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