Rue Sainte-Catherine is one of Montreal's landmarks. It crosses the metropolis over its 11 kilometers from east to west and, since its beginnings, has represented an economic and cultural transport hub that reflects the history of Montreal and thus also the history of Quebec. We take advantage of the fact that it is currently undergoing a major renovation to trace its history from its beginnings to the present day, focusing on some of its most important elements.
Rue Sainte-Catherine, corner of Peel, around 1965. National Archives in Montreal (P97, S1, P7290). Photo: Armor Landry
1) The beginnings
At the beginning, in 1758, Rue Sainte-Catherine was a small country street in the Faubourg Saint-Laurent, then the most populous in Montreal. In 1781 this suburb had 1,100 inhabitants, and in 1825 it had 7,500 – a third of the entire city.
Plan of the Faubourg St-Laurent near Montreal, showing the original concessions, 18-?. National Archives in Quebec (E21,S555,SS1,SSS21,P17). J.-B. Papineau
Over the years, this road developed into a real road, consisting of several sections that were connected one by one. Any expansion that crossed agricultural land had to be done with the agreement of the owners of that land.
Originally called Sainte-Geneviève, the name Sainte-Catherine was officially chosen in the early 19th century. The name was intended to refer to Catherine Élizabeth, one of the daughters-in-law of Jacques Viger, the first mayor of Montreal.
Plan of the city of Montreal, circa 1800. Quebec National Archives (E21,S555,SS3,SSS4,P149.1).
In 1820, landowners requested the opening of Rue Sainte-Catherine, east of Rue Saint-Denis, as this part of the city began to develop significantly. There were already more French speakers than English speakers settling west of Saint-Laurent.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Rue Sainte-Catherine crossed Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. In 1950 it reached its current length, from Westmount to Pointe-aux-Trembles.
Rue Sainte Catherine [dans le quartier Hochelaga], June 25, 1929. National Archives in Montreal (P833,S3,D866,P5-1). Unknown photographer
2) A commercial calling
The commercial orientation of Sainte-Catherine Street was apparent very early on. Grocery stores are opening their doors to serve the ever-increasing population. Then butchers, tea and tobacco dealers appear, but also hardware stores, tailors and other small traders.
A. Cordeau furniture store, at the intersection of Sainte-Catherine and Dézéry streets in Montreal, circa 1910. National Archives in Montreal (P748, S1, P2743). Félix Barrière Collection
Over time, the shops on Sainte-Catherine Street became increasingly popular with the new French-speaking bourgeoisie, who left Old Montreal to settle on Saint-Hubert and Saint-Denis streets between Viger and Saint- Denis to settle down. St. Louis.
In the first half of the 20th century, the entire downtown area of Montreal migrated from Old Montreal to its current location. Law firms, notaries, engineers, architects, accountants and others are settling in brand new office buildings in Sainte-Catherine or the surrounding streets.
Sun Life Building, Montreal, Quebec, circa 1930. Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec (2631033). Montreal News Dealers Supply Co.
The headquarters of large companies that employ hundreds of people are located in imposing and prestigious buildings – such as the Sun Life building, just a stone's throw from Sainte-Catherine Street. However, the commercial nature of these office towers implies the fact that the ground floor of these office towers often houses shops.
3) Big stores
“Au Bon Marché” Letendre Limited department store, 625, rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montreal, around 1920. National Archives in Montreal (P318, S2, P12). Unknown photographer
At the end of the 19th century, department stores were founded in Montreal, huge commercial spaces that sold thousands of often luxurious products. They were frequented by the English-speaking elite and were concentrated on Sainte-Catherine Street West, near the Golden Square Mile district.
The Eaton Department Store building at the corner of Sainte-Catherine Street and Victoria Street, now McGill College, in Montreal, circa 1950. National Archives in Montreal (P97, S1, D15491, P1). Photo: Armor Landry
In addition to Eaton, Simpson, Ogilvy and Hamilton, the Morgan department store established itself as a safe point of contact for this customer group.
