Neighbourhood Little Italy 
History
1850 18751850-1875
Up to the end of the 19th century, the area was a vast rural property owned by the Comte family. Their land was adjacent to a rich limestone deposit and to Montée-Saint-Laurent. One of the oldest arteries on the island, it was the main road north. At the time, only a few families lived along it. A toll gate, hotel and other facilities catering to travellers leaving the city were situated at the de Castelnau Street intersection.
1850-1875
Up to the end of the 19th century, the area was a vast rural property owned by the Comte family. Their land was adjacent to a rich limestone deposit and to Montée-Saint-Laurent. One of the oldest arteries on the island, it was the main road north. At the time, only a few families lived along it. A toll gate, hotel and other facilities catering to travellers leaving the city were situated at the de Castelnau Street intersection.
1875-1900
By 1880, many Italians had arrived in Montreal. Most of them lived around what is now Chinatown and the Quartier latin, but soon moved north to be near jobs related to the rapidly expanding railways and grey stone quarries. For the most part tradesmen with young families, they built new housing on former farm land.
Église Saint-Édouard et partie du boulevard Saint-Denis
1875-1900
By 1880, many Italians had arrived in Montreal. Most of them lived around what is now Chinatown and the Quartier latin, but soon moved north to be near jobs related to the rapidly expanding railways and grey stone quarries. For the most part tradesmen with young families, they built new housing on former farm land.
25.4 cm
32.5 cm
1900-1930
By the turn of the last century, the first Italians had moved into the area, focussing on the Mile End train station, which was located on near the intersection of St. Lawrence Boulevard and Bernard Street. Close to work and easily accessible by transit, the district offered affordable properties which even made it possible for homeowners to grown their own food. Some of the newcomers opened restaurants, offering familiar tastes of the old country!
In 1910, a new parish was created, Madona Della Difesa, the mother parish of the Italian Community in Canada. Its vibrancy led to the 1919 construction of the current monumental church, leading to expansion of Little Italy northward to Jean-Talon.
Working class neighbourhoods developed rapidly, in step with economic activities along the railway lines. Several factories and warehouses opened, including the Catelli plant and the Montreal Street Railways shops.
Projet de marché sur la propriété Beaubien
1900-1930
By the turn of the last century, the first Italians had moved into the area, focussing on the Mile End train station, which was located on near the intersection of St. Lawrence Boulevard and Bernard Street. Close to work and easily accessible by transit, the district offered affordable properties which even made it possible for homeowners to grown their own food. Some of the newcomers opened restaurants, offering familiar tastes of the old country!
In 1910, a new parish was created, Madona Della Difesa, the mother parish of the Italian Community in Canada. Its vibrancy led to the 1919 construction of the current monumental church, leading to expansion of Little Italy northward to Jean-Talon.
Working class neighbourhoods developed rapidly, in step with economic activities along the railway lines. Several factories and warehouses opened, including the Catelli plant and the Montreal Street Railways shops.
Pinsonneault, 1907 (Planche 13 - Plan du Grand Stand Shamrock)
25.8 cm
84 cm
39.7 cm
49 cm
23.1 cm
31.899 cm
Institution des Sourds-Muets - Construction - Carrière
10.1 cm
15 cm
Ancienne usine Catelli
12.3 cm
17.5 cm
1930-1940
The Great Depression of the 1930s spurred major public works projects creating needed jobs. The Northern Market (now Jean-Talon Market), as well as the Shamrock buildings, were built on the former Shamrock Lacrosse Grounds. Mile End Station was replaced by the new Park Avenue Station (Jean-Talon Station), better suited to passenger service. A municipal yard replaced the greystone quarries of the district. Neighbourhood cinemas sprang up and Casa d'Italia was built as a social centre for Montreal's Italian community.
At the same time, Little Italy lost several institutions, including the Catelli and Coca Cola plants. This undermined the economic strength of the area along the railway tracks.
La Casa d'Italia
1930-1940
The Great Depression of the 1930s spurred major public works projects creating needed jobs. The Northern Market (now Jean-Talon Market), as well as the Shamrock buildings, were built on the former Shamrock Lacrosse Grounds. Mile End Station was replaced by the new Park Avenue Station (Jean-Talon Station), better suited to passenger service. A municipal yard replaced the greystone quarries of the district. Neighbourhood cinemas sprang up and Casa d'Italia was built as a social centre for Montreal's Italian community.
At the same time, Little Italy lost several institutions, including the Catelli and Coca Cola plants. This undermined the economic strength of the area along the railway tracks.
Les étals extérieurs du marché Jean-Talon en été
Édifices Shamrock, bâtiment d'inspection des viandes, façade principale
Marché Jean-Talon
Édifices Shamrock, vue d'ensemble des bâtiments
Saint-Denis, Vue aérienne vers l'est
20.2 cm
25.2 cm
Théâtre Le Château
1950-1960
The greatest wave of Italian immigration occurred just after the Second World War. By the mid-1950s, Little Italy had more than 15,000 inhabitants! Many men worked as day labourers, contractors and in construction.
9.8 cm
16.3 cm
1950-1960
The greatest wave of Italian immigration occurred just after the Second World War. By the mid-1950s, Little Italy had more than 15,000 inhabitants! Many men worked as day labourers, contractors and in construction.
13.199 cm
9.8 cm
Marché Jean-Talon
16.6 cm
25.399 cm
25.6 cm
25.399 cm
6.2 cm
8.9 cm
9 cm
6.2999 cm
9.9 cm
7.5998 cm
9 cm
9 cm
Since 1960
Many Italians moved to Villeray, Saint-Léonard, LaSalle and Rivières-des-Prairies. Little Italy's community life suffered; companies also felt the loss. From that point on, new immigrants replaced the Italians. Haitians and Latin Americans rented homes and adapted to a new country. Little Italy became increasingly multicultural.
"Pourquoi demeurer locataire..." ("Guide du Nord", vol. XXIX, no 5, 7 février 1963, p. 4)
38.5 cm
28.5 cm
Since 1960
Many Italians moved to Villeray, Saint-Léonard, LaSalle and Rivières-des-Prairies. Little Italy's community life suffered; companies also felt the loss. From that point on, new immigrants replaced the Italians. Haitians and Latin Americans rented homes and adapted to a new country. Little Italy became increasingly multicultural.
20.6 cm
25.3 cm
20.199 cm
25.199 cm
20.199 cm
25.6 cm
La fruiterie Milano dit: "Bienvenue aux nouveaux résidents" ("Guide du Nord", vol. XXX, no 28, 12 juillet 1983, p. 12)
38.5 cm
28.5 cm
Fruiterie Milano
"Bar Sportivo"
Quincallerie Dante
"Le marché Jean-Talon : des légumes vietnamiens cultivés au Québec" ("Guide du Nord", vol. XXIX, no 28, mardi 13 juillet 1982, p. 1 et 8)
38.5 cm
28.5 cm
L'aménagement paysager du parc de la Petite Italie
2 comments:
Les,
Can you come up with a series of photos on Verdun including maps from period 1800s and1900s.
Guy
Anything I find relative to Montreal or Verdun I post, I will keep it top of mind ,while searching for different material. Cheers !! HF&RV
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