As the warm weather arrives, many Montrealers spend their time in the city’s public parks. From taking a leisurely stroll, to sunbathing, reading a book, or having a picnic, parks are a fundamental part of the city dweller’s summer lifestyle.
Did you know that people have been visiting municipal parks only since the 19th century? During this period, Victorian customs, as well as the dominant architectural styles, were being challenged. The rebellious spirit of reform (aimed at disrupting social injustices) was also felt in innovative urban planning models like the City Beautiful and Garden City movements in the United States and Great Britain, respectively, which influences new urban planning styles in Quebec.
In this context of renewal several green spaces were created: Mount Royal Park, Saint Helen’s Island, Sainte-Helen's Island and Logan Park (now known as La Fontaine Park) . Another type of park appeared shortly after—amusement parks developed by private promoters. The advent of this type of establishment reflects the modernization of leisure at the time.
While our ArchitecTours 2021 will introduce you to places where Montrealers spend their leisure time in the summer, we invite you to discover Dominion Park, Belmont Park, and Le Jardin des Merveilles, amusement parks which have long since closed but which have not left the city’s collective memory.
Dominion Park
On Sunday afternoons, Dominion Park was the preeminent destination for Montrealers in the early 20th century. Opened in 1906, it was owned by Harry A. Dorsey, an American developer who partnered with streetcar company Suburban Tramway & Power to develop the park in Longue-Pointe in the east end of the city. This partnership allowed for the streetcar system to reach this area —Dominion Park was located near the terminus of the line — and ensured easy access to the newly constructed amusement park.
Dubbed the "Coney Island of Montreal" by the New York Times, Dominion Park was directly inspired by American amusement parks. While strolling through the park, you could attend a musical performance, vaudeville show, or circus act. The real draw, though, was the rides. The park’s signature attraction was Shoot-the-Chute, where passengers went down a waterfall and landed in a pool of water, much like the iconic Pitoune ride at La Ronde, which made its last voyage in 2019.
At the heart of the park, visitors could enter the Museum of the Absurd where they could witness strange (and sad) sights like a baby incubator with nurses caring for the premature infants. Visitors could also walk through pavilions and gaze upon installations representing important historical events. Among the scenes depicted were the sinking of the Titanic, and the 1889 flood of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, Dominion Park caught fire twice, once in 1907 with minor damage, and again 12 years later resulting in the tragic death of eight people.
The park ultimately closed in 1937 after suffering great loses due to the 1929 economic crisis, and the growing popularity of their business rival: Belmont Park. Ironically, the site now houses the Montreal Fire Department training centre.
Belmont Park
Belmont Park first opened its doors in 1923 on Lachapelle Street in what is now the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough in northwest Montreal. Like Dominion Park, it was easily accessible by streetcar. Belmont Park was located near Rivière des Prairies, a favourite summer hotspot for Montreal’s vacationers.
In its early years, the park’s administration changed hands often. Charles-Émile Trudeau, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau’s grandfather, was actually the park’s vice-president in the 1930s! But it was the Gauvreau family that left its mark on the establishment, having owned the park for over 40 years.
The Park entrance is perhaps best remembered for its iconic twin turrets. They were designed by Montreal architect Edgar Prairie, an apprentice to Maurice Perrault (designer of the Montreal courthouse and the Monument National). Prairie is known, among other things, for having contributed to the design of the Bordeaux prison in Montreal and for the original design of Église Sainte-Cécile in Villeray.
Belmont Park offered a wide range of activities. You could ride the Ferris wheel, get dizzy on the carousel, test your limits on the roller coaster, or scare yourself silly in the famous haunted house. From the 1940s to the 1960s, thousands of city dwellers enjoyed the park's rides and attractions every weekend. In 1972, the park recorded a record number of annual admissions with 750,000 tickets sold!
Belmont Park inspired both Montrealers and artists of the time. It served as the backdrop for the film Pierrot à Montréal, and the Pierre Falardeau documentary À mort . Famous singer Diane Dufresne even dedicated a song to it: Le parc Belmont, on her 1979 album Strip Tease.
In 1983, the park was the scene of a world record roller coaster endurance ride: two young Montrealers spent 503 hours in the Cyclone, (20 days!) without stopping. A few weeks later, Belmont Park closed for good, partly because of competition from La Ronde, which opened in 1967, and partly because of an accident in 1979 in which two children lost their lives.
The Jardin des Merveilles
The Jardin des Merveilles first welcomed visitors in 1957 at La Fontaine Park. The theme of this urban zoological garden (originally for children) was fairy tales. Kids could hear whimsical music or listen to imaginary tales about the park while walking through magical installations based on Cinderella’s carriage, princess castles, the three little pigs’ houses, and scenes from “The Tortoise and the Hare.” A visit to the Jardin des Merveilles also included puppet shows featuring the world's most famous Belgian journalist, Tintin.
The Jardin was also home to more than 250 species of animals, mostly farm animals like ponies, calves, sheep, and chickens, but it also housed owls, deer, monkeys, penguins, an elephant (named Babar!), llamas, and more. But the most popular animal by far was Jonah’s whale. A lifelike whale made of concrete, it housed an aquarium full of small fish in its mouth.
Many animals were moved to Angrigon Park in the winter. As of 1964, the jardin also opened during the holidays with installations like a Christmas creche. The ice palace that surrounded the sea lion pool was one of the holiday highlights at the Jardin des Merveilles.
Due to lack of maintenance, the state of the park gradually deteriorated in the 1980s. Citizens grew concerned over the animals’ living conditions and the Jardin des merveilles eventually closed in 1988. The animals were transferred to zoos around the world, but Babar the elephant found a new home at the Granby Zoo. A year later, the Montreal Biodome offered the general public a new place to marvel at animals.
Exceptionally in 2021, Jonah's whale will be exhibited in La Fontaine Park, in front of the chalet restaurant. The whale will definitely evoke feelings of nostalgia for Montrealers who used to visit the park. Come on down and say hello!
This article is part of a series produced by Héritage Montréal to complement the ArchitecTours 2021 tours on the theme of Montreal on vacation. Watch our virtual tour of Montreal's parks on the blog and social networks!
Thank you to our partners of the 2021 edition of the ArchitecTours:
This project is funded under the Agreement on the cultural development of Montreal between Ville de Montréal and gouvernement du Québec.
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