Photo du jour: W. St-Zotique Street

9 comments

1. They are asking $99 for the more-modern rounded-corner versions on eBay.

   I found a similar one of these signs on the street on Fielding in NDG after the big ice storm of 1961 and brought it home, and, just as quickly, was made to put it back.

   http://archives.cbc.ca/environment/extreme_weather/clips/1445/

   They are porcelain on steel, and HEAVY.

   A fellow I know collects the round black on yellow MTC Autobus signs, and they go for a pretty penny.

   The true cast iron! Tramways Autobus signs as shown here above the Inspecteur by the bus door on Atwater in 1943 are a lovely thing up close.

   http://www.stm.info/en-bref/882.htm

   T’was a dark day c 1970 when the City of Montreal had their incandescent light bulb changing streetlight crews with their green and yellow GMC ladder truck going around putting white tape over the English on these signs.

   The Man on the Street, Montreal Style, was berating the workers from the sidewalk below, IN FRENCH, as to whether they could ot find something else better to do with the City’s Tax dollars than put tape on signs.

   The signs that preceded the one shown above often were longer and narrower white on dark blue.

   Simnilar colours to those used on Montreal address plates thru 1950.

   One of the latter narrow white on blue street signs still exists affixed to the brick work of house on Terrebonne in NDG.

   One problem of ‘exposing’ these old items is that they might get replaced instantly, or stolen.

   Regardless, the one above is now safely preserved at this site.

   And, it is nice to see them.

   Thank You.

2. Very pre-101. 1940’s actually. There are two preserved Royal ave. signs on houses and one on an apt. building. They are hidden by leaves in the summer.

3. Someone better fix that pronto. It’s undermining three decades of francization.

4. Québec society is much more tolerant and open then so many other places, dont’ be so condescending Kate. Francization of street signs is no big deal.

   American trustfully-invasion as much more impact in our life than Québecoise young uncertain affirmation!

5. funny, just today i saw one for sale out in the eastern townships in a bric-à brac shop… a simialr ste-catherine street sign!

6. Je cherche la loi qui obligea les Québécois et les Canadiens à adopter une style de vie et une culture nord-américaine.

   N’y a-t-il pas eu une simple et volontaire adhérence?

   Tout l’inverse des lois linguistiques liberticides, qui limitent les droits des individus sur la base de leur naissance (selon qu’ils sont nés dans une «Nation» ou dans une autre).

7. There are some old, anglo street signs in Rosemont. Nobody here cares. I like them because they are old, I don’t care about the political or language implications.

   Get a life angryphones.

8. I am offended by the term angryphone.

9. La démocratie c’est le pouvoir de la majorité, suffit de l’influencer. Nos choix sont circonscrits dans un cadre mouvent dictée par la masse (qui elle est dirigée par?..). Quand la majorité décide, on impose à la minorité. Voilà comment on peut forcer sans loi (ou du moins, c’est la loi du plus fort). La mentalité américaine c’est d’imposer par la restriction graduelle, oh oui t’as le choix, mais combien de temps?

   Au-delà de la conception froide d’une loi il y a un sens, un contexte, une motivation, un poids. Le Québec aurait pu emprunter un autre chemin, on doit se l’avouer, tous, mais la fin reste malgré tout universelle au parcours. Pouvons-nous bâtir une société ouverte sur les cultures et qui a en commun le français? N’est-ce pas un beau défi dans cette mer anglophile?