If Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is well-known today for its iconic buildings, public market and green alleys, it also has a remarkable history.
At first, in 1664, it belonged to the Sulpicians, when the French arrived at the New Continent. Starting from the middle of the XIXth century, the territory of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve was marked by political, social and economic upheavals.
It was first named Hochelaga (from 1845 to 1883) in commemoration of the small Iroquoian community that had helped, among many other things, the French to establish themselves. The location of the Iroquoian community is also where, in 1642, Montreal was founded.
With the arrival of the railway in 1876, the redevelopment of the city changed several things in Montreal. The big landowners and industrialists were most eager to obtain the large agricultural areas in the east of Montreal for industrialization and settlement purposes. Many factories (textile, paper, tobacco and wood) opened and transformed the lands into a working-class district where large families lived in poor conditions. By 1880, the situation would lead to numerous industrial disputes and strikes.
Into a frenzy
In 1883, the city of Hochelaga was attached to Montreal, except for the its eastern part, named Ville de Maisonneuve, in memory of Montreal’s co-founder: Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve. It was created by investors to earn interest on their lands.
The population of Maisonneuve will grow rapidly, from 1061 to 4000 inhabitants. Subsidy and tax exemptions caught the eyes of several companies helping the city acquire 5th place as the most industrial city in Canada. Amongst the companies that established their factories in Maisonneuve, there were the sugar refinery St. Lawrence Sugar Co., the shoe factory Dufresne & Locke and the biscuit manufacturer Viau.
Urban planning and post war period
The city of Maisonneuve is the result of a large-scale project supported by a major part of the French-Canadian bourgeoisie of which Alphonse Desjardins (founder of the Caisse populaire Desjardins) and Oscar and Marius Dufresne (heirs of the family-owned company Dufresne & Locke). Inspired by the City Beautiful movement, their wish was to create an industrial city that would lead other cities acting as their model.
This urbanistic movement is inspired by the work of Baron Haussmann of Paris that called for the humanization beautification of a city, by building new and magnificent buildings. That movement tended to increase a city’s prestige, but also lead to her bankruptcy. Because of its huge debt as well as high unemployment and poverty due to the economic crisis that followed the war, the city of Maisonneuve was annexed to Montreal in 1918.
Here are some images of the buildings that were built during the City Beautiful movement.
• The Maisonneuve City Hall
This building was the City Hall of the city of Maisonneuve from 1912 to 1918. In 1925, the University of Montreal bought it and installed their Radium Institution that would close its doors in 1967. Starting in 1981, until today, it's the Maisonneuve Library.
At first, in 1664, it belonged to the Sulpicians, when the French arrived at the New Continent. Starting from the middle of the XIXth century, the territory of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve was marked by political, social and economic upheavals.
It was first named Hochelaga (from 1845 to 1883) in commemoration of the small Iroquoian community that had helped, among many other things, the French to establish themselves. The location of the Iroquoian community is also where, in 1642, Montreal was founded.
With the arrival of the railway in 1876, the redevelopment of the city changed several things in Montreal. The big landowners and industrialists were most eager to obtain the large agricultural areas in the east of Montreal for industrialization and settlement purposes. Many factories (textile, paper, tobacco and wood) opened and transformed the lands into a working-class district where large families lived in poor conditions. By 1880, the situation would lead to numerous industrial disputes and strikes.
Into a frenzy
In 1883, the city of Hochelaga was attached to Montreal, except for the its eastern part, named Ville de Maisonneuve, in memory of Montreal’s co-founder: Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve. It was created by investors to earn interest on their lands.
The population of Maisonneuve will grow rapidly, from 1061 to 4000 inhabitants. Subsidy and tax exemptions caught the eyes of several companies helping the city acquire 5th place as the most industrial city in Canada. Amongst the companies that established their factories in Maisonneuve, there were the sugar refinery St. Lawrence Sugar Co., the shoe factory Dufresne & Locke and the biscuit manufacturer Viau.
Urban planning and post war period
The city of Maisonneuve is the result of a large-scale project supported by a major part of the French-Canadian bourgeoisie of which Alphonse Desjardins (founder of the Caisse populaire Desjardins) and Oscar and Marius Dufresne (heirs of the family-owned company Dufresne & Locke). Inspired by the City Beautiful movement, their wish was to create an industrial city that would lead other cities acting as their model.
This urbanistic movement is inspired by the work of Baron Haussmann of Paris that called for the humanization beautification of a city, by building new and magnificent buildings. That movement tended to increase a city’s prestige, but also lead to her bankruptcy. Because of its huge debt as well as high unemployment and poverty due to the economic crisis that followed the war, the city of Maisonneuve was annexed to Montreal in 1918.
Here are some images of the buildings that were built during the City Beautiful movement.
• The Maisonneuve City Hall
This building was the City Hall of the city of Maisonneuve from 1912 to 1918. In 1925, the University of Montreal bought it and installed their Radium Institution that would close its doors in 1967. Starting in 1981, until today, it's the Maisonneuve Library.
• Le bain Morgan:
Built from 1914 to 1916 at the request of Marius Dufresne, this building was named Bain Maisonneuve. Inspired by the antique architectural style, its purpose was to address health and hygiene issues and to ensure that the population could bathe themselves. Between 1920 and 1960, it belonged to the police and was their workout center. Nowadays, its name is Morgan Center, in memory of the great merchant Henry Morgan. It has also revived its function.
Built from 1914 to 1916 at the request of Marius Dufresne, this building was named Bain Maisonneuve. Inspired by the antique architectural style, its purpose was to address health and hygiene issues and to ensure that the population could bathe themselves. Between 1920 and 1960, it belonged to the police and was their workout center. Nowadays, its name is Morgan Center, in memory of the great merchant Henry Morgan. It has also revived its function.
