Canadian skylines of the past

[Rico Rommheim]

Saint Joseph's, 1940. Still under construction. It won't be fully finished until 1967.

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.5.158-P1.jpg

Montreal Harbour 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.54-P1.jpg


http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.57-P1.jpg

Quebec City, 1918

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.1.44-P1.jpg

Sherbrooke and Crescent intersection 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.301-P2.jpg

Phillips Square 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.403-P2.jpg

1932

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.32-P1.jpg

1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.34-P1.jpg

The Bordeaux prison dome in the background 1918

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.224-P1.jpg

1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.359-P1.jpg

Ritz Carleton on Sherbrooke Street 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.362-P1.jpg

Sun Life

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.363-P1.jpg

1930


St-James Street 1938

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.372-P1.jpg

Sherbrooke Street 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.294-P1.jpg

Looking south from high up in the Sun Life Building, St. James Cathedral in foreground, Montreal, QC, about 1935


M2011.64.2.2.297 | Warehouse in harbour, Victoria Bridge in background, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.297-P1.jpg

Looking west from Stanley along Sherbrooke Street towards Drummond, Montreal, QC, about 1935


St-Joseph's, 1938. The Dome is almost complete.

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.83-P1.jpg

Christmas morning, St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, QC, about 1938


Looking east along St. Catherine Street from Morgan's and Phillips Square, Montreal, QC, about 1930


Harbour Bridge just before completion, Montreal, QC, 1929

[Rico Rommheim]

The art gallery (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts), Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.289-P1.jpg

Snowy trees in Dominion Square, Windsor Station in background, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.351-P1.jpg

Snow-covered tree trunks, park benches and Strathcona Horse Monument in Dominion Square, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.352-P1.jpg

Looking towards Mount Royal from atop Windsor Station, Montreal, QC, about 1930


Dominion Square and cenotaph in winter, Montreal, QC, about 1930


Harbour Bridge under construction, Montreal, QC, about 1929

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.204-P1.jpg

Montreal harbour and Mount Royal, seen from the tower on St. Helen's Island, QC, about 1935


Looking northwest towards Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1930


Part of the old fort next to the Jacques Cartier Bridge on St. Helen's Island, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.255-P1.jpg

Park on St. Helen's Island, harbour in distance, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.2.257-P1.jpg

Cannon in park on St. Helen's Island, skyline in distance, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Firing up smoke rising from downtown skyline at 30 degrees below zero, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument with skiers in foreground, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Notre Dame Street and the Aldred Building at Place d'Armes, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Notre Dame Basilica and Place d'Armes, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.8-P1.jpg

The Royal Victoria Hospital and the Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, about 1930


Royal Victoria Hospital, from McGill University campus, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.14-P1.jpg

Neurological Institute, Royal Victoria Hospital and Percival Molson Stadium, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.15-P1.jpg

Main entrance and centre section buildings, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.19-P1.jpg

McGill Medical Arts Building and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.20-P1.jpg

Ravenscrag from gates in summer, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.129-P1.jpg


C.P.R. Park Avenue Station, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.278-P1.jpg

Looking west along Dorchester Street Bridge, from University Street, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.46-P1.jpg

Dominion Square, the Sun Life Building and Mount Royal, from Windsor Station, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.51-P1.jpg

Firing up smoke rising from downtown skyline at 30 degrees below zero, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.55-P1.jpg

St. Joseph's Oratory before the dome.

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.74-P1.jpg

Cars parked on Côte-des-Neiges Road, near Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1932

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.343-P1.jpg

Skaters near footbridge in St. Viateur Park, Outremont, QC, about 1935


Port of Montreal with new grain elevator, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Grounds of St. Joseph's Oratory and Collège Notre Dame from top of oratory steps, Montreal, QC, about 1925

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.314-P1.jpg

Centre of the city from Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.4.62-P1.jpg

East section of the city from the lookout on Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.4.64-P1.jpg

Looking towards Mount Royal from atop Windsor Station, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Montreal and Mount Royal, QC, about 1935


Boys performing physical education drill on Champ de Mars, Montreal, QC, about 1933

