1946-2008
À remarquer : L’architects building, un gratte-ciel de 17 étages, construit de 1930 à 1932 et démoli en 1955 lorsque le blvd. René-Lévesque fut élargi. Celui-ci était situé au coin de la côte du Beaver Hall.
Source : http://coolopolis.blogspot.com/2007/08/dorchester-1946-war-is-over-winter-isnt.html
12 comments
C’est un anachronisme de parler de boulevard René-Lévesque à l’époque de la première photo.
Il s’agit du boulevard Dorchester.
If you want to be anal – Wasn’t Dorchester street not boulevard
Marvelous comparison, Thank You!
Interesting to see a rather narrow Dorchester street from this vantage. I don’t think the Architects building was torn down because of the widening project though. It was set back far enough. Sadly, it was replaced by the bland post-modern building at 500 R-L Ouest.
GDS, you may be right but the Commission de toponymie says it was “Boulevard Dorchester”:
“Le boulevard auquel on donne alors son nom constitue l’une des artères majeures de la ville. Son élargissement dans les années 1940-1950 nécessite la démolition de nombreuses villas qui le bordent de part et d’autre. La maison Shaugnessy (devenue le Centre canadien d’architecture) et les maisons Thomas Judah (1980, boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest) et Masson (2080, boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest) à proximité, témoignent de cette époque révolue où cette voie de communication était une artère résidentielle recherchée. Date officielle de dénomination : 30 novembre 1987. Anciennement : Boulevard Dorchester.
Source: Les rues de Montréal : répertoire historique, 1995.”
As for avoiding anachronisms, I don’t think it’s at all a question of being anal.
Cette histoire n’a rien d’un anachronisme. J’ai choisi de mettre le nom actuel du boulevard afin de ne pas me faire reprocher de ne pas avoir indiquer clairement où la photo fut prise !
As pointed out in the post at the following site, Dorchester WAS grotty in areas and DID look alot nicer after the 1955 Charles Duranceau Ltee reconstruction.
http://coolopolis.blogspot.com/2007/08/dorchester-1946-war-is-over-winter-isnt.html
Of interest in the second photo is the Panel Truck to the left which is an Eaton’s delivery vehicle.
These lovely vehicles were painted a dark blue with a red panel on the side and they were always meticulously maintained. ( Somewhat like a hearse. )
Inside the red panel was the word ‘EATON’S’, the letters in silver paint.
It was almost a marque of distinction to have an Eaton’s delivery truck stop at your home and the driver carry in a large package.
Like home delivery of milk, eggs and butter, another thing gone by the wayside.
Holy fu*k ! Give Guillaume a break ! He always posts fantastic stuff yet he always gets bitched at for one reason or another.
Merci Guillaume, j’aime toujours vos posts !
Antonio – If you read this article and any others from the same time period you will notice that it is always ref. to as Dorchester Street.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9500E1D8153EE63BBC4051DFB7678383669FDE
GDS is right. And if you look on vintage maps of Montreal, you will see that’s it was called : Dorchester STREET !
By the way, I was NOT giving Guillaume grief! I am a BIG fan of his work and always look forward to his posted items.
Beau travail, Guillaume !
Cdnloco
Those Eaton’s vans were around for ages. I remember seeing them still driving around in the late 1990’s right until the end of the chain (more or less). Of course they did trade in their 1940’s Chevrolets for 1990’s Chevrolets ;)