View. Morgan Store, August 1947. National Archives in Montreal (P48,S1,P16060). Photo: Conrad Poirier
The founder of this business was Henry Morgan, who left his native Scotland in 1844 to settle in Montreal. He immediately set up his own business and was joined by his brother James in 1851. The company Henry Morgan & Co. was the brainchild of this family association.
After opening boutiques on Notre-Dame Street, where Montreal's commercial activity was centered in the first half of the 19th century, Morgan opened his famous store opposite Phillips Square on Sainte-Catherine Street in April 1891.
Phillips Square, June 9, 1937. National Archives in Montreal (P48, S1, P1215). Photo: Conrad Poirier
The thriving Morgan business underwent several expansions throughout the 20th century. It was purchased by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1960 and given the new name it still bears today: The Bay.
The east of the city was not left out either. The Dupuis Frères store, opened in 1868, was in fact the reference for wealthy French-speaking customers in Montreal.
Saint-Catherine East, shows Dupuis Frères Dpt. Store, Montreal, around 1910. National Archives in Montreal (P186, S9, P183). Laurette Cotnoir-Capponi Fund
Located at the current location of Place Dupuis, near the Grande Bibliothèque, Dupuis Frères is also known as “the Canadian department store with a French accent.” The company claims clearly defined values, namely the use of the French language by its employees as well as the Catholic religion.
Dupuis Frères, once a proud symbol of Quebec entrepreneurship, did not survive a lockout in 1976 and was forced to submit to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Code, finally closing in 1978.
4) The reign of the nightclubs
Nightlife on Sainte-Catherine Street enjoyed a golden age from the late 19th century until the 1960s. During this period, which coincided with a prosperous era for Montreal, residents of the metropolis flocked there to dine in its restaurants, attend vaudeville shows and concerts, without forgetting the strippers.
Cabaret, Aurelia Colom, July 19, 1937. National Archives in Montreal (P48,S1,P1214). Photo: Conrad Poirier
While at the end of the 19th century the artistic productions that stopped in Montreal during the tours were of foreign origin – primarily British, French and American – in the 20th century we feel an increasingly clear presence of Canadian and Quebec artists. Local musicians and actors will come and show their talent to a pre-established local audience.
Renowned theaters open their doors, such as the Comédie Canadienne – forerunner of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde -, the Monument National or the Gayety.
Gayety Theater, between 1947 and 1951. National Archives in Montreal (MSS461,S8,D2,P1). Photo: Pierre Sawaya
Montreal's reputation as a party city is nothing new. The city benefited from American Prohibition in the 1920s. The thirsty public was attracted by the fact that the metropolis was a rebel in North America and allowed the sale of alcohol, which affected the holding of shows and the influx of big names music like Duke Ellington or Count Basie.
At The Normandie Roof Cabaret, October 11, 1940. National Archives in Montreal (P48,S1,P5946). Photo: Conrad Poirier
The reign of nightclubs lost momentum as the American clientele, which had made up a large portion of these establishments' income, declined dramatically following the end of Prohibition in 1933.
5) The seventh art
Because of its unique importance to Montreal life, Sainte-Catherine Street also reflected the vibrant activity of a new medium that emerged and flourished in the 20th century: cinema.
The first cinema screening in Canada took place on June 27, 1896 and the rise to power was gradual.
The Canadian pioneer of the seventh art also came from Quebec. This is Ernest Ouimet, who in 1906 opened the very first room for showing films, the famous Ouimetoscope, on the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Montcalm.
It could accommodate 500 spectators, and after renovation work, 1200. A memorial plaque can still be seen on the building that was built on the site where this hall was located.
624, rue Sainte-Catherine, 1908. National Archives in Montreal (MAS 5-61-a). Albums Massicotte
But like every successful company, the Ouimetoscope inspires imitators. Montreal will soon be lined with cinemas that are getting bigger each time as this type of show becomes more and more popular.
Many of these cinemas opened their doors on Rue Sainte-Catherine and competed to attract audiences in comfort and luxury. The Princess Cinema opened in 1917, followed by the Capitol in 1921 and the Palace in 1923.