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.3.348-P1.jpg

Looking northwest towards Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.4.25-P1.jpg

Downtown from the mountain, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Sunrise over downtown in winter, from the lookout on Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Central section of the city from Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Looking towards centre section of the city from St. James Street, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Skiers on Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.4.121-P1.jpg

Skiers near the cross on Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Lookout on Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.5.185-P1.jpg

Cemetery, with St. Joseph's Oratory in distance, from carriage drive on Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1938


Skiers near the Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument, Montreal, QC, about 1935


Skiers near the cross on Mount Royal, Montreal, QC, about 1935


The Hôtel-Dieu [hospital], Montreal, QC, about 1930

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.5.29-P1.jpg

Moving ice on the St. Lawrence River, across from the Port of Montreal, QC, about 1935

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.5.44-P1.jpg

Dominion Square and surrounding buildings, Montreal, QC, about 1937


Dominion Square in winter, Montreal, QC, about 1937


A Study on the Harbour Front, Montreal, QC, 1925

http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/largeimages/M2011.64.2.6.127-P1.jpg

[MolsonExport]

a veritable treasure chest of memorable Montreal shots

[KnoxfordGuy]

Queen Street, Fredericton before the new legislature was built due to the absence of the dome on the skyline. Taken from the tower of city hall. So picture is from between 1876 and 1882.

by James McGrath, on Flickr

[KnoxfordGuy]

Edit: double post

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

a veritable treasure chest of memorable Montreal shots

That Mccord museum database truly is a goldmine. With views of the city rarely or never posted on city forums before. They're quite amazing.

Montreal from Street Railway Power House chimney, QC, 1896



St. Margaret Street, Montreal, QC, about 1910


Windsor Hotel on Dominion Square, Montreal, QC, about 1878




Ottawa Hotel, Montreal, QC, 1874


Skating rink, Montreal harbour, QC, 1876


Stock Exchange building, St. François Xavier Street, Montreal, QC, about 1905


Phillip's Square, Montreal, QC, 1922


After a fire, Thomas May's Building, McGill Street, Montreal, QC, 1901


Bank of Montreal, Montreal, QC, 1878-80


New triplex development, Montreal, QC, 1925


C.P.R. Station, Montreal, QC, 1889


McGill College, Sherbrooke Street,, Montreal, QC, about 1859


St. Denis Street showing Laval University, Montreal, QC, about 1910


Beaver Hall Hill in winter, Montreal, QC, about 1875


Ritz Carleton Hotel, Sherbrooke Street, Montreal, QC, 1915


The Place d'Armes, Montreal, QC, 1828


Church parade of 5th Battalion, Victoria Square, Montreal, QC, 1897

[Rico Rommheim]

Ok so I've revisited my archive posts and I have something to say. Call it an unpopular opinion, but in an alternate timeline, I would have been totally cool with Montreal retaining some sort of super low height limit. Like keep Montreal's 4 pre-war skyscrapers Aldread, Royal Bank,Sun Life and Bell and have everything else stay at 40-60m or be church spires and domes. This would have showcased the mountain as a dramatic backdrop and yielded a denser, more romantic built form.

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Ok so I've revisited my archive posts and I have something to say. Call it an unpopular opinion, but in an alternate timeline, I would have been totally cool with Montreal retaining some sort of super low height limit. Like keep Montreal's 4 pre-war skyscrapers Aldread, Royal Bank,Sun Life and Bell and have everything else stay at 40-60m or be church spires and domes. This would have showcased the mountain as a dramatic backdrop and yielded a denser, more romantic built form.

If you're going to have a height limit, that's the way to do it - go small or go home. A 200m limit is completely pointless. You're still getting the built form of a skyscraper city, just with a stunted skyline.

Loved all your pics btw. Montreal in the winter is just so quintessentially Canadian.

