Michael Fish: a friend of Windsor Station and LaFontaine house

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Ways of Memory Oral History meets neighbourhood activism in Conservation, controversy, commemoration Redpath, Overdale and the Sherbrooke Rand Martial Artists The Irish Swift Stick and the French Foil Ql'EHEC [Ikritaiik Nkwj

Contexts VT ♦ Heritage Editor's Desk 3 Jackhammer logic Rod MacLeod Editor Rod MacLeod Editorial Assistant Timelines 4 Celia Ste Croix Anglophones in Quebec's collectivenarrative Shereen Rafea Production Shenanigans over the Redpath mansion Chris Curtis Martha Lodge Fairbairn House celebrates heritage week AnitaRutledge

Publisher The Quebec Anglophone Ways of Memory Matthew Farfan Heritage Network and Shaun L Turriff 400-257 Queen Street Sherbrooke (Lennoxville) Upload archive Shereen Rafea Quebec JIM 1K7 Picket signs for preservation Celia Ste Croix Phone Off the wall Shereen Rafea 1-877-964-0409 Both slow burn Celia Ste Croix (819) 564-9595 Immigrant? MOI? Shaul L Turriff Fax From Shillelagh to Quebec Maxime Chouinard (819) 564-6872 Correspondence [email protected] Cut and Thrust 16 Website J.B. Girard was Canada's first fencing master Elena Cerrolaza www.qahn.org South Winds Blowing 21 Skyscrapers, pink Cadillacs and other American imports Sandra Stock President Kevin O'Donneu. Iron Giants and Brave Men 24 Executive Director Remembering the Rand of Marie-Eve Gingras Dvvani; WlLKIM Heritage Portal Coordinator Sherbrooke's industrial legacy Matthew Parfan Ofeice Manager Windsor Station 26 Kai hy Teasdale Sixty years of corporate credulity and greed Michael Fish Quintessentially Canadian - in Cornwall 29 Quebec Heritage \4agazineis produced fourtimes yearly by theQuebec Oldest Canadian canoe found in England Renee Giblin Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN) with the support of The Department of Canadian Heritage ami Quebec's Reviews Minsiterc de la Culture et des Communications. QAHN is a non-profit Homage to Anglophonia 31 and non-partisan umbrella organization Writing in the Time of Nationalism Rod MacLeod whosemission is tohelpadvance knowledge ofthehistory andculture of by Linda Leith English-speaking society in Quebec. Canada Post Publication Mail Ancestors in the attic, bodies in the basement 32 Agreement Number405610004. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny Sandra Stock ISSN 17707-2670

Memories of Marianna O'Gallagher 34 1^1 Canadian Patrimoine ••• Heritage canadien

Quebec a a Cover image: Thanks to Heritage Montreal, the Guaranteed Milk Bottle is now a permanent part of the Montreal landscape. (Photo: Rod MacLeod) EDITOR'S DESK

Jackhammer logic by Rod MacLeod

Holy Trinity Church is first visit to Holy Trinity. Despite John's daughter-in-law and grandson gone now, but a few having read much about its history I were victims of an infamous double weeks back I took a walk had never actually gone to look at it, murder (or double suicide? The jury is down Viger Street at the even in its heyday. This is shameful, still very much out) in 1901. border of to check on yes, but also I think quite typical of Then The Suburban weighed in its state of demolition. It was a sad many of us, even avid heritage buffs. on February 2 with a page 2 article by and gruesome sight. Only a chunk There isn't time to get to know all the "Suburban Staff" purporting to give of it was left: the main facade with heritage sights, certainly not in a huge the "final word on 3455-57 Du Musee fragments of its flanking towers and place like Montreal. Too often we pay (Not Redpath Mansion)" and stating: a lone shelf of cantilevered ceiling, attentiononly when death is imminent "John Redpath nor any of his children plus other vestiges of smaller rooms - and even there, we are more likely ever lived here. There is NO mansion, and doorways. Gazing up into the just to follow the debates in the news. NO house and NO more than part of underside of its crumbing roof was We respond more on principle than one wall. What was there was demol vaguely obscene, like seeing the we do on a gut level, the way we ished with a valid permit in 1986." inner parts of a corpse. That even would if it were a building we used Well, ok. That made sense, given what this delicate relic of the church's and loved. Just as we take the heritage I knew of the Redpaths and the moun former glory was still standing was sights we love for granted (often until tainside. But learning that Suburban testament to its fundamentally solid it's too late), we also take for granted editor Michael Sochaczevski was also construction. As if to drive this point the heritage activists without whose one of the developers planning the home, a worker with a jackhammer efforts all kinds of things would condo on the Redpath site made me stood atop the scaffolding pinned disappear without our realizing it. realize that the plot was thickening. against the facade and drilled away at So much is just unsung heroism Things got quite bizarre when the tower, with no discernable effect. - but leaving it to the activists lets the a letter to The Gazette appeared Except that eventually it did the trick. rest of us off the hook. Apathy over (February 9) claiming that Dinu I found myself wondering what politics and poverty is dangerous in Bumbaru oi Heritage Montreal goes through such a fellow's mind a democracy, but even when it comes represented an age-old elite bent on as he stands there tearing cruelly at a to heritage matters we should strive strangling the life of the city, while noble piece of church. I imagine that, to be informed and clear. Who we Sochaczevski represented the little like loggers, he has little sympathy are, and how and where we live, are guy trying to make the place work. for the building-hugging set, or, if he crucial aspects of our lives, not to be Where does one begin with such a does, he rationalizes the act by saying delegated to authorities of any stripe. claim? 1won't even try here. it's just a job. Aware of the many great Heritage is not always black and Suffice it to say I realized I had crimes committed in history in the white, after all. I discovered this as I to see this fabled house-that-was- name of just doing one's job, Ido admit followed the other big preservation not-a-house for myself. It took a bit of that I am glad it is he and not 1doing story of this past winter: the Redpath searching along streets I've known for that rationalization. Besides, given the mansion. Again, I had never seen years - but there it was, at last: a noble- state to which a building like Holy the building in question, and was looking shell, lovely detail, crumbling Trinity had been reduced, and given puzzled. What were they talking walls and broken windows. A the unsuccessful arguments and ini about? Knowing as I do rather more wonderful home - once. It certainly tiatives to save it over the past months about the Redpath family than is doesn't have the heritage pizazz of and years, there wasn't much choice. probably healthy, I could not account a Van Home mansion, a Papineau At that stage, somebody has to pick up for this house. John Redpath did not house, or even an Overdale Avenue, the jackhammer and finish the job. I live there, as many contributing to the although that shouldn't matter, of mean, buildings don't just demolish debate were claiming (including the course. Could it be saved - that is to themselves, right? Heritage Montreal website), though say, restored? To me it didn't seem Right. the lots on which it was built did orig beyond hope. Should it be saved? 1 I was also struck, in hindsight, inally form part of his estate, which found myself thinking of the work by the motive for my visit. I wanted to he sold off at great profit in the 1840s entailed and was glad it wouldn't be see Holy Trinity before it was too late and 50s. There were many more sig me that had to do it. - like that visit to an elderly relative nificant Redpath family houses in the I'm also glad it isn't up to me to whom you know might not be around area that have not survived, including have to pick up a jackhammer and next summer. But this was also my the one on where finish the job. Ql'EBRf 11 BKITAGE Nk Whole parts A new look at Quebec's English-speaking history by Matthew Farfan and Shaun L Turriff Whatplace should Anglophones have in at a scholarly level. We didn't wantjust Anglophones Quebec's collective narrative? Scholars talking to Anglophones, but also Francophones from various domains gathered at talking to Anglophones and Francophones talking on February to Francophones about Anglophones." 11th to explore this interesting question. The event And it worked. "It was an exciting day of people was organized by Dr Paul Zanazanian, Postdoc exchanging ideas across the linguistic divide, toral Fellow at Laval University to use the cliche," Zanazanian as well as an instructor in explained. the Department of Education Ronald Rudin Speakers included Roxanne at Concordia University, dela Sabloniere, a psychologist and Dr Lorraine O'Donnell, from Universite de Montreal Coordinator-Researcher at the working on questions of collec Canadian Institute for Research Forgotten tive memory, and Louis-Georges on Linguistic Minorities at Harvey from Bishop's who looks Concordia University. They uebecers at the role of English speakers in wanted to bring together Q A History of English-Speaking Queb Quebec's early nineteenth-cen individuals and organizations tury political and intellectual life. that have been exploring this Zanazanian's own expertise lies in question independently and the study of how history is taught hopefully foster a community of in the classroom. study surrounding this subject. O'Donnell hopes that people "We created a space where people who have who attended the conference came away with a been working independently on this question can sense of a new network interested in the subject of come together," said O'Donnell. Zanazanian added Anglophone history in Quebec. She noted that it thatthey had been careful not to imply this space was was one of the first times something like this had open only to English-speaking Quebecers. "Franco been addressed in this kind of forum, in a univer phones want to know more about the Anglophone sity setting, with a many senior scholars and practi community," he said. "They are open to discussion tioners from the field. Identity block Anglo label misleading, warns scholar Many in the room will know that with various religions, diverse ethnic origins, and // when we read a work of history, wider range of social classes. we're not only getting an analysis Thinking back on the writing of The Forgotten ofsome pointin the past," declared Quebecers, Rudin says he would not make the same Concordia history professor Ronald Rudin. "So this decisions today that he made then. would be historical writing as a kind of secondary "In a sense, in the early eighties when I wrote source, but also as a reflection of the time in which this book," he said, "I was trying to write the it was written." category 'English speaker' into the fabric of Quebec Rudin is the author of The Forgotten Quebecers: history by using the term as broadly as I could." If A History of English-Speaking Quebec, 1759-1980, a he were to rewrite the book now, he would address seminal work - and to date the only comprehen a question he did not previously explore: "To what sive work - on the history of Quebec Anglophones. degree, for the large group of people that I focused Naturally, Rudin was one of the historians asked to on in The Forgotten Quebecers, did the fact that they speak at the seminar. were English speakers play a fundamental role in Rudin wrote The Forgotten Quebecers a quarter their lives?" century ago because he sensed a need for more When it comes to identity, labelling a group by information on the subject of the history of their linguistic background is a notion that Rudin Anglophones in the province. The idea arose questions. after a discussion with Bishop's University sociolo "It's one thing to simply say we're going to gist Gary Caldwell about the lack of documents on identify these people as a group and talk about this population's history. them," he said. "But isn't it important that those "I said, there's no book on it. He said: write it," people, those subjects in the past, who can't speak said Rudin, laughing at the memory. Before writing for themselves, and we're giving them voice, that the book he said he had to consider populations maybe they should have thought of themselves in

Cover ofRonald Rudin's The Forgotten Quebecers, published by the Institute Quebecois de recherche sur la culture, 1985. Sim;in<; 201 1

those terms if we're going to use that identifier?" have multiple identities. "Not simply to assume Rudin thinks that English speakers in 1985 that one marker, such as language, was always might not have acted as part of a linguistic minority pertinent," he added. Ifso to what extent, he wonders, does their heritage Rudin challenges the notion of an Anglophone matter in understanding Quebec history? Quebecer, and proposes more questions to consider "Could it be an obstacle in [studying] the past," in the study of the history of English speakers. "I said Rudin, "by imposing an identity on people that think we need to reflect on how much being English they may or not have held themselves." speakers affected them in that particular place," He suggested that other factors should be con he said. "The pertinence of the concept 'English sidered when identifying a group, such as religion, speaker' is neither natural nor fits. It is constructed, ethnicity and language. Rudin believes that people to a considerable extent." Unknown quantities The searchfor shared memory in today's diverse classrooms Paul Zanazanian believes that historical explains that everyone deals with the past differ memories have a great deal of importance. ently depending on where they stand. "Shared historical memories in the Is there a lack of Quebec Anglophone history common past offer group members a sense of resources in schools? Mathew Russell believes so. cohesion between the past, present and future," said Russell, a teacher at D'Arcy McGee High School in Zanazanian, a post-doctoral fellow of the Canada Gatineau, Quebec, was at the conference to comment Research Chair in the Contemporary History of on Zanazanian's presentation. Quebec at the Universite Laval. "They provide a "1 had parent-teacher interviews last night," said sense of common knowingness and agency." Russell. "And there was a lot of explaining to Anglo He believes this common memory transmits phone parents about the textbooks that we have been historical experiences of the past. It lets people given by the ministry. They have concerns about the know about important characters, heroes, customs, type of history that their children are learning, and and gives a sense of what sort of history our ethno- the lack of Anglophone perspective." peers had. Zanazanian believes a lot of shared his This is why he believes supplemental resources torical memory is learned in school. This is where would be invaluable to history teachers. These he studies the successor failure of including Anglo resources can be used to challenge the current phone history in the collective memory. A metaphor textbooks, and the set narrative of the history of he uses to support this theory is the subject of French Quebec. and English conflicts. Alternative sources give different perspectives, "I find that this whole notion of French-English which allow students to develop their own inter conflict weighs heavily and people in my study. pretations of history. Unfortunately, the shortage of Teachers and students, they have to somehow deal resources and documents on Anglophone history with that. A lot of them somehow kind of repeat it poses an obstacle towards a complete Quebec or justify it, or else kind of refuse it or reject it." He narrative.

