Verdun Gardens

Who remembers the Gardens in-between Beurling and Champlain, at the foot of Allard? Way before VCHS was built. My mother rented so many square feet from the city and planted vegetables and flowers and nourish them until it was time to harvest them. Needless to say kids will be kids and you could guess the rest. Do you remember them and did you ever visit that space when you were a kid? Your secret will be safe with me. Pauline

History of Flooding in Verdun

I have grouped together in Album no. 47 the photos (4) on the floods wich occurred in Verdun at the turn of the 19th century. I also included a map showing the dike built to prevent the floods. More photos are sure to turn up wich I will add to the Album.

Guy

ARCHIVES SHGV - BANQ

 

HOW DO VERDUNITES FEEL BEING PART OF MONTREAL?

Since Verdun was made part of Montreal, do Verdunites feel the change was for the good or the bad, now that many years have passed?  What is the biggest difference its made to Verdun life on a regular basis?  Did it destroy the proud allegiance residents felt for the area, or has that continued despite being part of Montreal?  I've noted that Westmount has parted ways with Montreal and are now a separate city...has Verdun considered following suit?  It would be nice to hear from some longtime Verdun residents who could let us all know how the change over time has affected our beloved Verdun....Diane 

British in Verdun

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3053261/Owing-allegiance-the-British-community.html

Yearly Carnival in Verdun

Does anyone remember the Carnival that would come to Verdun  once a year, I believe parking itself around the Verdun Auditorium.  This was around the early 70s and alot of fun for  the Verdun folks.

Verdun Floods Early 1900s

Floods are in the news these days with the Red River overflowing both in Canada and the U.S. but how many Verdunites are aware that floods were a common occurrance in the beginning of the 20th century as demonstrates these La Presse photos dated the 1st of April 1913. Luckily the problem was eventually solved by making a dike along the river wich became the Boardwalk.

Guy

Fox Hunting in Verdun

This old drawing wich no doubt dates from the 1800s shows a Fox hunt in Verdun. The text says: The meet of the Montreal Fox-Hounds at Verdun Lower Lachine Road (LaSalle Blvd). Hard to believe that such hunting went on in Verdun's history.

Guy

E.Z. Massicotte collection  (BANQ)

Dow Planetarium

History of the Montréal Planetarium

The Montréal Planetarium — formerly known as the Dow Planetarium — was inaugurated on April 1, 1966 by Mr. Jean Drapeau, who was Montréal’s mayor at the time. This event marked the culmination of more than three years of planning and hard work by Dr. Pierre Gendron, who was past professor of chemistry and founding Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa, and an avid amateur astronomer. At the time, Dr. Gendron was also president of the board of directors of Dow Breweries, which later became O’Keefe Breweries (since then absorbed by Molson Breweries). It was through his impetus that Dow Breweries decided to endow Montréal with a world class planetarium, add to the city’s touristic appeal, and to the Montréal Universal and International Exposition of 1967, Expo 67. 

Plans for the Planetarium were developed by the architectural firm of David-Barott-Boulva. The innovative design echoed an astronomical theme, evidenced by the exterior of the dome which resembles Saturn surrounded by its rings. The Planetarium was built at a cost of 1.2 million dollars and located on Chaboillez Square which once served as a parking area. In February 1966, the building and its projection equipment were ready as several lecturers busily prepared for the inaugural show, "New Skies for a New City" which premiered on April 4, 1966.

Since opening day, the Planetarium has produced more than 250 shows, attended by nearly six million spectators; and 50 lecturers have given more than 58,000 presentations in the Star-Theatre.

Today, as yesterday, the Planetarium continues to disseminate scientific and astronomical information to the public

 

...visit the Planetariums homepage at this link:

  http://www.planetarium.montreal.qc.ca/Planetarium/historique_a.html

                                                      ..HF&RV

Dr Norman Bethune

Les,

This is the book by Roderick Stewart wich I read and wich shows on page 71 the reference to the YMCA. We have 3 versions of this book by the same author in our local library including 1 copy in french and it is only in the enclosed english  version that it is mentioned that he had a clinic at the YMCA in Verdun in the mdi 30s  so it is obvious that it is considered a minor incident in his life by the publishers.

We have 2 researchers from the city of Montreal looking in the old newspapers at our society (SHVG) looking for more details about the YMCA clinic and Dr Norman Bethune's involvment. This is for the Dr Norman Bethune display at the Museum at Youville square and wich have a grand opening ceremony this summer where very important people including the Chinese delegate will be invited. As a matter a fact, our society is invited and I intend to be present. Our contribution includes the photos as well as other information I found in our archives. I have asked that our involment be displayed and I was assured that our society we will be mentioned.

Dr Norman Bethune was surgeon in chief at the Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Cartierville at the beginning of the 30s and has a wing named after him and a prominent display in the hospitals library and some surgical instruments he used while there. My wife is treated at that hospital wich is only 10 minutes from my home and I will be going there with her in a couple of weeks and I will visit that section and take photos if I am permitted.

