Feb 2005 Imposed

NEW ACQUISITIONS The WestmountNEWSLETTEROFTHE WESTMOUNT HISTORICAL HistorianASSOCIATION ᮤ MONTREAL ARCHITECTURE: A GUIDE TO STYLES AND BUILDINGS, by François Rémillard and Brian Merrett. VOLUME 9 NUMBER 1 SEPTEMBER 2008 Translated by Pierre Miville-Deschênes. Sainte-Adèle, QC: Les Editions Café Crème, 2007.

MONTREAL’S SHERBROOKE STREET: THE SPINE OF ᮣ THE CITY, by MacKay L. Smith. Montreal: InﬁniteBooks, 2006 Donated by Doreen Lindsay ᮤ NO LIMITS: THE AMAZING STORY OF RHONA AND RHODA WURTELE CANADA’S OLYMPIAN SKIING PIONEERS, by Byron Rempel. Twinski Publications, 2007.

BOOKS & PAMPHLETS DONATED BY LILYAN BOURQUE FROM THE ESTATE OF YVES DÉCARIE HISTORIE DE VERDUN, 1665, 1876-1976, by Julien Déziel THE FRASER-HICKSON LIBRARY; AN INFORMAL HISTORY, Edgar Moodey THE SOCIAL REGISTER OF CANADA. 1st edition MONTREAL AND MONUMENT AS ART = MONTRÉAL ET L’ART DU # MONUMENT EN CES LIEUX QUE L’ON NOMMA “LA CHINE”…by Normand Mousette ETAIL OF A SAINTE-LAURENT: DU VILLAGE A LA VILLE, by Johanne Brochu, D Beatrice Sokoloff. MAP FROM 1859 RACONTE-MOI OUTREMONT ET SES TROIS SIECLE D’HISTOIRE PUBLISHED BY CAHIERS D’HISTOIRE DE DEUX-MONTAGES JOHN LOVELL WITH # Pamphlets Les premiers enfants de Ville-Marie 1642-1658 THE LOCATION OF Promenade dans le Vieux Montréal THE FOUR HOUSES # Imperial Oil Review, July 1967. Canada 1812-1871 The formative years # DESCRIBED Mount Royal Montreal – McCord Museum IN THIS ISSUE. DONATIONS Roslyn School Memorabilia, donated by the School. Photos of the Weston School c1920-1921, donated by Barbara Winn Demerger Files, (4 boxes), donated by the Westmount Municipal Association Clay pipe, donated by Joan Rothman ᮣ

– PAGE 12 The Westmount Historian FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Westmount Historian PRESIDENT’SI urge you to preserve ourREPORT wonderful original houses NEWSLETTER OF THE WESTMOUNT so that they may become part of our future. This HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION newsletter brings you four case histories, which will, I James Kewley Ward Album September 2008 hope, inspire other owners to preserve their homes. Volume 9 • Number 1 From 1985 to 88 the house and gardens of 513-515 Côte St. Antoine Road were completely renovated with love EDITOR: and understanding by the owners Pauline and Philip Doreen Lindsay Ronchetti. The original red brick house had been built in

CONTRIBUTORS: 1847 by the enterprising Ville-Marie merchant Ephrem Caroline Breslaw Hudon for he and his wife Justine-Solomée Hurtubise on her father’s farm- Barbara Covington land along the old Côte Road. Doreen Lindsay Also in 1847, William Footner, the architect of the Bonsecour Market in All photos: WHA Archives Old Montreal, designed two identical houses (Braemar and Clairview) higher up on the mountainside. The present owner, Mr. Gerald Benjamin has been maintaining this Regency style Villa since he purchased it in 1980. WESTMOUNT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION A conservation strategy was prepared by architect/owner Rosanne Moss BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007 – 2008 when she began to make changes to the heritage house (1892) at the top of Doreen Lindsay, president Mount Pleasant Avenue that she and her husband purchased in 1983. We Caroline Breslaw, vice-president can all benefit from her assertion that “ new work must be physically and David Freeman, treasurer visually compatible with and subordinate to and distinguishable from the Anne Barkman, membership & website historic.” Margarita Schultz, recording secretary Five years later, the renowned architect Edward Maxwell was asked to Barbara Covington, archivist design the semi-detached stone houses at the juncture of Côte St. Antoine Joan Clark Road and Sherbrooke Street. This most recent of the preservations present- Jane Martin Ruth Allan-Rigby ed here was undertaken only last year by the new owners Edith Zorychta and her husband based on original Maxwell plans obtained from McGill ames Kewley Ward was born 1819 in Peel, on the Isle of of St. Peter’s Church in the Market Place. His most mag- University. PAST PRESIDENTS Man where he lived until reaching the age of twenty- nificent donation was in 1905 when he offered one thou- Sincerely, J Flora-Lee Wagner 2000-2003 DOREEN LINDSAY, PRESIDENT, 2008 three when he emigrated to the United States. His sea voy- sand pounds to build a free public library and reading Aline Gubbay 1994-2000 age from Liverpool to New York took fifty-three days and room for Peel. It was located on the site of his old home and Mrs. Shirley Vogel 1986-1987 Miss Henrietta Harvie 1984-1986 he then proceeded to Troy in New York State where he in 2007 celebrated its Centenary. The Westmount Historical Dr. Hélène Saly 1981-1984 engaged in the lumber business. In 1856 he decided that Association Archives was approached for photographs to Eleanor Earle 1979-1981 WHA Lecture Series – Fall 2008 prospects were better in Canada and moved to Maskinonge add to the exhibits of the Centenary celebration and have Sally Hooff 1975-1979 Education in Westmount: 4 Schools been involved in researching certain historical facts for T.A. Alice Lighthall 1971-1974 for 10 years, then to Trois Rivières for seven years and then Mr. Panet-Raymond 1945-48 Thursday, September 18, 2008 in 1873 to Hochelaga, where Westmount now stands. He Bawden who gave a talk to the Peel Heritage Trust on 11th W.B. Scott 1944 MARIANOPOLIS COLLEGE; CELEBRATING ITS CENTENNIAL built a house at 18 Rosemount Avenue and called it Villa September 2007 entitled “The Life and Times of James Speaker: Françoise Boisvert CND, Director General of Marianopolis College (Miss Lighthall presided) Mona. He continued his lumber business in Canada and Kewley Ward”. It is hoped that Mr. Bawden’s talk will be Thursday, October 16, 2008 became a prosperous businessman and leader in his com- published and we look forward to receiving a copy. A draft WESTMOUNT HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION L’ECOLE D’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR munity. James Kewley Ward was the Mayor of the Village of this speech is available in the Archives. P. O. Box 198 Victoria Station and THE CND MOTHER HOUSE 1908-1988 Westmount, Quebec H3Z 2Y6 of Côte St. Antoine from 1875-1883. Under his leadership a The photograph album which is housed in the Archives Speaker: Joyce Roberts CND, Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum 514-925-1404 school commission was formed and the village school was is a wonderful collection of scenes from the life and times Thursday, November 20, 2008 E-MAIL: located on Stanton Street in a large building which also of Westmount and Montreal in the late 19th century. DAWSON COLLEGE: LOOKING BACK 40 YEARS [email protected] housed the Council and community events. He continued Included are photographs, to name but a few, of the Speaker: Sally Nelson Montreal Ice Palace, the Glen, the Ward house at 18 Rose - WEBSITE: English teacher at Dawson for 39 years. in political life and was a life member in the Legislative www.westmounthistorical.org Council of the Province of Quebec. He was completely flu- mount and exterior photos of Rosemount Avenue, 474 Thursday, December 18, 2008 ent in French, and gave credit for this to his upbringing in Mount Pleasant, another Ward residence, the M.A.A.A. ISSN: CENTENARY OF ROSLYN SCHOOL – 1908 1496-4066 Presentation of the history of Roslyn School by Manx Gaelic and English while a child in Peel. sports events and, of course, many Ward family photos. It Dramatis Personae, Westmount’s Community Theatre. James Kewley Ward never forgot the island of his birth is a magnificent legacy for the historians and the curious of GRAPHIC DESIGN: and returned there very often for visits. He gave generous- today. Studio Melrose Talks will take place in WESTMOUNT PUBLIC LIBRARY 310 Victoria Avenue, #105 4574 Sherbrooke Street West – 7 to 9 pm ly to many municipal causes and buildings in Peel, such as BARBARA COVINGTON, ARCHIVIST 514-488-7366 Admission free for members. Non-members $5:00 at the door. the Hospital and the Peel Poor Fund. He provided the town 7 MAY 2008 [email protected] of Peel with a public clock which was housed in the tower 514-925-1404 or 514-932-6688