Letter Sometime ago, I began to research my family stories. I hope that one day, I will find an article history. Because of many conflicting facts, this has about the Huguenots who came to Lower Canada as beena longjourney. Unliketheclaims of"Ancestry," a result of the . I can contribute pertinent data has not leapt from my monitor! My two confirmed families and of course my Labares/ journey has taken me to large and small archives LeBars. Iam aware that, being a small grop, they inte and libraries. 1have purchased or borrowed several grated with other nationalities, largely the Germans books. I have approached any "experts" I could find. from the Mohawk Valley. I have discovered that, 1am ready toconcludethat a lotof Canadian history later, some did marry into Quebec French families has been sadly distorted or ignored. and did convert to Catholicism. I loved my grand In my grandfather's day there was a conscious father, but am afraid that he would be horrified at effort to bury the family's time in Lower Canada. this recognition. In "Orange Ontario," popular thinking made all Well done to those who I am sure work very people from Quebec, particularly those with a hard to produce an appealing and readable record French name, Roman Catholic. Istill getthis kind of of Canadian history. response, even from Quebec researchers. Through my contact with Missisquoi Archives Lorraine Y. LeBar and HistoricalSociety,I became aware of the Quebec , Ontario hleritage News. I usually find all articles interesting and informative. I am impressed with the effort made to highlight so many little known Quebec Qckhicc IIkki'I'mm-: Niihs Death by neglect City backs Redpath mansion tear-down by Chris Curtis After narrowly avoiding destruction Montreal. "It's a historical part of Montreal and it's this past February, Montreal's Redpath falling apart." Mansion continues to slowly The latest plan to destroy the mansion caused rot on the side of . a public outcry against Tremblay and his Union The 125-year-old house was thrust into the Montreal party. Representatives from the Montreal centre of a city-wide debate on urban planning and Museum of Fine Arts were particularly outraged. development this winter when Mayor Tremblay The MMFA, which sits down the street from the supported a plan to destroy the mansion and Redpath house, had just finished a series of renovations transform it into condominiums. costing roughly $40 million - including a sunroom Although the proposed seven-story condo that looks up onto Mount Royal. The proposed condo project violated height tower would have signifi restrictions on a zoning cantly hindered the room's bylaw by nine metres, view of the mountain. Tremblay was prepared to "We respected the give its developers, Ari and city's zoning bylaw when Michael Sochaczevski, a we built [the sunroom]," derogation. museum spokesperson "After the Sochaczevs- Danielle Champagne said kis bought the mansion, on January 31. "Why can't they signed an agreement they [the Sochaczevskis]?" to maintain it," opposition Norris even suggested city councillor Alex Norris that Tremblay's support of said on January 27. "And the project was politically now they are essentially motivated. being rewarded for their "Now I think it's worth neglect of the building." mentioning that theSochac The project would zevskis are the owners have destroyed one of the of The Suburban," he said. last remaining examples of "Their newspaper strongly Queen Anne architecture. endorsed the mayor's Built by Sir Andrew Taylor candidacy in 2009, telling in 1886, the imposing brick their readers it was the house was once at the most important municipal centre of Golden Square election of their lifetime Mile, a wealthy neighbour and to get out and vote for hood where the city's elite Tremblay." carved out a piece of the Ultimately the mayor English countryside in withdrew his support for Quebec. the development after The Redpath family the city's urban planning - who helped build the department suggested the , founded Canada's first sugar refinery project be halted. and were instrumental in ushering the country into "There was a concern that the condos would the industrial revolution - sold the house in the early block the MMFA's view of Mont Royal," said Ville twentieth century. By the time the Sochaczevskis Marie borough councillor Sammy Forcillo. "And bought the mansion, in 1986, it was a convalescent that doesn't just affect the borough, it affects tourism home falling into disrepair. and the 600,000 people who visit the museum every Almost instantly, the developers began the year." process of tearing down the house to build a $4 The Redpath house may have avoided death million housing project. After the Quebec Superior by wrecking ball but it continues to slowly fall Court issued an injunction halting the building's apart before Montrealers' eyes. Its red brick facade destruction, the Sochaczevskis made no effort to is cracking, its wooden shingles are fading and the keep the mansion from continued erosion. building's wooden frame has almost completely "The city should enforce measures to have rotted. the Redpath Mansion properly preserved," said "Every time one of these buiIdings isdestroyed," Dino Bumbaru, the executive director of Heritage said Norris. "Montreal loses a part of its soul."

Redpath Mansion. Photo: Rod MacLeod Sl'KlNCJ ^(11 I Fairbairn House celebrates Heritage Week with Two Culture-Filled Events by Anita Rutledge

Later in heritage week, Fairbairn House directors joined the innkeepers at the village's Wakefield Mill Inn and Spa to hold a gala fund-raiser for interior renovations of a farmhouse built in the 1860s by pioneer and inn founder William Fairbairn. The farmhouse is now the future home of the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre. The hosts for the evening were joined by bass player John Gcggie and CBC radio host Rob Clipperton in welcoming about eighty guests to the rich historic surroundings in the old Mill. At the before-dinner reception, guests had ample time to mingle, exchange ideas and enjoy the ambience, music and the "Fairbairn Fizz" cocktails as they visited the silent auction tables to make their bids. Eighteen items were offered by local busi nesses and individuals in aid of more funding for In February 2011, directors of the Fairbairn the Fairbairn House Heritage Centre. House Heritage Centre, now under development at Wakefield, Quebec, were in a celebratory i mood. i r ""i First, they organized a luncheon on Heritage Day and invited local history buffs to gather and share moments of historic importance. Twenty-five people attended.

^M^M I '• HU — Oil i u fmmmmw"' ' 4 f w ^^B L Ir fl *£|V? -* ** The four-course dinner menu had interesting ' 1 choices. Included were frogs' legs or wild game £JL with mains of lamb or pickerel, all with excellent wine pairings. And the desserts were irresistable! A fitting feast for Fairbairn's friends! All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening, Prizes were offered for the best stories. The thanks to the imagination and generosity of the top prize was awarded to Norma Geggie for her Wakefield Mill Inn owners and staff as well as sup story about her father-in-law's arrival in Wakefield porting local businesses. Everyone worked together a century ago. That's when a young medical doctor to help us realize another $5,000 for interior reno named Harold Geggie arrived by train at the local vations on the old house, scheduled to be carried railway station to apprentice with the established out this summer. The first phase of renovations, the country doctor in the village. Intending to remain outside of the house, was completed last year. The for two years, his plans changed soon after as he third phase will see exhibits and live programming found himself in charge after the sudden death of put in place, ready for the centre's opening in 2012. the older doctor. Dr Geggieended up staying on for Now the Fairbairn House board and its support the rest of his life, becoming the much-loved doctor ers are hard at work planning new fund-raising who created the hospital and medical centre now so events. In April, a show by wilderness photogra important to valley residents. The second luncheon pher Mike Beedell will be displayed showcasing his prize went to Louise Schwartz who traced the steps recent experiences swimming with giant humpback taken, over many years, to finally create the moun whales and other daring adventures. And in May tainous Gatineau Park, now a familiar part of our there will be a concert in the park with Canadian back yard. folksinger and songwriter Rodney Brown.

Photos courtesy ofAnita Rutledge. Qt'Hiircr 11 i:kita<;k Nicws Ways of Memory Notesfrom the next wave in urban heritage activism by Matthew Farfan and Shaun L Turriff at Heritage Montreal) gave the Keynote Address, after joking about getting lost with Michael Fish in the Hall Building. Bumbaru noted Montreal's long history as a "cultural metropolis," but from a heritage perspec tive also noted the differences that make up the community: Francophones hold a more historical notion of heritage, while Anglophones focus on architecture; among other communities there is an emerging sense of "neighbourhood." He pointed out that over time, the understanding of what constitutes heritage has changed dramati cally - especially over the past few decades. Now we embrace a larger definition, one that includes not only built and archaeological heritage, but also Helen Fotopulos (member of the City of Montreal Executive Committee respon sible for culture, heritage and women's issues) officially opened the event, noting Montreal's importance as a hub of cultural expression, and therefore of intangible heritage. She spoke of the new heritage policies that recognize the need to preserve less concrete forms of heritage. Fotopulos also drew attention to "Anglophone" heritage that was not directly related to Anglo-Saxon or Irish/Celtic groups. Of Greek background and schooled in the Protestant English school system, Fotopulos claims that she herself "thinks and dreams in three languages." Fotopulos closed landscape and memorial heritage. "Landscape with what amounted to a call-to-arms, hoping that heritage," Bumbaru explained, includes many things - a tree-lined street, for instance. "One tree is not so important; you need a whole row of them. Just like the staircases on the Plateau. You need to preserve the whole row." In terms of memorial heritage, one can include whatever involves the collective memory of the city, everything from a popular or ethnically-rooted tradition (the St Patrick's Day parade, for example) to the name of a street or neighbourhood (Griffintown, for example) to a specific business or landmark (Schwartz's Deli or the Montreal Bagel Factory, for instance). Schwartz's is not a historic monument, he wryly observed, "but remove Schwartz's and a we continue to "look beyond what we [usually] whole piece of Montreal falls into the river." call heritage" and to "share, network," and The new provincial definition of heritage even "make tangible" some of the intangible elements. encompasses institutions, Bumbaru said. "So the The charismatic Dinu Bumbaru (policy director Royal Montreal Curling Club, which is the oldest

Topleft: HelenFotopulos.Rightand lower left: DinuBumbaruaddress Waysof Memory attendees. Photos: Rod MacLeod and Matthew Farfan Spid.vci 201 I

sports association in the Americas, would be recognized laterinthedaybyMichael Fish, inhisacceptance speech as a part of our heritage." on receiving an award from QAHN.) Important to Bumbaru also addressed Heritage Montreal's remember, claims Bumbaru, is that heritage is not mandate and chronicled a few of its successes. He about the past, but rather about the present and the made it clear that its role is that of a promoter of future. Challenges are many, such as the issue of heritage, not a protector; the real responsibility to Quebec's religious heritage, an important element protect heritage lies with the owners of heritage of the Montreal landscape and history, as well as buildings, largely the private sector. (This is a issues surrounding the imperial past of the city - sentiment that would be picked up to a certain extent Dominion Square, for example.

;. Exhibit booths. 2. Organizers Joan Donnelly and Kathy Teasdale. 3. The lunch buljet. ./. HughMaynardofQu'anglogives a workshopon Federalgovernmentfunding. -,.Sabrina McFaddenofCOCo demonstrates how confusing provincial funding can be. 6. The workshops were well-attended.

