MP-0000.840.29 | Greenhouse, Lafontaine Park, Montreal, QC, about 1910
Greenhouse, Lafontaine Park, Montreal, QC, about 1910
Anonyme - Anonymous
About 1910, 20th century
Coloured ink on paper mounted on card - Photolithography
9 x 14 cm
Gift of Mr. Stanley G. Triggs
MP-0000.840.29
© McCord Museum
Description
Keywords: Cityscape (3948) , Figure (1339) , Figure (1339) , Print (10661) , streetscape (1737)
Keys to History
The creation of municipal parks promoted leisure activities. The three biggest ones -- Mount Royal, La Fontaine and St. Helen's Island (now Jean-Drapeau Park) -- remain jewels of Montreal's park system. Annexation of surrounding municipalities added new neighbourhood parks. Around this time, the City opened its first playgrounds for children.
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What
La Fontaine Park, where major development work was done, became a popular destination in the early 20th century. It was the big park in the east end.
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Where
La Fontaine Park is located on the site of the old Logan farm, on the north side of Sherbrooke Street. Extensive landscaping was done in the west part of the park, which the federal government donated to the City in 1909. The eastern part, which Ottawa leased to Montreal under a long-term agreement, was used for games and sports.
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When
The hothouses shown on the postcard were built in 1889 to replace the ones on Viger Square. They were torn down in 1954. Creation of the two artificial ponds, one of the park's major attractions, was completed around 1903.
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Who
La Fontaine Park was primarily used by French-speaking Montrealers from the east end. It soon became a real focal point of mainstream French culture, one of the city's most popular recreational and social destinations.
Exhibition Label
References
- Jean de Laplante, Les parcs de Montréal, des origines à nos jours (Montreal: Méridien, 1990), pp. 53-74.
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