– PAGE 2PAGE 11 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian PHOTOS FROM JAMES KEWLEY WARD ALBUM RIVERVIEW OR THE JUSTINE-SOLOMÉE HURTUBISE HOUSE, 1847 raised the roof to provide a full second floor and a third floor attic. He also added the central tower featuring a decorative wrought iron railing of sunflowers around the top. Over the years the house has been home to many wonderfull people. In 1892, James A.Thomson, a banker, bought it from Mr. Simpson, then sold it quickly in the same year to James Elliott, a bank manager. Elliot willed it to his sister Annie Elliot in 1913 and after living there for twenty-nine years, Ms. Elliot sold the property to her nephew Frank Jarvis in 1942. Laurette Payette bought it in 1970, and sold it two years later, to Jacques Languirand, Québec author and radio personality. Philip and Pauline Ronchetti bought the property from Languirand in July 1985 and began an exemplary restora- Dining Room tion and preservation programe. Since Interior of J.J.C. Ward’s Residence the inside structure of the house had 474 Mount Pleasant Avenue. deteriorated considerably, they had to open up walls, close others, change stairwells, repair cornices and ceilings and lay new floors. To unify the look of the exterior, they painted the wide wooden varanda in the same colours This house at 513-515 Côte St. Antoine was preserved by owners Philip and as the original roof slates on the roof Pauline Ronchetti between 1985 and 1988 The house we see today developed which were discovered under layers of around an original 1847 red brick house built by Ephrem Hudon after he gray paint. married Justine-Solomée Hurtubise. Riverview has a 1A classification in Westmount and received a Montreal he original red brick house was 513 and 515. Over the one hundred Heritage Emeritus Award in 2005. built in 1847 by Ephrem Hudon and sixty years the house has been DOREEN LINDSAY, BASED ON RESEARCH for himself and his wife Justine- standing on that corner, it has evolved FOR 20 MARCH 2008 LECTURE TSolomée Hurtubise on land that was from the original simple red brick to be given to her from her father’s country house into a more elaborate farm. The Hurtubise family had manor house, then into a duplex and owned and farmed land along Côte today it is contemporary condomini- Saint-Antoine Road since 1699. Their ums. family stone farm house was built in The additions over the years began 1739. when Mr Hudon added a kitchen at Today Justine-Solomée’s house still the back. Then, after Mr. William sits within its treed garden at the Simpson, a banker, bought the house northeast corner of Côte Saint-Antoine from the Hudons in 1876, he added a J.J.C. Ward’s 1st wife Lily Reekie and Victoria Avenue. It is numbered second floor above the kitchen, and

