Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Does anyone remember?

Does anyone remember Atwater Market and Woolworths on Wellington as well as Marshalls 5 and 10 cent store by the corner of Church Ave?

174 comments:

les__f MSN said...

Absolutely as well as Gagnon's & Pascal hardware & the French Church at the corner of Church & Wellington....and the little store called the Lucky Spot (again Church & Wellington ) where you I would pick up my oldmans late edition Montreal Star (as well as test the picture tubes for the TV in that store.........and of course Atwater Market was allways an adventure to go there ......,..........the smell of the Fresh seafood at the fish store .and all the farmers produce ..and the larrge assortement of x-mas trees at Christmas.......

winnie3ave MSN said...

I remember both those stores. But I thought it ws Kresgee's and Woolworth. When I was a kid, I would shop there with my $2.00 and buy 10 presents, including wrapping (crepe) paper. Winston Allison.That was in 1950 or so.


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patricia_geinno1 MSN said...

used to shop at atwater market every sat. for fresh fruit and veggies, i thought it was woolwortrhs and kresgee. there was also a sport shop near them where i got my first ice skates. reitmans was near them as was the furrier. didn't greenbergs have a u shaped entrance with a showcase in the middle?  havent been back to verdun since 1972 things sure must have changed. wasnt there a furniture store around there. we bought our 1st tv there when i was in grade 1 . happy memories patsy

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Hi Patsy, I remember Greenberg's with the showcase window in the middle.  Wasn't this right near the northwest corner of Church?  I remember at Easter going to buy my "Easter Outfit"...new shoes, hat, coat.  Guess kids today don't do that anymore.  Prolly buy new jeans, t-shirt, etc. lol   Cheers, Linda

exverdunie MSN said...

I can remember when going to Atwater market was a treat and seeing all the vendors outside with their produce and if you went inside the building that was where you could buy your meat.

patricia_geinno1 MSN said...

linda i guess you and i are  old enough to remember ner easter outfits. you also got a new hat and gloves  shoes and the out fit. my oldest granddaughter will be 14 this month and she wants her nose pierced for her birthday. my dad and mom must be moaning in mount royal cemetary. dont know what to do. patsy

les__f MSN said...

Hi Patricia SAY NO  ,  hahahah   My daughter has asked the same question re: pierceings , My thoughts are do what you like when your 18 or 19 ..........but to head off things like that I have mentioned in the past , when I suspected that her thoughts, were to have a tatto or not , I would mention that I Wondered what her Grandmother would look like with a butterfly,rose , or anything else on a big old droopy boob   ...( exactly no one even wants to picture it hahahaha , ) nevertheless it is their bodies.......but my opinion is to make a choice to be a parent , whether they like it or not...................(doesn't always come easy)    alright  go ahead Grandma pay for those body pierceings.............hahahahha   that's the easy way out........     Now I wonder if I should let my kids drink or not............hahhahhahah         Choices baby there not always easy......Good Luck    

winnie3ave MSN said...

Yes, I remember that Atwater market with fond memories. It was wonderful going there. Winston Allison


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baxterzmom MSN said...

I agree - if you live in my house then you will have to live by my rules - no tattoes and no body piercings - end of discussion and perhaps it may not be a bad idea to point out that the beautiful rose on their perky breast or pert little ass will probably be doing what all roses do -   d  r  o  o  p   so if you are going to go that route make sure you get a rose with a droopy head - lol 

maggiemck MSN said...

WOW! you have become your parents!  Do you remember being a teen or young adult? Did you think that you would ever get old and droopy? The picturing of results 60 yrs. from now just won't make an impression on them. I would have to agree with the "wait until you don't need permission" approach though. I've heard that it is addictive.

patricia_geinno1 MSN said...

hi les,  we have come up with a solution. went to the bank today, got a new $100.00 bill, went got a nice card, and will give it to mandy tomorrow when we go out for supper. that way she and our daughter can do what they want, and face our son in law. some how it was easier to say NO to our girls than it is to the grandkids. mandy keeps bringing up than our oldesy daughter had a vette convertable for her 16 birthday and her mother had a firebird so poppa whom she has wraped around her finger has promised her a car for her 16th, and there are 5 more kids to go. what happened to the 10.00 we got from our grandparents for our birthday??? patsy

westwarddaveyp MSN said...

hey exverdunie where in alberta do you live.i left verdun in
1967 and have lived in lethbridge and edmonton ever since i got out
west.

exverdunie MSN said...

Sorry this reply took so long. I live in Brooks. Originally I was living in Fort McMurray until my husband was offered a chance to relocate with a different job. Have only lived here now for about 6 months.

baxterzmom MSN said...

I left Verdun in 1978 and have lived in Calgary ever since.  We bought some land in Knowlton Landing and will eventually move back to Quebec and build but for now we live on an acreage just outside of NW Calgary.

sugarandspice113622 MSN said...

Now that's a blast from the past!! Atwater Market!!!  Synonymous with buying corn on the cob...12 ears for only $1.00!!  We went there every weekend to shop for veggies and enjoy the atmosphere.   I also remember Rossy's (wasn't that on Wellington too? or was that Verdun Ave?)  Old age is getting me!   I do remember 'hangin out' at Atwater Mall....now that was fun, and in those days...safe too!!  Used to get a couple of pogos at that little dinner right beside the entrance to the metro!!  OMG!! I want to be back in those fun, happy and carefree days.   Right now, I don't feel so fun and carefree...I'm just about to have treatment for Thyroid Cancer and I get a bit emotional LOLOL!   Have a great one ! Rosemarie

baxterzmom MSN said...

Rosemarie - I will pray that all goes well with your treatment.  Just reading about your health problem made me emotional so I can imagine how you feel. My memories of Atwater Market are going there around December 15th with my aunt and younger sister looking for a Christmas tree.  We had 12' ceilings but still had to cut some off the bottom and perhaps even a bit off the top if it was too long - best of all carrying the damn thing home - no car - the three of us and getting it up to the third floor and putting it out on our back balcony. When we go back to Montreal - pick up hire car at Dorval and drive straight to Atwater market - then off to Lafleur's for a fix of hotdogs.  We went back 2 years ago looking at places - silly me wanted to live in my grandmother's house but the neighbourhood is not the same and the house is run down so last year we went back and bought a few acres of land in Knowlton Landing overlooking Lake Memphremagog and Mount Orford and God willing we will be able to afford to build soon.

youngward2 MSN said...

Hi Patsy
Your name certainly was a blast from the past. How are things with you? I've been living in Alberta since 1976. I married Susan Lewery (class of 66, VHS) and we had three children--all married now, and now we have 4 grandchildren here in Edmonton. I taught 35 years in the public system, first in Quebec, then here in Alberta. I retired two years ago, but now I teach for a private school just a few blocks from our home. Do you ever hear from the old gang (Bonnie Orr, etc.)? Time certainly goes by when you're having fun, eh?
Best regards,
Wayne Youngward

patricia_geinno1 MSN said...

hi wayne, long time no hear.  i married billy ernst whom i met at vph, when we use to volunteer there. i have 2 girls dina age 36 who is married and has 3 children, justin 12 and the twins jenifer and jessica 9, lori is is 34 and has 3 girls amanda 14 ashley 10 and mackenzie 1 yr. i live just outside halifax n.s., never worked was just a mom, bill has his own  construction business but he is semi retired now. i am trying to get in touch with bonnie throught classmates. it says she married john buckingham from brome lake and lives in the states.  maybee she knows where susan hughes is.  do you have any grandkids?? my cousin sandra and others are comming here for the tall ships/french festival here this summer. i always figured you would be a teacher keep in touch hugs to u patsy 

youngward2 MSN said...

Hi Patsy,
Great to hear from you. Sue and I have a daughter Jennifer, 32, who has two boys, Zachary (4) and Jakob (6 mos.), a son Jeffrey, 30, who has a daughter, Emily (3) and a son Nicholas (1 1/2), and our youngest son Jeremy, 28, who is married but doesn't have any kids (yet!). Jeff lives in Calgary, and the other two here in Edmonton. We lived in southern Alberta until 2 years ago when I took early retirement. It's great to double-dip--I get my pension but I'm teaching full-time (French, would you believe?) at a private school. We like to travel, so it's nice to have the funds to do so. Sue and I took a cruise to the Caribbean this past Easter to celebrate our 35th anniversary. I believe that Bonnie was engaged to a John Buckingham (I vaguely remember him) so I guess it's likely they got married. But I haven't heard anything from that neck of the woods for years now--it's so easy to lose touch. I remember going to Susan Hughes's house for breakfast after grad. I worked briefly for her Dad one summer at Crites&Riddell on Guy Street.
Keep in touch--it's wonderful to stir up all the old memories!
All the best,
Wayne

patricia_geinno1 MSN said...

hi wayne , you must have your hands full with grandkids, i know we do. i just joined classmates and sent an email off to bonnie. we also do a lot of travelling but we usually had a 20 ft motor home when the girls were home now we are looking for a class c around 24 ft for bill and i. will let you know when bonnie replies, take care patsy

sugarandspice113622 MSN said...