Photos: Rod MacLeod and Matthew Furfan Qt'KHKr 11 i:i;ii'a<;m Nkws Upload archive Doing history in the digital age by Shereen Ahmed Rafea The traditional image of a grandparent "Our biggest project is called Montreal Life sitting on a rocking chair recounting stories Stories," High said. "It's about Montrealers who've of the old days is what come from all around the world comes to mind when who've escaped large scale we think of oral history. That violence, such as genocide in simple act of storytelling is in Rwanda in 1994, or genocide fact a vital and priceless tool for in Cambodia, or war, or people preserving history and keeping in Haiti." They work towards it alive. Valuable information of learning more about vanishing triumphs and defeats, insight into communities and Montreal life generations ago and traces of heritage. our ancestors are all things we High believes that now can gain from oral history. Since that people are in Montreal, the year 2006, the Centre for their stories become ours. He Oral History and Digital Story emphasizes the use of proper telling (COHDS) at Concordia ethics in the centre's interviews University has been hard at such as consent forms, respect work utilizing digital resources and rights of use. This, he to record history. believes, helps ensure that the interviewee's point of "It's beyond just sort of studying the past, just view is heard. for the sake of studying the past," said Steven High "What's really important is to have time to cover to attendeesat his workshop. "It's a meansof connecting the ground," said High. "Not just your ground, but the past and the present." their ground. Oral history is about understanding High is a professor and Canada Research Chair history from "their point of view." in Public History at Concordia, as well as a member The centre also works at archiving the history of of the centre. His workshop on oral history was people without a voice, such as homeless or schizo part of a one-day conference, Ways of Memory: The phrenic adults. "Homeless people are studied," he Montreal Experience. said, "but not often heard." High believes that oral history is a way for them to connect and open up. New media also presents opportunities to record high quality interviews in audio and video. This creates a new method of archiving for years to come. "There's a power when you can puta face to the namein history," said High, "and you make it personal, because history is personal." According to High, the centre has received great responses from the wider community; a lot of people are expressing interest in getting involved. "We've already established The centre is made up of students and faculty ourselves internationally," he said, "so we're getting members whoeachhave different majors and specialities, a lot of people coining in. We're now moving beyond but all have an interest in the field. They use new Quebec and really connecting projects," he added. digital recorders, cameras and other equipment to "The challenge is always, there are only so many conduct research projects and in-depth interviews hours in the day." to archive oral history.

Above: Professor Steven High. Image: Concordia University 10 Lower: Photo: Matthew Far/an. Sl'UINd SOI I Picket signs for preservation Michael Fish honoured for lifetime achievement by Celia Ste Croix I stand on the shoulders of many people in Stand on the corner next to the guy with the picket // this room," Michael Fish said, acknowl sign." edging those in the heritage and historical He also stirred up the room a bit by saying that community who have fought to protect Mayor Drapeau had been a great conservationist. significant sites in the Montreal area over the years. He explained that the former mayor of Montreal

Fish was honoured at the Ways of Memory wanted to protect double the area of Old Montreal conferenceat Concordia University on March 26. The when he was in office but the business community Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network presented wouldn't hear of it. "He prevented the Ville Marie this lifetime achievement award to the architect expressway from running along the harbour," Fish for his many years of hard work saving Montreal went on in his defence of Drapeau. "He did all he landmarks. QAHN president, Kevin O'Donnell made could when no one would support him." the presentation and there was a standing ovation After his speech, he told Quebec Heritage Nezvs in the room as Michael Fish accepted it. magazine that he was very flattered to receive the Fish has been defending built heritage in award. "It's not so much the award as the spirit Montrealfor almost 40 years. He is noted for being in which it is given," Fish saici. "I'm just a soldier instrumental in protecting the WindsorTrain Station marching along with a very good troupe of people and for being a founder of Friends of Windsor that do the same thing I do," he added. Station. He also helped found Save Montreal, which When asked ifhe thought of himselfas an activist has worked with Heritage Montreal and other he had this to say; "Depends what you mean by groups to protect historically relevant sites such as activist. I've alwaysconsidered myselfa pragmatist. Iwas the Redpath Mansion and to raise awareness about as much in the development business as I was in the the importance of cherishing our past. As recently business of picketing with a sign to save a building. as this past February, Fish was standing in solidarity I never figured that any property owner should be outside the LaFontaine Mansion as part of a student- penalized because somebody was asking him to save organized peaceful advocacy for the preservation of his building. And I never tried to save a building the building. without making sure that itwould make money. Am I Inhis acceptance speechhesaid:"Alotof historians an activist? I don't know. You have to learn a bit about want to sit back and chronicle, and there's nothing writing if you're going to do anything, so I consider wrong with that, but don't be afraid to be engaged. myself, to a certain extent, a pamphleteer."

L-R: Helen Fotopulos. Richard Smith (QAHN),Michael Fish, Kevin 1 1 O'Donnell (QAHN). Paul Behind, Federation Histoire Quebec, Dinu Bumbaru (Heritage Montreal). Photo: RodMacLeod Qcwine IIkkitaoi; Nkws

Off the Wall Spreading diversity one mural at a time by Shereen Ahmed Rafea

Montreal is a city of multi- dialogue before the event culturalism and diverse took place to decide what heritage. While there are their goals were for the many ways to preserve project, what they thought and spread that diversity throughout would best represent them the country, one group has chosen to selves and the college." adopt a visual approach to heritage. The students and artists EN MASSE, a non-profit organi collaborated and drew on zation that started two years ago, a 350-foot-long construc aims to spread the message of sharing tion wall near the college. heritage and involving a community According to Climan, mul- by using art. ticulturalism and history "There are several advantages of were the elements they using this as a process," said Darryl were looking for. In the Climan, speaking at the final session college, they have students of Ways of Memory conference at born in 110 different Concordia University on March 26. countries," he says. "It really is a good which was open to the public. "It's a method that involves bringing opportunity. It'sa method that engages "Anybody who came to the wall heritage into a medium that is new participants." who felt like picking up a marker or and user-friendly and to actually Botkin also explained that it is a a brush could work with us," he said. engage with artists." way for street artists to have a place "And there are a few artists on hand Climan and co-presenter Jason to showcase their work. "They don't to facilitate the process. It's ultimately Botkin are part of EN MASSE. They have a platform for expressing them about creating something larger work to bring together artists and selves," he said. "Not in the way that, together." students to produce collaborative if I'd gone to Concordia or some uni Throughout all their work they murals and projects in black and versity, I could walk into a gallery and have attempted to use art to merge a white. The project initially involved say, 'Here are my credentials; I would community of artists and students, new or successful artists, but as it like a show here.' The EN MASSE regardless of talent or success. "We grew it also started expanding to project offers them a way to do that." feel it's one of the most important include students, such as the project EN MASSE works on multiple factors in allowingheritageto continue in John Abbot College last year. projects in different venues, from forward," said Climan. "To engage "We involved 50 or 60 students schools to museums and festivals. people in something that attracts them and 6 artists," said Climan, "and we Botkin mentioned an event that they to participate, to gain ownership." engaged the artists and the students in have held before called Nuit Blanche,

Photos: En Masse 12 Si-i.mv.. 201 I

Both Slow Burn Students rally to save former LaFontaine house by Celia Ste Croix

As many with an interest fall apart for decades. in preserving Montreal "It's as if I'm in is*25i heritage know, there has watching Mount HP been a long and frustrating Vernon [George Wash *— battle to protect the Louis-Hippolyte ington's House] burn LaFontaine mansion at 1395 Overdale slowly over a period of 1 Avenue in . thirty years," Michael 7 Ml LaFontaine, you may recall, is the Fish said sadly, looking 1K• M man who helped create responsible up at the house covered 1 JkM m government in Canada and defend the in graffiti, with smashed : rights of Francophones in the country. windows and boarded « ip He is a founding father, a key figure up doors. in our nation's history. So why is his Anthropology mansion at risk of crumbling into the teacher Anna Deaguayo ground? was also at the demonstration. She is of responsible government. Ashley Clarkson and Selina currently teaching at Dawson College "It is one of the only buildings of Antonucci want to know just that. and was part of Les Amis de la Maison that era," explained Deaguayo. "The What started out as an assignment LaFontaine in 2006.They were a group parliament buildings are gone; they for a Public History class in Con are actually trying to preserve cordia's History Department has the base of those buildings grown into a campaign for pres by digging down because it's ervation. The pair organized a important - yet this [gesturing petition and a peaceful advocacy at the house] from the same demonstration which took place time period, it's just being left. outside the mansion on February It's such a shame." 23, 2011. Their efforts have also The owner of the building brought about television and is said not to be interested in newspaper coverage and a preserving it, and, to look at the meeting with Helen Fotopulos, a state of the house, that seems member of Mayor Gerard Trem- like a fair guess. The city has blay's executive committee. the power to expropriate the "Right now the city is really building and, according to indifferent about the building," Deaguayo, the provincial and Clarkson said at the advocacy Federal governments would demonstration. "They have made then be willing to put money the owner preserve it. He's not into it. But despite numerous allowed todemolish it. Butthey're petitions and efforts of grass not doing anything with it, so we roots organisations over the are hoping, with this petition and years, the city has not moved to raising awareness, the city will protect the building. show interest in the building and Land owner Robert Landau hopefully restore it into maybe a had no comment on the matter museum for responsible govern when reached at his Sherbrooke ment." Street art gallery the day of the These two students are demonstration. awakening an issue that people Clarkson and Antonucci met have been struggling to resolve with Helen Fotopluos, respon for twenty years or more. Architect of Canadian Studies and History sible for culture, heritage, design and Michael Fish has been fighting to teachers that came together to draw the status of women for the City of protect heritage buildings in the attention to the situation surrounding Montreal, on March 3rd to present downtown core for thirty years and he the mansion. They also wanted to their petition. The students were told has watched the LaFontaine Mansion turn it into a centre for the interpretation by Fotopulos that the City cannot

Above: Michael Fish and friends on the L3 LaFontaine House picket. Lower: I'icketers Ashley Clarkson and Selina Antonucci. Photos: Celia Ste Croix QcicilKC IIkkitaci: Xkw» afford to expropriate the building at office of Environment Minister, Peter but the meeting with Montreal City this time. Kent. The letter explained that the Hall has taken some of the wind out "She said they haven't been as Historic Sites and Monuments Board of their sails. indifferent as we may have believed," of Canada (HSMBC) needs theowner's "Itseems every levelof government said Clarkson after the meeting. permission to do an evaluation of a wants to brush the issue aside," said "She gave us copies of letters Mayor site's potential national historic sig Clarkson, "when this building is not Tremblay has been sending to the nificance. only historically important because Federal Government asking them "As theendorsementof theowners of LaFontaine, yet also architectur to help him with the LaFontaine of the Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine ally because John Ostell built it and Mansion. Fotopolous was explain house has not been forthcoming," the it is speculated to be the last known ing to us that they can't do anything letter went on to read, "the HSMBC residence he built still standing." without the help of the Federal Gov cannot give further consideration to Visit Clarkson and Antonucci's ernment and they don't seem to be this matter at this time. Parks Canada website for more information, updates interested." has no current plans to acquire and and to sign the petition Fotopulos suggested they should developthesiteor tocreatean interpretive www.lhlafontainemansion.webnode.com. try to find a politician interested in centre." championing the idea so Clarkson Clarkson and Antonucci continue Celia Ste Croix is ajournalism student and Antonucci have now turned their to send e-mails and letters. Their at Concordia Universityand lives in The efforts to the Federal Government. petition is at 124 signatures and Pointwhere she has been discovering the On March 15* Clarkson received growing. They intend to send it to the area's rich history. a reply from Parks Canada and the Federal government when it is larger

Immigrant? MOI? by Shaun L Turriff

Dolores Sandoval know people who study and Greg Robinson Italian immigrants, or that represent MOI people who study Black (Musee-observa- Francophone communities toire de l'immigration / never seem to know who Museum Observation studies the English ones. Immigration), a new project Robinson noted also seeking to address current that immigration is a issues vis-a-vis immigration dynamic process, and needs in Quebec. "Canadian to be studied as such, citing Museums," said Sandoval, the local example of French "see only British, French Canadian migration to, and...Aboriginal." The MOI would The MOI, which seeks to acquire and back from, New England in the seek to explore the contributions of the old Dow observatory as a location, nineteenth century. They closed by immigrant communities to the life of would be a place for scholarship, and noting that Montreal is very cos the city and province. Sandoval and would make use of the potential of mopolitan, and that the contributions Robinson noted that "immigrant" is digital information. Sandoval said of the immigrant communities are often a dirty word, and that many of that she is always surprised to learn everywhere, if we look for them. the so-called visible minorities are in that people who study Greek immi fact, invisible. grants in Montreal never seem to

