame de la Paix church, just up the street from Diamond's.
Attachment: Diamond's.jpg
I just found this section and am very interested in Ross Sauvé`s memories, just the kind of stories that we all enjoy. I will take a picture of this corner on my next visit to Verdun. Guy
Maggie and Ross Sauv챕, Here are the photos I took this morning on my way to the SHGV. There are 2 stores. the one on the left is Lefebvre et Filles, Boucher de Bonheur and Café Boutique. Ross, I bet these photos bring back fond memories of your youth playing in the lane and in those back sheds wich are now gone and replaced by more modern enclosures. Guy
Maggie, Did Ross Sauv챕 see the pictures I posted. Guy
Hi-wondering if you knew my Mom-went to VHS at the same time you did-Doreen Lyle? She lived on Bannantyne and 3rd?
Guy, Ross did see these pictures of the store and wrote me a note. I will pass it on to you through email. Maggie
I remember that store well - we always called it the "Diamond Taxi store". In my very early years I lived on Gertrude St. and even though the was a handy store on the corner we often went to the Diamond store.
I remember we used to have 1cent and 3 cent popsicles (made in a small juice glass) and were they ever good. We used to swap old comic books there too at the store. If you wanted to buy a second hand comic it was 2 cents. I used to buy my grandparents "The Herald Paper" at lunch time. Does anyone remember the copy who used to cross us (Mr. Peters), well his son was Jimmy Peters who used to play for the Detroit Red Wings. My sister-in-law Roseanne Burns married an american from Detroit and Jimmy was their best man. Some good old days eh. I remember the Chips (Laurentide) we used to get on the roof of the Natatorium - they were a nickel. Just some old nastalgia hanging around my brain. Nice to hear from old friends. Bev Burns (Harvey from Lafleur street)
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