Hi there   Thanks for the well wishes...my intention wasnt to upset, I'm a soppy goose at the best of times LOL   Anyway, you just gave me a reason to smile when I saw the message about Atwater....As Cher said...'If I could turn back time"!!   If only LOLOL   Rosemarie  

robertj2457 MSN said...

I went to Atwater Market every
Sat. with my grandparents and we used to walk from Fifth Ave near Lasalle to Church and Welllington every Sat. afternoon,  I am just down the road from you in Calgary.....small world

shirleybh2 MSN said...

We used to walk from Versailles Street to Atwater Market and back - no car.  When we got into our teens we used to shopping on Saturday down to Notre Dame and would walk all the way to the Glen and back stopping at a restaurant on the North Side of Notre Dame near Atwater - we would have fries and coke or maybe even a hotdog fries and coke.  They used to have juke box selector on each table - 3/25  cents.  

shirleybh2 MSN said...

I had to get a new hotmail account and re-join all my MSN groups because I could not post messages - anyone else having this problem? Shirley in Calgary  

robertj2457 MSN said...

Hi Shirley, my name is Robert Bowles, I grew up in Verdun and now in Calgary
as well, down in McKenzie Lake, how are you, hope you are back up and
running, you probably have the Sasser virus

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shirleybh2 MSN said...

Hi Robert - we checked with microsoft for any updates and it said that I was current - that was 2 days ago. The computer didnt keep rebooting like I have heard others mention or keep installing programs just that I could not post.  MSN kept flashing a message that there was a new update forMSN Messenger and would I like to update so I kept ignoring then I could not post.   I am waaaaay north of you and west - I am off Crowchild in Church Ranches - we come in off 12 mile coulee road. I am 7 minutes to Crowfoot and because of all the development in Rocky Ridge which now goes all the way to 12 mile coulee road COOP and a small small is being built - on 12 mile coulee Road - you will be able to see it from Crowchild.  COOP will have gas bar and car wash so then I will only be 2 minutes to grocery - they have just about finished a road off 12 mile coulee road that is extension of Country Hills Blvd so it will be faster to Airport too.

colleenmurphy1 MSN said...

Yes Shirley, it must be here in Calgary because I've experienced the posting thing
Colleen


>From: "ShirleyBH2"
>Reply-To: "Verdun Connections"
>To: "Verdun Connections"
>Subject: Re: Does anyone remember?
>Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 19:53:43 -0700
>

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pomolive2 MSN said...

 Atwater market the upper floors  had a fire last yr maybe 2 yrs ago now. but the lower main floor was undamaged and its all been repaired now.........rossy was on verdun ave, its gone now. as is marshall gone...the woolworths that was on church and wellington. is for many yrs now a pharmancy.....lollol. corn on the cob goes for about 2.50$ a doz, now.still very cheap and mmmm,mmm, good!

willibroad MSN said...

Hi,   We used to call it the 15 Cent Store.  It was beside Gagnon's Department(!) Store.  Does anyone remember a store on Verdun Avenue where old Mrs. Crocker sold used comic books?  The whole place used to reek of cat pee from her many cats.   Debra

tony MSN said...



Hey Willibrord

Remember Old Lady Crocker's Store very well. Not only did stink of cat pee
but she kept the place almost dark. Remember buying an O'Henry bar & as soon
as I got out took a bite & found a wiggly worm that was partly bitten off
then up chucked.

Did you live on Willibrord or did you attend Willibrord School. Ilived at
292 Willibrord accross from the Church.

Welcome to the site.


Tony


tinytina19581 MSN said...

I remember both,use to go to Atwater with my parents and siblings for the farmers market. My Aunt Francis Sherwood worked at Woolworths for yrs and I use to go in there to look at the pets in the pet dept.

toonie67 MSN said...

I remember Mrs. Crocker she had the used book store on the corner of Gordon Avenue and Verdun.

maggiessister MSN said...

Hi, I remember them all ...... Atwater Market (still there of course but it is now very fancy), Woolworth's, there was a Kresge's at 3rd & Wellington, 5th Avenue Department Store burned down years ago, Mrs. Crockers, Gagnon's (didn't they have those overhead tracks where the money you gave the salesperson went to a central cash? Like Ogilvie's)....... Grover's is still at 3rd & Wellington but now caters to Big 'n Tall .......... Kosta's on Verdun Avenue .......... Helen

winnie3ave MSN said...

Helen. Welcome to Verdun Connections. Glad to have you here. Tell us a little about yourself. Winston Allison (3rd Avenue)


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linnie721 MSN said...

Atwater market brings back alot of memories when i was young every Saturday with my mom we would go there, now it looks very classy with a little town beside it. and very expensive!

country girl MSN said...

I remember Atwater market.  My parents used to take us there on Saturday mornings -- the earlier the better.  I remember being awestruck at all the livestock -- rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese -- and could not imagine how anyone could pick one out, have it slaughtered and then take it home to cook!!!  The smells were quite unique to me then, having lived in the city my whole life (I now live in the country and love it), and I thought it must be wonderful to live on a farm and have animals and grow your own veggies, etc.  Of course I never for one moment considered all the work that actually goes into living on a farm!!   Too bad the market is all fancy-shmancy now (from the postings here).  The kids today have no idea how great it was to grow up in Verdun/Montreal in the 50's & 60's.  My daughters think it must have been boring, and roll their eyes when we reminisce about life back then.  How wrong they are -- I have great memories of the mountain in winter and summer, toboganning wherever you found a hill, playing shinny hockey with the boys (gasp!) on homemade rinks in the backyard, making ice slides with my dad in our yard, skiing in the Laurentians, swimming at the Nat, skating INDOORS at the Auditorium (which my grandfather helped to build!). We used to often go to Plattsburg Beach on a Saturday or Sunday, or sometimes for the whole weekend because my aunt lived in Plattsburg (still does) and I remember my parents smuggling stuff across the border and us kids hoping and praying we wouldn't get caught and sent to jail for life!!  My dad did get caught once and my sister and I were wailing in the back seat thinking we would never see him again....LOL.  Brown park, Beurling park, strolling or cycling on the boardwalk, walking out to Adams in Lasalle for smoked meat or even just fries & coke....life was good.  If we could only hold time in a bottle...  

artsyjobaud MSN said...

Atwater market is still around although it is now surrounded with modern condos and other shops - Today, it caters to the uppity crowd from Westmount and the condo owners. I remember going in there when all the dead chickens were hanging in full view along with beef carcasses, the butchers would call out from behind their counters offering you real deals on their meat. The smell was unique! The vegetable and fruit and flower farmers are still outside coloring up the neighborhood, but everything is in such spic and span order. It is still a treat to go through there in spring, summer and fall. A bicycle path runs on the south side along the canal and calls all the cyclers over for pit stop at Atwater market. Woolworth's and if you remember Gagnon's where you could see your money go up in a tube through a pipe that lead to the second floor accounting office where the important people collected the price of what you bought. I cannot erase that picture from my mind. Both are gone. Remember Steinberg's, the first one, and then the big one on the corner of Second, I think. People counted their pennies at the cash to see if could afford to pay for the bread or sausages they needed. We were poor but oh so rich back then...   Jossbaud

redmond_steve221 MSN said...

Do you remember the movies out of the Church next
to Dawson's Boys and Girl's Club.Or the one they
ran in the old St.Thomas Moore Church(on Bannantyne
between Proudfoots and St.Thomas Moore Church)
Seems a lot of Churches ran movies back then.

bobb MSN said...

Steve   I remember going to see the Wizard of OZ at St. Thomas More.  The green witch scared me.  And when I left to go home, I was in another world.  It was the first time a movie had worked that kind of magic on me.

mawsey1 MSN said...