Guy

 

YMCA - Gordon Ave.

Here is another photo I found in a 1954 Guardian from our archives (SHGV). We are doing research on Dr Norman Bethune and he apparently had a clinic there on saturdays in the middle 30s and we are looking for evidence of this. There is only a short sentence in the book by Roderick Stewart to that effect and this is the only mention we have found so far. Any help would be welcome.

Guy

Hmmmmmm.What Are the Chances ?

........nothing to say,.......must be a new thing,...............hahahahaha    Here's DannyB from Sept '03               Yikes !! 

Loss for words.

Sep 11, '03 10:59 PM by dannyb-- for everyone

Hi everybody,  It has been a while since there has been no activity

here on connections all day long. I had nothing to read. Played with my new web cam all day. I think someone has to come up with a new subject to keep us all going. Imagine people from Verdun with nothing to say. Sounds weird doesn't it.  Dannyb--

                                                                             HF&RV

The More things Change ,the more they remain the Same

Seems we always have some sort of issue with the service provider ,regardless of format,......even back in the early days ,we had issues with MSN,.disappearing pictures, posts, mesgs arriving days after posting ,....hahahahahaha  and all this we get for Free !!

    Here's a copy of an old message from Sharon : Sept 02,2003

Is it just me....

Sep 2, '03 9:56 AM by sharon_starr for everyone

At the risk of soundy picky (but I'm not really!) is it just me or does anyone else here find that the way MSN has formatted the way you retrieve new messages here sucks the big one or what? I mean, you can get around it by posting a "new discussion" but then you don't have a link to go to the message that was being replied to, know what I mean? I run 2 or 3 groups in Yahoo and I find that the way the group messages are formatted there are much more efficient, no offense.

Ever think about trying one in Yahoo?

Then again, maybe it's just cuz I am more accustomed to the workings of Yahoo groups....I don't know. What do ya think?

Luv, Sharon

                                              Have Fun & Remember Verdun

Another old message: Still relavent today,.....

Rather than bring the other topic to the top, I thought I'd post this response that DannyB posted in relation to his Thread,........just so it shows better upfront,.. ( that's what I did like about the other MSN site's format, every response seamed to be featured in the same size as the Thread's Topic,......and seemed to be easier to read,....of course now ,we have to get used to clicking on the 'comment' section to see what the response have been,.....(that seems to be the format of choice that blog type boards provide, I did write to Multiply at one time suggesting a possible change ,but haven't heard back from them yet,..glad to see they inherited some of MSN's response characteristics........hahahaha

Here's the old message from Danny B: from June 28th,2003             hf&rv

-- wrote on Jun 28, '03

Hey Bear,

              I totally agree that the managers have the final say. All we are doing is giving our opinion.And like any opinion there will be people that agree with you and people who will not. This is a great group and it will become even better as the word spreads to other people.As far as groups go this is the only one that I have ever seen that got my interest.I can thank alan archi. for that, he and I were very good friends and lost touch with each other about 27 or 28 years ago and he contacted me through classmates earlier this year.And since I came on connections I have been in contact with other people from my past like LesF,Harley,bettyloo,AnnM,and yourself Bear, and I don't know if I would have bothered if I had to apply.This site is about people with connections to verdun and surrounding area.Lets keep it easy and uncomplicated and make connections.  Dannyb--

       

Magic Tom

Les,

Here is a photo of Magic Tom wich I posted on the old site. Thomas Rochford Auburn was raised in Verdun and attended St Willibrord school.

Guy

Remember Maislin's Trucking (may have to scroll a bit)

0">Maislin's was a fairly large trucking outfit ,for many years in Ville Lasalle on Newman Blvd,.......remember that end of Newman which seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere,......and across the street from Maislin's was a little house style bar,....and one of the guys from Verdun ran a motorcycle shop or body shop near there too,.I can't recall his name now,but I'm sure one of you do Remember it.

In anycase here's some old Maislin Photo's ,.    checkout Hank's Truck Pictures for more trucks etc etc ,.or the Diesel Gypsy.............                    HF&RV