– PAGE 10 PAGE 3– The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian 474 MOUNT PLEASANT AVENUE C. 1892 DEVELOPMENT OF BRAEMAR VILLA LAND rate wc was reconfigured. The development of the land began house to John Young who then pro- In LOVELLS DIRECTORY of 1847, The attic space which had when WILLIAM McGILLIVRAY a ceeded to demolish the McGillivray 1848 and 1849 we find that William earlier been accessed by lad- director of the NORTH WEST COM- house and construct a new stone Footner, a merchant, not the architect, der became a large room PANY bought land from the Bouchard house, which he called ROSEMOUNT. lived in “ ” or , and Rosemount Clairvue reached by a staircase match- Family and built the original stone In 1848 Eadie and Footner signed a John Eadie lived at “ ” or Rosemount ing the original. house on it. By 1846, the owner of DEED OF DIVISION AND AGREE- house The next year, 1850, Braemar . The wooden exterior was McGillivray’s land was ASA GOODE- MENT. Eadie took the northeast por- John Eadie sold the land to John repainted in the colour palate NOUGH, owner of the EXCHANGE tion of land that is BRAEMAR with a 2 Redpath and Major W.H. Brehaut, a of the period. New windows COFFEE HOUSE (Montreal’s informal story stone house, stone stable and police magistrate who began to live in were installed and the veran- Stock Exchange) He sold the top sec- other buildings and Footner took the Clairvue. He continued to live there dah was rebuilt with lacy tion of land to John Eadie, an actuary northwest portion of land with until 1879 and a street was named trelliswork. The roof was with the Savings Bank, AND William CLAIRVUE The whole strip of land after him; Brehaut Hill which became . redone in high-profile Footner, the father. In 1847 he sold the continued to be referred to as “ROSE- Mountain Avenue. asphalt shingles with copper bottom section of land with the stone MOUNT”. edging, details, and cresting and its turret was restored. When the rear sheds were removed, an extension match ing the house was Historical events in Montreal Montréal was the most important city in British North added to incorporate missing 1800 to 1850 services. America. The hub of Canada’s transportation system of integrated Throughout the interven- roads, canals, railroads and steamships. This Queen Anne Revival style house was built by J.K.Ward’s family as a wedding present for John tions, great care was taken to opened to navigation then expanded in the 1824 The Lachine Canal Ward when he married Elizabeth Reekie in 1892. Her family donated the land. Photo is from the James ensure a treatment consistent 1840s. Industrial facilities began to establish along the canal. Kewley Ward Album in the WHA Archives. House & grounds are being preserved by Rosanne Moss. with the period and the – was created by the union of Upper and which she had developed for their palette of this heritage home. In 2002, 1840 Province of Canada n 1892 the newly weds John Ward Lower Canada. and Lily Reekie moved into their home. It was essential that the existing Rosanne Moss was awarded the house be respected by retaining the Patrimoine architectural Montréal Montreal was the home at 474 Mount Pleasant Avenue 1844 to 1849 – capital of Canada. original architectural elements. New prize for a residence in Westmount. Iin the Town of Côte St. Antoine. The – A struck. house was a wedding present from additions would have to be visually CAROLINE BRESLAW 1847 typhus epidemic compatible, but subordinate, to the – The British Government appointed James Bruce as their families – Robert Reekie’s had 1847 (Lord Elgin) donated the land; James Ward’s had original which is a Category 1A build- the Governor General of Canada. built the three story home. It nestled ing in the Westmount Heritage Study – April 25, 1849 Burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal. on a hillside of the winding road in a carried out by Beaupré et Michaud. Lord Elgin (James Bruce) drove into Montreal from his residence in Initially, interior renovations were countrylike setting with views of the today’s Villa Maria High School on Decarie Boulevard, to undertaken, including new plumbing Monklands, river to the south. Built in the Queen give royal assent to the bill to compensate victims for losses during the and wiring. On the ground floor, con- Anne Revival style popular during the Uprisings of 1837-38. Not everyone agreed. Mobs of people rioted and sisting of a living room, dining room, Victorian era, the house was asymmet- set fire to the Parliament Buildings which were then in the Sainte-Anne day parlour, kitchen, central hall, and rical with a steeply pitched roof, a Market building east of McGill street (today called Place d’Youville) large verandah, a corner turret, clap- staircase, the day parlour and dining room changed places and the rudi- in the Neo - board siding, and bay windows. After 1844 to 1860 – The Bonsecours Market was constructed Lily’s death in 1906, John Ward sold mentary kitchen was redone. The two classic style by architects William Footner and George Browne. The the house. fireplaces, plaster cornices, window Canadian Parliament sat here for the rest of the 1849 session after the Restoration architect Rosanne Moss casings, and cornices were restored. riots and burning of the rented parliament buildings at Sainte-Anne and her husband Bill Brender pur- Radiator cases, picture rails, and Market. friezes were added. The upper floor chased the property in 1983. Over the Information selected from A Heritage years, they have undertaken a series of with a master bedroom and dressing Montreal a City Steeped in History, Plan of W. Footner and J. Eadie Guide by Parks Canada 2004 restoration and renovation projects, room, a den, a sunporch, two smaller property in 1848 from the Evaluation following a Conservation Strategy bedrooms, and a bathroom with sepa- Patrimoniale Maison Braemar