It doesn't matter how long you have been away, Verdun memories are always with you. What does that tell us, but it was a great place to live. Does anyone remember the fireworks at Woodland Park(1939) It was pretty special. The works went up, and when it came down, it was a picture of the King & Queen in their Carriage !!!I remember my legs shaking as it came down toward us...Do you remember the concerts at band stands. My little sister was called "Little Kate Smith" Shirley Leclerc. She used to belt out "You are my Sunshine". The thing I miss most is the outside staircases !!!!Sure do reconize them in movies though !!!

muppet9696 MSN said...

Oh my God.   I can remember Old lady Crockers store!.  When I was little my family live 3 doors down from there on 4250 Verdun Avenue.  I was only four when we moved away in 1956.  I vaguely remember the store and the cat pee smell.  My mom bought me a bolo bat from there a few years after we moved away.  My sister said Mrs. Crocker sold the best sponge tofee in the world.

les__f MSN said...

You see Muppett9696 ......your already in there ........old lady Crockers Store,...she made her own coke popsicles & sold them to the kids in the area........I once lived at 4349....(which was right beside the Guardian Newspaper)........so we were almost like neighbours..........hahahahah  When was the last time you even saw a Bolo-Bat.......& Remember when the elastic would break....you just stapled the remainder back on the Bat......eventually you couldn't miss the ball cause the elastice was so short....and you had aboput twelve staples in the bat.........hahahahaha   Have Fun & Remember Verdun

exverdunie MSN said...

I remember my mother having other uses for the bolo bat when the elastic broke for good. A swat accross the rear end if my sister or I misbehaved. Does anyone remember Pop the cross walk guard that use to cross us at the corner of Gordon and Verdun Ave. on our way to Bannantyne School. We use to give him our reccess apples.  Does anyone remember the small green winter snow plows that cleanned our sidewalks?     

tinytina19581 MSN said...

Good Evening!
I don't recall the name Pop but I do remember the older guys being
there to cross us and one being handicapped Dougie Majors for sure. Also
remember the green snow plows and the blowers some days I miss them others I
don't but sure do miss those hot humid summers.
Have Fun and Keep
Young
Tiny
Tina


mags MSN said...

This message has been deleted by the author.

mags MSN said...

In response to an old post by Walter......." ...sometimes we'd jump off the #17 at the Decarie traffic circle and
visit
> the Canada Dry bottling plant where you could have free soda. I'd go
for a
> grape soda, then orange. That was all I could handle. From 1957 on it
was
> fun to
> visit the new Pepsi plant on Namur. What a racket in there. You'd
stand
> behind a railing and watch these three huge filling machines that had
a
> top
> speed of filling 1,200 bottles per minute on each machine. The guys at
> Pepsi
> were great. If a machine was not running at full speed or turned off,
> they'd
> tell you the reason. Cool weather causing slow sales, down for
maintenance
> -whatever. Often during hot weather they'd tell you that they were
running
> all three machines at top speed on a 24 hour shift. They'd always give
us
> free Pepsi fresh off the bottling line. It smelled great in there,
even
> better than a cake baking. I drove past the Namur Pepsi plant in 1998
and
> it
> was gone. My cousin told me Pepsi moved to an even bigger
> plant in Montreal's east end. The Coca-Cola plant on Upper Lachine was
> also
> gone when I passed by in 1998. They were fun to visit. You'd get a
free
> guided tour, free Coke, they'd show you a movie then give you a
present
> like
> a minature two inch high Coca-Cola bottle. How I wish I would have
saved
> one
> of those. About ten years ago I lucked out when my wife found a
minature
> two
> inch high Pepsi bottle at a yard sale. Still looking for that minature
> Coke
> bottle. Thanks Dave for your great postings & great memories-Walter"
  Dave contacted an acquaintance who provided the following link.
"Dave, you can still get these mini-bottles on line at the coke store:"
http://www.coca-colastore.com/pls/enetrixp/!slmenu_template.main?complex_id_
in=30484.862299.862299.867440.page

"They are sold as keychains.
FYI - Nancy"

mags MSN said...

sorry, that link was "broken".......try this one! http://www.coca-colastore.com

joycie915 MSN said...

Hi .  Does anyone remember a little store called Hitlers.  We use to hang out there , drink cokes, eat fries, and listing to music. I can remember even dancing there. Some of the kids I remember were, Bob Leduc , Marty, who lived across the street. It would be fun to catch up with a few of you.   Joyce

edmi2310 MSN said...

Re: message posted by Sweet n Gorgeous Anne # 49 in Verdun Trivia I recall much of what is described.  I'm interested in the reference to Rosaire's the cake shop.  They used to sell scrap bags full of bits of cake and pastry for 5cents; it was always a gamble because sometimes we got choice pieces of fancy cakes and other times it could be just stale chunks of dough.

winnie3ave MSN said...


Do I remember? How could I forget!!!! Thanks Les, and thanks Anna. Yes those were the days, we thought would never end. Thank heaven for our memories. Verdun. Here I go getting all choked up again. Winston Allison

les__f MSN said...

Yes Winston I have to agree,..that was an interesting post,by Anna,...and thanks to edmi2310,...for bringing back to our attention,....it just allows us to immediatley ,transport ourselves to that time of 'growing up in Verdun' all the different areas,.....we each have recollections of different areas,where we grew up ,...and we seem to have them all covered ,each & evcery section of Verdun,....from Parks & Pools ,.....to Pool Halls, & Restaurants,....and from Churches & Buildings ,..& all the special events each of us participated in:   It was a great time ,...and as I said the other day,...Verdun,.Point St Charles Lasalle Lachine,.....and Montreal in General,produced some Real People,........who were & still are very Proud of their upbringing in Our Special City..................

sweet_n_gorgeous_anna MSN said...

      Hello Edmi2310                  Gee, it is good to know other people share my sentiments at this site            for Verdun !                   In reference to Rosaire's Pastry shop which is now closed , yes they           did have those scrap Bags for about five to fifteen cents. They use           have them ready only on Saturdays, and yes Edmi, the scrap bags           varied . Now That I think of it , how the heck could I have eaten those           scraps of cakes, and leftovers I  will never know ! I guess that is all           part of being young with no cares or worries in the world, those were definately           the days !    Sweet_N_Gorgeous Anna

les__f MSN said...

Hi Anna ,You relayed the story & area so vivdly,that it made it easy to recall the many times walking past the pastry shop,.....I guess pastry shops ,did not go un-noticed,...at least by us kids............hahahahaha Have you any other areas ,that you can share with us,...Verdun did produce some lifelong memories for us all,.........and it's story's that help keep alive those days gone by...........Thanks for the input....................................(this is where I always ask,if you have any old photo's you want to share with us,...hahahaha,.......always looking for more Verdun stuff..............

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

for update info purpose

I visited Verdun last month i noticed that they took
down the big black fence that was around the Douglas..




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joycie915 MSN said...

Does anyone remember the night Jimmy Rodgers , the singer of  Honey Comb, and many other songs,  was at Dawsons boys and girls club ?  What memories of yesterday, and what a time to grow up in.  Who is out there and remembers.  Joycie

maggiemck MSN said...

Hi Joyce, I'm guessing that Jimmy Rodgers and Hitlers are from before my "time". (my "time" would be the 60's and 70's). I'm probably one of the few "kids" from Verdun that never set foot inside of Dawson's!

gorderic MSN said...

I was also at the Jimmy Rodgers concert. I believe he also sang - "Kisses sweeter than wine". Some guy named Mason from Woodland Avenue may have booked this concert. I also believe that Johnny Thunder performed at Dawson's, although I missed that concert.   Stewart Gibbons

rainy day man MSN said...

johnny thunder did play at dawson's..i dont remember jimmy rogers being there..i was on the committee thatn ran the dances at the time of johnny thunder..

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

Been to Dawsons many times , my wife and I ( girlfriend) at the time..and when i heard Jimmy Rogers was coming there, it was hard to believe..but he did..I missed it  ..Dawsons and other VC letters bring back good memmories of the past..Sorry for anybody who was not brought up in Verdun..Crawfordpark...Lasalle  and the Point...  

volvo469 MSN said...