In 1945, four Canadian brothers borrowed a thousand dollars to make a down payment on a used truck. From these modest beginnings, operating from their mother's kitchen, they launched a local cartage service. The original group was later joined by three more brothers and a brother-in-law. Together, they transformed the modest initial investment into one of the largest trucking companies in North America: Maislin Transport. During the early years, Maislin operated from two locations: Montreal and New York. The primary commodities transported were fish from Canada to the United States and fruit from the United States to Canada. During the next ten years, the company was incorporated and grew rapidly; opening offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Champlain, New York as well as in Toronto, Ontario with Montreal serving as the base of operations. In time, the company expanded its operations in Ontario, Quebec, New England, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The Maislin name on trucks became synonymous with fast, safe and dependable service covering a wide area in the United States and Canada. In late 1972, Maislin Transport became a public corporation trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Montreal Stock Exchange (now known as the Montreal Exchange) as part of the Maislin Industries Limited Group. Although the economy was experiencing a downturn in the late 70s, a time when most trucking companies suffered losses, Maislin was running a profitable operation and so the decision was made to purchase Gateway and Quinn Motor Freight, two transport companies, for strategic purposes. During that same period the United States and Canadian governments deregulated the transport industry. The combined effects of deregulation and recession in North America, including stagflation, with 18% interest rates, forced Maislin to close its doors in 1982. In 1984, Morrie Maislin, a veteran of the transport industry and his brother Alan, began Maisliner Transport. Maisliner operated a small terminal in LaSalle, Quebec and formed a strategic alliance with a company in New York. As sales increased, Maisliner formed another alliance with a company in New England with the goal of providing 24 to 48 hours service to existing clients. In time, Maisliner also opened a California to Canada direct service. At present, Maisliner runs with its own equipment between Montreal and NY/NJ, New England, Los Angeles, the Carolinas, and Georgia. For all other points, we work in conjunction with our interline partners to offer complete North American coverage. To complement our ground service, we have added a logistics division that offers worldwide ocean and airfreight services as well as a cross-border division that offers small parcel service, warehouse and distribution to and from the United States.
http://www.maisliner.com/history.html              Maislin still maintains a website,I didn't know this,........

Maislin Bros., model 257T, tractor with van body, 1960

Description Exterior company photograph (9514), driver side view, Brockway model 257T, tractor with van body, assembled for Maislin Bros. Transport LTD. This Huskie features the Huskie hood ornament and emblem, as well as the Brockway Diesel insignias. MAISLIN BROS. signs are mounted on the front and side of the trailer. Several cities are included on the sign mounted on the side of the trailer, including Montreal, Albany, New York, Philadelphia, Champlain, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. The Sign included the Maislin Bros. logo, with MAISLIN BROS. running in a ribbon across a circle, with INTERNATIONAL BONDED CARRIERS in the border of the circle. The tractor is parked parallel to the side of the Rochester Branch.

Earthquakes where you live?

Here's an interactive map,where you can checkout your part of the world,.....Earthquakes are 'not' a rare occurence,.......but Common Sense is,...hahahah

.this map is only a photo, you have to use the link to make it work,  Cheers!!

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/ 

Earthquakes in Canada (the last 30days)

Here's a map of Canada ,showing the earthquakes we've had in the last 30 days.....

........So nothing to really worry about,...but checkout Vancouver Island,.you can't even see it...................hahahahahaha   Wanna buy a house  ?      lol        HF&RV

         here's the link: you can enlarge the map, or narrow down the area etc etc :

http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/recent_eq/maps/index_e.php?maptype=30d&tpl_region=canada

Auditorium

Here are some photos I took on the 22nd of Septembre 2007 of the Auditorium and the Denis Savard Arena on the left..

Guy

Will Create 'Dust' ...no foolin , thanks for the News Flash

Here's a genius revelation,.......Demolishing the Turcot Interchange area,will create dust.say it isn't so Sherlock, here's some news from the CJAD site:

Turcot contruction project will bring noise, dust and expropriation to surrounding neighbourhoods.

Tue, 2009-03-24 15:41.

Angelica Montgomery

About 50 properties, including nearly 200 apartment suites will be expropriated around the interchange.
 The bureau for public consultation says the province is trying to find a way to keep an affordable housing unit in the area.

The environmental impact study released today also says demolition will go on at night "which is susceptible to altering residents' quality of life."

Even once the interchange is complete, it will have a lasting effect on some neighbourhood streets.
According to the report, "the rearrangement of the Turcot interchange onto local streets has highlighted several problems."  
However, the report says the construction will greatly reduce the threat that would be posed by an earthquake, and would benefit the economy.

.....and all of a suddent ,they are concerned about Earthquakes......hahahahaha Did this thought just pop up,..but not in the last 45 years.............

Upper Lachine Road 1904

Here is a 1904 photo of the Upper Lachine road heading west towards Ville St Pierre. Oddly enough, the road still retains its original name as opposed to the Lower Lachine  road wich became LaSalle Blvd. I have also included a currant map showing the road in the middle towards the top for those who have forgotten where the road is situated. Unfortunately I don't have a currant photo. Notice the abundance of trees, the dirt road, the horse drawn carriages,and the wooden sidewalk. We certainly made progess in the last 100 years, haven't we !

Guy

Archives SHGV

Arena Makeover

Looks like some arenas are getting some work done to them,.it does mention Verdun,but I wonder if it's the Auditorium ? Personally I'd like them to remove that 'crap facade' on the Auditorium now,.and return it to it's original look,they've only plastered siding over the old brick building ,which looked pretty good, IMHO.   I think the stuff they did cover it with was an attempt (albeit a poor one) to 'modernize' the exterior,way back when (70's I guess?)

Montreal plows ahead with arena renovations

 

 

By Irwin Block, The GazetteMarch 23, 2009 3:11 PMBe the first to post a comment

Though the federal and provincial governments have yet to come on board, the city of Montreal is moving ahead with plans to upgrade the refrigeration in 15 arenas.