Dolores Sandoval and Greg Robinson ofMOI. 14 Photo: Rod MacLeod Si-uiNii 201 I

From Shillelagh to Quebec Renaissance of the Irish by Maxime Chouinard

survived: Collar and and "Ramsey" - from county Antrim, and Bataireacht or Fighting stick. The Northern . These styles were first references to these arts come from barely saved from extinction, and at Elizabethan writers, but the fighting the moment are not taught openly stick only became a real staple of the in Ireland. The only places you can Irishman in the eighteenth century. It actually learn these techniques are in was associated with the faction fights Glasgow, ,and in QuebecCity - those early versions of Irish gang warfare when clans would battle over politics or religion or just for fun, at weddings, wakes and country fairs. Because of enacted to prevent such a custom from sprouting, and because they had been prohibited by the British from carrying weapons, the Irish found their means of defence in a club disguised as a walking aid. Thus was introduced the famous Shillelagh. The past few mouths the Literary and Contrary to most held beliefs, Historical Society of Quebec (the Morrin the Irish were quite adept at this art. Centre) offered a course in an ancient Several instructors made a living Irish martial art, the An Maide Mear (the out of teaching its use to young men swift stick). The course, givenbyMaxime before a fair or an important fight. Chouinard, offered a glimpse of a living tradition - basic fighting techniques as well as the history andtraditions of this art. The Antrim style's history can In most people's heads, the words be traced with certainty to the mid- 'martial art' conjure ideas of nineteenth century, when a gentleman a mystical Asia. Even though nicknamed "Tickelyboot" became the word finds its origin in a famous in his county for his mastery seventeenth-century fencing treaty, of the weapon. Following the demise it is now totally disconnected from of the Factions and beginning of Irish the western hemisphere in our pop Independence, this art was viewed culture. It is surprising to learn that in a negative way, and slowly dis all countries in Europe once had appeared from most families. For several native martial arts, and that tunately a Renaissance movement some of them are still alive: Stroate and has been growing, mostly in North Cannc de combat from France, }ogo Do America but also recently in Ireland, Pan form Protugal, Juego del Palo from promoting the return of this long lost the Canary Islands or Bastone Siciliano tradition. from Italy. But even though for nearly For anyone interested in recon two centuries Ireland has produced necting with their roots, or simply widely renowned boxers, the simple learning a fun and uncommon mention of an Irish martial art raises Often this role was held by travelling martial art, you can communicate many eyebrows. dance masters, or by school masters. with Maxime Chouinard at At one point several martial arts It is said that many families had their [email protected] were practiced in Ireland, including own style, passed down through the Courses are given twice a month at , spear throwing, generations. the Morrin Centre in , wrestling, and . Today only Today only two of these styles are special courses can also be arranged two distinctly Irish martial arts have still commonly practised: "Doyle" in any other location.

L5 Ql'KHUC HlClilT.MiK Nkwi

Cut and Thrust J.B. Girard was Canada's firstfencing master by Elena Cerrolaza

On March 16,1816, an adver Dumas and subsequent research in the ad. I assume Wilson was just as tisement appeared in the seventeenth-century art and culture. intrigued as 1 was by this unusual Montreal Herald announcing Now, in middle age, I've acted on my entry. The implication from the that Mr. John Palmer, pastry childhood interest and actually taken Fencing Federation reference was that cook, had taken on a new confec up the sport of fencing. Butquite apart Girard's school had some permanence to tioner and partner. Hence it and so I looked for further forth, the business of Palmer announcements. The ad was & Girard would continue repeated again the following offering to the public pastry Fencwg School. week, but I have yet to find cooking in all its branches R. GIRARD respectfully informs the any other similar notices in as well as cordials, syrups M Gentleman of Montreal, that he will the Montreal Herald or in any and West India sweetmeats. of the other Montreal papers Mr. Palmer also thanked of that time and the few the public for their liberal years following. encouragement over the FENCING SCHOOL, I did come across years. for the purpose of teaching the Small another curious notice in This sort of advertise Wilson's compilation. On ment was common enough Word, Cut and Thrust, and Broad April 6, less than a month at the time. What was a Swohp exercise in the modern style. Any after announcing their joint little less usual was the GcnHcmcn who wish to learnthis usefulac* business, Palmer & Girard notice that appeared on tomplishment will call on Mr. Girand. zi notified the public of the the same day, penned by dissolution of their partner Mr. Jean-Baptiste Girard, Palmerand- Girards St. Vincent Street ship by mutual consent. No announcing the opening where the conditions will be known. Any reason was given, but all of his Fencing School. He person wishing private tuition, may be financial issues were to be would be teaching the small waited upon upon at his lodging*. As Mr* addressed to Girard. This sword, cut and thrust, and seemingly unusual circum broad sword exercise in the Girard is competent of talking English and stance piqued my interest modern style. Gentlemen French, it will be an advantage to thote who enough to want to know a who wished to be instructed ipeak either of-the two language!- little more about Canada's in this most useful accom first fencing master. plishment could be taught in Montreal. J., March, 15Ufi; 9 wfo Considering that I began either English or French as knowing virtually nothing Mr. Girard was competent about Jean-Baptiste Girard, in both. Enquiries were to be made at from its practice, I've also become it is surprising how much I've been the premises of Palmer & Girard. curious about its origins and history able to glean about the major and The discovery of this adver and have indulged in a little recreational smaller events in his life. Most of this tisement became the first step on a research in this area. information has come to light through circuitous, sometimes arduous, but I first became aware of Girard, newspaper ads and notices. The story very rewarding journey that took me the fencing master, from the Canadian I've been able to compile has been through several newspapers of the Fencing Federation's website which almost entirely assembled from the early nineteenth century. In searching lists "Maitre Girard" as having estab comfortof my couch and laptop. So far, through them for Mr. Girard, I came lished Canada's first fencing school, I've gone further afield only to consult to appreciate what a remarkable in Montreal, in 1816. The researcher a few newspaper issues on microfilm resource for historical and genea in me was intrigued. I had on hand at McGill University, as well as some logical exploration such seemingly a copy of Lawrence M. Wilson's This notarial records at the Bibliotheque innocuous advertisements can be. was Montreal in 1814, 1815, 1816 and et Archives Nationales du Quebec in 1 did not stumble on this ad 1817, a selection of articles and adver Montreal. quite by accident, in recent years tisements published in the Montreal My key sources have been online I've rekindled an interest in fencing Herald. Much to my surprise, I found databases of scanned newspapers. The that dates back to my adolescence, 'fencing school' listed in the index most useful of these was Geneology- reading the novels of Alexandre leading to the full transcription of Bank.com which contains hundreds

Montreal Herald, March id. l8t6 1<> SlMilNd 201 I of American newspapers spanning towns and sources gleaned from reference to Girard appeared in the about 300 years. Its very efficient military online discussion boards Columbian Ceutinel [sic] of on search engine provided quick results. told a fascinating tale of subcontinen January 27, 1808. Girard, together ForCanadian newspapers, I turned to tal intrigue - which is, unfortunately, with a partner, Mr. Tromelle, offered Google News Archive (news.google. very far removed from Palmer & fencing lessons according to the com/newspapers). The number of Girard's Montreal confectioners. principles of the French Academy of papers available is impressive, but the As I gathered more clues, by Arms. Enquiries were to be directed search engine is of little use. Fortu piecing some solid facts together, and to Mr. Chapouil, confectioner, with nately, the images are generally quite turning to what if? scenarios to come premises on Middle Street. Even from clear and easy to browse. up with different angles to investigate, his earliest days in the Americas, it I also did general internet Girard's life gradually came into seems that Girard had a connection to searches which, though often very focus. It reveals a rather colourful both fencing and confectionery. Girard fruitful, were sometimes misleading. existence concealed behind the and Tromelle appear to have made a A straightforward Google search of unprepossessing label of confectioner success of their lessons since a year Jean-Baptiste Girard produced about by which Girard was introduced to later they were advertising fencing 87,000 hits, but it was quickly apparent the Montreal public. exhibitions in Boston as well as lessons that my Montreal Girard was not to in Dorchester, Charlestown, Roxbury be confused with the famous General and Newburyport. During the three Jean-Baptiste Girard whodied in battle years Girard spent in Boston, ten other in 1815 or the infamous Jesuit priest fencing masters regularly advertised. Jean-Baptiste Girard who in 1731 was All but two had French names which, accused of seduction and witchcraft. together with their profession, were More useful was Google Books which perhaps an indication that exiles from yielded a large number of published the Napoleonic wars continued to genealogies, memoirs and histories. arrive. Given that the threat of war Among the sources available online lurked on the American horizon, and is Thomas Doige's 1819 Alphabeti that young men were encouraged to cal List of the Merchants, Traders, and join militias and hone their military Housekeepers Residing in Montreal. The skills, these 'maitres d'armes' found Directory proved very helpful in ready employment for the skills they putting together a picture of Montreal had imported. businesses, but was typical of some of In April 1809, Colonel Delacroix, these early sources in the misspelling one of the exiled officers, announced of names, listing Girard as Gerrard. that he had hired two excellent Then, through Google Books instructors, Girard and Tromelle, I stumbled upon Joseph Sansom's for his Modern Military School in Travels in Lower Canada, published in Boston. In addition to carrying out London in 1820. Sansom, an American, their duties at the school, Girard and visited Montreal in the summer of Tromelle were permitted by Delacroix 1817during a tremendous heat wave Jean-Baptiste Girard was born in to present regular public exhibitions. (97°F), but notes that a "French France around 1777, and by the time The frequent ads for these events confectioner, at whose house I called he was a young adult, he had enlisted gleefully boast that between the occasionally, had known the ther in Napoleon's army and was involved two masters would continue "until mometer at Pondicherry as high as a in the campaigns on the Rhine, which one of the parties falls weltering in hundred and two." Sansom adds: "This ended in victory in 1800. He was then blood." adventurer had been in the campaigns sent to Pondicherry, France's colony in In August 1809, Girard married of Moreau, upon the Rhine, from India, where he was eventually taken Sarah Moses, three years his junior but thence to the East Indies, thence to the prisoner by the British. Girard's already a widow with two children. United States, where he had married, activities during the three years Sarah's husband, Richard Locke, had and was now lately transferred to following his return to France at the died in a logging accident - but it Montreal, for the benefits of Catholic end of the summer of 1804 remain a seems the marriage was already in communion. His name was Girard..." mystery for the time being, but his difficulty. In 1805, Locke announced This had to be the same person - but previous association with several that, since his wife had "behaved in an enormous window opened up: it French officers who had run afoul an improper manner and refused seemed that Girard was not Quebec- of the new Emperor and were exiled [his] bed and board," no one was to born, as I had assumed, and not only to the United States may well have harbour or trust her on his account from Francebut a veteran of the Napo precipitated his own decision to move and he would not pay her debts. The leonic wars who had traveled in India there, particularly given his subse marriage with Girard did last, and and the United States before settling quent association with several French their son John Baptist was born in in Montreal. American newspaper military emigres in Boston and other September 1810. searches confirmed my Girard's towns. Girard continued his fencing presence in several New England The first direct newspaper partnership until mid-1810, but

Charles Notman and afriendfencing, 1887. 17 McCord Museum: II-85278 GtCKHKC I [KB ITAGK NEWS

with his new family responsibilities their Independence, valor and patriot handling the land sales on his own. he may have found it necessary to ism may be insufficient, without In January 1816, Girard adver diversify. The 1810 Boston directory a knowledge of military tactics." tised that he was about to leave town indicates that he was also an umbrella However, local interest in acquiring and was selling what appears to and toy maker. By late 1810, Girard these skills clearly began to wane. be, literally, everything he owned: was no longer advertising his fencing By 1813, Girard's ads focused mostly feather beds, tables, chairs, glass and school. It is unclear how long he was on his umbrella business which now crockery, 20cords of excellent wood, a in the umbrella and toy-making included confectionery, ice cream, turning lathe, umbrella maker's tools, business or if he managed to make a and space to accommodate six or eight 20 bottles of best Martinique cordial, success of it because by November he gentlemen boarders. He adds that "if a chaise and wagon, and two good had left Boston and moved to Ports there is enough interest he will open cows. Two months later, Girard and mouth, New Hampshire. The move his Fencing and Military school." his family had taken up residence in was probably not haphazard. By that For the next two years, the Montreal, sharing a house with John time, Colonel Delacroix had opened Portsmouth papers are silent con Palmer. a branch of his Military School there, cerning Girard's fencing, umbrella, John Palmer had arrived in and the prospect of further military and confectionery businesses, but Montreal in 1812 and set up his employment seems to have encour he is mentioned in connection with business, Pnhuer & Co. From Quebec, aged Girard. He set up shop on real estate. In 1813, he appeared as a Pastry Cooks and Confectioners. In Congress Street and advertised both a contact for the sale of some property Quebec, Palmer had been located at Fencing and Military school "similar by one Mark French,who happened to the Upper Town Market Place where to the one he kept in Boston" and a be Sarah's brother-in-law. French later he kept an inn which happened to Umbrella and Parasol Manufactory. It made the headlines in several papers be one of the locations for departure is curious that his umbrella business as "a most notorious imposter and of the Quebec/Boston stage. In 1805, was located within the same premises thief." He fooled the Mayor of Albany a John Palmer is listed in the Boston as a new Confectionery & Distill by feigning distress and creating directory, having an inn on St Anne ery belonging to Anthony Labatut, a plausible story about needing to Street which was the terminus for the another French emigre. For the next return to his family in Montreal. The Boston/Portsmouth stage. The possi couple of years, Girard continued to Mayor granted him license to ask bility of an earlier connection between promote his school, clearly taking charity, but French's greed landed him Palmer and Girard is intriguing. advantage of the developing political into more trouble and a trunkful of In Montreal, Palmer made a name situation. One of his ads read: "Let stolen goods was discovered on him. for himself, gradually expanding Americans remember that to preserve Not surprisingly, by 1815, Girard was his business and moving to occupy