Oh My, kind of a voice from the past.  That Steinberg store you mentioned was on the corner of sixth Ave. I write hockey books for young readers and my latest book will be set in Verdun at the corner of Sixth Ave and Verdun where there used to be an out door hockey rink.  I will be going down there tomorrow.  I don't live in Verdun anymore but once every 2 or 3 weeks I go down just to have a coffee. I think you write very well. I am new to the site and am a little leary about giving out too much information. But I'll get the idea of it soon. You can find out more information about me by going to Google and typing in, Tommie Holmes hockey books "The gift of Hockey"  If you e mail me back perhaps you could use my e mail tomholmes34@yahoo.ca   Perhaps we could go for a coffee together in Verdun. I am past retirement age but I am still a teacher at a CEGEP. I am married and this would be a coffee about memories. I went to Verdun High In the 1950s.

winnie3ave MSN said...





Volvo 469. A lot of us on here remember Steinberg's at 6th and Verdun. Many of us have delivered orders for people just to make a few dollars to be able to go to the movies, or just have some spending money. Also there are many on here that are of retirement age, or close to it. Remembering the things about Verdun, is what this site is about. Don't be afraid to share your stories with us. Thanks
 
Winston (835 3rd Avenue, Verdun ) Vancouver, Washington
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im4golf MSN said...

 ANY ONE REMEMBER COTE'S PAPER STORE AT WELLINTON &WILLIBROAD, GOING TO TOUSINGANT'S ON WELLINGTON BETWEEN 3rd &4th TO GET A 1/2 lb OF BUTTER AND WATCH THE GUYCUT IT FROM A BLOCK OF BUTTER WITH A LONG PIECE OF WIRE  ANDIT WAS ALWAYS VERY CLOSE TO HOW MUCH YOU WANTED.HOW ABOUT    DORIAS  THE BIKE SHOP ON WELLINGTONPAST CHURCH AVE WHERE I BOUGHT MY FIRST C C M 2 WHEELER FOR $16, THAT WASIN 1947... STANNARDS FISH &CHIPS, WELLINGTON BETWEEN WILLIBROAD &1st, had  a BIG BLOW FISH IN THE WINDOW AND OYSTERS FOR .$5O CENTS A DOZ.   THOSE WERE THE DAYS

sweet_n_gorgeous_anna MSN said...

  Hello Im4golf  !          First of all I am late, but I hope everyone had a Great Easter !   I have not had a chance to participate for a little while. I just happened to go over some postings, and yours caught my attention .  You mention all the places on Wellington which were quite accurate. Also, when you mentioned Tousignant Grocery Store . Do you remember the news in Verdun many years ago  when Poor Mr. Tousignant was killed ( a robber took his money and shot him ) as he was making a deposit  at closing time at the Bank on Wellington Street not far from his Store, that hit Verdun hard, he was well liked by his customers apparently he was a kind gentle man. I remember that bit of news like yesterday ! I cannot be accurate in the year but I think that happened either in the  late fifities or early sixties. Just a bit of news from the past .   Sweet_N_Gorgeous Anna

im4golf MSN said...

Not a bad memory for an old guy [72] who left Verdun in 1949, 14 yrs old. I went back to 184 willibroad beside the Salvation Army abouy 8 yrs ago and stood outside theold house. The woman who lives there now came out to see what I was doing, I explained that I had lived there about 50 yrs ago and the rent was$29 a month!!! She invited me in and it had hardly changed. The Savoy Theatre was now a Shoppers Drug Store and my old church ST CLEMENTS had shrunk, not as big as I rememberd. The next thing I discovered was that someone had stolen the Wellington Tunnel and you endedup in China Town .So much for yesteryear Maybe the next bad day i 'll  reminise some more

winnie3ave MSN said...


im4golf. And to think, my mother, my younger brother Hartland (Bumpy), and I went to The Salvation Army in Verdun in the 50's. Where has the time gone, Kymosaby??????
Winston Allison



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sandy19465 MSN said...

This message has been deleted by the author.

waynefeb2940 MSN said...

I remember that Steinbergs at 6th and Verdun. One night, a few of us decided we would climb the steel ladder that went up to the roof of the store.. We left Bob Davies to be our lookout on the ground.. Unfortunately he was watching the wrong way on a one way street. By the time he hollered "cops", they were parked beside him.. When we came down to face the music, they decided to drive each of us home..I would have preferred an execution.. My Dads Airforce belt got well used that night..

im4golf MSN said...

Does any one remember One of the first Stienbergs ,Wellington & Reille? The City & District Bank Galt & Wellington,I still have a Stainless Steel savings bank from there . It became a B M O . Any one out there  go to DR LUSSIER the dendist 2nd floor Wellington & willibroad on Saturday morning whe his son would show blk& wht silent cartoons on the wall? Does anyone know what happened to kids I remember 60 Yrs ago!!!!!   Stuart Johnstone, Gerry Allan, Lorraine Chambers, Geo. Minto,Beryl May, Wally & Joan Saxton,Rita Gervais,Dot Spence. Maybe I will remember some Other Stuff !!!   Ron Chapman

winnie3ave MSN said...





Ron. Yes, I remember that Stienberg's, and of course The City and District Savings Bank. I opened and closed many accounts at the C&D as a kid. I can still see the teller getting a paper card, and writing the transaction in pencil on the card, Not to long ago, someone put a picture of that bank on this site. It still may be in the pictures section. It was a very good picture. I don't temember any of those names. But you know, we each new a lot of other kids to see, bet didn't know their names. What a place Verdun was for us kids. Maybe that place was a part of heaven, and we didn't know it...... HUMMMMMMMMM
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im4golf MSN said...

Things I remember of Verdun   Going to the 5th Ave theatrefor .17 cents Saw WALT DISNEY'S   VICTORY THROUGH AIR POWER   All the planes flying over on thier way to St Hubert and overseas The Ragman with a horse and cart going up the back lanes collecting all the junk, The baker, milkman ,coalman The movers on May1 all had horseand carts and my dad would pay me10cts for a big bucket of horse droppings for the VICTORY GARDEN. They were used in the winter as hockey pucks Do you remember the first big Snowblowers, many kids usedto build snowforts in the snow banks but in1946 a littlegirl was killed on 2nd ave by a blower ,after that the had to have men walking on the banks in front of the blower. cleaning the ice at the Aud with scrappers and a 45 gallon drum mounted on a trailer  full of hot water  maybe some more TOMORROW     Ron Chapman

winnie3ave MSN said...


Ron. I remember those things. I also remember the snow banks. I lived at 835 3rd Avenue, from 1940 till the 60's. I remember a bunch of us, Lorny Forsyth, for one comes to mind. But there were a buch of us kids. We pile up snow on the road by the sidewalk, to about 6 feet high, and probably a good 25 feet long. Then we dug a big tunnel into it, making a hug igloo. It was really neat inside,with seats.  BUT the police came along and kicked us out of there. Then the city came along with a truck to completely demolish it. We were really  sad. But looking back on it, it could has collapsed and buried some of us. There were a good 15 kids involved. Oh well. Good memories!!!!
Winston Allison
Vancouver, Washington


>




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geniegal9 MSN said...

Does anyone remember Scott's Fish & Chips on Bannantyne?  Or swimming in the Aqueduct after dark and the feel of the mud oozing up between your toes?  Or Call Me Uncle? Uncle Billy?  Uncle Hal?   Jumping from the high board at the Nat?  Those awful tunics we had to wear in high school?  The gym bloomers?  Dr. (Pussyfoot) Grant?  Miss McMonagle?  Getting caught smoking in the girls' washroom?  Ho boy!!  What memories.

mom1945-linda MSN said...

I remember just wishing with my whole heart that we would be able to wear something other than our tunics and white blouses.  And I do remember Miss McMonagle ripping a little chain from my neck, saying that there was to be no jewellery.  Whew....dare I say "What a Bitch"!!!

winnie3ave MSN said...

Geniegal. I remember most of those things. I also remember the girls with the bloomers. Wow Puberty, what a time!!!!!!!




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winnie3ave MSN said...


Linda...Linda....Linda....Such languauge from a lady.... Tut Tut Tut.... You should have called her a wh.......Never mind!!!!



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mom1945-linda MSN said...

Okay, Winston, you win.....     she was a          

edbro68 MSN said...

I remember as a ten year old walking between 6 foot snowbanks on Woodland. The sleet was blowing in my face. You couldn't see more than two feet. Suddenly, I heartd a snicker and a horses head appeared over my shoulder. From standing I made a six foot leap to the top of the snowbank. The sidewalk plow passed by with the driver riding backwards against the sleet. He never saw me and the horse whose eyes were covered with ice sensed at the last moment that I was there.
Took a while to catch my breath and come down. Ed

edbro68 MSN said...

