I came across these photos on a Facebook page called Verdun Citoyen/Verdun Citizen. They are not dated but the horse and buggy in the first one would suggest they are from at least a century ago. On a sunny day I decided to take a bike ride and try to reproduce these Verdun scenes as they appear today.
I was standing at the corner of Claude and De l’Eglise (the address indicated on the historical picture) but I’m not sure I’ve got the right spot.
The picture above was taken on Wellington street from the block between Gordon and Galt, looking “east”* towards Notre-Dame des-Sept-Douleurs church.
Remember when we figured out that the Chinese Laundry shown in an old Verdun photo would have been across the street from Verdun Methodist church on Gordon? And a couple of people said there had been a Chinese restaurant next to the laundry with its front door facing Wellington? If we could pull this picture back just half a block we might just see that restaurant. That corner is occupied by the Friperie Renaissance now. I’m not sure but I think the part of the Renaissance building that you can see in my photo below is the same building housing Lafleur Furniture in the historical picture. Do you suppose any of that nice detailing is still there underneath the siding?
- Amy
