Please note a new ferry service between Verdun and Nun's Island to start in May as described in enclosed Messenger article:
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.
36 comments:
That's interesting stuff Guy,.I would think that ferry would be a welcome option for gaining access to & from Nuns Island,...a person could walk on the ferry with their golf clubs & go play a round on the course on the island & be right back into Verdun proper,.without the aggravation of the traffic on the bridge.......Great Idea,... Is it ,or do you think it will be well recieved? It's such a short hop ,that it would be very cost effective,I would think ,unless greed is added in,. but what a great escape for older folks too ,who may have trouble with their mobility,they could perhaps ride one of those scooters they have nowadays & go for a days outing,either along the beautiful greenspacew along the old Boardwalk,.and take a scorch over to Nuns Island for a bit of an escape,..... With all the 'condos' along the waterfront,& the Retirement Living homes,.a;long there as well,.I would think a guy could start a reasoanble business ,'renting those little electric riding carts' to anyone for a modest fee,........I would bet there would be a demand for something like that,.... Rent a commercial frontage near the boardwalk somewhere with a garage for servicing or whatever,.and your in business,........it would be similar to the old Mr Bayard's Bicycle renting operation ,.that was on Galt for many years...... pssssst: DannyB ,.there's a business for you,maybe you could get your old store back (where you sold bait & stuff)...that was it wasn't it? HF&RV
I bet that it will not be 2.50 for a passenger and his bike - likely charge for the bike as well. Good little business - who will run it?
The new ferry service between Verdun and Nun's Island was inaugurated at the Crescendo Restaurant. Béatrix Stanevitch, an Island resident, is the one who promoted the service. The idea came to her from her native Argentina where similar service exhists. The name of boat is Daniel's, her father's name. The boat, constructed in Beauce and operated by Clobé Maritime arrived Wenesday 18th at the Verdun Marina.The boat can accommodate handycapped persons on whellchairs and an access ramp was built and has bicycle and golf bag supports.The service is between 8am to 20pm and can contain 12 persons and the 300 meter voyage takes approximately 5 minutes. The prices are $2.50 and a ticket booklet costs $20.00. Guy from Verdun Messager
I still think this is a great idea, & I would like to take the trip,.I would also like to play a round of golf over on Nuns Island, & then come back & have dinner at the Crescendo Restaurant, I also have mentioned in the past, that I think the Crescendo Restaurant ,would do well ( for little investment) to incorporate a video webcam on top of their building or perhaps atop a flagpole ,that has a 360 degree enclosed camera ,that would be available on the internet, this would plan would spread the name of the restaurant quite quickly, & it would ( I'm sure) garner many 'hits' worldwide,...just from Ex-Verdun people alone,.not to mention a lot of Ex & exisiting Montrealers from far & wide who would want to have a peek at the River & surrounding views........Montreal has virtually few webcams available to the public ( otherthan the Montreal webcam site,which provides relatively boring cams...particulary the cam in the biodrome or whatever they call that place,.....I doubt many people want to tune into a penquin ,doing nothing,)..I rather like to see a nice shot of down the river bank or over to Nuns Island..........wouldn't you ??? Perhaps this should be suggested to the powers that be in the Crescendo Restaurant............I would think many of us would checkout what's hapenning on the old boardwalk area,relatively often, if it were available: The ads for the Restaurant would allow it to be a deductible asset for the business,..............and an invaluable asset to visitors ,from all over. Just a Thought............................HF&RV Btw: here's the exisitng Montreal Webcam Link......(otherthan a cam on the Downtown CBC building (which is better in my opinion) this is all the great city of Montreal has to offer , in terms of webcams: YIKES !!!!! hahahaha http://www.montrealcam.com/ check it out ,it's dead easy to navigate,choose your particular webcam area, and then have a look around the various spots of the city........................................it could be done better: hf&rv
Morning All! Ferries are Great, I know only way out of here aside from flying haha. But remember prices don't stay LOW and then someone always adds taxes of some kind. Tiny Tina
A related article in the Verdun Messager states that the ten members of the Reflection Committee charged to evaluate the construction of a bridge linking the two river banks of Verdun Borough were unanimous in their suggestion to construct a service bridge between L'Ile des Soeurs and the mainland. This new bridge will be used by emergency and maintenance vehicles as well as by buses, bikers and pedestrians. The bridge would be built at the foot of Galt Street. Guy
The new ferry service between Verdun and l'Ile des S oeurs is in the news again in the Le Messager de Verdun. I get the impression that they could stand more customers. Guy
Hello Guy I think I'd like to take that little trip,I would imagine a person could take their bicylcle on the boat & tour around Nuns Island, then back over on the ferry & ride along the waterfront,.sounds like a great day.\ I hope they succeed....but then there's talk of a new bridge at Galt,.this could kill their business,especially if fuel costs continue to rise,. Take the ride ,before it disappears,......if you do Guy,I hope you would take some photo's while on it. Your like our roaming Verdun photographer,......hahaha & We appreciate t. as we do the others that are fortunate to visit Verdun & take pics for us,....to all of you Merci/Thanks HF&RV
Les, Actually it is relatively easy to go to Nun's Island by bike. You take Wellington to the Champlain bridge wich has a bike path and you are on the island in minutes. I took that route on my bike last year and wanted to go around the island but I was too tired to complete the trip and turned back.Old age is creeping up on me. Back in the 40s and 50s we used to rent a boat at Leblanc's at the foot of second and row across to the island wich was unhabited except for the nuns on their farm wich was on the other side of the island to the left. That was our escape from the hectic urban living. Guy
Looks like a great idea - where exactly is the Verdun Marina - maybe on our next visit to Montreal we can make a trip across and then have a meal at Crescendo's.