The city is hoping Ottawa and Quebec will contribute two-thirds of the projected $89.5-million cost of broader renovations in 15 arenas.

Still, the executive committee last week approved spending of $1.6 million for renovation plans and blueprints in eight of the arenas most in need of better refrigeration for ice rinks.

The arenas are: Camilien Houde (Ville Marie), Howie Morenz (Villeray-St. Michel-Park Extension), Ahuntsic (Ahuntsic-Cartierville), Père Marquette (Rosemont-La petite Patrie), Doug Harvey (Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce), Mont Royal (Plateau Mont Royal), Verdun (Verdun) and Martin Brodeur (St. Léonard).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...................Do these seats look 'Aud' to you,...........hahahahaha certainly don't look compfortable for a 3 hr hockey game, but there we sat watching the Verdun Maple Leafs,.( the only Maple Leafs I ever liked,.....).......................HF&RV

The Habs

Les

Just heard that maybe the The Habs are up for sale. BMO been appointed to study all of holdings by G.Gillette. see what he can do and sell...got any spare coin around? Maybe if we all pool our money......

 

Congoleum (ST PatrickSt)

From the McGill pages of buildings etc etc.......here's a few shots of a company called 'Congoleum' ..........Diane 's Dad was the Foreman here,......   here's the link

http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/industrial/search.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps.........................have fun & remember verdun

 

 

SEARCH	RESULTS:
	1 records were found. Building Name: Congoleum Canada Ltd. Street: 3700, rue St-Patrick Architect: (unknown)

Congoleum (ST PatrickSt)

From the McGill pages of buildings etc etc.......here's a few shots of a company called 'Congoleum' ..........Diane 's Dad was the Foreman here,......   here's the link

http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/industrial/search.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps.........................have fun & remember verdun

 

 

SEARCH	RESULTS:
	1 records were found. Building Name: Congoleum Canada Ltd. Street: 3700, rue St-Patrick Architect: (unknown)

Atwater Monster

                                                                                                                                            I have found additional information on the Atwater Monster, remember the Atwater bus with the 8 wheels, 4 in front and 4 in back that operated from 1927 to 1934 and that broke in two wich ended its carreer, well I found the enclosed Oct. 7th 1954 Guardian article yesterday wich adds a little more lite as described in the text below the attached photo. I am also including the bus schedule wich J.M. contributed.  I was only  4 years old when the bus broke in two and naturetly can't remember the even and I am sure most members never heard about it but it is good to know about these events that shaped Verdun's history. Follow the green line: Atwater to Verdun ave. to riverview up to Lasalle and back.

Guy

Spartan (one of the Steamers that shot the Rapids)