[franktko]

Excavation de la station de métro Bonaventure, construction de la Place du même nom et de l'hôtel Marriott. Août 1965. VM94-Md24-001. Archives de la Ville de Montréal. by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr

[KnoxfordGuy]

Toronto Skyline 1967 from the Ingenium Digital Archives.

by James McGrath, on Flickr

[🌳🌱🌿🌴🍁]

Commercial poster showing St. John, N.B. in 1890


https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by franktko

Excavation de la station de métro Bonaventure, construction de la Place du même nom et de l'hôtel Marriott. Août 1965. VM94-Md24-001. Archives de la Ville de Montréal. by Archives de la Ville de Montréal, on Flickr

Looking at that image, I réalise how shocking it is that the 1960`s boom was so massive, and yet left so many empty lots and parking lots behind. They built dozens of modern towers and after the dust had settled there was still an outrageous amount of empty lands left. Basically, they didn`t fill any holes, they built upwards and cleared the lands around it.

And isn`t it nuts that the site of Le 1000 was VACANT until the late 80`s

The boom that we`re experiencing now, not only is it much bigger than the 60`s boom, but this one is actualli filling in the holes in the urban fabric.

[J.OT13]

Rideau Canal from the Laurier Bridge 1879 vs looking towards the Laurier Bridge in the present day. Cartier Square Drill Hall and Lisgar Collegiate still stand.

Rail lines on the east side of the Canal, between Mann and Laurier, have been replaced (from east to west) by Colonel By Drive, the Nicholas expressway and the Confederation Line.


https://twitter.com/CapHistOttawa/status/1345718663563907072


http://wikimapia.org/36181/Laurier-Bridge

Banks of the Rideau Canal 1929 vs today. Château Laurier and Union Station (today Senate of Canada Building) still around.


https://twitter.com/CapHistOttawa/status/1345718456927322114


http://wikimapia.org/36181/Laurier-Bridge

Rideau Street circa 1950. The Plaza and Transportation Buildings framing the entrance to Rideau both still stand, so do Woolworth (now Chapters) and Freiman's (now HBC) on the left side. Building with the Freiman's sign on the bottom right is long gone.


https://twitter.com/CapHistOttawa/status/1341740041438179328
https://twitter.com/pierre_lachaine/status/1341075439918456833


On the right side is now the site of the Rideau Centre (RC). Charles Ogilvie was demolished a few years back for the RC expansion. The bottom three floor façade has been remounted and restored to its 1908 version. The Transportation Building at the end of the street book-ends the RC and remains today.


https://twitter.com/CapHistOttawa/status/1341740041438179328

https://twitter.com/pierre_lachaine/status/1341075439918456833

[Chadillaccc]

Lethbridge, Alberta





https://www.galtmuseum.com/archives-and-collections-1/

[SignalHillHiker]

Via FB. Arriving in St. John’s in 1885.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Lethbridge, Alberta





https://www.galtmuseum.com/archives-and-collections-1/

Lethbridge still has a good stock of their heritage buildings left (even with their own mini-Chinatown), which is good to see.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Looking at that image, I réalise how shocking it is that the 1960`s boom was so massive, and yet left so many empty lots and parking lots behind. They built dozens of modern towers and after the dust had settled there was still an outrageous amount of empty lands left. Basically, they didn`t fill any holes, they built upwards and cleared the lands around it.

And isn`t it nuts that the site of Le 1000 was VACANT until the late 80`s

The boom that we`re experiencing now, not only is it much bigger than the 60`s boom, but this one is actualli filling in the holes in the urban fabric.

The 1960s was the peak of the 'modernity' movement. A lot of what we now consider timeless was just considered 'old' then.

The idea of glass towers in the city and the suburban car-oriented dream predominated. The inner-city walkup was an anachronism in that era. The fact that some Canadian cities still had the wherewithal to build subways/metros in that era and didn't completely surrender to the automobile is a minor miracle.

As for height restrictions in Montreal? Not really a fan of the idea. Mont Royal is nice, but what I've always admired about Montreal is how it could layer the new over the historical without bulldozing everything. It's not unlike La Defense in Paris.

Now, Quebec City with the weird few modern towers? That's a sin like Tour Montparnasse in Paris.

[J.OT13]

From Lost Ottawa Facebook page.

Ottawa, circa 1900.



1970s.

[J.OT13]

Ottawa around 2000.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_Hill

[J.OT13]

https://twitter.com/CanadianGIS/status/773494691123851264