Princess Cinema, Montreal, 1948. National Archives in Montreal (P833,S3,D212,P1-1). Unknown photographer
6) The tram
Map of Montreal's bus and tram routes, 1941. Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec. Montreal Tram Company
As a central traffic artery in Montreal, Sainte-Catherine Street – like Notre-Dame Street, Saint-Denis Street or Saint-Laurent Boulevard – was a traffic axis for electric trams.
Most of the tram lines on Sainte-Catherine crossed the commercial area between Atwater and De Bleury. However, they went as far as Victoria Street in Westmount and Viau Street in the east. In particular, they connected to local trains that ended their route at stations such as Gare Montréal-Ouest or Gare Centrale.
Photograph of a tram at the corner of De Bleury Street and Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal, November 11, 1936. National Archives in Montreal (P48, S1, P1017). Photo: Conrad Poirier
From the 1890s to the 1950s, the tram was Montrealers' primary means of transportation. An entire economy revolves around this mode of transportation: from blue-collar workers and office workers traveling to their jobs to drivers and technicians responsible for maintaining rails or train cars. The districts through which the tram runs are constantly developing and attracting a modern population.
Men at work on the corner of De Bleury and Sainte-Catherine Streets, July 19, 1943. National Archives in Montreal (P48,S1,P9349). Photo: Conrad Poirier
Considered cumbersome and less flexible than buses, they were gradually removed from Montreal streets.
7) The forum
Montreal Forum, November 28, 1924. National Archives in Montreal (P833,S3,D409,P1-1). Unknown photographer
In the minds of Montrealers, Rue Sainte-Catherine is associated with another – once glorious – symbol of the metropolis: the Montreal Canadiens. This street, at the intersection with Atwater Street, is the long-time home of the city's ice hockey team: the Forum.
Opened in 1924 and moved to the Bell Center in 1996, the Forum witnessed the Canadiens' greatest era.
Winter sports. Forum. Montreal, 1967. National Archives in Montreal (E6,S7,SS1,D670669-670699). Photo: Gabor Szilasi
Founded in 1909, the ice hockey club initially consisted mainly of French-speaking players, while the Wanderers team, which existed until 1918, consisted mainly of English-speaking players.
Montreal Canadiens, November 25, 1939. National Archives in Montreal (P833,S3,D163,P10-1). Unknown photographer
The traditional Stanley Cup parade, which the Canadian has won 24 times, took place on Sainte-Catherine Street. The caravan left the forum and marched to Berri Street, from where it turned towards the town hall.
Stanley Cup parade with players from the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club on the route from the Forum to Montreal City Hall, 1978. National Archives in Montreal (E6,S7,SS1,P780769-010). Photo: Adrien Hubert
Sainte-Catherine Street was therefore, some would say shamefully, witness to the riots of 1993, the last year in which the Montreal team won the famous Cup. Hundreds of shop windows were looted and shops were looted, including the Birks jewelry store in Carré Phillips. Even UQAM, then in brand new buildings on the corner of Rue Saint-Denis, felt the wrath of the rioters.
8th) The Place des Arts
One of the most important cultural events in Montreal's history is the opening of the Place des Arts in 1963. The aim was to put Montreal in the same league as other metropolises in the Western world and to make the world of the arts accessible to a larger number of people . We also wanted to provide the city with an architecturally sophisticated concert hall in which the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1934, could perform.
Exterior view of the Place des Arts, from the Sainte-Catherine street side, around 1970. National Archives in Montreal (P97, S1, P7962). Photo: Armor Landry
The location of this major project was carefully chosen to avoid linguistic disputes between English and French speakers. Thus, Sainte-Catherine Street is privileged due to its importance and geographical location. Its proximity to Saint-Laurent Boulevard makes it a central point, equidistant between the “two solitudes”.
Place des Arts and the adjacent park on De Bleury Street, circa 1967. National Archives in Montreal (P97, S1, P7591). Photo: Armor Landry
The construction of the Place des Arts faced several obstacles and was not without controversy. Initially, this major project involved the demolition of a complete square of old houses and the Woodhouse building, as well as the deletion of two streets.