St Vincent Street. Montreal, c.igoo. Palmer & Girard's premises are IS at thefar end of the street at the right. BNQ: Collection Massicotte. Spring :>

Palmer& Girard's premises were demolished in 1012 to make way for La 1!) Sauvegarde life insurance company building. BNQ: Collection Massicotte. Quebec Heritage Nkwj business whatever." In light of this began either in Girard's attic or that of more advertisements for his confec statement, Girard's intention to open his neighbour, Paul Kauntz, a fellow tionery and pastry business. a fencing school would have been a confectioner. Whichever the source, On November 23, 1820, a brief flagrant violation of this clause which the fire spread remarkably quickly, in notice in four Montreal newspapers could have precipitated an annulment part becauseGirard had been storing announced the death of Jean-Baptiste of the agreement. However, the fact 400 corn brooms in the attic. The blaze Girard, "bailiff of His Majesty's Court that Palmer seems to very clearly was so intense that the two buildings of King's Bench, formerly a confec transfer all of his business responsi quickly burned to the ground and tioner." There were no details to bilities to Girard suggests that this the flames jumped the street, setting explain the cause. He was forty-three- was part ofsome prearranged transfer fire to the Bossange bookstore. Fortu years old. of ownership. The seemingly peculiar nately, Sarah and the children were Although I remain surprised that process they followed may have been able to escape unscathed. Girard had I was able to discover so much about in order to take advantage of legal wisely ensured his stock and belong someone who was little more than loopholestoreduce the costs that might ings for £750 and therefore the family a name in an ad, I can't help feeling normally have applied. There are few was not left destitute. The owner of frustrated that Girard's story remains details concerning Palmer after 1816. the building, Mr. Berthelet, had not incomplete, perhaps precisely because There isa Mr.Palmer cited in theDoige been insured. the abundance of sources was as directory in 1819 as a tavern keeper rewarding as it was unexpected. Sig which could indicate that Palmer had nificant details such as Girard's birth returned to his previous profession. place and what happened to his son We know that Palmer's son William John Baptist leave glaring holes in a worked for the Treasury Commission, portrait that has gradually taken on and his grandson Joseph Lawrence many colours. But apart from these Palmer became Deputy Postmaster of factual bits of information, there are Montreal. The Palmer family does not others, less tangible, but that give appear to have fared too badly. tantalizing glimpses into the actual For his part, Girard continued the character of the man. The brief confectionary and pastry business. reference in Joseph Sansom's travel Right below the announcement of the journal describes Girard as "a man of dissolution of the partnership, Girard observation" and connoisseur of fine advertised that business as usual The firewas dramatic enough that wines who advised drinking Lisbon would continue on St Vincent Street it received extensive coverage in the wine rather than Madeira which does and added that "handsome rooms local papers which reported instances not fare well when crossing the sea. will be fitted up for the reception of of people taking advantage of the mis Girard himselfdrankonly Port,Claret, ladies and gentlemen." It would seem fortune of others. "Some literary char and Spanish wines. Such seemingly that the space vacated by the Palmer acters made free with Mr. Bossange's banal details give Girard personal family was being put to good use. books - and some votaries of Bacchus ity and even a voice. In an effort to However, a month later, Viger, owner appeared not by any means dissat hear that voice more clearly, I am of the property, was offering it for let. isfied with the taste of Mr. Girard's continuing to explore other avenues Girard relocated to the north side of wine." The city's garrison was also of research, including the National Notre Dame Street, still within view criticized for not having given their Archives at Kew which keep lists of of St Vincent. Bylate 1816, Girard was help. The officers in charge responded French prisoners held by the British, describing his business as a Confec to the accusation by pointing out that as well as the French military records tionery and Cordial Distillery. His they were not allowed to act without kept at Vincennes. If Girard's military lengthy ads list a great variety of the orders of a fire magistrate, but record survives, not only would it trace produce as well as Christmas boxes no fire magistrate had been present. his career before his emigration, but it and New Year's gifts, soup and There had been a concern that given would provide a physical description. restoration, facilities for holding ball the nature of soldiers, if they were The rest is for the imagination to fill parties and weddings, and ice cream "permitted to run indiscriminately in, using every little fact and insight available from 8am to 10pm. No with the crowd, a commanding officer to reassemble the private life of Jean- mention is made again of the fencing [could] not be responsible for the dep Baptiste Girard, French Revolutionary school. redations [they] may commit." soldier, fencing master, umbrella and Over the next three years, Girard It is not clear if Girard was able toy maker, confectioner, pastry cook, continued his business but did not to restart his business after the fire. distiller, and bailiff of His Majesty's advertise. The most positive conclu The Doige directory lists him living Court of King's Bench. sion that can be drawn is that things on Viger Street (today's St Amable were going well, that he had a steady Street, just off St Vincent), and his pro Elena Cerrolaza teaches Art History clientele and had no pressing need to fessions are pastry cook, confectioner, and Humanities at Marianopolis College, draw new customers. Unfortunately, and now bailiff as well. There are at Montreal, and fences at the Mount Royal on the night of October 27,1819, while least a couple of notarial records that Fencing Club. Girard was out of town, his business do bear witness to Girard practicing and home caught fire. The blaze his new profession, but there are no

Boston Daily Advertiser, October 2.1818. 20 Spuing :><)! 1

Sox tii Winds Blowing Skyscrapers, pink Cadillacs and other American imports by Sandra Stock

Thecontinuing and inescapable many areas, partly due to this rapid Company building, now theSocietede American influences upon population growth, plus on-going Fiducie du Quebec building, erected Montreal proceeded into the immigration, the opportunities for in 1887 at Place d'Armes. In 1850, a safe twentieth century, picking up access to better education and training passenger elevator was designed in steam culturally although certainly and thus to greater wealth, continued the United States. Along with the use abating politically. There was no to change the rural-urban demo of structural steel frameworks (here longer any threat of direct take overs graphics. By 1900, Montreal was by an exception, as the chief inventors or invasions from the United States, as far Canada's largest and richest city - were Eiffel and other Europeans), in the days of the American Revolution and stayed that way until the 1970s. buildings could now reach any or even the Fenian Raids. However, reasonable height. When the Sun Life with the growth of what we term Building was completed in the 1920s, nu u

"pop culture" and media, Montreal MUSI III M. it was seen as a wonder of the world - could not avoid being infused with I-..I' the highest and largest office building various aspects of the American Way in the British Empire. - some of it positive,some negative (or More of these new edifices were perhaps at least banal) but all impossible to come, changing the focus of the to counteract. Montreal skyline from church spires Of course, as we said in Part to commercial towers. This visual One of this theme (Autumn 2010), and architectural change reflected the Montreal had always embraced the social changethatMontreal underwent new, the profitable and the interest in the the twentieth century. Even with ing. In this, Montreal has always run a few setbacks - la Grande Noirceur in opposition to the rest of Quebec (the Great Darkness) of the Duplessis society on some level, even in the regime, and the very weird reign of French colonial period when Ville Mayor Camillien Houde - Montreal Marie traded with the "strangers" moved steadily onward, becoming of all ilks and, in contrast, Quebec more and more American. City fortified its walls against them. The enormous social impact The Medieval saying that "town air brought about by the changes to breaths free" was true here as well. the nature of work, the increase of As so many of the both French- and literacy and access to education for a English-speaking rural inhabitants of wider part of the population, and the the province left the farms to work in invention and spread of communica the city (generally for Montreal) they tions media like radio, movies and changed both collectively and indi even the telephone, indirectly and vidually from the rather sheltered and directly led to the greater American controlled parochial life to the open, The most apparent American ization of Montreal. This happened and often radical, influences of an influence was the visual appearance in the French-speaking milieu of urban environment. of commercial and public buildings in course, but to a much greater extent This process had started mid-way Montreal. Architectural styles shifted, in the English-speaking sector. Not through the nineteenth century, with slowly, but irrevocably, away from just language, but the degree of social the expansion of transportation, espe European models to the International and cultural openness was, and is, the cially railways, which needed a large style that was not in origin "interna most probable reason. However, quite labourforce, skilled and unskilled.The tional", but American. The Beaux Arts American phenomena, such as thecult port facilities, the newly-built bridges and Second Empire styles, directly of Elvis and rock n' roll from the 1950s - starting with the iconic Victoria imported from France, and even the on, and even country and western that is still probably our sturdiest, if Scottish Baronial examples found music, had an enormous popularity scariest, one to the South Shore - and among the homes of the Victorian with Quebecois dc Souche - in spite of the growing textile and other manu super rich, faded from the Montreal such things being viewed as "kitaine" facturing industries all attracted strcctscape by the end of World War I. by the French-speaking intellectual people into Montreal. Although The first skyscraper in Montreal elite. Although the Quebec country living conditions were abysmal in was the Life Insurance side remained effectively in the

Welti York LifeInsuranceCompanybuilding in Placed'Armes. 21 c.igoo. BNQ: Collection Massicotte. 'Biiiec Heritage News nineteenth century until nearly the firmly on his head andhis press pass popular music in general, gave an middle of the twentieth - electricity in his pocket, was - or strove to be opportunity for Black performers to only reached private homes in some - a hard drinking reporter out of a reach a mixed audience. In Montreal, districts in the 1950s - Montreal was, Hollywood movie. He knew every things were perhaps not great, but as the financial and cultural leader of thing andhobnobbed with everybody certainly more welcoming for Black Canada at this time, at the head of all -gamblers, gangsters andthepropri citizens than most of the United States. sorts of new, mainly American, inno etors of drinking places. In many Advertisements for Montreal night vations. ways, he personified the Montreal - clubs at this time often said that their Montreal was New York connection. His lingo and acts were "straight from New York." always a great his breezy, slangy style was much However, down on St Antoine Street, newspaper town, influenced by the Broadwayese of the hub for jazz, the ads said "straight as we mentioned columnists like Walter Winched and from Harlem" (Weintraub, 123). The in Part One. From Leonard Lyons, andabove all, by the most famous club was Rockhead's the 1920s to the guys anddolls in the tales of Damon Paradise, owned and operated by early 1960s, an Ruuyon. Rufus Rockhead, who had started out interesting aspect as a railway porter on the run to New of especially the Palmer was just one of several York. Rockhead's lasted into the 1960s English papers newspaper men (Montreal newspa and was a launching pad for serious, was the "man pers were male bastions, excepting well-known local musicians such as about town" the social page, until the 1960s) that Oscar Peterson. gossip columnist, adopted this kind of writing. Fitz The Darker Side also came from directly modeled (Gerald FitzGerald) at The Gazette and New York: the bootleggers of the 1920s on an American, Sean Edwin at The Herald did the same American Prohibition era and the specifically a New York,ideal. Reading thing. ongoing links with organized crime, some of this rather cringe-making The New York influence was also New York gangsters of all ilks. Of prose today does make us wonder, seen in the entertainers appearing in course, Montreal always had plenty of Where was the Editor? - but different Montreal nightclubs - who either were home grown crime as well - more of times, different styles. In William booked from New York or were locals the vice sort - gambling, prostitution, Weintraub's highly entertaining book who adopted the clothes and manners crooked politicians, bent policemen, City Unique, which concentrates on of American performers. Jazz clubs and so on. Actual violence was always this period, he describes this phenom appeared in the 1920s and introduced rather rare here, compared to the enon as it reached its apogee in the this most American of musical genres major American cities, but there was 1940s: to Montrealers. Although society was certainly a strong rogue element flour Ahandsome, dapper, man about hardly as open and tolerant as we hope ishing here in the decades from the town, Al Palmer with his fedora we are now, this medium, along with 'twenties to the Second World War.