– PAGE 4PAGE 9 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian THE BRAEMAR VILLA, 1847 – 3219 THE BOULEVARD TWO PROMINENT FATHERS PROVIDE DOWER HOME FOR CHILDREN and MAR meaning beauty remain there today. A newspaper arti- and harmony. cle in the Westmount Examiner in Robert James Reekie (1810-1881) Hon. James K. Ward (1819-1910) September 1980 reported that the Robert Reekie was an important Montreal businessman, James Ward was originally from the Isle of Man. He had Alterations and additions Westmount Municipal Association an engineer, and railway builder. He was involved in the apprenticed to an architect and builder in Douglas. In in the 50’s and the Historical Association both construction of the Victoria Bridge and the Grand Trunk Canada, he became very wealthy as one of the country’s Peter Alfred THOMPSON asked Cultural Affairs to preserve the Railway. He was a president of the Kingston Locomotive largest exporters of timber. He moved to the area of today’s of Nesbitt Thomson and land and the view. Works which built the first locomotive for the Grand Trunk. Westmount. His home stood at 18 Rosemount Avenue on Power Corporation owned Reekie had business ties land subdivided by the property for 44 years Architecture with Donald Smith, Sir Robert Reekie from the (1924 to 1968) During his Braemar is an example of the Hugh Allan and Andrew John Young estate. It was ownership; he made many REGENCY STYLE, which was popular Allan, and the Hon. John named ‘Mona’ after the alterations and additions. between 1810 and 1860. Windows Young. A major real Mona Saw Mills on the He moved the location of the have more importance than doors and estate developer, he held Isle of Man; Ward also entrance from the south side often serve as doors. They are as high property with Sir Hugh owned a Mona Saw Mills of the house to the east side as the walls giving access to the interi- Allan on the Lachine in Lachine. The Ward but kept all the pilasters and or. The effect is remarkable as they Canal and in St. Henri, home no longer stands. huge windows. He moved provide an exceptional luminosity in both potential sites for To quote from the the large stairway from the the rooms. The large size of the win- manufacturing expan- Westmount News: “At centre of the house to the dows also provides an easy view of sion. He also had impor- that time (June, 1872), east side over the new front the exterior. Every part of the room tant land holdings in within the present doorway. The ground floor has a relationship with the natural Westmount. boundary of Westmount, plan is the most interesting environment outside. The large Robert Reekie pur- there was neither school, with the dining room, the gallery surrounding the house on all chased the Hon. John church, nor stores. The library, and the entrance hall four sides is painted white, as are the Young’s estate ‘Rose - district then formed part The present owner, Mr. Gerald Benjamin, has been all having fireplaces and all exterior walls of the house, which mount’ in two parcels of the municipality of St. continuously preserving this house at 3219 The situated around the large allows sunlight to reflect back through Robert Reekie (1810-1881) over a 10-year period – Henri, but subsequently Hon. James K. Ward (1819-1910) Boulevard since he bought it in 1980. It was designed central living room. windows into the interior. Successful Montreal businessman, the first in 1861, when he became a separate com- Eight years as Mayor of the Village in the Regency Style in 1847 by the architect William The Thomsons sold The architectural plan of is acquired the southern munity, under the name Braemar real-estate developer, engineer and of Notre-Dame-de-Grace; Nine Footner as one of two situated on Westmount to ACADéMIE also similar to the portion just above Côte of Notre Dame de Grace, Braemar Plantation House or railway builder. He purchased the years as councillor in the Village Mountain overlooking the St. Lawrence River. MICHELLE PréVOST. This built in the southern St. Antoine; the second in and Mr. Ward was one of Gallery House Hon. John Young’s estate of Côte St. Antoine; Twenty years has fascinated private school was in the house for United States after 1700 by the Huga - 1872, when he bought its first councillors.” he Braemar Villa Rosemount in 1861 and 1872. His as the Chairman of the Westmount Westmounters for 161 years. Built only three years from February 1968 to nauts who were French Protestant set- original house at #5 Rosemount the remainder of the When the first school School Commissioners. half way up the slopes of the moun- December 1970. They found it difficult tlers. similar to the Plantation property from the bank- was established, Mr. Braemar Avenue still stands today. Ttain to take advantage of the view to operate a school and sold to a , is oriented toward the river, rupt Young. The architect T.S. Scott built two villas for him Ward was appointed chairman of the School Com mis - House across the St. Lawrence River, its Consulting Company who then sold built on a hilltop to provide a view, on the east side of Rosemount Avenue which had been the sioners, a position he held for 20 years, and he remained a address today is 3219 The Boulevard. to Mr. Thomka-Gazdik. and has a a large sheet metal roof and private drive of the estate – 5 and 27 were originally identi- board member for many more. He served as Mayor of was built as a twin house with surrounded by a porch-like gallery. cal. According to the Storied Province of Quebec, Reekie Notre Dame de Grace from 1875 to 1883 and then became a Braemar to the west in 1847. Clairvue It was at the request of the current “took great pride in his house and the spacious grounds councillor of the newly created Village of Côte St. Antoine Clairvue Obstruction of view does not exist today, but Braemarwith Thomka-Gazdik sold off the land in owner of BRAEMAR, Mr. Gerald around it, having been a lover of flowers and nature.” In for another nine. He was appointed a life member in the its wide white galleries surrounded by sections, split the coach house away Benjamin, that the Ministere des 1890 the Reekies moved up the street to #13. Reekies origi- Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec. columns on all four sides is a reminder from the property, and divided the Affaires Culturale du Quebec recog- nal home at 5 Rosemount Avenue still exists. James Ward was married twice and had 15 children. After of the elegance of living at the time. land in front of the house for residen- nized the house as a monument his- Reekie and his wife Isabella MacNaughton, both Scottish the death of this first wife, he married Lydia Trenholme. The house plans are attributed to the tial development. Mr. Benjamin torique in 1984. This splendid Villa Presbyterians, had six children. Their daughter Elizabeth, John (John James Cuthbert Ward), a child from this second architect William Footner who de sign - bought the house understanding that still stands proudly on our mountain- known as Lily, was born on January 15, 1863. Reekie died marriage, was born on December 4, 1862. For the marriage ed the Bonsecours Market in Old there would be 2 houses in front. The side but it is hidden behind three other while on a trip to Britain in 1881. To celebrate the marriage of his son to Lily Reekie in 1892, J.K. Ward built the wood- Montreal in 1844. The name BRAE- owner/developer reorganized the houses, suffocating for lack of space to of Lily to John Ward, the Reekie family presented the land en dower house at 474 Mount Pleasant Avenue. MAR was given by Eliza Jane Ross land and built 3 houses. There was a breath as it once did. on lot 374-7 which had been part of the ‘Rosemount’ estate, CAROLINE BRESLAW when she bought the house in 1866. public protest but the three houses DOREEN LINDSAY as the site of their new home. based on research for BASED ON RESEARCH FOR BRAE meaning upper slope of a hill were built in front of the Villa and 21 February 2008 lecture 15 MAY 2008 LECTURE.

