Le Plateau-Mont-Royal in Montréal in Communauté-Urbaine-de-Montréal, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)
Le Petit Village Des Pieds-Noirs
(panel 1) Les travailleurs des carrières étaient de vaillants gaillards qui n'avaient pas peur de l'ouvrage. Leur surnom de Pieds-Noirs serait attribuable, selon l'anecdote consacrée, au fait que le soir venu ils aimaient prendre le frais sur leur galerie en montrant leurs pieds salis par une dure journée à la carrière.
Cette photographie constitue un témoignage unique d'une tranche de vie quotidienne, où nous voyons monsieur Léon Lamarche, 86 ans, et son épouse dans leur modeste intérieur. Le calendrier indique que nous sommes en mars; donc, on ne se tient pas trop loin du poêle! La photo nous montre bien la frugalité de leur condition et nous laisse également imaginer les trésors d'ingéniosité qu'a dû déployer madame Lamarche pour faire rouler la maisonnée. Notez l'eau qui chauffe sur le poêle pour se préparer un bon thé.
(panel 2) La florissante industrie des carrières de pierres emploie de nombreux travailleurs qui s'installent rapidement tout autour de leurs lieux de travail. Ces ouvriers ne sont pas riches et habitent de toutes petites maisons de bois. Celles-ci sont regroupées le long du chemin des Carrières et formeront le noyau du tout premier village du Plateau- Mont-Royal : le village de la Côte Saint-Louis (que plusieurs continuent d'appeler Coteau Saint-Louis).
En 1846, on organise administrativement le petit village de la Côte-Saint-Louis. Son hôtel de ville est situé l'angle de l'avenue Laurier et de la rue Saint-Denis (l'actuelle station- service) et son église paroissiale est construite en 1857 à l'angle des boulevards Saint-Joseph et Saint-Laurent, sous le nom de Saint-Enfant-Jésus. La photo nous montre des maisonnettes de bois qui étaient situées sur l'actuelle rue Berri, près de la rue Saint-Grégoire. Celles-ci comportaient deux corps de logis sous le même toit, ce qui les rendait plus faciles à chauffer. On pense également que ces modestes logements auraient pu être fournis aux ouvriers par les propriétaires des carrières.
(English)
(panel 1) The quarry workers were brave fellows who were not afraid of work. Their nickname of Pieds-Noirs would be attributable, according to the anecdote, to the fact that in the evening they liked to cool off on their porch by showing their feet soiled by a hard day at the quarry.
This photograph is a unique testimony to a slice of daily life, where we see Mr. Léon Lamarche, 86, and his wife in their modest interior. The calendar says it's March; so we don't stay too far from the stove! The photo shows us the frugality of their condition and also lets us imagine the treasures of ingenuity that Mrs. Lamarche had to deploy to keep the household going. Note the water heating on the stove to prepare a good tea.
(panel 2) The flourishing stone quarrying industry employs many workers who quickly settle around their workplaces. These workers are not rich and live in very small wooden houses. These were grouped along chemin des Carrières and formed the core of the very first village of the Plateau-Mont-Royal: the village of Côte Saint-Louis (which many continue to call Coteau Saint-Louis).
In 1846, the small village of Côte-Saint-Louis was organized administratively. Its town hall is located at the corner of avenue Laurier and rue Saint-Denis (the current gas station) and its parish church was built in 1857 at the corner of boulevards Saint-Joseph and Saint-Laurent., under the name of Saint-Enfant-Jésus. The photo shows us wooden houses that were located on what is now rue Berri, near rue Saint-Grégoire. These had two main buildings under the same roof, which made them easier to heat. It is also thought that these modest accommodations could have been provided to the workers by the owners of the quarries.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 45° 31.537′ N, 73° 35.164′ W. Marker is in Montréal, Québec, in Communauté-Urbaine-de-Montréal. It is in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal. Marker is at the intersection of Rue Gilford and Rue Saint-Denis, on the right when traveling north on Rue Gilford. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 408 Rue Gilford, Montréal QC H2J H2J, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. L’Ancien Chemin Des Carrieres (here, next to this marker); Le Coteau Saint-Louis (here, next to this marker); Place Delia-Tetreault (approx. 1.9 kilometers away); Belvédère Kondiaronk (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); Arrondissement Historique Et Naturel Du Mont-Royal (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); Jacques Cartier (approx. 2.5 kilometers away); Hochelaga (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); La Basilique Saint-Patrick / Saint Patrick's Basilica (approx. 2.9 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montréal.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 26, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.