Ya know Mom, My friends wondered why I joined the VHS choir. When we did a concert they put the boys up front because they were few. The girls always wore the Gym outfit for uniformity. They sat at the top of the bleachers in bloomers and we were at the bottom. Funny what a bare thigh can do to a young male voice.
Ed

im4golf MSN said...

for all you more than Mature Verdunites who like to understand the lyrics of a song you should try these sites    www tropicalglen.com/   and   http:/oldfourtyfives.com/dyrt.mtm         you should enjoy some good music from our ERA    RON

cookie3261 MSN said...

Linda,  Your are so right,those damn tunics,white blouses,and who could forget the brown ribbed thick stupid looking stockings we had to wear,even in the month of May and June until the last day of school, and on that very last day,we were given permission to wear a dress!! Boy,talk about a prison-break !!!  cookie

im4golf MSN said...

Another blast from the past    MAINS BAKERY best SCOTTISH MEAT PIES. north side of wellington  between willibirod & reille, and of course   STILLWELLS  for HUMBUGS  one more thing   Mc Garys Pork Sausage   have never been able to find an equal       Ron

mom1945-linda MSN said...

I think there is nothing better than a pork sausage.   Cheers.

im4golf MSN said...

THATS WHAT THE GIRL TOLD THE SAILOR    !!!!!!!!                                                                                                                       HAVE A GOOD DAY     RON

les__f MSN said...

Thanks Ron,........hahahahahaha  I was thinking of something along those lines,.but decided to leave that one alone,............hahahahahahah                                                                

mom1945-linda MSN said...

I was just waiting and watching to see who would take the bait on that one!  LOL

bahama865 MSN said...

florida here, no such thing as a good sausage, only jimmy dean brand, terrible once you have had real mcgary,s or la bell fermiere
being away from all this makes one appreciate what we had in verdun, its sad.
even beef is colored in winn dixie, not to mention the chemicals, and gmo,s. like who would eat it.
a lot of beef eaters do not realise what they are eating, and farm raised fish as well.
force fed on chemicals.
here all fish comes from thailand , china, so. america. can you believe?
we order our fish from alaska seafood. com
its all wild, shipped to our door.
i guess i,ve opened for discussion,
chow,
carolyn

les__f MSN said...

YIKES     Bahamas you Have our condolences Gal,.............with the odd exception of Prawns,....&only after reading the box) that are shipped in sometimes from overseas,........I make it a point to eat Fresh seafood,............We are constantly on the lookout here for theat Farm fish sh&t,.............Wild & Fresh is the only way to go........................  Tonights supper was Halibut,...........(but I'm predjudice,as my a few of my Friends are commercial fisherman,................and for most of the year we eat real good,...................................Scares me a bit when we see the crap come in from other country's................Where correct me if I'm wronmg ,but aren;t they usually starving,.............????  So Why would we Import their crap,.....and ship Our good stuff out to them,............Let them eat their own stuff,....and we'll tuff it out with our Horrible Fresh Westcoast ,.stock...................................

dave_nc MSN said...

NC here, one thing we can't get here is Kraft peanut butter, we get all the other Kraft products but no peanut butter.  However, we do get Neice's Livermush. (That stuff is 1 step above scrapple and 2 steps below sausage.  Mostly peckers and lips I guess)

biking2006 MSN said...

Some of the items I purchased at the little converted flat store across from my flat at 457 2nd Avenue (1941 to 1959).
Ski soda: strawberry, cherry, cola, cream soda, root beer. I cannot remember the brand of spruce beer. Kik cola -- loved it. Kik Cola, crusty bread and peanut butter, oh ya! There was also a delicious drink in a tiny bottle called grapette. I believe it was more expensive so I could only sample a taste from a generous friend. The wax cigarettes with the sugary syrup inside. There was the small bags of greasy Laurentide (sp) potato chips -- yum. Once a friend bought a new product I had never seen before. It was a tiny bag of cashews he got at the corner store 'across the street on the other side' from our Bannantyne school. He gave me one and I thought I had tasted the food of the gods. I shamelessly beg him for another which never happened but I was hooked... Double Bubble gum with the strip of cartoon in each package. Also hockey and baseball card gum. One slightly powdered card per package. I recall I had to chew this hard flat pink piece of gum of questionable taste, at least 5 minutes before it was chewable. But hey, I scored another card for my collection which I could only show to trustworthy friends lest a street tough would take it. Precious stuff no doubt. This neighbourhood store sold used comics, 2 for a nickel. Hard to believe but I seldom had a penny. Good times for a naive child of post WW 2.
Bill

les__f MSN said...

Bill that is some good recall...............the Bierre de Pinette ,was more often than not 'Marco' Spruce Beer,..............  I'm not sure why,...guess they just made lots of it..........but Man it was like walking through a Candy Store while reading your post.....................hahahahahaha     Thanks for those Prompts

biking2006 MSN said...

Thanks for the feed back Les, coming from you means a lot, and Kudos for the effort to monitor this wonderful site. I look back on Verdun as this protected oasis surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the Island of Montreal.
Bill

edbro68 MSN said...

Bill, You left out my favourite; Lime Rickey. Like the old Orange Crush you could see the pieces of fruit floating in the bottle and you knrew it was made from fresh fruit, not artificial flavouring. Ed

biking2006 MSN said...

Yes sir, how could I forget those 2 delicious tasting drinks. Lime Rickey, I haven't heard that name in a lifetime ago. I bet someone here has a photo of those bottles.
Bill

biking2006 MSN said...

I dug this up:

Although the Lime Rickey is a lesser known drink, it has recently gained popularity. It has appeared as a bit part in numerous novels. In The Simpsons episode "Burns, Baby Burns," Mr. Burns says to his long lost son Larry Burns, "How dare you interrupt my Lime Rickey! State your business."

im4golf MSN said...

The one thing no one has mentioned  grabbing a chip of ice off of the ICE WAGON an if you will pardon the expression SUCKING ON IT   Right from the St Lawerence River !!  Another great one was chewing  on a hunk of TAR when you would find a Roofing Crew Working with buckets of molten tar, any spillage would be grabbed off the street and you would have GUM that would last for ever    NO WONDER WE HAVED SO LONG!!!!           One more thing BLOOD PUDDING FRIED IN BACON FAT                   WOW                                                                                                                                   RON    

im4golf MSN said...

  GETTING OLD     iT SHOULD READ       LIVED SO LONG

waynefeb2940 MSN said...

Does anyone remember Cream Soda, I think it was called Snow White.. I loved it but every time I had a bottle, I would get a stye on my eye.. It was worth it tho

edbro68 MSN said...

I wonder id there is anywhere you can get Lime Rickey? They have Lime drinks but they don't have whatever Lime Rickey had that made it so refreshing. Ed

biking2006 MSN said...

Is this the bottle?

biking2006 MSN said...

That bottle sold so $20 on eBay.

im4golf MSN said...

The closest thing you can get is MINUTE MAID LIME CONCENTRATE its good and very thirst quenching

edbro68 MSN said...

By golly Golfy, you're right. I went across the street to Maxi and bought one. It's not Rickey but it's not bad at all. Thanks. Ed

im4golf MSN said...

Something you may not know   ORANGE CRUSH was made from PUMPKIN

pont571 MSN said...

Any one remember orange crush in brown bottles? Terry.

les__f MSN said...

Brown Orange Crush bottles,............I'm not sure if I actually Remember them,..or have just seen them,.somewhere along the line,.and think I Remember them,.?  The old grey matter can fool us sometimes.................but I think it was one of the only palatable Orange Drinks around,....although I think Nesbitts was Ok too.  Someone mentione dte other day that Pumpkin was an ingredient in the Orange Crush,.............. I do remember seeing 'ingredients' marked on some of te old pop bottles ( or soft drink bottles ,as we knew them),.......be interesting to see one now: ..............There's an old brown bottle Orange Crush

les__f MSN said...

...........and Here's an array of different Orange Crush bottles,.............          ........................................................looks like the more modern ones aren't in this collection

les__f MSN said...

now check this out,...an old flatdeck Orange Crush delivery truck,...but look at the name on the building,..........  Barq's   now I know I've seen Barq's around ,.but I can only Remember it from the last 10 years maybe.....??  but it looks like maybe they are affiliated with Orange Crush............Does anyone know if it says 'made by Orange Crush on the Barq's cans.......???

susie MSN said...

