Here is a picture of the DIL plant (Dominion Industries Ltd) formerly Dominion Textile Ltd wich was situated in the vicinity of LaSalle Atwater Wellington general area. Also enclosed is a photo of my mother taken probably at the beginning of the 20s with the same building in the background.
Guy
ARCHIVES SHGV (and my Family Album)
11 comments:
Guy this DIL plant stood there for many years,......I Remember seeing it plenty of times in the late 60's......nit sure if it survived into the 70's at all,.... What is in it's place today?? (Condos I suspect) or is this the area of that new street Henri-DuHamel (I think???) HV&RV
I made a tour of the area Saturday. I stopped and had a chat with a lady walking her dog on Wellington street in front of the Centre D'Acceuil Réal Morel and she informed me that furthur on at Henri Duhamel street (formerly River Street) I turn left and that I would see the remains of the DIL plant. Sure enough, a section was kept wich includes the tower. As you can appreciate, the old building blends well with the new project. I am making some research on the DIL building both for myself as well as for the SHGV. We have a large map dating back to 1913 I believe wich shows the land was purchased by the British Munitions Company. There is a lot of history in that building as my mother as well as other members worked there during the second world war. I am trying to locate the building on the photo of my mother.If members can contribute more information, anecdotes as well as photos, it would be appreciated. Guy
I wish to correct myself, that should read DEFENCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED instead of Dominion industries Ltd. Guy
Hi Guy, Seeing the picture of the DIL brings back memories. I grew up on Rushbrooke St, between May Av and River St. We lived closer to May, but looked across at the DIL Judy.
Judy, Glad to hear you are familiar with the area. You mention that you lived on Rushbrooke between May and River now Henri Duhamel. That would be where the 15-20 overhead highway leading to the Champlain bridge is presently. Do you have any other memories and photos you would like to share about that area. Your old neiborhood is shown on the enclosed map. Guy
Hi Judy, I used to live on Wellington street near Rheaume. When I lived there Rheaume Park was right where the bridge goes over to Nuns Island. It's gone now.... but the memories are still there. The hours we played in the park in the summer or skated in the rink in the winter! There used to be a big summer festival held near the old Auditorium. Mom would make us costumes with crepe paper and all the parks in Verdun were in the parade. Turning back the arms of time would be fun. Kids would be outside getting dirty and not inside watching the tube! :) Susie
Hi Susie I used to skate at Rheaume Park too. Used to put my skates on at home and go over there, coming home after skating all afternoon was quite painful....my feet used to kill me..I can remember that as if it was yesterday. Judy
Hi Great to see that map Guy posted. I used to have a Star route down there.All the way to May.turn back on Wellington and make my way back to Hickson and along Verdun ave.Anyone remember Wheeler home on Wellington or was it Lasalle Blvd. First time to deliver paper was eye opener. Remember family on Rushbrooke never missed a paper until my first day..cards got stuck together and I went right by the place on the bottom. Heard about it and never missed it again...good times... Lad
Guy, Judy, Susie - I lived on Rushbrooke about 2 doors away from the Depanneur. When I was about 5-6, I used to walk over to Rheaume rink wearing my 'cheese cutters' and try to skate on the 'public' rink. Next to it was the 'hockey' rink. One time I was standing behind the goalie just off to the side of where the netting was watching a hockey game. Wham! I got a puck right over my eye....I bled and bled. Two of the hockey players took me into the 'shack' and the attendant shoved a big wad of cotton batting and a plaster over my eye then the 2 hockey players walked me home on Rushbrooke. Anyway, it was a pretty nasty cut(you didn't go to the hospital and get stitches back then)...as the cut started to close, the cotton batting was stuck inside under the skin. For the next 2-3 nights, my father had to pour warm water over the cut, open it up and take some tweezers to try to get the cotton batting out. I screamed blue bloody murder every time. Needless to say, I ALWAYS make sure there is a good strong netting whenever I go to the rink since that time. Also talking about the school just in front of the rink. I had my first crush(at SIX years old) on David LaRose and one night there was a movie at the school. David was sitting a few rows in front of me....I ran down and kissed him and then ran back to my seat(what a little HUSSY I was!!!) I was going to St Willi and usually took the streetcar on Wellington and River but every now and then, I would walk through the DIL and take the bus(on Verdun Ave??) on the other side of the building. I remember seeing rows and rows of huge wheels on the assembly lines gathering up all the different materials. judy in NB
Hi folks! That "shack" saved many of us from frost bite! I think they called it a comfort station and I remember taking my skates off inside and crying because the pins and needle feeling was torture as the feet thawed! But what fun! We wuld get the skates back on and skate all afternoon until it was supper time. Can any of you remeber the summer fun at the park. They had a sprinkler rod in the back of the comfort station and we would have our bathing suits on and spend the day in and out of the water and the sand! On a good day you could climb the monkey bars and see Nuns Island! I remember one time swinging my sister on the swings and knocking her out with the swing next to hers. I thoght I had killed her and cried all the way home as someone carried her home. She got ice cream and got a talking to! Have you noticed how empty playgrounds are these days? It's sad really. I think playing and getting dirty were the best part of being young! Susie-now on a floathome on the Fraser River in Vancouver
Hi Susie & Newfydog,.................. I love that old saying Blue Bloody Murder,,, hahahahahahaha and Susie the Monkey Bars,...............hahahaha We all Remember them Sorry Susie & Newfydog,..........but this is as close to the park your talking about that I have on te hard drive,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, maybe that's you kids visiting us near the Stadium, behind the Police Dept....... Have Fun & Remember Verdun
Post a Comment