– PAGE 8PAGE 5 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian 37 CÔTE SAINT-ANTOINE ROAD, 1897 THE ENVIRONS OF 35-37 CÔTE SAINT-ANTOINE IN 1897 Extensive restoration has was celebrat- n 1893 Sherbrooke Street, which had ended at Greene Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 been done to the house since into the Town of Côte ed by the creation of Victoria Jubilee Park (today’s Avenue, was extended westwards 2006. On the outside, wood- St-Antoine, as Westmount was then known. Westmount Park) and the construction of a municipal A streetcar work was copied, outside I was begun along the new roadway. This opened library and a community centre in it. loop line windows matching the origi- the land south of Côte St-Antoine to development and sub- (today 39) was The Decarie farmhouse the oldest build- nals manufactured, new sky- urbanization. At this time the area was mainly farmland. standing at the beginning of the Côte Road. It had a ing lights similar to the old ones Some important estates and villas, such as ‘Rosemount’, barn and daughter’s home attached at the rear. The house installed, and roof repairs ‘Forden’, ‘West Mount’, ‘Braemar’, and the four houses of was extensively renovated in 1897 by architect Edward carried out on the copper, Metcalfe Terrace were found along the Côte Road. Maxwell in the Regency style with a trellised gallery, slate and chimneys. The old mansard roof, and stucco exterior. The house’s owner, Stanton Street was the municipal centre. Inside, the house was total- Stanton Street School housed the town hall and police and Samuel Thomas, also hired Maxwell to design the semide- ly rewired, the plumbing fire departments. Shopping was done on Greene Avenue. tached homes at 35 and 37 Côte St-Antoine just east of his redone, a high efficiency fur- own home on land he owned. In 1895 the name of the municipality was changed from nace installed, insulation reflecting a change in the the Catholic boys’ school, , Côte St-Antoine to Westmount, In 1898, St. Paul’s Academy sprayed in, the plasterwork demographics from a largely francophone, farming popu- was built at the northwest corner of Clarke Avenue. repaired, and the woodwork lation to one of prosperous anglophone businessmen. Around this time Clarke Avenue was used as a ski run and floors refurbished. The . It was a large red brick down to Sherbrooke. Westmount Academy was built kitchen was rebuilt in the building and was located where Selwyn House School is The high concentration of public buildings that stand spirit of the original, but with today. today at the confluence of Côte St-Antoine Road and light and functionality as The Sherbrooke Street did not exist. The Lawn bowling Club The first church in the community was St. Matthias. integral elements of the white clapboard Anglican Church was built in on the arrived later in 1901; Westmount City Hall, the War 1876 design. The current owners, southeast corner of the ‘Forden’ estate on land donated for Memorial, and Shaar Hashomayim were all built in 1922. This house at 37 Côte St-Antoine Road is being preserved by the current owners Edyth Zorychta Edith Zorychta and John the purpose by Miss Raynes. From was extend- the year 1893 when Sherbrooke Street and John Richardson. One of two semi-detached Anglo-Norman style sandstone homes designed Richardson, have carried out on the northwest corner ed, this area known for its fields and farms, would gradu- Melville Presbyterian Church by architect Edward Maxwell in 1897 for Thomas Samuel who owned the land as well as the a meticulous restoration of of Côte St-Antoine and Stanton St. was constructed after ally develop into building lots. Decarie House to the west on Côte St. Antoine Road. 37 Côte St. Antoine Road 1886. CAROLINE BRESLAW since purchasing this n 1897 Thomas Samuel engaged with leaded glass windows, a main Maxwell house. Edward Maxwell to design two staircase and back staircase, a powder CAROLINE BRESLAW room with geometric tiles, and a semi-detached houses beside his own BASED ON RESEARCH FOR Ihome at 39 Côte St. Antoine Road. The kitchen at the rear. 17 APRIL 2008 LECTURE. Municipal Status Mayors from 1874 to 1897 three-story houses at 35 and 37 were Upstairs there are bedrooms with mirror images except for the front large closets, a gallery at the back that has been closed-in since 1912, and entrances. They were built of sand- Village of Notre Dame de Grace 1874 Hon. E. Prudhomme 1874 stone in the Anglo-Norman style, with three bathrooms. The house was heat- half-timbering, turrets, and ornate ed by a large coal furnace in the base- Village of Côte St-Antoine 1879 James K. Ward 1875-1883 chimneys. ment. The top floor consists of a small The western house at 37 retains its room with built-in cupboards and a Town of Côte St-Antoine 1890 Alexander C. Hutchison 1884-86 huge room with oak paneling, book- leaded windows, the original wood- Town of Westmount 1895 Thomas Patton 1887-89 work in many types of wood (magno- cases with leaded glass doors, and lia, cherry, oak, maple), window seats, built-in window seats. From this floor City of Westmount 1908 John Mac Farlane 1890 the original door hardware, fireplaces and the leaded glass windows on the and three skylights. The inlaid floors, a main floor there is a beautiful view of Matthew Hutchison 1891-93 magnificent main staircase, and built- the Decarie farmhouse and City Hall. in furniture are virtually intact. The Originally the back yard was shared James Henry Redfern 1894-95 main floor features a small vestibule with the Decarie house and the two Fred W. Evans 1896-97 leading into a reception room, a con- homes attached to it on Argyle. After servatory with glass roof off the draw- 1900, the large garden was sold as part ing room, an octagonal dining room of the Argyle properties.