Woodhouse & Co, September 29, 1946. National Archives in Montreal (P48,S1,P12981). Photo: Conrad Poirier
In the context of nationalism and the Quiet Revolution, debates also arose between those who favored international shows and those who wanted to give priority to Quebec productions. Cost overruns in the construction, which began in 1961, also caused discussions.
Finally, after its completion, the Place des Arts became associated by some with the English-speaking bourgeoisie, which was influenced by the United States, to the detriment of destitute artists and French-speaking separatist workers.
9) The decline
Signs for the Montreal Trust and Ben Ash restaurants. Northeast corner of Saint-Laurent and Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, 1976. National Archives in Montreal (E6,S7,SS1,P760683-1). Photo: Adrien Hubert
The golden age of Rue Sainte-Catherine ended in the late 1960s. At that time, a period of decline began, which led to the closure of shops, offices and factories that were victims of deindustrialization for the benefit of developing countries. The emergence of suburban shopping centers is also a major blow to downtown boutiques and shops.
In fact, it's the whole city that wakes up with a hangover after the euphoria of Expo 67 that made Montreal known to the world. The Quebec metropolis is losing its luster in favor of Toronto, which is becoming Canada's economic epicenter.
The population is falling. Large companies are relocating their headquarters, resulting in job losses. A period of high unemployment followed, exacerbated by the 1981-1982 and 1990-1992 recessions. All these crises devastate Sainte-Catherine Street, which is vulnerable due to its commercial nature.
Lasalle Building, 580 Sainte-Catherine Street East, December 3, 1975. National Archives in Montreal (P97, S1, P9421). Photo: Armor Landry
10) A new beginning
At the beginning of the 21st century, a new dynamic is trying to counteract this decadence. The economic situation is recovering. Jobs are being created in cutting-edge technologies and Montreal is gradually gaining an international reputation as a brilliant and creative city in the fields of IT, video games and design.
2.3: Immedia – 3D Hyperimage: Prototype [Logiciel : Softimage], 1993. National Archives in Montreal (P997,S2,SS1,D3). Echo Center Fund – Georges F. Singer
Rue Sainte-Catherine benefits from this revival, especially in its central part. New businesses are opening their doors, sometimes even underground. The city center is beginning to vibrate again, driven by increasing tourism and encouraged by the numerous festivals and the unparalleled cultural life of the Quebec metropolis.
After the opening of the Contemporary Art Museum in 1992 on Place des Arts, it was the creation of the Quartier des Spectacles in 2009 that expressed the desire to revitalize this central part of Rue Sainte-Catherine.
The future of this great Montreal street promises to be full of challenges. In the western part, the aesthetic change – particularly through the widening of the sidewalks – will continue, with the stated aim of making it attractive to consumers and tourists.
In the East, the decline of the sector is criticized by citizens and traders. The requested restore starts slowly.
Photograph of Sainte-Catherine Street near Peel, December 18, 1936. National Archives in Montreal (P48, S1, P1025). Photo: Conrad Poirier
A text by Edwin Bermudez, Archivist, National Library and Archives of Quebec
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Sources
- “Bubbling rue Sainte-Catherine,” MEM Encyclopedia [en ligne]
- Cha, Jonathan. “The Construction and Myth of the Place des Arts: Making Montreal Square”. Journal of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada. 37-64, 2006. [en ligne]
- “Chronique Montréalité No. 39: Rue Sainte-Catherine, since 1758,” Montréal Archives [en ligne]
- Comeau, Michelle. “The department stores of Rue Sainte-Catherine” [en ligne]
- “History of Trams,” Société de transport de Montréal [en ligne]
- La Presse, June 11, 1993 [en ligne]
- Lintel, Paul André. Sainte-Catherine Street: in the heart of Montreal life. Les Editions de l'Homme, 2010.
- “Sainte-Catherine: a flagship street in Montreal,” Pointe-à-Callières Museum [en ligne]