Happy
125th to Le Windsor!
Montreal,
Wednesday, September 24, 2003 — Where would we be
without our historic institutions? Without the striking
architecture and elegant interiors that were the stage for so
much of our storied past? The McCord Museum, which holds dear
the preservation of Montreal's history, joins enthusiastically
in celebrating Le Windsor on the occasion of its 125th
anniversary.
Traces
of Le Windsor abound in the archives of the McCord Museum,
testimony to its continuing significance as a meeting place,
site of celebration and rest stop for weary travelers. Dance
cards record merry evenings in the magnificent ballroom, while
floor plans outline the magnificent apartments where royalty
and heads of state have stayed. Photographers have been most
prolific in capturing Le Windsor's history, and as a result
there are countless images in the Notman Photographic Archives
that showcase the building's grace and grandeur and testify to
the dramatic view of the city it affords. As you peruse these
treasures you can almost hear the footfalls of past
generations still ringing through Peacock Alley.
According
to the McCord's Executive Director Victoria Dickenson,
"Le Windsor stands as an example of the long life cycle a
great nineteenth-century institution can enjoy. Like our
Museum, it has remade itself over the years to serve
successive generations, and hopefully, many generations to
come."
Individuals
interested in consulting the McCord's extensive collection of
documents and photographs pertaining to the rich history of Le
Windsor and the city of Montreal may search on-line at www.mccord-museum.qc.ca,
or visit the Archives and Documentation Centre free of charge,
preferably by appointment. The Archives are open from Monday
to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Source
and Information:
Nike Langevin
(514) 398-7100, ext. 251