– PAGE 6PAGE 7 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian 37 CÔTE SAINT-ANTOINE ROAD, 1897 THE ENVIRONS OF 35-37 CÔTE SAINT-ANTOINE IN 1897 Extensive restoration has was celebrat- n 1893 Sherbrooke Street, which had ended at Greene Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 been done to the house since into the Town of Côte ed by the creation of Victoria Jubilee Park (today’s Avenue, was extended westwards 2006. On the outside, wood- St-Antoine, as Westmount was then known. Westmount Park) and the construction of a municipal A streetcar work was copied, outside I was begun along the new roadway. This opened library and a community centre in it. loop line windows matching the origi- the land south of Côte St-Antoine to development and sub- (today 39) was The Decarie farmhouse the oldest build- nals manufactured, new sky- urbanization. At this time the area was mainly farmland. standing at the beginning of the Côte Road. It had a ing lights similar to the old ones Some important estates and villas, such as ‘Rosemount’, barn and daughter’s home attached at the rear. The house installed, and roof repairs ‘Forden’, ‘West Mount’, ‘Braemar’, and the four houses of was extensively renovated in 1897 by architect Edward carried out on the copper, Metcalfe Terrace were found along the Côte Road. Maxwell in the Regency style with a trellised gallery, slate and chimneys. The old mansard roof, and stucco exterior. The house’s owner, Stanton Street was the municipal centre. Inside, the house was total- Stanton Street School housed the town hall and police and Samuel Thomas, also hired Maxwell to design the semide- ly rewired, the plumbing fire departments. Shopping was done on Greene Avenue. tached homes at 35 and 37 Côte St-Antoine just east of his redone, a high efficiency fur- own home on land he owned. In 1895 the name of the municipality was changed from nace installed, insulation reflecting a change in the the Catholic boys’ school, , Côte St-Antoine to Westmount, In 1898, St. Paul’s Academy sprayed in, the plasterwork demographics from a largely francophone, farming popu- was built at the northwest corner of Clarke Avenue. repaired, and the woodwork lation to one of prosperous anglophone businessmen. Around this time Clarke Avenue was used as a ski run and floors refurbished. The . It was a large red brick down to Sherbrooke. Westmount Academy was built kitchen was rebuilt in the building and was located where Selwyn House School is The high concentration of public buildings that stand spirit of the original, but with today. today at the confluence of Côte St-Antoine Road and light and functionality as The Sherbrooke Street did not exist. The Lawn bowling Club The first church in the community was St. Matthias. integral elements of the white clapboard Anglican Church was built in on the arrived later in 1901; Westmount City Hall, the War 1876 design. The current owners, southeast corner of the ‘Forden’ estate on land donated for Memorial, and Shaar Hashomayim were all built in 1922. This house at 37 Côte St-Antoine Road is being preserved by the current owners Edyth Zorychta Edith Zorychta and John the purpose by Miss Raynes. From was extend- the year 1893 when Sherbrooke Street and John Richardson. One of two semi-detached Anglo-Norman style sandstone homes designed Richardson, have carried out on the northwest corner ed, this area known for its fields and farms, would gradu- Melville Presbyterian Church by architect Edward Maxwell in 1897 for Thomas Samuel who owned the land as well as the a meticulous restoration of of Côte St-Antoine and Stanton St. was constructed after ally develop into building lots. Decarie House to the west on Côte St. Antoine Road. 37 Côte St. Antoine Road 1886. CAROLINE BRESLAW since purchasing this n 1897 Thomas Samuel engaged with leaded glass windows, a main Maxwell house. Edward Maxwell to design two staircase and back staircase, a powder CAROLINE BRESLAW room with geometric tiles, and a semi-detached houses beside his own BASED ON RESEARCH FOR Ihome at 39 Côte St. Antoine Road. The kitchen at the rear. 17 APRIL 2008 LECTURE. Municipal Status Mayors from 1874 to 1897 three-story houses at 35 and 37 were Upstairs there are bedrooms with mirror images except for the front large closets, a gallery at the back that has been closed-in since 1912, and entrances. They were built of sand- Village of Notre Dame de Grace 1874 Hon. E. Prudhomme 1874 stone in the Anglo-Norman style, with three bathrooms. The house was heat- half-timbering, turrets, and ornate ed by a large coal furnace in the base- Village of Côte St-Antoine 1879 James K. Ward 1875-1883 chimneys. ment. The top floor consists of a small The western house at 37 retains its room with built-in cupboards and a Town of Côte St-Antoine 1890 Alexander C. Hutchison 1884-86 huge room with oak paneling, book- leaded windows, the original wood- Town of Westmount 1895 Thomas Patton 1887-89 work in many types of wood (magno- cases with leaded glass doors, and lia, cherry, oak, maple), window seats, built-in window seats. From this floor City of Westmount 1908 John Mac Farlane 1890 the original door hardware, fireplaces and the leaded glass windows on the and three skylights. The inlaid floors, a main floor there is a beautiful view of Matthew Hutchison 1891-93 magnificent main staircase, and built- the Decarie farmhouse and City Hall. in furniture are virtually intact. The Originally the back yard was shared James Henry Redfern 1894-95 main floor features a small vestibule with the Decarie house and the two Fred W. Evans 1896-97 leading into a reception room, a con- homes attached to it on Argyle. After servatory with glass roof off the draw- 1900, the large garden was sold as part ing room, an octagonal dining room of the Argyle properties.

