Souvenirs de tramway

Around the mid-19th century, the arrival of public transportation in major Western cities significantly changed the lives of their residents. At that time, everything was within walking distance: work, church, school, etc. In short, it gave meaning to the expressions "parochialism" and "parish rivalries." In Montreal, the first streetcars appeared in 1861. Horses pulled the first cars. At that time, the network was very limited. It wasn't until 1892 that the network was electrified and expanded. In 1894, a line was established to serve the north of the island, more specifically Sault-au-Récollet. Line 24, Saint-Denis/Sault, began on what is now Saint-Antoine Street, which was then called Craig. The tramway ran north along Saint-Denis Street, joining Millen Street and then to Gouin, where the Ahuntsic station was located. The tramway then continued east along Henri-Bourassa Street to Émile Street, now J.J. Gagnier Street, at the gateway to Montréal-Nord. Beginning in 1908, it was possible to transfer at the end of this line to a new route: tramway #40, which would run to Gouin and Pigeon. Between Henri-Bourassa and Gouin, there is a grassy strip of land that runs along Pigeon Avenue. Here, tracks were installed that allowed tramway #40 to reach the terminus at the corner of Pigeon and Gouin Streets. The company that opened this route had a name reminiscent of a resort: "Montreal Park & ​​Islands." At that time, the banks of the Rivière des Prairies became a place of rural entertainment, with cottages, hotels, and beaches. Many will remember the pun the conductor used to inform people that his streetcar served Sault-au-Récollet, when he said: "Get on for Sault, get on for Sault..." The snack bar known as the potato shack is no longer what it once was. In the past, preparing a meal was a task that took several hours for mothers. Eating for entertainment was not within everyone's reach. The French fry and hot dog shack was not only a true revolution, but also became closely linked to entertainment such as going to the beach. A man named Lesage would take advantage of the windfall that the streetcar brought him. He opened a French fry and hot dog shack in 1942 at the corner of Henri-Bourassa and J.J. Gagnier. He offered fries to people getting off the streetcar and then transferred to either the #24 streetcar, which covered Sault-au-Récollet, or the #40, which covered Montreal North. The idea was a good one and it was a success. "Frite Lesage" became a local institution. Business was so good that a second one opened on Millen Street near the Ahuntsic train station, near the current Henri-Bourassa metro station. This one has since closed. A third restaurant opened at the corner of Gouin and De Lorimier. Lesage was also known for organizing country entertainment such as outdoor movies. In 1921, the Bordeaux neighborhood was able to benefit from a streetcar service. A route was established primarily to transport prisoners from the Bordeaux prison. The provincial Ministry of Justice required this service, and the company would have to lay the tracks and build two armored prison cars. From then on, the neighborhood's residents would be served by the tramway. The line ended at the corner of Gouin and Poincarré. At this point, a small, mysterious house can be seen. Built in 1921, it served as a waiting room for the tramway. This mode of transportation was abandoned in 1941 in favor of the bus. From then on, the waiting room became a snack bar selling fries and hot dogs. This was hardly surprising, given the rural appeal of the Rivière des Prairies and Perry Island. In Cartierville, the bucolic charms of the banks of the Rivière des Prairies attracted the founding of a hunting club, the Montreal Hunting Club, at the end of the 19th century. In 1904, a canoeing club was founded there, a club that still exists today. Then in 1923, a Montreal institution opened its doors to thrill-seekers: Belmont Park. The tramway had been running to Cartierville since 1895, but with the arrival of the amusement park and its popularity, the terminus was completely rebuilt. For several years, visitors walked from the terminus to Rivoli Street, where the entrance to Belmont Park was located. Belmont Park closed permanently in 1983. www.stephanetessier.ca 2014