Montreal is well known as an European-liked city in North America, much has published offline and posted online about its tourist attractions and art scenes. Narrated here is the scenes at the foot of Mont Royal through two significant fabrics of Montreal, Westmount and Saint Henri. Montreal citizens may not even fully aware of its beauty, Westmount and St. Henri are closely knitted to form part of the unique beauty of Montreal.

1. Behind the Beauty
- Mount Royal
By Anne Lam
Written: December 11, 2011
Revised: January 9, 2014

2. Mount Royal is significant in Montreal urbanism, in 1763 the name of city was official changed from
Ville-Marie into Montreal. Once a catalyst for money transaction, in 19th
century, Mount royal was almost
completely made bald by Mr. Lamothe’s sales of chopped tree chunks as firewood, the city propelled to
expropriate land of Mount Royal from 16 landowners in a sum of $1M to stop this commercial activity.
The Role of Mount Royal for Montreal

3. Ranged at 233 meters above sea-level, as early as 17th
century beautiful Mount Royal was a spiritual
shrine. In 1643, Montreal’s founder Paul Chomedey de Maissoneuve erected a wooden cross as his
vow’s fulfillment to Holy Mary for stopping the disastrous flood. Nowadays, the religious and spiritual
significance of Mount Royal has lessen in degree, the illuminated steel cross, a 31.4 m (103 ft.), erected
by Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste in 1924 at the top of Mount Royal is still overseeing the believers and the
whole city all year round.
The Role of Mount Royal for Montreal

4. To protect Mount Royal as a natural district, in 1874
the first law voted in Quebec for Mount Royal’s
permanent protection, and East of Mount Royal finally
inaugurated into a park in 1876.
Frederick Olmsted was hired to design the landscape,
Mount Royal becomes a city lung for air exchange in
the extremely crowded downtown area ever since.
Olmsted’s renowned master plan had never been fully
materialized due to depression in mid 1870s.
From the bottom leading up to the hilltop, the
mind-soothing elevated winding road of Park Mount
Royal is the fruit of Olmsted’s design, all walks of life
could stroll at ease in their own pace along the once
carriage road.
Photo credit: apartment-Montreal.ca
The Role of Mount Royal for Montreal
Photo credit: myMontrealautumn.wordpress.com

5. Named by Jacques
Cartier in 1535, Mount
Royal’s existence
intertwines with the
development of
Montreal.
With its historic and
natural designation
since 2005, Mount
Royal in the Montreal
island becomes
different from the Oka,
St. Brune, St. Hilaire
and RougeMount in
the Mounteregians
range.
The Role of Mount Royal for Montreal

6. From Westmount to Saint Henry
Montreal is similar to other metropolitans worldwide, the city
owes its charm to the uniqueness of each borough.
Mount Royal is at the center of Montreal Island, locating at the
foot of its east region are the neighbourhoods of Westmount and
Saint Henri. These two neighbourhoods could consider the
miniature of Montreal in history, because of its origin and
characteristics but both are legendary in the city of Montreal.

7. From Westmount to Saint Henry
Historical wise, Cote-Saint-Antoine first
appeared as a village in 1874 and became a
town in 1890. In 1895, the town of
Cote-Saint-Antoine was renamed as
Westmount. Whereas, Saint-Henri born in
1685 as "Village of the tanneries" along the
fur route to Lachine. and became Ville
Saint-Henri in 1875.
Geographical wise, Westmount stretches from
east of Mount Royal to the level below
Autoroute Ville Marie, yet Saint Henri extends
from the east border of Westmount, to west
shore of the Lachine Canal.
Victoria Hall in
Westmount originally
opened in 1899, and
was rebuilt in 1925
after destroyed by a
fire.
1859 Tanneries in St. Henri

8. From Westmount to Saint Henry
4175 St.
Catherine
Street West
Westmount
Square III
Locating at the edge of
downtown, Westmount dons on
business and residential
skyscrapers besides of grand
institutions, 1st public library in
Quebec, Westmount Library, few
prestige colleges, Dawson
College, and not too surprised
Westmount has its own power
plant, Hydro Westmount.
Dawson CollegeWestmount Public Library

9. From Westmount to Saint Henry
Westmount is a borough by itself, but Saint
Henri belongs to South-West (Le Sud-Ouest)
borough. In terms of elevation and
socioeconomic status (SES), Westmount is
definitely much higher than St. Henri.
With its highbrow status, Westmount had
renowned roads, parks, houses and buildings
for their recreation, residential and
commercial usage. e.g., Ch. De la
Cote-Saint-Antoine on Mount Royal designed
and built according to the contour of St.
Laurent river.
Westmount Square I
Upper Westmount
Westmount Square III

10. From Westmount to Saint Henry
With higher SES status and interest in heritage architecture conservation, Westmount houses
comprised of more heritage architecture, the archival photograph could provide a view of the
houses that looks the same to this very day, except the wooden sidewalks and unpaved roads.
Some houses date back to 1897 with “tilted window sills” and “sloping transoms” over their front
doors, due to a river that still runs below both streets.
Photos credit: Michael Walsh

11. From Westmount to Saint Henry
History of Westmount is evident through the architecture, street
names and plaques installed to mark its significance, which
resulted in a sense of belonging for every resident.
Photos credit: Michael Walsh

12. From Westmount to Saint Henry
The history of trade and existences of industries in
Saint Henri resulted in a large pool of middle and
lower classes residential areas, in addition to
government developed low-cost housing.
Photo credit: Jacques Leblond-Murphy
RCA Victor Building
Photo credit: Ville de Montreal

13. From Westmount to Saint Henry
Unlike Westmount sites many grand buildings, classy shops and luxurious residences, old
fashioned city planning could still be observed through the major block in Saint Henri, it includes
extinguishing all-wood houses dating back to the 1880's, rooming houses from 1920's, Victorian
townhouses and contemporary luxury Condominiums.
Photo credits: http://www.mybis.net/itp/Montreal/html/sthenri40.php

14. From Westmount to Saint Henry
Back then where church dominated the daily activities of the neighbourhood, but also catered for
the need of its parishes. St. Henri has the eclectic architecture style and the old pattern of city
infrastructure vividly broadcasts its history to the resident and the visitor. In Saint Henry, bank
and school was sited close to the church, this is the evidence of low Socioeconomic Status lifestyle
from old days.

15. From Westmount to Saint Henry
Photo credits:
http://www.mybis.net/itp/Montreal/html/sthenri40.php
Before the Great Depression, the area of Saint Henri enjoyed prosperity in all trade, from business,
food processing, textile, garment to manufacturing, its success owed to the accessibility of Lachine
Canal and railroads. Unfortunately, Saint Henri was never able to recover from the economy
downturn, resulted from the Great Depression, and the canal was closed in 1959. Nowadays,
through the revitalized canal, revamped property, its easy access to downtown, and relatively low
living cost, Saint Henri is rejuvenated.
Photo credit:
http://hanoi.for91days.com/photos/Montreal/St20
Henri20Montreal/
Courtyards and
lanes adopted for
architectural
design in the late
19th century