I remember Marshalls and wasn't there a Kresgie next to Woolworths? Does anyone remember Gagnon's department store on Wellington Street. How about Vachon's convenience store at the corner of Wellington and Lasalle across the street from Puissant Hall? How can I remember all this stuff? It was almost 50 years ago that we moved from Verdun! It's amazing how where you grew up is still "home" after all these years!   Sending a picture of where Vachon's used to be. Took it while on a business trip to Montreal a few years ago.

susie MSN said...

here's the picture link.....I hope!

Attachment: Vachon's.jpg

winnie3ave MSN said...

Terry Glad to have you on here. Yes, the Orange Crush bottles were just mentioned within the last few days or so. We do remember. Tells us a little about yourself. Where you live and lived. Maybe mention some names of people you grew up with, and maybe some that you haven't seen for awhile, and were wondering what happen to them. There have been many connections made on this site by old friends.

Winston (835 3rd avenue, Verdun) Allison
Vancouver, Washington


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cathyart1 MSN said...

Yes I remember them well-also Rossy's on Verdun,then they moved to Wellington Street where you hand in your bags at the door! Sorry-if I WAS going to "rip off" a store it surely wouldn't be a dollar store! hee hee...the original Rossy was great though-everything from cheap makeup to oven mitts!

cathyart1 MSN said...

You can still get Spruce Beer at a few depanneurs in Verdun-with the metal cap thing that is so annoying to open!

les__f MSN said...

hi Cathyart1,............I can Remember bringing a cooler full of the 'Real Spruce Beer,.all the way across the country Montreal - Victoria,.and You can transport them ,.but you have to wrap the bottles in newspaper,& soak the newspaper in cold water then ,place all te warpped bottles in a proper picnic cooler,.....other wise,  if they get warm & slightly shaken (not stirres....hahahaha)  they can & will blow up,......(we had only one casualty,and we were sitting at the Ferry Dock ,in Vancouver waiting for the Ferry over here to the Island,.and we heard this loud band,......one bottle blew up,..... those porcelain & metal caps had o be used,or the bottles would pop their tops ,in the stores,.......That's why ,you would see the store owner,or guy behind the counter ,.would actually every so often,.go & release the pressure om each bottle,..........and you could hear that familiar ,.....pshsssst !!  (does that sound like a blast of air escaping?.hahahahaha ,.and then you'd smell that yeast / spruce beer scent,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I love that stuff,.......but it's not for everyone. A few Steamies & a Spruce Beer,(Fries too),..........and that to me was a treat, .......but in anycase that's why they had to have those metal caps ,.and when the pressure built up slightly ,that's what would make the tops hard to open sometimes,........................................ Anyway that's my story & I'm sticking to it................hahahahaha                Have Fun & Remember Verdun

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Les_F, you sure have a way with words...my dad used to make his own spruce beer, and kept it in our basement.  It's true, about letting the pressure off every once in a while, that pssstttt was a familiar sound to us kids.   But, like you said, I think it is an acquired taste.   I loved it!

les__f MSN said...

A BASEMENT,.............& A driveway I'll bet ( I think you had one didn't you?) I always knew you were Rich.........hahahahahah   That would have been neat to have your own supply of Biere de Pinette, Do you Remember How he made it? I would like to try that,one day.......   When I was at the kids wediding in Edmonton a few weeks back,.I met a lot of new people (well new to me,.they weren't all babies........hahahahah) but one of the guys I met ,was talking about this certain drink he called 'Pine Beer',and of course he was thinking of Spruce Beer,.....but the French name for it Biere de Pinette ,.......Which makes me wonder why it wasn't called  Biere de Spruce,.................which is it Pine or Spruce........hahahahaha Anyway,he used to get some (spruce beer,.get your mind out of the gutter)hahaha.....when he lived back in Hamilton Ont,......  not many people really have heard of it, outside of Quebec (at least that's what I've found)                  Have Fun & Remember Verdun

les__f MSN said...

Hey Mom45,..yur right look at this write up on Spruce Beer,......   Spruce beer has quite a long and (ig)noble history in Canada and  the United States from way back to the 1700s. Spruce Beer gets it name from the spruce tips or the spruce shoots used to produce it. These are mixed with hops, yeast, water, molasses in most recipes. There is both an alcoholic and a non alcoholic version (like a root beer or a ginger beer). The recipe for the two seems pretty much the same. Apparently, the difference between  the alcoholic  and non-alcoholic version is amount of molasses   ..It says right in the first line that Spruce Beer has had a long & 'Noble' history               .............your famous..............hahahahahahah                    pstttt (This should stir the pot) http://www.agingincanada.ca/TRIVIA.HTM                I was looking for the old Spruce Beer Recipe,...I have it saved somewhere on my computer,.but it's easier to just look it up,...There are several recipes,..but I do have one from Emile Bertrand's (the real Spruce Beer Shop ,.at least as I knew it,when I was a kid,)............ I didn't know they actually had one with alcohol in it,.I almost think I wouldn't like that...............................(but I'd certainly try it.......hahahaha)

les__f MSN said...

Here's one version.........................................................................................     don't know whose it is ,. SPRUCE BEER
5 gallons of water
1/8 pound of hops
1/2 cup of dried, bruised ginger root
1 pound of the outer twigs of spruce fir
3 quarts of molasses
1/2 yeast cake dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water or 1/2 cup
of liquid homemade yeast In a large kettle combine the water, hops, ginger root and
spruce fir twigs. Boil together until all the hops sink to the
bottom of the kettle. Strain into a large crock and stir in the
molasses. After this has cooled add the yeast. Cover and leave
to set for 48 hours. Then bottle, cap and leave in a warm place
(70-75 degrees F) for 5 days. It will now be ready to drink.
Store upright in a cool place             

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Ha, ha it's very NOBLE of you to find the recipes.  I do remember on the day that he was making it, there was a moratorium put on anything else being done that day.  And I remember he seemed to have a bit of trouble finding those damned bottles, if I recall they were green with a white ceramic stopper on a wire (?).  And....the whole house stank, I guess with all that yeast and hops!  When he did go on a binge of making the spruce beer, it usually ended up with oodles of bottles of the stuff...guess he figured with all the production he went through, he wanted enough to last him for a while.  In our house, only he and myself loved the stuff .   Sad story is I haven't had any for about 40 years now .

les__f MSN said...

Well  Linda Mom45,.that just won't do,.Hop in that MotorHome and have a vacation while the weather's is good,........and get a Montreal 'fix' (and don't forget to scrape all the stuff off the steamie for Gilles).........hahahahaha   Incentive to go to Montreal Steamie's Fries Egg Rolls Pizza Beer Smoked Meat Beer Dillalo's for a Burger with Dbl Peppers Beer Oh Yea ,  Spruce Beer a 5 foot long Mike's Sub (Remember those ,a party sub) Walk through Verdun Cote St Paul Old Montreal the Mountain (Beaver Lk & the Lookout) Walk the Boardwalk Magnan's Tavern (Prime Rib,.Steak,.RoastBeef) the Capri Tavern Beer (in both of the above) hahahahah Friends ,.Family ,    & of course Fun !!                                     ........plus lots more../// (Beer too)                                                     Have Fun & Remember Verdun                                     

the lad MSN said...

Les   May I add B B Barn downtown to that list....   Lad

the lad MSN said...

HI   I heard that the old Rossy"s chain is now Dollarama...anyone hear that too?   Lad

les__f MSN said...

I knew I'd forgotten a few,..and we just talked about that the other day:   also Chalet BBQ Lafleurs Beer etc etc   (Heavy on the etc )

les__f MSN said...

Is there still a place like Barry's ,..Remember they had the 'Pogos' with that little paper cup of Mustard to Dip it in : They actually called tem 'Dippy Dogs' and a trip wouldn't be complete without at least Walking along the boardwalk,or Wellington Street,.with a Big Bag of Fries ,.stinking of Vinegar & loaded with Salt,........(Diets & Mediacl Conditioons ,.do not APPLY, in Montreal .....or on vacation for that matter).............hahahahaha You heard it here first,......... Dr's orders are merely a suggestion in Quebec..............hahahahaha od course some roaming around Downtown is also in order..........