Ship of the Month No. 14 Spartan

Ship of the Month No. 14 Spartan

In 1864, three years before Canadian Confederation, the "Royal Mail Line", as it was then called, was the primary company engaged in the Montreal to Toronto passenger and package freight trade. True, since 1857 the line had not carried Her Majesty's Royal Mail, but the Canadian Navigation Company kept using the old name until 1875. Trade was on the upswing and the company ordered a new vessel from the Gilbert Shipbuilding firm of Montreal. Most of SPARTAN is seen leaving Alexandria Bay, N. Y., in this photo by William Notman. The new passenger and freight steamer was christened SPARTAN and was completed in time for the opening of navigation in 1865. She was an iron-hulled sidewheeler and was powered by horizontal engines. The hull had been fabricated in the Clyde, but was assembled in Montreal. She measured 179.8 feet in length, 28 feet in the beam and, with a depth of 11 feet, she possessed a gross tonnage of 1168. The vessel was assigned official number 122070. SPARTAN arrived in Toronto for the first time on May 24, 1865, under the command of one Capt. Howard. The event was recorded the next day by the Toronto "Globe" -- "The splendid new steamer SPARTAN was in our harbour today and yesterday and was visited by a large number of our citizens. She is really a most beautiful vessel fitted up in cabin and saloon in the most gorgeous manner, with all the elegant finish of the tasteful artisan. Her machinery is of the most powerful and perfect kind, without the appendage of the ugly walking beam so frequent on our lakes....". On the reporter's assessment of the qualities of the beam engine we will make no comment! In entering service, SPARTAN joined GRECIAN, KINGSTON, PASSPORT, CHAMPION, MAGNET and BANSHEE, the other steamers on the company's run. Unfortunately, it was not long before SPARTAN was involved in a rather serious accident. On August 27, 1865, she was running the Lachine Rapids when a steering failure caused her to ground in the Caughnawaga area. Fortunately, the passengers were all removed by canoes and chaloupes without loss of life, but it was only after strenuous salvage efforts that the steamer was hauled to safety. She was later repaired, damage having been light. The next few years were relatively uneventful for SPARTAN. In 1870, she was commanded by Capt. Kelly and continued in the service for which she had been built, which then saw a steamer leave Toronto daily at 10:30 a.m. for Montreal via Charlotte, Oswego, Kingston, Clayton, Alexandria Bay, Prescott and Cornwall. Connections were made at Montreal with the "Richelieu Company's" steamers for Quebec. Over the winter of 1870-71, SPARTAN, along with her running mate CORINTHIAN of 1865, was refitted at Cantin's Drydock in Montreal. In line with her owner's efforts to reduce damage caused by strandings in the St. Lawrence River, both vessels had their iron hulls sheathed with wood. Interior renovations were also made. In 1875 there came a major change, namely the amalgamation of the Canadian Navigation Co. and its fleet of eight steamers with the Richelieu Navigation Co. whose chairman was the famous Sir Hugh Allan. The new firm became known as the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Co. Ltd., Montreal, and it continued to operate the Toronto to Montreal service, albeit on a less than successful basis primarily due to the fact that the small steamers were unable to handle the business that developed during the summer months. The R&O carried very little freight. SPARTAN continued on as always and, during the mid 1870's, was commanded by a Capt. Dunlop, her First Officer being a gentleman named Mr. Bush. In the early 1880's, the Owen Sound Steamship Co. was formed to operate from Georgian Bay ports to Lake Superior in conjunction with the building of the C.P.R. transcontinental rail line. SPARTAN was chartered by the firm and served on the upper lakes until the fall of 1885 when she was wrecked on Caribou Island, Lake Superior. Salvaged, the steamer was taken to Detroit where she was rebuilt, and in 1886 she returned to her old Toronto-Montreal route. Her engines were evidently "compounded" in 1891. SPARTAN maintained her old service until the new TORONTO and KINGSTON superseded the older vessels at the turn of the century. Thereafter, she served various routes operated by the R&O. The year 1905 saw SPARTAN taken to Kingston where she was lengthened to 200.2 feet. With her tonnage now shown as 1223 Gross and 607 Net, she re-entered service under the name BELLEVILLE. Five years later, she was the victim of another accident when, on November 12, 1910, she went ashore near Grafton, Ontario east of Cobourg. She was later salvaged and repaired at Kingston. In 1913, BELLEVILLE went through the second corporate merger of her career, when Richelieu and Ontario was enlarged in the making of what became Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. By the following year, the little ship was beginning to show evidence of her fifty years. She was laid up and apparently partially stripped preparatory to being dismantled. However, on August 3, 1915, the venerable beam-engined ALEXANDRIA, then on the line's Montreal-Toronto-Hamilton package freight service, stranded in a storm on Toronto's Scarborough Bluffs and became a total loss. BELLEVILLE was reactivated to take her place and operated in a freight-only capacity. During 1920, BELLEVILLE was once again rebuilt, this time having her passenger cabins removed entirely. Her tonnage was thus reduced to 639 Gross, 255 Net. Looking quite odd with her deck stripped bare except for the pilothouse and a small texas cabin, and still equipped with her 'tween decks, the veteran paddler plodded on until 1923. She was finally dismantled at Kingston in 1924, exactly sixty years from the time of her birth at Montreal. http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/Documents/Scanner/03/06/default.asp?ID=c006

Spartan (one of the Steamers that shot the Rapids)

