Lots in the news lately about renovations to Dorchester Square, and the archaeological dig that will open up graves that date between 1799-1855, when the site was a cemetery. (Is it just me, or does unearthing bodies after a mere 155 years seem more like grave-robbing than archeology? After being examined by the archaeologists, the bones will be reburied in Notre Dame des Neiges cemetery.)
Although Dorchester Square is completely fenced was off for renovations, I was pleased to see that the construction site was being put to good use: panels woven into the fence enumerate the natural, landscaped, and cultural ingredients that come together to create the public square.
I ended up walking the whole way around the square and learned more from that fence than I ever absorbed from a casual passing through the site. I admit that I’ve never taken the time to identify the square’s 4 monuments, let alone the 7 tree species that are found there. Its also neat to get a glimpse of the landscape architect’s shopping list: benches, paving stones, rolls of grass, tonnes of earth.
It’s a small gesture, but it acknowledges that people care about public spaces and, while the square will be inaccessible for a season or two, the panels invite us to be a part of the process.
Recipe for Dorchester Square:
- 1 belfort lion
- 1 prime minister
- 1 Scottish poet
- 1 battle horse
- 11 accolade elm
- 1 Pennsylvanian ash
- 2 red maples
- 48 silver maples
- 6 Norwegian maples
- 22 lamp posts
- 1800 geraniums
- 240 000 granite paving stones
- 48 roles of turf
- 3200 tonnes of soil
- 100 benches
- An ancient cemetery
- And, of course, a $6.4 million investment to spruce it all up…
The panels also invite passers-by to visit www.squaredorchester.ca a City of Montreal page with info about the square’s past incarnations and the renovations that are being carried out.
6 comments
That’s why I’m getting cremated. The fact you can be ‘reintered’ in a relatively short time is off-putting.
Very disapoint with the whole project. They claim they will increase the park by 10%. They could have done so much more. I wrote a little something about it in lucferrandez.com
Thank you for this truly fantastic blog.
“Is it just me, or does unearthing bodies after a mere 155 years seem more like grave-robbing than archeology?”
Bof, quand on est mort on est mort.
I agree with you Luc in that the squares could have been expanded by losing a couple of lanes of traffic. Still, I’m impressed with the renovation of the monuments, new landscaping and improved lighting. Both squares should look fantastic when completed.
If you go to the end of ‘Peacock Alley’ in the Windsor building, there is a scale model of the project in front of the fireplace. Worth seeing for the building alone.
On a certain level, all archeology is grave-robbing.
I was reading the website, the monuments in dorchester square have the inscriptionsin english. its seems as thought this will be removed and replaced only in french. is this true? then why change history?