– PAGE 6PAGE 7 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian THE BRAEMAR VILLA, 1847 – 3219 THE BOULEVARD TWO PROMINENT FATHERS PROVIDE DOWER HOME FOR CHILDREN and MAR meaning beauty remain there today. A newspaper arti- and harmony. cle in the Westmount Examiner in Robert James Reekie (1810-1881) Hon. James K. Ward (1819-1910) September 1980 reported that the Robert Reekie was an important Montreal businessman, James Ward was originally from the Isle of Man. He had Alterations and additions Westmount Municipal Association an engineer, and railway builder. He was involved in the apprenticed to an architect and builder in Douglas. In in the 50’s and the Historical Association both construction of the Victoria Bridge and the Grand Trunk Canada, he became very wealthy as one of the country’s Peter Alfred THOMPSON asked Cultural Affairs to preserve the Railway. He was a president of the Kingston Locomotive largest exporters of timber. He moved to the area of today’s of Nesbitt Thomson and land and the view. Works which built the first locomotive for the Grand Trunk. Westmount. His home stood at 18 Rosemount Avenue on Power Corporation owned Reekie had business ties land subdivided by the property for 44 years Architecture with Donald Smith, Sir Robert Reekie from the (1924 to 1968) During his Braemar is an example of the Hugh Allan and Andrew John Young estate. It was ownership; he made many REGENCY STYLE, which was popular Allan, and the Hon. John named ‘Mona’ after the alterations and additions. between 1810 and 1860. Windows Young. A major real Mona Saw Mills on the He moved the location of the have more importance than doors and estate developer, he held Isle of Man; Ward also entrance from the south side often serve as doors. They are as high property with Sir Hugh owned a Mona Saw Mills of the house to the east side as the walls giving access to the interi- Allan on the Lachine in Lachine. The Ward but kept all the pilasters and or. The effect is remarkable as they Canal and in St. Henri, home no longer stands. huge windows. He moved provide an exceptional luminosity in both potential sites for To quote from the the large stairway from the the rooms. The large size of the win- manufacturing expan- Westmount News: “At centre of the house to the dows also provides an easy view of sion. He also had impor- that time (June, 1872), east side over the new front the exterior. Every part of the room tant land holdings in within the present doorway. The ground floor has a relationship with the natural Westmount. boundary of Westmount, plan is the most interesting environment outside. The large Robert Reekie pur- there was neither school, with the dining room, the gallery surrounding the house on all chased the Hon. John church, nor stores. The library, and the entrance hall four sides is painted white, as are the Young’s estate ‘Rose - district then formed part The present owner, Mr. Gerald Benjamin, has been all having fireplaces and all exterior walls of the house, which mount’ in two parcels of the municipality of St. continuously preserving this house at 3219 The situated around the large allows sunlight to reflect back through Robert Reekie (1810-1881) over a 10-year period – Henri, but subsequently Hon. James K. Ward (1819-1910) Boulevard since he bought it in 1980. It was designed central living room. windows into the interior. Successful Montreal businessman, the first in 1861, when he became a separate com- Eight years as Mayor of the Village in the Regency Style in 1847 by the architect William The Thomsons sold The architectural plan of is acquired the southern munity, under the name Braemar real-estate developer, engineer and of Notre-Dame-de-Grace; Nine Footner as one of two situated on Westmount to ACADéMIE also similar to the portion just above Côte of Notre Dame de Grace, Braemar Plantation House or railway builder. He purchased the years as councillor in the Village Mountain overlooking the St. Lawrence River. MICHELLE PréVOST. This built in the southern St. Antoine; the second in and Mr. Ward was one of Gallery House Hon. John Young’s estate of Côte St. Antoine; Twenty years has fascinated private school was in the house for United States after 1700 by the Huga - 1872, when he bought its first councillors.” he Braemar Villa Rosemount in 1861 and 1872. His as the Chairman of the Westmount Westmounters for 161 years. Built only three years from February 1968 to nauts who were French Protestant set- original house at #5 Rosemount the remainder of the When the first school School Commissioners. half way up the slopes of the moun- December 1970. They found it difficult tlers. similar to the Plantation property from the bank- was established, Mr. Braemar Avenue still stands today. Ttain to take advantage of the view to operate a school and sold to a , is oriented toward the river, rupt Young. The architect T.S. Scott built two villas for him Ward was appointed chairman of the School Com mis - House across the St. Lawrence River, its Consulting Company who then sold built on a hilltop to provide a view, on the east side of Rosemount Avenue which had been the sioners, a position he held for 20 years, and he remained a address today is 3219 The Boulevard. to Mr. Thomka-Gazdik. and has a a large sheet metal roof and private drive of the estate – 5 and 27 were originally identi- board member for many more. He served as Mayor of was built as a twin house with surrounded by a porch-like gallery. cal. According to the Storied Province of Quebec, Reekie Notre Dame de Grace from 1875 to 1883 and then became a Braemar to the west in 1847. Clairvue It was at the request of the current “took great pride in his house and the spacious grounds councillor of the newly created Village of Côte St. Antoine Clairvue Obstruction of view does not exist today, but Braemarwith Thomka-Gazdik sold off the land in owner of BRAEMAR, Mr. Gerald around it, having been a lover of flowers and nature.” In for another nine. He was appointed a life member in the its wide white galleries surrounded by sections, split the coach house away Benjamin, that the Ministere des 1890 the Reekies moved up the street to #13. Reekies origi- Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec. columns on all four sides is a reminder from the property, and divided the Affaires Culturale du Quebec recog- nal home at 5 Rosemount Avenue still exists. James Ward was married twice and had 15 children. After of the elegance of living at the time. land in front of the house for residen- nized the house as a monument his- Reekie and his wife Isabella MacNaughton, both Scottish the death of this first wife, he married Lydia Trenholme. The house plans are attributed to the tial development. Mr. Benjamin torique in 1984. This splendid Villa Presbyterians, had six children. Their daughter Elizabeth, John (John James Cuthbert Ward), a child from this second architect William Footner who de sign - bought the house understanding that still stands proudly on our mountain- known as Lily, was born on January 15, 1863. Reekie died marriage, was born on December 4, 1862. For the marriage ed the Bonsecours Market in Old there would be 2 houses in front. The side but it is hidden behind three other while on a trip to Britain in 1881. To celebrate the marriage of his son to Lily Reekie in 1892, J.K. Ward built the wood- Montreal in 1844. The name BRAE- owner/developer reorganized the houses, suffocating for lack of space to of Lily to John Ward, the Reekie family presented the land en dower house at 474 Mount Pleasant Avenue. MAR was given by Eliza Jane Ross land and built 3 houses. There was a breath as it once did. on lot 374-7 which had been part of the ‘Rosemount’ estate, CAROLINE BRESLAW when she bought the house in 1866. public protest but the three houses DOREEN LINDSAY as the site of their new home. based on research for BASED ON RESEARCH FOR BRAE meaning upper slope of a hill were built in front of the Villa and 21 February 2008 lecture 15 MAY 2008 LECTURE.

