Here is an unusual photo of the bicycle path under the old Verdun stadium. That should bring back memories.
Guy
Archives SHGV
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.
28 comments:
Guy interesting photo. Do you have a year?
Bill
Bill, No, I don't have the year but my guesstimate would be the or the 70s or the 80s but I may be wrong. If I find it, I will post it. Unfortunately, we have many photos at the society without names and dates. Guy
guy remember that for sure, at one time we got inside to find the hidden treasures. it was in the winter time, they had all those parade floats inside that they used for the parades. i guess they stored them there, no cigs, booze, a vault full of cash we were nervous at the time, for the police station was very close to that stadium
well this pic is of the old verdun stadium.. but i must add that when your my age the old verdun stadium had wooden bleachers situated on the north end of the field. i played minor league football in the small fry football league. i remember the verdun shamcats senior football team played in the 'old stadium'. sometime in the mid 60's i believe they renovated the stadium with the metal bleachers on both sides of the field. this was done for the semi pro american football team we had in verdun for maybe 2 years. anyone remember this. i dont remember what the team was called but they played against american cities and american football rules.
It was the Continental Football League.The team from Montral was called the Montreal Beavers and the league included a team from Toronto called the Rifles. Pretty good football as I remember although the team only played for 2 years.
thanks mcgee, that brings back memories.. it was good football...
This is another view of the stadieum wich was posted recently. Guy
I also have a few shots of the old Stadium,.but can't access them ,right now,when I can ,(if I Remember) I will post them up again, I do Remember Dave Nc ,posted a great shot of two of Verdun's (small fry) teams sitting in front of those old Wooden Bleachers ( the fore runner to those gigantic cement stands of mid 60's years) Dave also had a good shot of the old Torchy Wharf (with his Dad;'s car parked on it ,giving good perspective as to the wharf's size.. I guess the stadium's land value was far more valuable as Condo placement & greenland (along the riverfront) than as a place for the kids of the community to play,..........Verdun's Stadium was quite well used when we were kids,.they held City wide Olympic style games ,where we got to throw the shotput,& javelin's and field & track stuff,.as well as the Football factor too, & Does anyone Remember the Archery group that used to practice up there (Stadium,.closet to the River side nearer the kids park,) they had big rolls of hay with targets on them, I don't know who sponsored these groups,but they seemed organised, also once a year the Verdun CFire Departmment would display some of their equipment, & allow the kids to jump off the top of that shack (metalman mentioned ,) onto the bif round trampoline style catching net,the firemen used) a fall of a few feet but neat to do as a little kid,.they had their firehoses shooting across the field and let the kids see them up close,& realise how strong the pressure really was coming out of those hoses..........The football games were 'well attended' in those days as they would play several games,and it became a 'place to go' on a Saturday or an evening game was always fun to go to,........with the bright Lights Flooding the Field and the coolness of the night air beside the river, just added to the ambience of a Fall Night Game.......... Verdun stuff.............pretty neat... HF&RV
They were the Montreal Beavers who were owned by a guy named Johnny Newman and played in the Continental Football League. They initially played at the Autostade on the Expo site then moved to Verdun as attendance started to dwindle and eventually disappeared. Ron
Found this old photo,.I originally thought it was DaveNc who posted this picture ,but it was actually JohnnyO Reply
Recommend Delete Message 1 of 5 in Discussion From: JohnnyO (Original Message) Sent: 5/21/2005 7:27 AM I think Flood might like get a kick out of this pic. I came across this 1962 picture taken at the Verdun stadium of the Cardinals small fry football team. This was the first year that this younger age level of 10-11 year olds began. The other team in the league at that time was the Vikings. Anyone out there recoginze anyone from this pic I would love to know who they are as I can't remember any of old team mates. Im on the right end of the bench no 8. The same position I played on the field. Ofensive end. Anyone remember any of the Vikings players I would like to know who they are. I believe one of the one was Keith Gill as I recall he played opposite me on the Vikings. I know several of these players went on to play for Black and Gold Bengals under Bob Geary in 69 / 70 who took the Canadian Championship. Johnny O. Cardinals Football team.jpg Have fun & Remember Verdun
Ahhh here's why I Remebered Dave as being the contributor,........ here was his response to that post by JohhnyO Reply
