# Papineau: une avenue plein d'histoire... et de Trafic! #montreal

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWCzg1sHfjI
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/iWCzg1sHfjI
Generated: 2025-11-16T15:01:47.867+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The video explores the historical evolution of several locations along Avenue Papineau in Montreal, contrasting old photographs and engravings with current views to highlight changes such as the Molson Brewery's original location, the destruction of the area for urban development, and the establishment of modern buildings like the one housing Radio-Canada and the former Lion d'Or cabaret location.

**Key Points:**
- The original Molson Brewery, established in 1786, was located in what is now the area south of Rue de la Commune in Montreal, an area since demolished and replaced by modern structures.
- The area around Place Papineau was completely rebuilt in the 1960s, replacing older residential buildings with structures like the Radio-Canada building and a parking lot where the old cemetery once stood.
- The former Lion d'Or cabaret, located at 1676 Ontario East, was a popular venue in the 1930s and 1940s but the building has since been replaced by a modern restaurant called La Belle Province.
- The former École Primaire Garonde, built in 1905, which once housed students learning skills like tailoring, is now a building housing people with disabilities and features an elevator to accommodate them.
- Parc des Vétérans, located east of Papineau, is a small park with a playground and a splash pad, formerly a cemetery where soldiers of the Canadian Army were buried.
- The former location of the École St-Henri, built in 1895, housed girls learning tailoring and linen work; it is now an apartment building, and the street it was on, Rue St-Henri, is now Rue De La Gauchetière.
- The intersection of Ontario and Papineau features the modern Radio-Canada building and the former location of the Lion d'Or, which is now a La Belle Province restaurant.

![Screenshot at 0:34: An 1800s engraving shows the original extensive Molson Brewery complex situated along the river, marking the starting point for tracing the area's historical development before its demolition and redevelopment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-00-34.png)

**Context:** This documentary-style video explores the historical geography of Avenue Papineau in Montreal, focusing on how specific locations have transformed over time. The narrator walks the modern street, comparing current scenes with archival materials like 19th-century engravings and old photographs to illustrate the extensive urban renewal that has taken place, particularly in the area near the river and Place Papineau.

## Detailed Analysis

The video traces the historical layers of Avenue Papineau in Montreal, starting near the river where the original Molson Brewery stood, founded in 1786. This brewery complex, shown in an 1800s engraving (0:34), was eventually demolished, and the area was completely redeveloped in the 1960s, with Place Papineau built over what was once a cemetery (2:12). The narrator visits the modern Radio-Canada building (2:25), which now occupies the space of the former brewery site. Further north, the site of the former Lion d'Or cabaret (8:14) at 1676 Ontario East, famous in the 1930s and 40s, is now occupied by a La Belle Province restaurant, evidenced by the pig statue signage (9:18). The narrator also visits the École Primaire Garonde (7:11), built in 1905, which taught trades like tailoring and linen work to young girls, and is now a residence for people with disabilities, featuring an elevator (7:32). Nearby, Parc des Vétérans (5:30) sits on land that was once a cemetery for Canadian soldiers (5:41). The video also shows the former École St-Henri (7:34), built in 1895, which is now an apartment building, and notes that the street it was on, Rue St-Henri, became Rue De La Gauchetière (7:57). The tour concludes by highlighting that while many historic commercial buildings remain, significant changes, like the development of the Lion d'Or area, underscore the dynamic history of the neighborhood.

### Molson Brewery History

- Original site south of Rue de la Commune
- Demolished in the 1960s during urban renewal
- Location now occupied by modern buildings like Radio-Canada

### Place Papineau Area

- Site of old cemetery before 1960s redevelopment
- Now contains the Radio-Canada building and a parking lot (2:12)

### Lion d'Or Cabaret Site

- Located at 1676 Ontario East
- Popular in 1930s-40s
- Now houses a La Belle Province restaurant with an external pig statue (9:18)

### École Primaire Garonde History

- Built 1905, taught tailoring and linen work to girls
- Now a residence for people with disabilities featuring an elevator (7:32)

### Parc des Vétérans

- Located east of Papineau
- Built over a cemetery for Canadian soldiers (5:41)
- Today features a playground and splash pad (5:30)

### École St-Henri History

- Built 1895, taught trades to girls
- Now an apartment building
- Original street, Rue St-Henri, became Rue De La Gauchetière (7:57)

### Current Street Views

- Modern traffic and architecture contrast with historical images of the same locations (9:09, 10:00)

![Screenshot at 0:01: The narrator introduces the video while walking outdoors in autumn attire near a street.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-00-01.png)
![Screenshot at 0:08: Archival footage showing a mural of a man in a hat on a large building, highlighting historical context.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-00-08.png)
![Screenshot at 0:09: A view inside a bus depot featuring a '100% électrique!' bus, showing modern transportation elements in Montreal.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-00-09.png)
![Screenshot at 0:41: Close-up of the Molson's Brewery sign on a rooftop, dated 1786-1933, showing historical branding.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-00-41.png)
![Screenshot at 0:56: Portrait of Joseph Papineau \(1752-1841\), the historical figure for whom streets are named.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-00-56.png)
![Screenshot at 2:22: Exterior of the modern Radio-Canada building, demonstrating the contemporary architecture replacing older structures.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-02-22.png)
![Screenshot at 3:33: Street view showing the juxtaposition of modern residential buildings and older architecture along the route.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-03-33.png)
![Screenshot at 4:49: Archival view of the former Protestant church \(now an event space\) on Avenue Papineau, built in 1894.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-04-49.png)
![Screenshot at 7:44: Archival photo of the former École St-Henri \(built 1895\) showing its original brick facade and parked cars from the mid-20th century.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-07-44.png)
![Screenshot at 9:18: Close-up on the pig statue sculpture outside the building that was formerly the Lion d'Or cabaret.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/iWCzg1sHfjI/00-09-18.png)