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Hi guys, all of the above, I mean I'll to do all of the above!  I guess what I regret most is that I'll be saying......"this is where _____ used to be", or "this has totally changed from when I lived/played here".   Happy happening....that alliteration for y'all.....I will finally get to see Niagara Falls.  For all the years of living so close, I never visited the falls.  Yippee.

les__f MSN said...

Yikes Mom45,....you lived in Ottawa & never got over to the Falls,..You'll love it ,they are mezmerising ,........Go up in the (used to be called the ) Skylon Tower (it's the one that has the elevators go up the outside of the Tower,.the view is well worth it,....and in my opinion a better view than the other Towere(s) that are there,........... I first went up in that one the first year of it's exisitence ('65 I think),.and I went back often over the years,.the last time ,I got to take my son Chris , also there is a nice Garden Restaurant right directly looking at te Falls ,outdoor patio,where you can eat / have a drink,.and see the Falls,.it was called te 'Victoria something or other (I think???)  and you have to go in the later afternoon,..early evening,.cause tey will Illuminate the Falls with constantly changing colours,.....and those brillaint lamps/lights that do that are situated right beside you at that Garden PAtio.......... Check it out you guys will Love it,........ the best views are from the Canadian side,.but you can go over to the American side & experience going down (get your mind out of that gutter again).hahahah   Going Down into te Cave of the Winds (at least that's what they used to call it),..and you can go behind the Falls,......as well as down the wooden staircase/ walkway,...........Really Cool.......& appreciated when it's a hot sticky summer day ...Remember those,.......Humidity ,we don't really get that type of stuff here on te island,.................... Maybe you'll also get one of those great Lightning Storms,...............too!   I'm envious already,.I'm due for a trip back there,...but again, not this year (at least I don't think so)........                      Have A great trip,.& bring your camera,take plenty of pics (you can never have enough) ps: Get an extra memory card ,..or get a few of those disposables 35mm......they are good too:

laurie19540 MSN said...

NORMANs PATATE FRITES was another good place.
I am salivating !  Laurie

les__f MSN said...

Hey I've never seen this before: !!!Fireworks !!! Over the falls every Friday & Sunday night during the Summer ! Starting May 19th - September 4th, 2006 2006 FALLS FIREWORKS May Friday 19th, Sunday 21st Monday 22nd (Victoria Day) Friday 26th, Sunday 28th, Monday 29th(Memorial Day) June Friday 2nd, Sunday 4th, Friday 9th, Sunday 11th Friday 16th, Sunday 18th, Friday 23rd, Sunday 25th, Friday 30th July 1st (Canada Day), 4th (US Independence Day)Friday 7th, Sunday 9th, Friday 14th, Sunday 16th Friday 21st, Sunday 23rd, Friday 28th, Sunday 30th August Friday 4th, Sunday 6th, Friday 11th, Sunday 13th Friday 18th, Sunday 20th, Friday 25th, Sunday 27th September Friday 1st, Sunday 3rd, Monday 4th (Labour/Labor Day)  

les__f MSN said...

Here's a site ,to give you a preview if you like ,.. http://www.niagarafallslive.com/Niagara_Falls_Webcam.htm    

les__f MSN said...

Yes Norman's definetly was a good one,................one of the best at one time(I think)   I lived right beside one ,.ask DannyB ,.we used to go to the Opening Day, of the Norman's stores In Verdun,..... Again on of my most Favourite $ letter words starting with 'F'    Yup that's te one ,......FREE hotdogs all day,..........and us kids got Plenty of them............hahahahahah

les__f MSN said...

supposed to read   'One of my most favourite 4 letter words ,FREE'   Hope I'm not graded on the spelling.........................YIKES  

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Going to really enjoy this trip.  Traded in the van conversion and bought a new trailer.  Gas.....whew......too much $.  This was we get to tour wherever we want with just the Jeep, and leave the trailer parked.  Much cheaper.   Anyhow, we'll miss the July 1st celebrations out here on the Island.  The damned Snow Birds have been practicing up here for a couple of weeks now....noisy as all get out.  But hoping to maybe, perhaps, grab a sighting of them on our trip.   Don't those falls look amazing?  Thanks for the tips to seeing them at their best.

im4golf MSN said...

Living in St Catharines Ont, 20 mins from the Falls I believe the best time to go there is in the Winter!!  Less Tourists , A natural ICE bridge is formed and all the trees are coated in ice from the mist, it looks great at night      RON

the lad MSN said...

Les   Normand's on opening day   Free and the line all the way along Verdun and down 3rd.  Never see that again...   Check out channel 12 if you have the dish..they are doing a 40th Anniv.story to-nite on Expo 67..Part 1 was last nite.(Thursday).I should add its on the news at 6.. Brings back a ton of memories...   Lad  

les__f MSN said...

Thanks for the info,.....I would imagine that this weeks papers & TV will cover alot of the Expo stuff,........... I Remembered te date,.and then saw it in the gAzette,......but I'd already posted the 40 years thing,.........(I Remember the date cause it's also Teresa birthday) Think I'd get away with just giving her some old Expo memorabilia............hahahahahah  ...........Thanks for the updates

les__f MSN said...

Your right the line ups were lengthy,............when the one on Wellington opened up,.I lived right next to it,on the 2nd floor,.So it was into Normans front door,.out there back door,.....up through the shed to my house wolf down all the goods,.and give it another shot ,down the front stairs and through old Normans again.......took them a while to catch on..........hahahahahahbut with so many people ,they were busy making those Fries,..........hahahahah

les__f MSN said...

For Linda  Mom45,..........................You know what might be a fun thing to do,on your trip(when you get to Montreal) take the Jet Boat ,.up thorugh the Rapids,.....Now that would be a blast........     http://www.raftingmontreal.com/francais/forfaitCamp.html   .......Now that Would be Fun,.and You'd certainly Remember Verdun

les__f MSN said...

Here's another JetBoat site for Montreal,...includes a neat little Video ,.shooting the Rapids & just generally having fun on the River,....... Check this site out too, if you like: http://www.jetboatingmontreal.com/

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Hey Les_F....did you take out a life insurance policy on me?  Crikey man....I'd have a heart attack, but that's probably not what would kill me....I probably drown!!!   Seriously, when we lived in Ottawa we took a 'White Water Raft Trip'....a real thrill, but I was about 20 years younger at the time.   But thanks anyway...think I'll stick to terra firma.

sandy19465 MSN said...

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les__f MSN said...

Atta Girl Sandy,........and I'd bet you'd do it again,...............hahahahahah   Mom45.............  I guess   Hell's Gate is out of the Question then........hahahaha                       mom45 Remember what Nike says                                   "JUST      DO       IT"        and then come & tell us about it,.....I'll bet you love it:  

mom1945-linda MSN said...

With the talk about Expo67, I found my "Passport".  Remember these:    

sandy19465 MSN said...

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sandy19465 MSN said...

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les__f MSN said...

Yes I have mine around somewhere too ,........as well as a few of those season pass's for Laronde or Man & his World,.or whatever they called after Expo67 was over,........ I think I have my pass's to Expo86 as well,........... but the Expo67 one was cool to have ,.& I got a lot of 'stamps from all the Pavillions I went to,............. Remember it was a big deal to see how  many you could get,....... we sure got our money's worth out of those Season Pass'es                                                    Good Memory Prompt Mom45  

les__f MSN said...

Mom45,.did you use a yellow hi-liter to sign your passport back in 1967,...cause I think the felt piece on the end may have been too wide,.I can't make out a single detail,of information............... hahahahahahah...............................................              GOOD    =              Not as Good  =              hahahahahah              Have Fun & Remember Verdun  

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Les_F ~ I just didn't want all sorts of guys turning up at the address written under there looking for a date....LOL, or copying the signature and emptying my bank account.   Cheers.

les__f MSN said...

Drats...(wasn't that a word in a comic strip?....hahaha)  Your on to us Mom, I almost had the Flight Booked,....... 

stellarpurple MSN said...

LOL I remember Woolworth, I am only 29 years old but I remember the food at Woolworth. Back in the day when there was also Greenberg, Consumers, Croteau and Maxi... Also cant forget Kostas Pizza

stellarpurple MSN said...

Also Remember Church and Verdun,,Gi Gi cookies

a_little_bit0 MSN said...

Video of St. Catherine Street   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsQKfkrCKbc

cocopuff_2007 MSN said...

Hello   A Little Bit O. Thanks for sharing that video. It was nice to see the old sights.  

les__f MSN said...