Ship of the Month No. 14 Spartan

Ship of the Month No. 14 Spartan

In 1864, three years before Canadian Confederation, the "Royal Mail Line", as it was then called, was the primary company engaged in the Montreal to Toronto passenger and package freight trade. True, since 1857 the line had not carried Her Majesty's Royal Mail, but the Canadian Navigation Company kept using the old name until 1875. Trade was on the upswing and the company ordered a new vessel from the Gilbert Shipbuilding firm of Montreal. Most of SPARTAN is seen leaving Alexandria Bay, N. Y., in this photo by William Notman. The new passenger and freight steamer was christened SPARTAN and was completed in time for the opening of navigation in 1865. She was an iron-hulled sidewheeler and was powered by horizontal engines. The hull had been fabricated in the Clyde, but was assembled in Montreal. She measured 179.8 feet in length, 28 feet in the beam and, with a depth of 11 feet, she possessed a gross tonnage of 1168. The vessel was assigned official number 122070. SPARTAN arrived in Toronto for the first time on May 24, 1865, under the command of one Capt. Howard. The event was recorded the next day by the Toronto "Globe" -- "The splendid new steamer SPARTAN was in our harbour today and yesterday and was visited by a large number of our citizens. She is really a most beautiful vessel fitted up in cabin and saloon in the most gorgeous manner, with all the elegant finish of the tasteful artisan. Her machinery is of the most powerful and perfect kind, without the appendage of the ugly walking beam so frequent on our lakes....". On the reporter's assessment of the qualities of the beam engine we will make no comment! In entering service, SPARTAN joined GRECIAN, KINGSTON, PASSPORT, CHAMPION, MAGNET and BANSHEE, the other steamers on the company's run. Unfortunately, it was not long before SPARTAN was involved in a rather serious accident. On August 27, 1865, she was running the Lachine Rapids when a steering failure caused her to ground in the Caughnawaga area. Fortunately, the passengers were all removed by canoes and chaloupes without loss of life, but it was only after strenuous salvage efforts that the steamer was hauled to safety. She was later repaired, damage having been light. The next few years were relatively uneventful for SPARTAN. In 1870, she was commanded by Capt. Kelly and continued in the service for which she had been built, which then saw a steamer leave Toronto daily at 10:30 a.m. for Montreal via Charlotte, Oswego, Kingston, Clayton, Alexandria Bay, Prescott and Cornwall. Connections were made at Montreal with the "Richelieu Company's" steamers for Quebec. Over the winter of 1870-71, SPARTAN, along with her running mate CORINTHIAN of 1865, was refitted at Cantin's Drydock in Montreal. In line with her owner's efforts to reduce damage caused by strandings in the St. Lawrence River, both vessels had their iron hulls sheathed with wood. Interior renovations were also made. In 1875 there came a major change, namely the amalgamation of the Canadian Navigation Co. and its fleet of eight steamers with the Richelieu Navigation Co. whose chairman was the famous Sir Hugh Allan. The new firm became known as the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Co. Ltd., Montreal, and it continued to operate the Toronto to Montreal service, albeit on a less than successful basis primarily due to the fact that the small steamers were unable to handle the business that developed during the summer months. The R&O carried very little freight. SPARTAN continued on as always and, during the mid 1870's, was commanded by a Capt. Dunlop, her First Officer being a gentleman named Mr. Bush. In the early 1880's, the Owen Sound Steamship Co. was formed to operate from Georgian Bay ports to Lake Superior in conjunction with the building of the C.P.R. transcontinental rail line. SPARTAN was chartered by the firm and served on the upper lakes until the fall of 1885 when she was wrecked on Caribou Island, Lake Superior. Salvaged, the steamer was taken to Detroit where she was rebuilt, and in 1886 she returned to her old Toronto-Montreal route. Her engines were evidently "compounded" in 1891. SPARTAN maintained her old service until the new TORONTO and KINGSTON superseded the older vessels at the turn of the century. Thereafter, she served various routes operated by the R&O. The year 1905 saw SPARTAN taken to Kingston where she was lengthened to 200.2 feet. With her tonnage now shown as 1223 Gross and 607 Net, she re-entered service under the name BELLEVILLE. Five years later, she was the victim of another accident when, on November 12, 1910, she went ashore near Grafton, Ontario east of Cobourg. She was later salvaged and repaired at Kingston. In 1913, BELLEVILLE went through the second corporate merger of her career, when Richelieu and Ontario was enlarged in the making of what became Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. By the following year, the little ship was beginning to show evidence of her fifty years. She was laid up and apparently partially stripped preparatory to being dismantled. However, on August 3, 1915, the venerable beam-engined ALEXANDRIA, then on the line's Montreal-Toronto-Hamilton package freight service, stranded in a storm on Toronto's Scarborough Bluffs and became a total loss. BELLEVILLE was reactivated to take her place and operated in a freight-only capacity. During 1920, BELLEVILLE was once again rebuilt, this time having her passenger cabins removed entirely. Her tonnage was thus reduced to 639 Gross, 255 Net. Looking quite odd with her deck stripped bare except for the pilothouse and a small texas cabin, and still equipped with her 'tween decks, the veteran paddler plodded on until 1923. She was finally dismantled at Kingston in 1924, exactly sixty years from the time of her birth at Montreal. http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/Documents/Scanner/03/06/default.asp?ID=c006

Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill 1886

Here is an actual photo of Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill 1886 wich is part of the Notman collection wich I got from our archives at the SHGV this afternoon. Quite an impressive photo.

Guy

HELP ME REMEMBER ALL THOSE NAMES FROM THE PAST!

Hi Verdunites, I've decided to list every name from Verdun that I can recall on "Diane's Site" under my profile.  As the memory banks are not what they used to be, this will be an ongoing list as the brain sparks trigger now and again.  Maybe we should all do this and then all members could see if they know anyone from their youth.  Help me out by giving some names of friends, neighbours, school classmates etc.  You never know, maybe we've crossed paths in the past!...Diane

Lachine Accident

I love the first paragraph,.everyone will tell you they loved the ride,but essentially truth be known they'd have to be nuts & nervous until the ride got back into calmer waters........hahahahahahaha 

The Lachine Accident

May 18, 1873, Wednesday

Every tourist who has visited Canada has shot the Lachine Rapids and pretended afterward that he greatly enjoyed it. In point of fact, unless he was totally devoid of nerves he was wretchedly uncomfortable until he had safeiy reached smooth water. That the trip is an exceedingly dangerous one is susceptible of easy demonstration.