Guy, I also remember renting boats at Leblancs in the 50's - with a little outboard motor if we had the money.. Some times, if we got lucky, we could get some of the girls to go to the island with us. Remember the expression "come across or walk across" ? Matt
Shirley, The Marina and the Crescendo restaurant are at the foot of Desmarchais Blvd. Here are some photos I took last year of the area. Guy
Guy is Leblancs still there? Steve
THANKS - we took my sister to Crescendo's last year for dinner - we missed it the first time driving by and had to circle back so I will have to check out the marina.
Have to keep in mind that a lot of the changes on the Verdun waterfront meant someone got shafted. Two boat clubs that were there forver got pressured out, the VMBC actually had a few torchings. And that restaurant is right where the VYC 's clubhouse used to be and the owner hasn't exactly been paying his taxes regularly. Lots of payola involved along there over the years. Many moons ago I think it was Mayor Wilson who vowed that they would never build on the Verdun waterfront. The Natatorium and the Stadium and the Auditorium were all exceptional projects, but were completely public endeavors that had very positive community usage. Condos and bridges and private buisnesses represent the dark side of the human psyche where everything gets rationalized for persoanl gain. The Verdun waterfront was one of the best kept secrets in Montreal for decades. But Montreal is running out of room and the Verdun population is dominated by older low income types whose opinions will not mean a thing. Politicians just keep saying they need money to run the city and everyone just shits a brick at the thought of taxes going up so they will approve almost anything. It s an old line but it is still very effective. And the yuppies moving in think it s all wonderful! They built condos where the Stadium used to be probably with some kind of linking up with Nun's Island in mind for down the road. The people who live there are much more Nun's Island than they will ever be mainland Verdunites. George Bosse did very well for himself setting the stage there as he has done for the big box redevelopment of Griffintown. And on it goes.... Ken McLaughlin
Steve, No, the Leblancs are no longer there. There is now a residential building of several floors and no signs of the former famous wharf. The following photo shows the approximate site of the Leblancs. I believe the building in the background on the left is their former residence. My guess is that this photo dates back to the early 30s. Notice the boardwalk was not built yet. We have a better photo at the SHGV wich I will post later. Guy
Guy
When you take your bicycle to Nun's Island learn about over the handle bars braking. More than you probably want to know about over the handle bars braking. I did a swan dive onto my humble face two weeks ago.
Bill (Second Avenue)
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html#overthebars
Bill, What did you learn about over the handlebar braking. Did you suffer any injuries ? Guy
Steve, Guy Download the latest version of Google Earth and you will get a good idea of how much of the river has been lost. Ron.
That is my mug in the attached photo two weeks ago. I am all healed up now. I was coasting down a dirt trail and approach a blind turn which had a chain spread across around the bend. I only had a nano second to respond so I hit both brakes. The front brake locked and partly because of the decline of the trail I became airborne. Landed 225 pounds on my face. I spent the day at two emergency hospital care units. Required plastic surgery but I'm good to go now seriously. I'm takinging my bike to have a professional adjust my brakes.