Hi   A_Little_BitO,.............that was a cool find on StCatherine Street,... Thanks for that,.............You Tube has been amazing us for quite a while now,....it's neat what some will go to the trouble of adding to YouTube Content...................Maybe more old Home Movies from Verdun/ Montreal,...or whatever will now surface.............             Great input ,.Thanks Again                                                           Have fun & Remember Verdun

les__f MSN said...

Can't help but think of this old tune from days gone by,...................when reading your ID name......hahahah     littleBit OSoul......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WEPSaaXwHM                         I'm sure there's a few of our members who Remember this era in Music:                                                                            havefunand Remember Verdun

a_little_bit0 MSN said...

I remember attending a Verdun Maple Leaf hockey game, and found this site with some stats:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdun_Maple_Leafs_(hockey)

len_beast1 MSN said...

I don't rember alot from 67 but here is a resent pic of the ball

Attachment: DSCN1784.JPG

car_b1 MSN said...

Hi may name is carol. I used to live on Lasalle Blvd. The Atwater market brings back alot of memories as I used to go there on a regular basis with my parents and grandparents. I loved the smells of the fish and chips and and all the food. I did not like where the meat was. I saw a whole pigs head on a counter in there and it freaked me out. Anyway I loved going there.   As far as Woolworths, I used to love the creaking of the wooden floor anytime we went in there. It is amazing what sticks in your mind.

bevy610 MSN said...

yes, I remember and also there was Kresge's with the high stools and red plastic seats.  Their floors also creaked when you walked.  Does anyone remember on the corner of Church and Wellington, the store called Gagnon's?  They used to put the money in a little tin box and send it upstairs, when I was a kid that was a big deal then. ha ha.  Nice to hear about Verdun years ago.   Bev Harvey Burns

les__f MSN said...

Hi, bevy610??????                    Have fun & remember Verdun............................  and Yes i Remember the money being placed in those old tubes & being sucked away via a strong vaccum system,,,,,,,,,,,,not unklike alot of Costco Stores do now                                                                       HF&RV

bevy610 MSN said...

Tks for the picture, boy what a sight eh!  Street car tracks and all.  Do you remember anybody from the old PAV (The pavillion that was on the boardwalk at the end of Woodland Street).  I would like someone to throw around a few names from there.  Good old times.  Does anyone remembe the crazy Art Price with his snakes.  Good to hear from our roots.  I am still in Verdun.

les__f MSN said...

That Pav picture was posted originally by cessnakid,....... http://groups.msn.com/VerdunConnections/moremotorcyclesverdun.msnw?albumlist=2             There are some really good photo's of all kinds from Verdun etc etc ,.in a lot of the photo albums ,I have to Remember to go through all these every so often,.cause it's easy to forget what's there.......all available under the 'Picture' link on the left side of this opening page of Verdun Connections:                                                                                                  HF&RV

carver3570 MSN said...

There is a name I havn't heard of in may years. Art Price. Do you know what happened to him. Ron.

sailorboy68 MSN said...

Hi, Bev. Yes I remember the Pav and all the times we would hop into our canoes and paddle over to Nun's island camping during the summer, Yes Art Price was qiute a chacter working at the brewery and counting his pay by the amount of 2fours he would make. lol   Bob Allen  

cathyart1 MSN said...

gee  les...big gulp in my throat seeing some of the old photos....I used to  think my old Mom and da (in their eighties...Mom has alz now and doesn't remember  very much)   used to talk about the old days 'way too often for my liking.... much... (spl) too much and now that I am 53 I am doing the same thing-and it's wonderful to recall the great times spent in the greatest town on earth...verdun...I thank God that Da is still OK and we spend a lot of time remembering Verdun...whenever I hear that old Simon and garfunkle song  I get emotional about Verdun...I forget the title but it starts with--"time it was...oh what a time it was...a time of innocence...a time for confidences....long ago it must be...I have a photograph...that's all that's left you"....it's not a SAD song....it's very beautiful!!!!The next song on the old album is "Old Friends"....another gorgeous song...gee I'm feeling like I need a hit of Geritol now...HA HA just kidding!!!

les__f MSN said...

Cathyart,...here's the lyrics ,but it looks like it's all part of the same song ( could that be right???) it has the same words you mentioned for Time of Innocence at the very end of the song: Hope this is it,............if you type in Old Friends on Youtube,.you will get several versions of this song,.but I tried looking for 'Time of Innocence' & didn't find the exact song,even when looking in a Google search,...........but maybe you will have more luck ,since you know the exact song,..... Good Luck ,.hope it helps you Have Fun & Remember Verdun Lyrics for Old Friends/Bookends performed by Simon & GarfunkelOld friends
Old friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
Of the high shoes
Of the old friends

Old friends
Winter companions
The old men
Lost in their overcoats
Waiting for the sun
The sounds of the city
Sifting through trees
Settles like dust
On the shoulders
Of the old friends

Can you imagine us years from today
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange to be seventy

Old friends
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fear...

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories; they're all that's left you

the lad MSN said...

Les & Cathyart   Nice    Thanks got me thinking now...   Lad

cathyart1 MSN said...

Hi Les...thx so much for the lyrics of Old friends...such a great song-kind of melancholy but at the same time so wonderful....that's why a site like this is so fantastic...because our memories are so precious and to share them with old and NEW friends is the best we can give each other! Thank you for having such a great place for Verduners to connect...I'm sure everyone on here will agree...this is the best site ever...CHEERS!

cathyart1 MSN said...

Hi exverdunie! I bought my Go-Go boots at Woolworths in Verdun...for $1.99 on sale....it was a huge treat to grab a grilled cheese sandwhich there and  then turn around and walk back to Argyle St...when I was that age...Church Ave was almost like Worlds End....past Church Ave there were no good stores....so down Church and check out the pet store...then back along verdun Ave to Argyle to pick up a few bucks from Mom to grab supper for the family at Barry's Fish and Chips place.

Al H said...

..that old lady gave us a kitten..took it home in a paper bag....our mom made us bring it back...but we pretended that she REFUSED and said....it's yours now....and her candies...
Does anyone remember old man named POPS who played a banjo, in Willibrord park...we lived at 749 across from the park with the big metall slide! MY brother fell and split his head open.....we used to crawl under the gate...cuz they locked it at night..till early morning. Had teacher named Mrs. Crevier, at St.Willibrord Elem. We left there in '57..moved North end of Mtl. (Metropolitan Blvd.area)

Anonymous said...

Do you remember the name of that pet store by chance? Looking for Pet Stores in the Verdun area around 1961-1970.

Les_F said...

Hi anonymous, try finding a Lovell's Directory from those years and that should help you locate the name of te Pet Store you want. Good Luck Cheers ! Les

Unknown said...

I was raised on Argyle St. I bought my first bike at 10 years old at Gagnon. I used to stand in front of the A&P Food Store where my dad worked and ask patrons for their grocery order. Off I would go with my little wagon with groceries and the patron behind me. At 6 years old the grocery bags were bigger than me. For a mornings work on Saturday I'd come home with two dollars in tips, thought I was the richest person on earth. Along with collecting my Moms Dominion food stamps and cashing those in once I filled a book I always had money in my pocket.Verdun and Wellington was a joyous place in the 50's and 60's. It was the heyday of Montreal Canadians, it was a special place to live in its day. Neighbors were good people and everyone was working. People seemed happier. I fondly remember buying my troops baseball cards there as a kid. A fondly remember walking to school each and every day, I fondly remember a sweet little Japanese girl who I would cost in each week. For some reason at 6 years old the girls and I got along really well. They liked me and I liked them. My grade one teacher, Miss Inder forever will be in my heart. A lovely women from England that I will never forget. So many memories I have just touched the surface. Thank you Verdun

Les_F said...

Very nice memory of days gone by in Verdun,thanks for posting, Cheers ! Les

Anonymous said...

wow cool.site. i was from verdun being born in 43 on edna street.
names of a few of my buddies on edna
gary mathers al scott bill orr rollie pearson and on and on. played in a band called ted and the crystals at dawsons for the gov general wayyy baxk in the 50s. uys in the band joe hayes maybe even les frank on sax don Wagner ken abbott frank quinn
gotta go ladies !!!
ted forget the puncuation matthews

Les_F said...

Glad you found us, anonymous sounds like you too enjoyed your Verdun days.
Cheers ! LesF