........and again the whole story available at this link:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D04E4D7173AE63BBC4052DFB3668388669FDE   

                                                have fun and remember verdun

"AGAIN" Steamer on Rocks

this story is from July 1922,.seems the Steamers were getting larger,this one had 400 passengers on board,......Imagine being stuck in the Rapids overnight,with the contant punding ,rushing,turbulent ,rapids rushing past the Ship........all night.What do you think the chances were that many passengers decided to 'get a good nights sleep' -

                                   YIKES ..............................................................

STEAMER ON ROCKS; 400 KEPT ON BOARD; Canadian Excursionists Spend Night on Craft Which Had Just Shot Lachine Rapids July 31, 1922, Monday

MONTREAL, July 30.--Four hundred passengers were forced to spend the night on the excursion steamer Rapids Prince when she went on the rocks below Lachine Rapids tonight.

.again you can read the whole story at this link ,if you like:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9802E3D81239EF3ABC4950DFB1668389639EDE   

                                         Have Fun & Remember Verdun

Steamer Stuck in the Rapids

It looks like a few steamers did get stuck in the Rapids,...but here's a story from the NYTimes archives ,about a Steamer named the L.Renaud which got trapped in the Rapids & people in canoes wanted to'extort' them .....Nice to see the good in Humanity existed even in those times......................

Wreck of the Steamer Renaud in the Lachine Rapids with 150 Passengers on Board-How They Escaped Extortion of the Canoe People

May 17, 1873, Wednesday

The steamer L. Renaud left Cornwall on Monday morning at 5 o'clock, to make her usual trip to Montreal, touching at Beauharnois and other points. She had on board from 125 to 150 passengers, and when she neared the famed Lachine Rapids the decks were crowded in anticipated excitement of the "shooting."

............you can read the 'rest of the storey' (as old Paul Harvey would have said)

here at this link:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=980DEFD8173AE63BBC4F52DFB3668388669FDE  

                    you can read the whole article ,using Adobe Reader...... HF&RV

Montreal,Light,Heat & Power ( the old dam in Lasalle)

Here's the whole article written about the old dam ( an ad for it at least) I think Guy posted this photo on the old MSN site, & I thought I'd share it again here:

Ad from Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company,
"Montreal - The Power City"
From Five Hundred Representative Public Utility Advertisements, 1928
Public Utilities Advertising Association

The left column reads:

"Montreal is a great city because nature and man have combined to make it great. Since 1904 the industrial customers of Montreal Light, Heat and Power have increased from 2,645 to 4,777, in 1926; and the lighting customers from 36,029 to 200,992, while the power demanded to take care of Montreal has increased from 90,000 to 300,000 h.p. This achievement not only proves conclusively that Montreal Light, Heat and Power has provided for Montreal's tremendous expansion during the last fourteen years, but is an evidence of its intention as well as its ability to do so in the future. Another proof of which is to be found in the fact that it has actually available 200,000 h.p. more that the City requires at the present time, not to speak of additional reserve power available from the great group of power plants feeding its system and the additional 100,000 h.p. now under construction.

"Montreal Light, Heat and Power's gas resources also have always been far ahead of the demand for industrial gas heating -- a very necessary and important agent in manufacturing -- for which the demand increases proportionally to that for electricity.

"Montreal Light, Heat and Power will provide for Montreal's growth in the future as it has in the past no matter how great or how rapid the expansion may be.

"We are proud of Montreal, and are grateful for the part we have played in making its development possible."

The right column reads:

"Montreal Light, Heat & Power had available, in reserve and now being developed, supplies of electricity far in excess of any possible requirements of Montreal's present and future industries, public services and homes.

"Never, in the forty years during which this company has been privileged to serve the City, has there been any demand for electric power which it has not been able to meet instantly.

"Linked together through inter-communication arrangements established by Montreal Light, Heat and Power, the resources of Quebec's major generating plants converge on Montreal and the adjacent territory, and no other similar area has such a gigantic reservoir of actual and potential electric energy at its command.

"Comprised in this system are the eleven most important plants in the Province, situated at Ile Maligne, Grand-Mère, Shawinigan Falls, La Gabelle, Cedars Rapids, Soulanges, Ste-Timothée, Lachine, Chambly, Ville Lasalle and the new plant now being built at Back River. Their vast network of transmission and distribution lines tap practically all of Quebec's economically available hydro-electric power and cover the entire industrial belt which centres in Montreal.

"This concentration of electric resources makes for aggressive initiative, combined with great economy, and gives this City and district unequaled opportunities for growth in the wonderful new electric era which the world has entered.

"The average rate for electricity in Montreal is substantially lower than in other similar industrial centres either in Canada or the United States"

     Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company was one of the major components of today's Hydro-Québec. All of the plants named in the ad are hydro-power units. Though the company has placed diesel, nuclear, and gas-fueled plants in service over the years, it still relies heavily on hydro-power for generation.

