If your Irish ancestors in Montreal were members of the working class, as mine were, they may possibly have lived in the neighbourhood Griffintown. Identified in municipal and census records as St. Ann’s Ward, it was one of the poorest areas in the city.
J.B. Mailloux, Wood & Coal, Barré St., Montreal, QC, 1903. Wm. Notman & Son. Image: McCord Museum, II-146360.
Until I found a land transaction record that told me differently, I thought my Dever ancestors had only lived in what is known today as the McGill Ghetto where many university students live.
I was surprised to discover that my great-grandfather Samuel Dever owned a 1600-square foot plot of land on Conway Street near Grand Trunk’s rail yard in Griffintown from 1893 to 1903, before opening his grocery store on Prince Arthur. What my great-grandfather intended to do with that land on Conway, I have no idea — but I’m working on it. To my knowledge, he and his family never lived in the area. In the 1960s, the city demolished part of the area to make way for the construction of the Bonaventure Autoroute, so Conway and neighbouring streets are long gone.
While there was no building on the land my great-grandfather owned, I am intrigued to learn what the area looked like. A couple of years ago, a Montreal photographer, Monsieur Pluche, posted several photos on his blog of rue Barré taken in 1903 by William McFarlane Notman, son of the famous photographer, William Notman. Rue Barré, located a few blocks from Conway, remains a street today, but the old wooden houses, not surprisingly, no longer exist. Mr. Notman took the photos for a Mr. Meredith.
Take a look at these photos to acquire a sense of what life was like for the people who lived in the homes on Barré and de l’Aqueduc. While the blog post, Griffintown au début du XXe siècle (Griffintown at the beginning of the 20th century), is written in French, the captions are easy to understand. (Figure 5, Arrière de maison, is the back of a house.)
I love old pictures and these Notman ones are great! The blog can easily be translated from French to English on my cell.
Good point. I should also have mentioned that the blog post can be easily translated into English through Google Translate. Thanks for the tip.
Being from the neighborhood I can tell you that Conway st was not in Griffintown but nest door in Victoriatown or as we called it Goose village.
Thanks for letting me know about Conway Street being in Victoriatown. I appreciate it.
As for Barre st it was in Griffintown, the two neighborhoods are separated by the Lachine canal. Research Goose Village you see maps showing the 7 street that composed it. Bridge, Menai, Forfar, Conway, Britannia, Riverside, Mill.
I have looked at Goad maps of Montreal, but could not distinguish Goose Village from Griffintown. Thanks for helping. Now, if you had an old photo of Conway, you would be my new best friend.
look for Mill Street in Pointe St. Charles, where Expo 67 use to be that is The Goose Village, Conway st. was the st. in Goose Village. Griffintown was on Wellington st. and then it continued on Peel St. all that area was Griffintown, Mountain, Murray, Eleanor, Barre, Young, Prince, Queen etc.
Thanks so much! It is great how genealogists collaborate and share their knowledge.
Gail if you research Goose Village you will find colorized maps. If you Google PHOTOS AERIENNES MONTREAL (1947) you come to a site of aerial photos of the island of Montreal. By navigating with the arrows you can move the frames. The first frame that appears is of Chaboillez square go left one and then down you will cross the Lachine canal and find the village right on the river next to the Victoria bridge.
Thanks for the tip. I will take a look.
I stumbled on this a little late, but it’s nice to be reminded of Goose Village. My father and aunt were born there, on Conway Street. Their parents owned a cartage company (horses, not trucks at that time). The family moved to NDG in the 1920s, while the stables remained in Goose Village.
Hmm. Maybe the family bought the land from your great grandfather to use as stables for the horses?
Interesting suggestion. Thanks.
What a terrific web page this is to learn about Goose Village. I have been searching for information and pictures of Goose Village. The reason is that I just found out from my cousin that his dad (my uncle) and his brothers grew up in the Village at 109 Forfar. I have learned so much about the Point where my dad grew up, Griffintown and the Village. I only wish that I had started my education on these parts of Montreal many years ago.