Bill
Bill Good to hear you are o.k. Hope the plastic surgery went well also.. you know the apt. bldg. on Lasalle Blvd and 2nd ave..they had stone covered parking lot in the back and one night we were racing around on our bikes and since I had no brakes, its the old stick your foot on the top of the wheel thru the forks.. well..hello..a little too fast and I was airborne..of course the guys thought it was funny..I failed to see the humour at that time...200 at the time not a pleasant landing.. Take care Lad
Steve, Here is the other photo of the Quai Leblanc wich I estmate the date as early thirties +. Guy
Hello Guy I get info stating that this shot is from 1907 era Sure looks a lot like the ones we've posted in the past & certainly nust be LeBlanc's.......what a great Verdun memory this must be to many generations,.as it seems it has been a mainstay of Verdun History for many years..... As kids many of us wandered the wharfs of LeBlancs & the many green painted rental row boats they had.....Most were filled with water,and many of the wharfs were slipperry to walk on ,as well many were partly submerged into the slimey StLawerance of the early 1960's days...... We had a ball running across these docks,& occassionally 'borrowing' one of the boats...........hahahahah Thanks for the Memory boost have fun & remember Verdun
Guy and Les great shot. I don't know what it is about these old photos of the era that triggers an impossible memory. It's like I've been there during that time (1907). Pre-boardwalk. The picture is enlargeable and there is much detail to study. Those double ended row boats are very familiar. Probably the very same type used in the 50s. The Lasalle side stairway amongst the trees on the two story building captures my imagination for some strange reason. Did I live a second life? Bizarre. Great picture.
Bill (Second Avenue)
Les, I would like to have confirmation that this photo dates to 1907 as I have my doubts about that. Could you tel me where you got that date. Guy
This shot ,says it's from 1920........... but surely there must have been more than just horse drawn carriages by 1920? ........this bottom shot could very well be the 1907 era,since it would have looked alot different after the building of the boardwalk ( which we all know ,was a local gov't 'make work project' to get some of the men working for their relief checks,.....after the depression,....the Nat was also a 'amek work project'............ Have fun & Remember Verdun
This claims Boardwalk 1930,...I would say fairly accurate,I would think.....and so that would make the other photo of Leblanc's ,could be right. .....................Now Guy here's another photo from the same site,.that is blatantly wrong,.it's dated 1950 Bannantyne,.......and unless this was shot for the 'back to the future movie' it's wrong,.as the tail end of that Pontiac is of late 70's vintage it's a Parisienne So we have examples of mistakes by the Library on many photo's & some that are most likely right. ........................................................Now I thought I'd add this next photo to this thread......As it is clearly a Ferry Service to Nuns Island.......hahahaha ........taken prior to any bridges to the island...... the year mentioned for this one says 1957 still before the Champlain Bridge HF&RV
Those old photos of historique Verdun appeared before but are always nice to see again. I still recall the old wooden boardwalk from the late 30s or early 40s. This photo of my brother, sisters and brother-in-law who was in the air force is dated about 1944. Those icecream cones come from Leblancs and notice they were double width and had 2 wide and a third on top and sold .05 or .10 each and also the wharf in the background. Too bad I don't have a better photo of the wharf to be able to compare with the older photos. Also the boardwalk is paved so the boardwalk would have been demolished prior to that period. We can certainly make many discoveries from those old photos. Also wild nun's island without those condo buildings Guy
Another thing Les Proudfoot"s never had a french sign in the 50's or sold beer. Steve
Les Nice catch on the picture...did not see that...what street corner is that? Name rings a bell..west end of town.. Lad
Lad... that is Bannatyne North East of Manning. Same side as St.Thomas Moore Church. Steve
I think the telephone number would have been Pontiac 7 -3177 in the 50s.
Maggie I think it was Hemlock before it changed to Pontiac 7. Steve
Steve Thanks knew that place looked familiar....would have taked longer without the clue... Lad
I took the ferry to nun's island today and here are a few photos of my experience. It cost me $2.50 there and the same back. I took my bike and took the trail to the end of the island (Heron island side). There is a big construction site as shown on photos but there is still some trees and bushes along the trail. Weather permitting, I will go back this fall and go in the other direction (Champlain bridge side).It was cloudy wich explains poor quality of photos. Guy Crescendo Restaurant viewed from marina Duck Hunters Ferry Dock and steps on Nun's Island Beautifull bike and pedestrian trail 25+ story building at right in back of island
Thanks Guy , the photos are neat to see,amazing changes to that part of the riverbank.......... Thanks for your efforts & time, we look forward to the next trip (towards Champlain Bridge) Having a resident Verdun Guide is fantastic,.....to guide us through the waterfront changes,.........what a great job Verdun has done ( as well as the rest of Lasalle & Montreal) on the greening of the waterfront.................. a far cry from the rat infested dump ,we used to explore as kids,...not to mention the snow fort lands ,that a few of us Verdun kids made , as escapes from the City in the Winter.............YIKES ,.we could have all been easily lost under tons of snow,but we thought we were excellent builders...........plus those snow forts built into the large snowbanks were great places to 'smoke our cigarettes'....... Thanks for the pictures Guy,..... HF&RV
Post a Comment