– PAGE 8PAGE 5 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian 474 MOUNT PLEASANT AVENUE C. 1892 DEVELOPMENT OF BRAEMAR VILLA LAND rate wc was reconfigured. The development of the land began house to John Young who then pro- In LOVELLS DIRECTORY of 1847, The attic space which had when WILLIAM McGILLIVRAY a ceeded to demolish the McGillivray 1848 and 1849 we find that William earlier been accessed by lad- director of the NORTH WEST COM- house and construct a new stone Footner, a merchant, not the architect, der became a large room PANY bought land from the Bouchard house, which he called ROSEMOUNT. lived in “ ” or , and Rosemount Clairvue reached by a staircase match- Family and built the original stone In 1848 Eadie and Footner signed a John Eadie lived at “ ” or Rosemount ing the original. house on it. By 1846, the owner of DEED OF DIVISION AND AGREE- house The next year, 1850, Braemar . The wooden exterior was McGillivray’s land was ASA GOODE- MENT. Eadie took the northeast por- John Eadie sold the land to John repainted in the colour palate NOUGH, owner of the EXCHANGE tion of land that is BRAEMAR with a 2 Redpath and Major W.H. Brehaut, a of the period. New windows COFFEE HOUSE (Montreal’s informal story stone house, stone stable and police magistrate who began to live in were installed and the veran- Stock Exchange) He sold the top sec- other buildings and Footner took the Clairvue. He continued to live there dah was rebuilt with lacy tion of land to John Eadie, an actuary northwest portion of land with until 1879 and a street was named trelliswork. The roof was with the Savings Bank, AND William CLAIRVUE The whole strip of land after him; Brehaut Hill which became . redone in high-profile Footner, the father. In 1847 he sold the continued to be referred to as “ROSE- Mountain Avenue. asphalt shingles with copper bottom section of land with the stone MOUNT”. edging, details, and cresting and its turret was restored. When the rear sheds were removed, an extension match ing the house was Historical events in Montreal Montréal was the most important city in British North added to incorporate missing 1800 to 1850 services. America. The hub of Canada’s transportation system of integrated Throughout the interven- roads, canals, railroads and steamships. This Queen Anne Revival style house was built by J.K.Ward’s family as a wedding present for John tions, great care was taken to opened to navigation then expanded in the 1824 The Lachine Canal Ward when he married Elizabeth Reekie in 1892. Her family donated the land. Photo is from the James ensure a treatment consistent 1840s. Industrial facilities began to establish along the canal. Kewley Ward Album in the WHA Archives. House & grounds are being preserved by Rosanne Moss. with the period and the – was created by the union of Upper and which she had developed for their palette of this heritage home. In 2002, 1840 Province of Canada n 1892 the newly weds John Ward Lower Canada. and Lily Reekie moved into their home. It was essential that the existing Rosanne Moss was awarded the house be respected by retaining the Patrimoine architectural Montréal Montreal was the home at 474 Mount Pleasant Avenue 1844 to 1849 – capital of Canada. original architectural elements. New prize for a residence in Westmount. Iin the Town of Côte St. Antoine. The – A struck. house was a wedding present from additions would have to be visually CAROLINE BRESLAW 1847 typhus epidemic compatible, but subordinate, to the – The British Government appointed James Bruce as their families – Robert Reekie’s had 1847 (Lord Elgin) donated the land; James Ward’s had original which is a Category 1A build- the Governor General of Canada. built the three story home. It nestled ing in the Westmount Heritage Study – April 25, 1849 Burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal. on a hillside of the winding road in a carried out by Beaupré et Michaud. Lord Elgin (James Bruce) drove into Montreal from his residence in Initially, interior renovations were countrylike setting with views of the today’s Villa Maria High School on Decarie Boulevard, to undertaken, including new plumbing Monklands, river to the south. Built in the Queen give royal assent to the bill to compensate victims for losses during the and wiring. On the ground floor, con- Anne Revival style popular during the Uprisings of 1837-38. Not everyone agreed. Mobs of people rioted and sisting of a living room, dining room, Victorian era, the house was asymmet- set fire to the Parliament Buildings which were then in the Sainte-Anne day parlour, kitchen, central hall, and rical with a steeply pitched roof, a Market building east of McGill street (today called Place d’Youville) large verandah, a corner turret, clap- staircase, the day parlour and dining room changed places and the rudi- in the Neo - board siding, and bay windows. After 1844 to 1860 – The Bonsecours Market was constructed Lily’s death in 1906, John Ward sold mentary kitchen was redone. The two classic style by architects William Footner and George Browne. The the house. fireplaces, plaster cornices, window Canadian Parliament sat here for the rest of the 1849 session after the Restoration architect Rosanne Moss casings, and cornices were restored. riots and burning of the rented parliament buildings at Sainte-Anne and her husband Bill Brender pur- Radiator cases, picture rails, and Market. friezes were added. The upper floor chased the property in 1983. Over the Information selected from A Heritage years, they have undertaken a series of with a master bedroom and dressing Montreal a City Steeped in History, Plan of W. Footner and J. Eadie Guide by Parks Canada 2004 restoration and renovation projects, room, a den, a sunporch, two smaller property in 1848 from the Evaluation following a Conservation Strategy bedrooms, and a bathroom with sepa- Patrimoniale Maison Braemar

– PAGE 4PAGE 9 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian PHOTOS FROM JAMES KEWLEY WARD ALBUM RIVERVIEW OR THE JUSTINE-SOLOMÉE HURTUBISE HOUSE, 1847 raised the roof to provide a full second floor and a third floor attic. He also added the central tower featuring a decorative wrought iron railing of sunflowers around the top. Over the years the house has been home to many wonderfull people. In 1892, James A.Thomson, a banker, bought it from Mr. Simpson, then sold it quickly in the same year to James Elliott, a bank manager. Elliot willed it to his sister Annie Elliot in 1913 and after living there for twenty-nine years, Ms. Elliot sold the property to her nephew Frank Jarvis in 1942. Laurette Payette bought it in 1970, and sold it two years later, to Jacques Languirand, Québec author and radio personality. Philip and Pauline Ronchetti bought the property from Languirand in July 1985 and began an exemplary restora- Dining Room tion and preservation programe. Since Interior of J.J.C. Ward’s Residence the inside structure of the house had 474 Mount Pleasant Avenue. deteriorated considerably, they had to open up walls, close others, change stairwells, repair cornices and ceilings and lay new floors. To unify the look of the exterior, they painted the wide wooden varanda in the same colours This house at 513-515 Côte St. Antoine was preserved by owners Philip and as the original roof slates on the roof Pauline Ronchetti between 1985 and 1988 The house we see today developed which were discovered under layers of around an original 1847 red brick house built by Ephrem Hudon after he gray paint. married Justine-Solomée Hurtubise. Riverview has a 1A classification in Westmount and received a Montreal he original red brick house was 513 and 515. Over the one hundred Heritage Emeritus Award in 2005. built in 1847 by Ephrem Hudon and sixty years the house has been DOREEN LINDSAY, BASED ON RESEARCH for himself and his wife Justine- standing on that corner, it has evolved FOR 20 MARCH 2008 LECTURE TSolomée Hurtubise on land that was from the original simple red brick to be given to her from her father’s country house into a more elaborate farm. The Hurtubise family had manor house, then into a duplex and owned and farmed land along Côte today it is contemporary condomini- Saint-Antoine Road since 1699. Their ums. family stone farm house was built in The additions over the years began 1739. when Mr Hudon added a kitchen at Today Justine-Solomée’s house still the back. Then, after Mr. William sits within its treed garden at the Simpson, a banker, bought the house northeast corner of Côte Saint-Antoine from the Hudons in 1876, he added a J.J.C. Ward’s 1st wife Lily Reekie and Victoria Avenue. It is numbered second floor above the kitchen, and

– PAGE 10 PAGE 3– The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian FROM THE ARCHIVES

– PAGE 2PAGE 11 – The Westmount Historian The Westmount Historian NEW ACQUISITIONS The WestmountNEWSLETTEROFTHE WESTMOUNT HISTORICAL HistorianASSOCIATION ᮤ MONTREAL ARCHITECTURE: A GUIDE TO STYLES AND BUILDINGS, by François Rémillard and Brian Merrett. VOLUME 9 NUMBER 1 SEPTEMBER 2008 Translated by Pierre Miville-Deschênes. Sainte-Adèle, QC: Les Editions Café Crème, 2007.

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