Montreal DistrictsLachine
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In 1667, René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (F&E;), was granted the lands bordering the Sault Saint-Louis, the name given by Samuel de Champlain (F&E;) to the Rapides Lachine.
An adventurer and an explorer rather than a pioneer and a settler, La Salle was not interested in land property. He had only one goal: to discover a passage to China.
After having sold his “seigneurie” to the Sulpiciens (F&E;) and to some pioneers, La Salle left the Nouvelle France and arrived in Louisiana (F&E;) via the Mississippi River. He obviously did not find a passage to China. The pioneers mocked his project and called his old properties “la Chine”. The name remained.
On this page: History Quebec / The City / The Homes / The Canal / |
The borough as we know it today emerged between 1912 and 1916.
The increase in the population and the development of the commercial activity became constant around that time.
The added value of being established in the area has always been confirmed by the heavy traffic on the Canal Lachine Montreal (F&E;) and by the construction of the Railroad Company (F&E;). Both brought industrial rise and residential development to the territory. The structure still intact of the Canadian Car and Foundry (F) once established in Ville Saint-Pierre, a small working town, enables us to seize the colossal scale of the workshops of the old industrial days.
The comfortable residences built in front of the Lake Saint-Louis (F&E;) at the beginning of the 20th century and the old houses on St-Joseph still offer exceptional sceneries and a privileged neighborhood.
In the same year as the reopening of the Canal, in 2002, plans were unveiled to redevelop what remained of the Redpath (E) industrial complex between St-Patrick and the Canal.
By October 2007 the last two phases of the Redpath Lofts (E) where completed, having already scored as finalists for the Awards of Excellence 2007 of the Ordre des architectes du Québec (F).
The Canal gave the area its particular uniqueness. Since its creation, the Canal has always been the vital centre of the territory.
This is the reason why the old vitality generated by the passage of the ships and the sailors, the industrial development, the demographic rise and the economic and social strength all declined after the closing of the Canal.
In 1959, the Canal with its 150 years old and irremediably obsolete installations was definitely closed and replaced by the St-Lawrence Seaway (F&E;).
Quickly the Canal became a dark stain across what some called Canada's poverty capital. "Too dirty for recreation, too obsolete for major shipping and too marginalized for industry," wrote journalist Patrick Lejtenvi in 2002, "the Canal became a toxic, open-air ditch". In an equally colourful turn of phrase, Deverteuil reports that by 1991, "abandoned factories lined the Canal like rotting corpses".
The Canal (F&E;) was partially closed to navigation in 1959, completely closed in 1970, and reopened in 2002 for a commemorative and entertaining revitalization. The Canal reopened to pleasure boating embraced by a still expanding linear park. The biggest impact has been the restoring of public access to the Canal Lachine Montreal as a wonderful urban amenity.
The cornerstone for the St-Andrews United Church (F&E;) originally built for a Scots Presbyterian congregation that was started in 1818, was laid in 1832, five years before Victoria became queen and 35 years before the Canadian confederation.
It still stands on St-Joseph, between 15th and 16th Avenues.
The St-Andrews United Church is a small church, but a very beautiful one. There's simplicity about it.
The neo-Gothic building was designed by John Wells (F&E;), the same architect responsible for the Bank of Montreal on Place d'Armes. John Grant, the agent for the North West Co. (E), the fur-trading concern, donated the land for the church and for its cemetery.
In 1930, Ozias Leduc (F) with the touch of his master’s hands decorated the interior of the Église des Saints-Anges Gardiens (F&E;) also on St-Joseph.
In a few months, its creative genius generated tens of angels, archangels and cherubs for the glory of God. After seven months of work, in January 1931, Ozias Leduc (F&E;) signed the decoration of the church. During more than 25 years, the parishioners could admire this significant testimony of the sacred art of Quebec.
But his work was not to be eternal. In less than three decades regrettable repaints completely transformed the paintings, covering whole surfaces and transforming the aspect of the celestial creatures.
If certain of the religious decors painted by this artist have been protected, it is not the case at the Église des Saints-Anges Gardiens where repaints deteriorated the paintings. The pictures painted by Ozias Leduc had a priceless value.
Over the last decade of the 20th century, as Montreal experienced a quiet renaissance, the community begun to re-emerge. The biggest impact of this renaissance having been the restoring of public access to the Canal Lachine Montreal as a wonderful urban amenity.
What also helped is the revitalization of the striking 1933 art deco Atwater Market (F&E;) in 2000 and the successful rebirth of the industrial Faubourg des Récollets (MBK).
Lachine Personals No driving, one bus straight to Vendôme (F&E;). The Promenade Père Marquette and Parc René Lévesque (F&E;), and the
In the winter, from December to March, five parks (F) offer hockey and skating rinks as well as a “chalet” where you can put on your skates and warm up a little when necessary.
The area has a lovely boulevard called St-Joseph that meanders along the water. St-Joseph offers many beautiful parks, a bicycle path, places to rent bicycles, pedal boats, canoes and kayaks, a public market and several museums.
The Atwater Market (E) features outdoor produce stalls as well as several indoor shops. Organize a picnic, walk down a couple of short blocks from Notre-Dame to the water towards St-Joseph and enjoy yourself.
You can always find a place to eat along St-Joseph. There are several restaurants between 16th and 19th Avenues.
They offer Mexican, Japanese or Italian cuisine and where you can go for a meal or just a drink. Many feature outdoor terraces.
The Path (F&E;) along the canal also offers the Musée plein air (F&E;) in the René Levesque Park. The "Musée" exhibits 50 sculptures, which makes it one of the largest parks of its kind in Canada.
In addition, the Maison LeBer LeMoyne (F&E;) features historical and archaeological exhibitions as well as contemporary art exhibitions. Some of the activities and workshops are intended for families with young children.
Thank you for visiting Lachine.
More to come soon.
Lachine Borough (MBK) / Map of the Borough (PDF-F)
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