     The expectation and desirability of continuing growth, evident in this ad, reflects a common theme of the era -- that expansion of economic and technical systems were signs of beneficial progress. Today, the effects of expanding technical infrastructures generate debate over costs and benefits. The statement of how the company has "supplies of electricity far in excess of any possible requirements of Montreal's present and future [customers]," indicates the scale of thought at the time. The 447.6 mega-watts of power cited as available (1 horse-power = 746 watts) falls short of the 24,590 MW of installed capacity available to Hydro-Québec in 1988.

                                       Have Fun and Remember Verdun

Under the 'Yikes' column

Talk about time flying by,.......Tomorow(Thursday) is the last day of Winter......  Spring starts Friday.....Seems like we just had New Year's.............   

Remember as a kid in Montreal,the weather would be starting to get nicer and the skates were over with,by now,.but the 'street Ball Hockey' was just coming into play.

Also the men who worked for the City of Verdun,.would soon be seen 'sweeping' the streets with those large old wide brooms (that usually stood upside down on the back of a Garbage Truck,..  they'd sweep all the sidewalks & clear then of all the sand that was used over the winter,...and there was that certain 'fresh smell' of Springtime...

also was that not do fresh smell of dog shit that was left over from having been trapped in all those snow banks for the winter,frozen......hahahahahah

actually Verdun (Montreal for that matter too) were well kept Cities ,always clean,considering the population,.......now the lanes (that's another story).....yikes!!!

 

                                                                Have Fun & Remember Verdun

The "Prescott" Jumping the Lachine Rapids 1908

Here is a photo of the"Prescott" jumping the Lachine Rapids in 1908 wich I have added to my photo Album No. 28. There is a short description of the event on the bottom of the photo wich is from the McCord Museum of McGill Univerdity, photo Notman Photographic Archives No. 4202. This photo is from a document we just received at the SHGV. The other photo is also from the Notman Collection. Click on the photos for a larger view and to be able to read the text.

Guy

 

Nuns Island (some news from the Messanger)

L'Île-des-Sœurs: yesterday and today

Samuel Gewurz talks about developments re his “baby”

par Alexandre Gauthier
Voir tous les articles de Alexandre Gauthier
Article mis en ligne le 18 mars 2009 à 11:21
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Samuel Gewurz.

L'Île-des-Sœurs: yesterday and today

Samuel Gewurz talks about developments re his “baby”

In 1955, J.L. Gewurz and a partner bought L'Île-des-Sœurs for about $1.4 million. His son Samuel became a promoter of Les Verrières, the first high-end condominium tower in the island. He is now president of Proment Corporation and has undertaken an urban community project on the northern tip which will change the face of the gateway to Montreal.

“It’s going to be a jewel for everyone”, Samuel Gewurz assured about a hundred people gathered at Il Gabbiano restaurant in LaSalle on the 12th of March. It was for a lunch conference organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the south west region of Montreal.

Invited to give a talk on the history of L'Île-des-Sœurs – yesterday and today - Mr. Gewurz spoke of five developmental phases in the island; he concluded his presentation by providing a visual simulation of the mega project which he intends to pursue on the northern tip.

Departure of the religious order

The acquisition of the island by Les Investissements de L'Île-des-Sœurs, represented by Gewurz senior from the sisters of the Notre Dame Congregation marked the departure of the religious community. The island was then annexed to Verdun in 1957, Champlain Bridge was built and a global plan was presented in 1963. The plan however failed to obtain the necessary funding for the island’s development.

A 99-year lease for the land was then signed with Les Structures Métropolitaines of Chicago which built only a fourth of the 12,000 dwelling units that were planned. The lease was cancelled in 1978 and the lands were sold.

Proment’s towers

Proment Corporation then undertook the construction of top quality condo towers and built Les Verrières in 1983. It didn’t really go very smoothly. “The island is my baby. It brings me a lot of pleasure, but also some worries”, said Samuel Gewurz when he explained that a resident of the second tower did not want to be deprived of his view of the river by the building of the fifth tower. The Val de l'Anse and Club Marin projects followed.

The recession hit in the beginning of the 1990s but Mr. Gewurz and Proment deployed their efforts to visualise a Westmount-type enclave by first creating a community of affordable town homes, and then single-family homes and finally, prestige housing in Domaine de la Forêt.

Proment began to prosper from 1998 to 2008 when they built the southern tip of the island through innovative projects like the Sommets sur le fleuve and Le Vistal. “The excitement of the river view or for the environment sometimes goes beyond reason to build a dwelling in these projects”, Mr. Gewurz pointed out.

After having built half of the 8,000 deluxe condos on the island, Proment has now embarked on an ecological development with its urban community plans in the northern tip which will go around the Bell construction project.

Projected on screen in 3D, the plan consists of condo towers as well as town houses surrounded by pedestrian paths, the shoreline, a bike path, a belvedere, a quay and of course some small businesses. A public place will also be developed along the edge of the river; it can serve as an area for holding concerts or outdoor movies surrounded by restaurants. A high and illuminated point of reference will also be built in the middle. Laid out right in the heart of the northern tip area, this project is estimated to cost a few million dollars and may increase the island’s population from the present 18,500 to 23,000 people in about 10 years.