Above: Al Palmer's Montreal Confidential, lgso. Lower: igs6 Cadillac Eldorado at the Passeinblement Rigaud Car Show, 2008. Photo: llull-Doscr Spuing :JOI I

The prohibition of alcohol never Although it special caught on in Quebec, although there ized in Americanized were some ludicrous Sunday "blue Chinese cuisine, it also laws" that forbade ordering a drink offered a wider menu without a meal in bars and hotels. and was really more of Older Quebecers can remember the a Chinese-themed spot ancient cheese sandwiches that were than anything authenti trotted out to constitute a "meal" for cally Asian. the thirsty. American vice, or what was The 1950s was perceived as vice, always did much the golden age for the better here than American virtue. automobile. Big gas There always had been a fine guzzlers, ornamented dining tradition in Montreal, generally with fins and plenty at the hotels and exclusive clubs. This of chrome. American cuisine was invariably European cars: a white Lincoln French, or at least aimed to be, with a convertible, a two- certain infusion of British roast beefs toned Pontiac Parisi- and hefty desserts. However, in the enne, a Studebaker, the 1940s and 1950s Montreal saw a pro awful Edsel, the pink Cadillac. Nice grown elements, it was quite reminiscent liferation of American style eateries. big comfy living rooms on wheels and of earlier uproars at Berkeley and The most interesting examples of this really cheap prices for fuel. Cruising other institutions in the United States. were located on the Decarie Boulevard along the Decarie restaurant roadway Montreal was also a popular destina strip, their heyday being before the where you could be served by car hops tion for American draft evaders and creation of the Decarie Expressway on rol lerskatesat PiazzaTomasso. This other Americans disillusioned with in the 1960s (the big ditch), which led kind of 1950s experience was quintes the United States at that time. The to an economic decline in the area - sential!)' North American, an example deeply ingrained and thriving artistic mainly because no-one could easily of a mobile, free-wheeling (literally) and bohemian traditions of Montreal stop, never mind park, a car very society, with its roots in Detroit, New attracted and welcomed these people. easily any more. York and, increasingly, California. It's This was a very creative time for interesting to note that Montreal, when, as always, the new, one of the most influen the interesting and the "stranger" tial works of American was enthusiastically adopted into the literature to come bilingual and increasingly multicultural out of the fifties was population of our city. It wasn't until Jack Kerouac's, On the 1976, that Montreal suddenly lost its Road, which celebrated dominant status as Canada's largest the liberating effects and richest city, displaced by Toronto. of car travel among However, in spite of many other things. Kerouac's mainly political factors that have family origin was from made recent Quebec more insular, the among the thousands new (American!) technology of the of French - speaking internet and other devices of the digital Quebecers who in the revolution have helped keep Montreal late nineteenth century still traveling along that wide open left Quebec for the (mostly American) road. textile towns of New England. The 1960s and Sources: 70s brought Montreal into the world that Jean-Claude Marsan, Montreal in we see now, with the Evolution, McGill-Queens University building frenzy of Press, 1981. There are a some survivors expressways, the metro, Expo '67, though: the Orange Julep, shaped and more (but not necessarily better) William Weintraub, City Unique, like an orange, that had drive-in bridges. The American influences of Montreal Days and Nights inthe 1940s and service patronized by mainly young course continued - Montreal was a '50s, McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1996. people from the area and returning centre of social change and political Laurentian weekenders, and the still activism in the late sixties and early functioning (although now morphed seventies. We even had the first real into a hotel) Ruby Foo's. In its prime student protest "riot" in Canada at Sir (1950s) Ruby Foo's was the top "see George Williams University in 1969. and be seen" venue for Montreal. Although this event had some home

Left: Decarie Boulevard near Snowdon. ig(n. Photo: Expolounge.blogspot.com 2l\ Right: The Orange Julep, Decarie Boulevard. igf>os. Photo: Spacing Montreal.ca QrKiiKr Heritage Nkwi

Iron Giants and Brave Men Remembering the Rand ofSherbrooke's industrial legacy by Marie-Eve Gingras

pensive exports for the Rand's heavy machinery. Throughout the twentieth century, as the company prospered, additional buildings were erected and existing shops were expanded to include a foundry and metal-pressing, drilling and machining shops. In 1912, the Rand merged with the Ingersoll Rock Drill Company. By the 1930s, the Rand complex covered over 30 acres and, at its peak, had approximately 50 buildings. What exactly was going on inside those buildings? Like its neighbour and competitor the Jenckes Company, the Rand used compressed air, and for several decades specialized in manufacturing equipment for the mining industry. Many of its winches and drilling machines were gigantic, towering over the men who built The Story of Sherbrooke's was founded (though it would only them. The Rand even had a brush Ingersoll - Rand, commonly be named the Jenckes just called the Rand, is not as of 1888). Throughout only the history of a prolific the 1870s and 1880s, the industry, but a glimpse into the lives Jenckes Company rode the of the thousands of men and women mining boom, specializing who worked there. In Sherbrooke, in winches and drills, and almost everyone knows someone who many others followed suit: worked in the sprawling west-end the Ingersoll Rock Drill shops of the Rand. Taking its current Company of Canada was name in 1910, the Rand sparked the established in 1882, and growth of an entire neighbourhood the Canadian Rand Drill and was for decades the catalyst for opened a branch on Bank countless feasts, frolics and family Street in 1889, producing fun. As any Rand alum will attest, the mining equipment for oper Rand was like a family. ations in the region and across the country. A Century of Manufacturing The first Rand shops were modest, but by 1896 At the end of the 1830s, Sherbrooke the company had outgrown was seeing the first signs of the its Bank Street location and Industrial Revolution. The Sherbrooke the small factory moved to Cotton Mills, Canada's first cotton Lansdowne Street. A fire plant, was founded there in 1837, and three years later proved to other factories'began to spring up on have a silver lining when the shores of the Magog River, a key the Rand moved again to set location for the city's development. In up shop near Courcellette, 1851, the first Sherbrooke company to in the west end, where its use compressed air in manufactur proximity to the Canadian ing, the Jenckcs Machine Company, Pacific station meant inex

Uft: Rand_1: A groupofemployees, LansdowneStreet, 1922.Ingersoll-RandCollection. -""* LaSociete d'histoire de Sherbrooke. Right: Rand_3 : Picnic hi-jinks. ig

Blood, Sweat and... Cheer

Working conditions could be rough at the Rand. The days were long, the heat was intense, especially in the foundry, and the sheerweight of the materials made the work exhaust ing. It's no surprise that accidents happened. At that time, the pressure of compressed air was poorly con trolled, which caused explosions, and handling enormous pieces of steel could easily lead to bumped or crushed limbs. Some workers lost fingers, while others got off with just a few bruises. Only a few unfortunate accidents resulted in fatalities. Some former Rand employees still recall helplesslywatchingas a co-worker was of Belvedere South and Gait West 1998. That day marked the end of an crushed under the weight of cast iron, streets and to de la Princesse, Short, era, over a century in the making, of or even,horribly,literally cut in two by St-Louis, Saint Martin, Alexandre the industrial, economic and social defective equipment. Bob Corriveau, and even Larocque, covering a signifi history of Sherbrooke. who worked in the Rand offices for cant portion of the town's west end, over thirty years, remembers with including the area known as Little Marie-Eve Gingras is outreach coordi a gleam in his eye that "anyone who Canada. From the end of the nine natorfor the Sherbrooke Historical Society says he worked hard at the Rand is a teenth century onward, Rand workers liar," a claim those who worked on the and their families settled here, near (Translation: Katia Grubisic) floors are quick to counter with a jab their workplace, and the neighbourhood of their own at the office staff. The one soon bustled, as schools, Catholic La Rand: des giantsdeferet des homines thing everyone can agree on is that the churches, and all manner of businesses de coeur/The Rand: Iron Giantsand Brave Rand was a friendly place to work. such as groceries, snack bars and Men will bepresented at the Sherbrooke After their long days, the Rand shoemakers popped up during the Historical Society, 275 Rue Dufferin, employees were no strangers to first half of the twentieth century Sherbrooke, Salle de VAmerican-Biltrite, letting loose, at glamorous events to serve the several thousand men, untilMay 15, 2011. Salle deVAmerican- like the annual banquets, the Long women and children of the west-end Biltrite ..." 275Dufferin, Sherbrooke819 Service Association's ladies' evenings, working class; there was even a local 821-5406 www.histoiresherbrooke.com the St Andrew's Ball or the oyster movie house, the Rex, which opened dinner. Venues across the city and in 1945 at 519 Gait West. in nearby towns - the Lennoxville From their forty or so employees Bellevue Club, the Hotel Le Baron in at the turn of the last century, the Rand Sherbrooke, or the Auberge des Pins would become, between the 1930s and in Deauville - were packed with the mid-1980s, one of Sherbrooke's revellers. The athletically inclined largest employers. Between the 1940s could join lacrosse, bowling, Softball and the 1970s, the Rand hired over or hockey teams, depending on the 1,200 people. By 1981, the Ingersoll- season, while music-lovers were Rand International had 115 facilities, involved in the local orchestra orchoir. and still employed approximately 800 Workers' families were also part of the people in Sherbrooke. Fifteen years Rand family, participating in annual later, however, the ageing Sherbrooke sugar-shack trips, Christmas parties plant could no longer keep up with and Labour-Day picnics that brought the market, and the pulp and paper

Rand__2 : Interior ofthe N0.2 unit, 1900. Inyersoll-Rand 25 Collection. La Socii'te d'histoire de Sherbrooke. QuKiiEt' Meuitagk Nbws

Windsor Station Sixty years ofcorporate credulity and greed by Michael Fish

In response to a plan forward in 1972. These to conned Montreal's too entailed wholesale airport to thedoivntown demolition of the bydiverting the existing station. All announce CPR tracks around ments were heavily the and criticized. No plans old Windsor Station were ever published. to a new elevated In time, abandon terminus with multi-story mentofthe rail line was commercial and office refused, but the Glen space, Michael Fish has Yards and the turn publicly expressed his around were allowed opinion that it would be to be sold for devel cheaper to demolish the opment, without sig Bell Centre and reopen nificant public notice the old Windsor Station or debate. However, as a commuter terminus. in late 1972, approval This article, which was given to reduce explores the history the number of tracks in of the problem and the station from eleven evaluates the current to eight and (tempo situation, appears with rarily, it was hoped) the gracious permission to terminate the rails of the author. sonalities had done more to create and some 700 feet from the glass-roofed develop the Canada we then knew waiting room. The number of tracks In the 1960s, the then one-hundred- than any other institution. The station in a terminal track fan determines the year-old building itself was equally highly usefulness of a station. Most contain Company ceased passenger appreciated, as much for its architecture twenty to thirty tracks. There are service in Canada. Faced with and its creators as for rich association eighteen in Montreal's , increasing travel by bus, plane and with the stories of the city and the nine in active use. Grand Central in automobile, the company decided to country. New York has 67 tracks on two levels redevelop many rail properties for In the late 1960s, Canadian Pacific and is building a third, even lower new real estate uses. In Montreal, chose architect Arthur Ericson to level, to raise the number to 75. these included the seven-kilometre- imagine a continuous residential and In late 1973, another American long rail line from Montreal West commercial mega-building along the consultant, Landauer and Associates, to Peel Street, the 175,000-square- seven kilometres of the rail right-of- proposed a dozen office, residential metre marshalling yards at the Glen way. Even without being published, and hotel towers between 30 and 60 in Westmount, and a similar sized knowledge of this idea got everyone's stories high. With a large shopping train turn-around yard in NDG. The attention, for, as a part of this plan, plaza, this project would cover the crown jewel, however, among these the rail terminus would find itself not station land as well as most of the opportunities for redevelopment was downtown but in Montreal West. three blocks to the north, touching the 37,000-square-metre site under In 1970, Canadian Pacific Rene-Levesque Boulevard. Older WindsorStation and its enclosed track announced that they would demolish parts of the station bordering Peel fan: six platforms with eleven train all of Windsor Station. Replacing Street and St George's Church on de la tracks and room for more. it would be a hotel and two office Gauchetiere would be spared. David Built between 1880 and 1956, the towers, at least one of which would be and Boulva were to be the Montreal station complex was a unique collec sixty-odd stories high. The architect architects. A year-round outdoor ice tion of buildings with national historical was to be the American, Minoru rink would be a part of the public importance. The corporate giant that Yamasaki, whose twin-towered area of the site. In 30 pages of what we had built what would be its head office World Trade Centre in New York had would today call a charming, naive for eighty years was itself an historical recently started construction. Vague report, Landauer also recommended icon. Its initiatives, its colourful per references to other new plans were put that French-Canadian 'salesgirls' be