Recommend Delete Message 2 of 5 in Discussion From: dflood64 Sent: 5/21/2005 3:34 PM Yup Johnny O Small Fry FB picture is great. Got a big kick out of it. The league was set up for 8-10 year olds and a steping stone to the 10-13 year old Pee Wee league. You can see my Dad's car ('56 Pontiac 4 dr six in the background between the bleachers. Above it are the wires connecting to the speakers and amp he used to "announce" the games. AND in back right is the table my Mother used to display prizes that were donated/coerced by and from local merchants to raffle off for money to support "the kids". Unfortunately someone is in between the camera and my Mom at the table. I coached the Vikings for four years always the rival of the Cards S'Cats and ???? (can't remember). I had players Michael MacKasey, Blair MacKasey (see olympic and junior hockey teams), Brian and Jimmy Cootes, and many others whose names escape me at the moment. Probably one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life........... I have pictures but they are stored in CAnada and I am here in SUNNY California.... .....Thanks for the memories John.. ................... Dave HF&RV
Message no. 12 Les, Is that the Model school in the back of the bleachers later changed to École Jean-Jacques Olier and now a McDonalds. Was the stadium rebuilt, the bleachers don't look the same as later pcitures. Here is an old picture of the school taken from LaSalle Boulevard. Guy
Yes Guy that's the model school in the background,.and these were the stands/bleachers, that were used in the early 60's and at somepoint later on they brought in these Huge Cement Stands ( I used to think they came from ,the tearing down of the Autostade (near the entrance to the Victoria Bridge & Expo lands,.but that doesn't seem to be the case,........ the Large Cement Stands were in turn 'sold' by the City of Verdun,to the Concordia University,.who used them for quite a while until building a new (2 new,) firels to acomodate their needs....... ( I posted some of that Concordia info a few weeks back,.but I'm not sure which thread ( could be this one,??? )............... Have Fun & Remember Verdun
does any body remember the old fire truck that was in that park .all the kids use to play on it ........it was a very old truck
carol richer
Hi Carol, Been a long time, eh? Yea, the fire truck was amazing. for me it was my intro to the river and all the wonders that were there to be discovered. I played for the Vikings in '64 and we played our games at Beurling park that year. I played with the Shamcats the next three years at the stadium and we won the Small Fry championship the first two years. Had some fun times playing the Peanut Bowl with Black and Gold for the Verdun Championship. Was a mediocre player but it was fun. Ken M
This message has been deleted by the author.
Hi Ken & Carol,..........I don't know for sure,but I suspect that this is the Old Firetruck from that park behind the Stadium,,,,, .this is a 1940ish Firetruck & does belong to the City of Verdun,.........the year would be right for retirement,......as the 60's brought on the newer more square looking Thibault made trucks,........ and this one has writing / printing ,saying something like verdun (look on the hood) but the number of the station is questionable,......... but at the very least ,picture the truck without the ladders or hoses,...and it does fit the bill Have Fun and Remember Verdun
Holy shit Joey,............what a find,....that 's the baby right there,.what a cool shot,.what was te event with all the kids do you know ? and hurry up and publish that Verdun book ,so we can see the culmination of your years of collecting ................... Great picture,................now where's the Cows from Elmhurst Dairy,... hahahahahahah .......................................................... HF&RV
This message has been deleted by the author.
Which park is that one,.I can't Remember those sandbox's ,.and if the PVM is visible in the background then it's not the park on the river,.or wouldn't the Stadium be directly in the way of the view of Downtown,....... is this part of the Therrien Park on the other side of the Aud. or ???? Neat pics though,......... Sandbox's when i was a kid were just square wooden box's painted green ( VerdunColours).......... Love those old pictures though,............ nice job HF&RV
Those striped paint job on the bars for the swing look familiar,...and the stainless steel swing is right for the era,.............but the buiding in the background looks like it says Canadian Tire,.which means the only CanadianTire in Verdun waas on Wellinton Street near Page Auto,.and the land now used for the entrance to the Champlain Bridge (roughly),. Any idea the parks exact location? .............................. HF&RV
This message has been deleted by the author.
This message has been deleted by the author.
Here's a pic. of the Shamcats of the Small Fry League at the stadium.
Steve
Just found a pic. of the old stadium.oops what stands there now.
Steve
Here's another pic, as you can see, of the original wooden stadium bleachers from 1962. It was the first year the verdun football league had a division for the younger players. This is the cardinal football team. I was split end and thus sitting on the right end of the bench. number 8 The other team in the league were the Vikings. I would love to know if there are any other members of this team or the vikings from that year on this forum.. Later, im sure some of the players from both the cardinals and vikings went on to be part of the Black and Gold team when they won the Canadian championship in 1970 i think it was Johnny O
Great pic! I am wondering if you remermber the football team verdun Invictous(probably spelled wrong)...my cousin Bruce was on the team and they were quite well known as a decent football club....I was a kid when Bruce was playing-probably around the late or mid 60"s Thx for any info on Verdun Invictous?
Who remembers the live Beaver in the glass cage.
They would bring him out during every game.
Post a Comment