• Le marché Maisonneuve:
Built in 1914 on the plot belonging to the Dufresne family, it is one the most important place in the east of Montreal. It had areas for the merchants between 1932 and 1967 so they could sell their goods. It was the perfect place to buy fresh aliments and hold discussions with neighbors. Because of the increasing popularity of the supermarkets, the Marché Maisonneuve closed in 1967. It belonged to the police for a short time, until 1980. The Marché Maisonneuve was re-opened in 1995, and you can still buy fresh, bio and local products today. During the summer season, the market holds lots of activities.
Built in 1914 on the plot belonging to the Dufresne family, it is one the most important place in the east of Montreal. It had areas for the merchants between 1932 and 1967 so they could sell their goods. It was the perfect place to buy fresh aliments and hold discussions with neighbors. Because of the increasing popularity of the supermarkets, the Marché Maisonneuve closed in 1967. It belonged to the police for a short time, until 1980. The Marché Maisonneuve was re-opened in 1995, and you can still buy fresh, bio and local products today. During the summer season, the market holds lots of activities.
Second World War, unemployment and urbanistic change
After the Second World War and several years of unemployment, Hochelaga began to modernize, but the inhabitants were not rich because of the deindustrialisation and the economic crisis. The end of the war rhymed with the return of soldiers that need places to live. There would be a vast project where many prefabricated wooden houses would be built for the soldiers. The houses were all the same, and calling the place where they were built: the veteran's district.
The love for prestigious heritage buildings seems to have always been innate in the inhabitants of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. For example, Brother Marie-Victorin founded in 1931 the Botanical Garden, which is one of the most important in the world. In 1971, the mayor of Montreal, Jean Drapeau, dreamed about big and beautiful things for his city and would inaugurate a colossal sports complex, the Olympic Stadium, where it would host the Olympic Games in 1976. This building, even if its value is being discussed, is now one of the most emblematic symbols of Montreal.
Nowadays, this working-class neighborhood has began a gentrification process. Now, being called HoMa (stands for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve), a new name, more modern, more fashionable.
After the Second World War and several years of unemployment, Hochelaga began to modernize, but the inhabitants were not rich because of the deindustrialisation and the economic crisis. The end of the war rhymed with the return of soldiers that need places to live. There would be a vast project where many prefabricated wooden houses would be built for the soldiers. The houses were all the same, and calling the place where they were built: the veteran's district.
The love for prestigious heritage buildings seems to have always been innate in the inhabitants of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. For example, Brother Marie-Victorin founded in 1931 the Botanical Garden, which is one of the most important in the world. In 1971, the mayor of Montreal, Jean Drapeau, dreamed about big and beautiful things for his city and would inaugurate a colossal sports complex, the Olympic Stadium, where it would host the Olympic Games in 1976. This building, even if its value is being discussed, is now one of the most emblematic symbols of Montreal.
Nowadays, this working-class neighborhood has began a gentrification process. Now, being called HoMa (stands for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve), a new name, more modern, more fashionable.
Crédits @ AV Dezign (FLICKR) / Crédits @ Stéphanie Leboeuf (Jardin Botanique, Marché Maisonneuve, Stade Olympique, Banque de Toronto)2016-2017
References
Atelier d'histoire Hochelaga-Maisonneuve inc. L'industrialisation à Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, 1900-1930. Montréal, L'atelier, 1980, 54p.
BENOÎT, Michèle et Roger GRATTON. Pignon sur rue. Les quartiers de Montréal, Montréal, Guérin, 1991, 393 p.
GIGNAC, Benoit. Jean Drapeau : le maire qui rêvait sa ville. Montréal, La Presse, 2009, 302 p.
Le site des Archives de la Ville de Montréal (Ville d'Hochelaga, https://archivesdemontreal.ica-atom.org/ville-dhochelaga)
Le site d'archives de la Ville de Montréal, (http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=9817,140157621&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL)
MARSAN, Jean-Claude. Montréal en évolution : historique du développement de l'architecture et de l'environnement urbain montréalais, Laval, Éditions du Méridien, 1994, 515 p.
RUMILLY, Robert. Le frère Marie-Victorin et son temps. Montréal, Les Frères des Écoles chrétiennes, 1949. 459 p.
TREMBLAY, Roland. Les Iroquoiens du Saint-Laurent : peuple du maïs, Montréal, Éditions de l'Homme, 2006.
Ville de Montréal. Les rues de Montréal : Répertoire historique, Éditions du Méridien, 1995, 547 pages
Atelier d'histoire Hochelaga-Maisonneuve inc. L'industrialisation à Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, 1900-1930. Montréal, L'atelier, 1980, 54p.
BENOÎT, Michèle et Roger GRATTON. Pignon sur rue. Les quartiers de Montréal, Montréal, Guérin, 1991, 393 p.
GIGNAC, Benoit. Jean Drapeau : le maire qui rêvait sa ville. Montréal, La Presse, 2009, 302 p.
Le site des Archives de la Ville de Montréal (Ville d'Hochelaga, https://archivesdemontreal.ica-atom.org/ville-dhochelaga)
Le site d'archives de la Ville de Montréal, (http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=9817,140157621&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL)
MARSAN, Jean-Claude. Montréal en évolution : historique du développement de l'architecture et de l'environnement urbain montréalais, Laval, Éditions du Méridien, 1994, 515 p.
RUMILLY, Robert. Le frère Marie-Victorin et son temps. Montréal, Les Frères des Écoles chrétiennes, 1949. 459 p.
TREMBLAY, Roland. Les Iroquoiens du Saint-Laurent : peuple du maïs, Montréal, Éditions de l'Homme, 2006.
Ville de Montréal. Les rues de Montréal : Répertoire historique, Éditions du Méridien, 1995, 547 pages