Locomotive leaving Windsor Station, 1890. 26 MeCord Museum: 2513.01 Hi'iilNc; 3011

mentplan allowing the rail head 15,000 feet to the east, effec construction of a new tively returning it to Peel Street. hockey stadium and Every authority should have three new office towers vigorously defended the mission of - one at 20 storeys and the Old Windsor Station after every two at 45 or 50 storeys announcement by CPR since 1950, all (the height of the of which have damaged passenger Mountain, 236 metres) transportation. - on the old station The hockey stadium is now a fact. property. The tracks For at least another generation, its would terminate placement is pretty well settled. We yet another 600 feet now have to deal with the results of farther west from the the actions of 1960 to 1992 on local rail old waiting room. transportation. This can be done now, The new stadium in a transparent, civilized way. It can was erected at the be done free from the hype, the public hired for the new shops in the area, western end of the site. relations blitz, the kind of extrane as 'Montreal was largely a French- After forty years, Windsor Station was ous non-pertinent points of debate, speaking city.' free from its mission as a rail terminal. insults and accusations that coloured Thanks to the election of the Parti The future of the old station from then the public shouting matches on the Quebecois in 1976, Canadian Pacific on would rest on the value of its large, demolition of Windsor Station and on moved to Calgary, and the Banks mostly open site. Land speculation, the placement of the present hockey that had promised to move their head in a free enterprise system, is often stadium. But for this to happen, all offices to Dominion Square instead an easy way to multiply an original of the documents supporting future moved to Toronto. The only major investment. Sadly, it is invariably plans to again relocate the tracks have building demolished on the site - in damaging to existing buildings on to be made public now. 1976 - was the Art Deco, 23-storey, such a site. The AMT of 1992, under its 1,000 room Laurentien Hotel - itself only 28 years old, very profitable, and recently renovated. Nothing was then done on itssite until a glassy 24-storey office building replaced the hotel in the early 'eighties. In 1986, Molson Breweries,owners of the Montreal Canadiens and their hockey stadium, the Forum, began a hunt for a site for a slightly enlarged arena. They turned down several sites south ofthe downtown core.Twoyears later, a new company president took over: Marshall "Mickey" Cohen, hired from the Reich mann brothers' real estate empire just before its collapse under a mountain of speculative debt. Molson's, looking to diversify their business and advised by planners representing CP, the city and their own interests, decided to purchase Few main rail terminals in all the presidentRobert Perrault, had the duty the Windsor Station site. They did world move away from the centres of to protect our rail system from being so not only to locate a new hockey cities that they serve. One, probably to shortened in order to satisfy land stadium there, but also to profit from be regretted soon, was at VigerStation speculators. Unfortunately, he and a theoretical eventual rise in the value on Berri Street in 1951. Another was at his people stayed silent on the matter. of development rights on the site. The , in the 1960s - now almost uni At that time, reasonable requests for economic promises of the new devel versally recognised as a bad move; its letters, professional planning and opments and their sad results are a reversal is under active consideration. economic studies in possession of the separate story. In Montreal, despite several respon Authority (which must have justified In 1992, following an exaggerated sible warnings in 1992, the removal of their decision not to protect the tracks) publicity campaign without precedent tracks from the Windsor site is now were met with disregard, discourtesy, in the , and in accepted as equally wrong-headed. delay, denial and finally a challenge spite of many serious and responsible This is the more manifestly so, now to force a court case under Right to protests, the city authorities under that the AMT (Agence metropolitaine Information Laws. Resorting to the Mayor Jean Dore approved a develop du transport) proposes to move the courts is always prohibitive for

Left: Windsor Station, 1893. BNQ; Collection Massicotte. Right: Design showing how the tracks will he diverted to the new AMT terminus. Image: Jacob l.arsen, EMDX. Ql'KiiKC Heritage News disinterested citizens no matter how increased by one or two. Moreover, gum and magazines, be viable on top right their cause. there are several spare platforms and of such activities on the site. The recently-announced half tracks at Central Station which could But nothing can be intelligently billion dollar budget for a new be pressed into use for a long time. A understood, let alone discussed or terminus, and the geometry involved, large parking garage, also at Central decided, until the AMT and provincial for starters, now require the fullest Station, can be adapted for a bus and municipal authorities come clean public disclosure. The plans imply terminal - two of them, if necessary. about all their arrangements with a huge super-structure to run train An ultimate intermodal solution the developer, Cadillac-Fairview, the tracks back to Peel Street, south of can probably wait a generation or ultimate financial beneficiaries of the old Windsor Station. Tracks will two until the current hockey stadium AMT's stated plan to relocate the train run high across a main street and a becomes obsolete and is moved away. terminal. One knows that these agree highway to finish far from its present In the meantime, the existing stadium ments exist. Nobody commits $150 metro connection. With a budget at volume isadaptable at relatively modest million of pension fund money to a half a billion to start with, this station cost while remaining in place. Hero real estate purchase without knowing will cost an amount near that of one ically,the rink and the stands could be exactly how that money will be paid of our new super-hospitals. We are raised over the level of the tracks - a back - quickly, and with substantial talking about a sum of money ruinous solution strongly advocated in 1992by, profits. to Quebec, let alone to Montreal. among others, local architect-urbanist Neither does anyone announce People commenting on this Jean-Claude Marsan. Alternatively, its that they plan a half-billion dollar whole picture tend to focus on the function as the 22,000-seat stadium expenditure for an intermodal train future of the stadium, home of Mon could easily be relocated and the terminal without very detailed plans. treal's beloved team. That is natural. greater parts of the existing building The pretty but inaccurate coloured The stadium is in the news every day. over the tracks adapted for other perspective drawings recently released Probably 500,000different Montrealers useful purposes. Quais and tracks to papers are insulting to the intel use it every year, most several times. would occupy no more than 30% of ligence. Real documents should be The new station would be used by the volume of the existing stadium revealed immediately. The sceptics many fewer people in a year, but the building; the building itself would await. Nobody wants another costly concentration oftheiruse will be much be essentially saved. Not only would error like the one that placed the more important. Almost all travelers it not need to be demolished, but the hockey stadium where it should never will use it twice a day, every weekday. capacity of the whole site would be have been placed. We have to end Fully millions of trips would start and unchanged for future high rise devel the last fifty years of costly bad ideas end here every year. Faced with such opment. Moreover,there are substantial for the Windsor Station site and its numbers, the stadium replacement real estate values to be conserved on users. They tell their own compelling and its lesser costs and ramifications properties all around the block to the story about this historic site - one of are relatively small compared to what south of old Windsor Station. corporate greed and cupidity meeting would happen with a new station and Nobody can maintain that the public negligence. its costs and ramifications, especially project announced by the AMT considering the ongoing expense of with a sixty feet in the Michael Fish is the President and taking new tracks back to Peel Street air, with two bus terminals and co-founder of the Friends of Windsor south of the Old Station. parking garages underneath, could Station founded in 1969. Solutions? Why not restore old do anything but damage the quality Windsor Station as a commuter of the local environment for at least a terminal? block all around, forever. Nor would If necessary, the existing number a quality, high-rise tower, nor a viable of rails at Lucien L'Allier could be shopping centre selling more than

From the Cadillac Fairview website (cadillacfairview.com)

Aug. 4,2009 - The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited isproud to announce that ithas acquired the Windsor Station complex and other real estate assetsfrom The Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Windsor Station islocated at 1160 De la Ganchetiere in downtown Montreal and represents an important heritage property. It was originally built between 1887 and 1889 to serve as both a station and the head office for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Subsequent additions were made to the building and surrounding lands betzveen 1900-1906,1909 -1914 and 1953-1954 to evolve with the needs and times ofagrowing cosmopolitan city. Windsor Station currently houses more than 300,000 square feet ofleasable office space and serves as an important hub for commuters to access the Montreal underground and subway system. Its impressive architecture and rich history remain an iconic symbol for the heart ofdowntown Montreal and a major point ofinterest in the city's urban landscape. Under the ownership and management ofCadillac Fairview, Windsor Station's historical significance and heritage designation will be fully respected.

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"It's wonderful to see how many Canadians are grooves of the spine and is the longest piece to place excited about this discovery," Ward said. in order to complete the puzzle. Craftsmen need to Wyke also mentioned that the canoe sparked start at the bow of the canoe and work their way to a lot of interest from First Nation communities and the stern while following the line of the keel. Bonnell Canadians. He made contact with the Maliseet said it takes hours of work to complete - close to five community and is hoping to gather a team that hours in his case. Builders need to pay attention to includes First Nation people. The team will look into every detail. They need to meticulously sand and repairing this relic and uncovering its history. paste so there are no defects. Once that last element "It will clear up some of the guess work of is done the canoe is ready to hit the waters. building canoes," Wyke said. "The canoe is the quintessential Canadian way Canoes are constantly changing and techniques to travel," Bennoll said. are always being updated, Bennoll said. Before beginning his own adventure into the complexities Renee Giblin is a journalism student at Concordia of the sport he researched the topic. He read books University, where she combines writing with a love of and checked websites. He used his past experience of research. Her passion for history started some years ago building kayaks - and even then he did not realize at university where, aftera course of twentieth century the time it would take to complete his last task of world history, she quickly switched from Childhood building a canoe. Education to reading documents about fifteenth and The last slab of wood needs to slip into the sixteenth centuryculture and lifestyle.

Above: Oneofthe world'soldest canoes sees daylight :io Lower: The Enys canoe (PhotOS courtesyof the National MaritimeMuseumCornwall) Si-kin.. 201 1 Homage to Anglophonia Writing in the Time ofNationalism: From Two Solitudes to Blue Metropolis by Linda Leith Signature Editions, 2010 When writers want to really get inside a the implementation of the "language laws," all but subject, sometimes the best way is to disappeared down the 401.So much is the history of write about the process of discovery Quebec Anglophones - but for Anglophone writers, itself. Some subjects you explore; what is remarkable is the self-inflicted damage done others you have to live. George Orwell made the by those who stayed but sat tongue-tied. Writing hands-on experience an art form: having tackled in a time of nationalism was a great challenge, but vagrancy and poverty as a kind of embedded the enemy was not nationalism, nor for the most journalist he set off to fight in the part nationalists - or at least not Spanish Civil War with no agenda, in the way one might think. The barely escaped with his life, and real enemy was loss of voice. then wrote the kind of book about Writing Orwell was shot in the throat that struggle he could never while fighting in Spain; English- •Nationalism have done from archival sources Quebec writers almost perished or even interviews. Homage to by shooting themselves there. Catalonia is not autobiography; it's This silence was in the back a book about how the author came ground when Linda Leith grew to understand something, and we up. Though not Canadian-born, learn all the more as a result. and blessed with an international Linda Leith does something perspective gained from living in similar in her crisp and engaging several countries as a child, Leith's Writing in the Time of Nationalism. adolescence and emergence as a True, Leith emerges from her writer took place in the Quebec journey with fewer battle scars of the late 1960s and 70s, when than Orwell did from his, and her English speakers were inclined tale is infinitely more uplifting, to look elsewhere for inspiration but the process is similar. We and justification, as if they really enjoy learningabout these authors LindaLeith were the ex-pats many national as much as we do their stories; ists accused them of being. Leith's we value them as narrators and account of her own gradual guides - not so much because they lived through discovery of Montreal's English-language-writing what they write about (itself very important, of community (Montreal remains her prime focus course) as that we live their discoveries with them. throughout the book, as she tells us up front) is as Orwell was astonished by the Spanish Republic's thoughtful and as revealing as her treatment of ability to tear itself apart in the face of imminent the larger political and social history. Anglophone danger; Leith also came up against a self-destructive writers found their voices at the same time that they community, albeit one that managed to find its came to embrace the predominantly French-lan way despite fear, apathy, and a culture intricately guage culture that surrounded them. Some found fashioned to deny its existence. voice by refuting the idea that to be Anglophone The community in question, Leith's subject, was somehow shameful; others tackled their guilt is the set of people who over the last half century or their fears in creative ways. The result was a dis have written literature in English, in Quebec. This tinctly English-Quebec literature. community has had to struggle to exist in a time of Except that, apparently, there was no such nationalism - Quebec nationalism, that is, or more thing. The biggest challenge from Quebec nationalism specifically a Quebec in which the French language (which at no point can be said to have discouraged, emerged as the dominant, even official, form of let alone oppressed, English writing) came from its cultural expression. From the post-war heyday too-comfortable assumptions about Canadianness. when Montreal literary colossi such as Hugh Canadian nationalism, as it emerged in the 1960s McLennan and Mavis Gallant straddled the world's and 70s,gave lip service to official bilingualism but continents, English-language-writing fell into sharp operated essentially in English. In practice, culture decline with the advent of the Quiet Revolution and that expressed itself in English was Canadian, with then, with the election of the Parti Quebecois and its heart, and certainly its stomach, in Toronto;

CoverofWriting intheTimeofNationalism 31 QrKiiEt' Heritage News culturethatexpressed itself in French was Quebecois. not "bilingual," Leith learned early on to insist on When Leith and other English-Quebec writers in the calling Blue Metropolis a festival in two languages. 1990s began to promote their output, they met with In Quebec, bilingualism can sound like encroach encouragement from their Francophone counterparts ing federalism. Ironically, some of the nationalist and even from broader political and social circles. opposition to Blue Met was not over its Englishness When they began to assert their literary identity, (that would have been fine) but over its claims to however, the reaction was hostile. People who wrote be French as well. Equally bizarre was the Federal in English in Quebec were part of Canadian Government's refusal to fund the festival on similar literature, Leith discovered; you could not be part grounds; had BlueMet been an Anglo affair, it likely of Quebec literature unless you wrote in French. To would have been eligible as a service to a linguistic acknowledge otherwise was to admit that Quebec minority community. To Leith and her colleagues, culture was other than essentially Francophone. a literary festival in two languages was a natural Matters grew even more Orwellian (in the statement of pride in a newly confident and accom usual sense of the term) when Leith embarked upon modating (though predominantly and officially her grandest project (so far): the creation and artistic French-speaking) Quebec. To others it was a plot. direction of the literary festival that would gain The story of Blue Metropolis personifies the international fame as Blue Metropolis. The story of struggle of Quebec's English-speaking writers to the festival's genesis emerges as the most engaging find their voices and form a literature that does exist part of this already absorbing book; anyone who has according to at least one definition. It is also the helped run, let alone been involved in the establishment culmination of Leith's own discovery of this lit of, a community-based-cultural organization will erature which is also an act of self-discovery - and find much that is disquietingly familiar here - and like all good tales of self-discovery it lets us learn yet be taken aback by the size and number of the about ourselves. hurdles Leith had to get over for it to see the light of day. Mostfascinatingis thedifficulty Leithencountered Reviewed by Rod MacLeod by deciding to make the festival bilingual - sorry,

Ancestors in the Attic, Bodies in the Basement Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny Sphere (Little Brown book group, London, G.B.) 2010

Some locations cry out as we may come to a thoughtful for mystery. Usually the depiction of one of our oldest and very best of them mix most unusual cities, huddling the slightly outre with the within its stone walls in a cold and everyday mundane. An example dark winter. In spile of Carnavale is Quebec City's Morrin Centre, going on in the streets, evil lurks the never-named but so apparently in the old root cellar under the described scene of the crime in eighteenth century prison cells Louise Penny's outstanding murder- of the Morrin Centre. Penny is cum-novel Bury Your Dead. an excellent creator of contrasts This is the Morrin Centre that - some overt, some subtle, and houses the venerable Literary and some more successful than others. Historical Society English library. The parts of this story set in The action takes place before the Quebec City are credible and our centre's recent renovations (thank main character, Chief Inspector you, levels of government!) and Armand Gamacheofthe homicide peppy new incarnation as a suc section of the Surete du Quebec, is cessful community meeting place appealing, intelligent and totally and performance venue. Anyone realistic. However, the alternat interested in English-speaking ing chapters set in Three Pines - Quebecers, Quebec City, Samuel a kind of Eastern Townships lost de Champlain, winter in the Townships and/or world - do jar somewhat. Perhaps Penny is trying attractive policemen should read this book. for a bit of magic realism (Brigadoon?) but somehow This mystery novel is probably as close we can't quite feel the same empathy for the many

Hook Cover: Bury Your Deadby LouisePenny :\2 John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a non-fiction best seller of some years past, murder happens in a heritage home in steamy Savannah, Georgia. As a member now for some years of various historical and heritage organizations, 1am quite amazed, not that some murders have occurred in our milieu, but that they have been so few. This June, QAHN will be holding its Annual General Meeting at the Morrin Centre in Quebec City. Be careful going to the basement...

Reviewed by Sandra Stock

(maybe too many) characters living in this rural art colony with a spa hotel, hermits in the woods, odd locals and so on. To be fair, what place could ever compete with Quebec City? Many of the elements of classic mystery genre are used and used well. The victim is a strange, disagreeable man with a historical mania for finding Samuel de Champlain's grave site. He has offended and pestered everyone (in both official languages) for many years. Yet he surely didn't deserve to be pummeled to death with his own shovel and buried in the root cellar. The nervous directors of the "Lit & Hist" (Literary &HistoricalSociety) are mostly embarrassed by the negative publicity and, with the exception of a likeable and intelligent older lady, aren't too co operative with the police. Image and maintaining the status-quo are their priorities. Unfortunately, I guessed "who-dun-it" well before it was revealed but this is hardly important, given the interesting nature of this book. I should mention here, speaking as a life-long reader of crime and mystery literature and as someone interested in history-especiallywonderful old buildings like the Morrin Centre - that there is a definite sub-genre of murder tales, both true and fictional, set around historians, heritage house buffs and even historic gardens. The clever Miss Marple, in Agatha Christie's classic Nemesis goes on a House and Garden tour in leafy southern England and the participants are embroiled in murder. In

Above: Upstairs at Morrin College before restoration, 2003 :v.\ Centre: The cellars ofthe oldjail, now the Morrin Centre, Image (Sandra Stock). Lower: The Morrin Centre exterior. Photo credit: Cephas Qi'EHEC IIki.mtack Nkw! Memories of Marianna O'Gallagher Marianna O'Gallagher was my second attention and extensive orchestration prohibited cousin and in her last years a true me from introducing myself. Being a photographer, confidant and friend. I followed the parade down Rue St-Jean, taking As a child I remember this smiling numerous photographs of all the participants, but Sister of Charity at many family events. In my my main goal was to capture Marianna as she cel junior high school years she was also my teacher. I ebrated her Irish heritage in the city she loved so was treated with the same care and attention as the much. A couple of times, our eyes met and 1 was others and that was with a no-nonsense but clearly looking forward to getting to know this extraordi defined rule of interesting course work. nary woman. Sadly, we never met, but I will cherish She had a passion for history, as I do, and we my photographs of Marianna and always remember shared many conversations discussing the Irish her smile and grace as she rode through the crowds immigration through Quebec. Her writings, books in her beloved Quebec. and seminars on the subject would leave the audience with an overwhelming appreciation for Darrell McBreairty her hard work. Ever serious about her endeavours Allagash, Maine, USA she brought to the conversation great wit and a warming sense of humour. When visiting Quebec City, I would always meet with Marianna, enjoy lunch at a bistro or My cousin, Marianna, with whom I always Sunday brunch at the house after Mass at St Pat's. had a very close relationship, is being missed by Every couple months she would write to let me know me and many others I am sure since she left us last what she was up to and of course all the news from Spring. home. She would always leave me, and I'm sure all When she took on the task of writing the book of us, with astonishing admiration of her dedication on Grosse-Ile and other books related to the Irish to preserve the Irish legacy. community of Quebec City, some people would I last spoke to her a few days before she passed. ask me why she would undertake such a difficult She was trying to finish the last chapter of her most project at this late stage in her life. My answer was recent book. She was tired but so interested in our always the same: "For the love of the Irish and her family. We ended the call with her exclaiming "I'll own roots therein." be seeing Mom and Dad soon." In actual fact, her father's influence had a lot to God Bless Her. do with her motivation. In this connection, my uncle Dermotsometime in the late sixties or early seventies Joe Delaney decided it was time for him to visit Grosse-Ile, not Dryden, Ontario having done so in recent years. What he found was a complete absence of care both for the property and for the Celtic cross that had been erected in 1909 in memory of those Irish immigrants who flew the In the late 1990s, after a few attempts at locating famine of 1847 in Ireland only to die before or on copies of Marianna O'Gallagher's books in Quebec arrival at Grosse-Ile. City,I finally ended up at La Maison Anglaise where Marianna immediately started working with the clerk told me that Marianna's books were out of the Federal Government (owners of the property) to stock at the moment but that if I called Marianna, have the island officially designated a historic site. the clerk was certain that she would accommo This would automatically put the island under the date me. The clerk found Marianna's telephone care of Parks Canada. number and called her from the store. A friendly With the help of the minister in charge, a Mr. voice answered. It was Marianna. 1 explained my Whalen, of Irish descent, Marianna was able to dilemma in regard to locating her books and that accomplish this feat, and within a short period of I was only in the city for a few days. When I told time, the island was so designated. In recognition her the name of the pension I was staying at on of her work for the Irish community, in the 1980s Rue St-Louis, Marianna assured me she would drop she was decorated with the Order of Canada by the books off early the next morning. Since I am not an Governor General at that time. early riser, we agreed that I would leave money at This, I believe, will always remain her legacy to the front desk. Sure enough, the books were waiting those of Irish descent in this country and in North for me when I checked the next day. America as a whole. Over the years I would hear stories about Marianna every time I came up to the city from Tony Conway Maine. I thought I was finally going to meet her Westmount, QC during the St Patrick's Parade and celebrations in 2010, but the crowds were too large and the media

34 Sim.'I.m; 201 1

nfc **fe- fAMUTrlJSTOKY 30CIHT/

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ROOTS 2011 ON FAMILY HISTORY IN OUEBEC June 3, June 4 and June 5, 2011

at McGUl UNIVERSITY, Montreal, Quebec

Find Ancestors Buried in Quebec Use Church, Notary and Military Service Records Search Online Newspaper Archives Navigate Quebec's Online National Library and Archives Locate Data in Quebec's Land Registry Records

L&^aj£T^ rts Who Will HeLP Yo Identify Ships' Passengers Without Passenger Lists Apply DNA Testing to your Family Tree Record Your Own Life Story for Future Generations Find a Will Anywhere in Britain or Ireland in Under an Hour

• COMPUTER DEMONSTRATIONS • FAMILY HISTORY BOOK FAIR • TOURS • GOURMET DINING

For detailedprogramme information and pricing please visit www.qfhs.ca. To register, call (514) 428-0236 or email [email protected].

:',.i "Thanks for the lovely conference. It was both entertaining and educational, and I met some fine people." Terry Loucks. family h i s I o r i a n . Fitch Bay, Q c .

Won't you join us? Directors of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network cordially invite you to the 2011 Annual General Meeting & A Taste of Old Quebec at the Morrin Centre Home of the Literary & Historical Society of Quebec 44, chaussee des Ecossais Quebec City Saturday, June 18, 2011 Registration, coffee and muffins, heritage displays and networking start at 9 a.m. Business reports and board elections from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Share a meal catered by a renowned Quebec City eatery and help honour this year's recipients of the Marion Phelps and Richard Evans heritage awards. Then enjoy a delightful tour of this magnificently restored historic site, featuring a Victorian library and early 19th-century jail cells, all within easy walking distance of major attractions in La Vieille Capitale.

Special hotel rates will be available for DAHN member delegates WATCH FOR DETAILS ONLINE AT WWW.QAHN.ORG

KINDLY REGISTER BY EMAIL: [email protected] OR CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-877-964-0409. Awards luncheon: $15 for QAHN members; $25 for non-members.