Ever wonder what lies beneath our feet here at Place d’Youville? This place is more than just a square. It holds secrets of Montreal’s past.
Place d’Youville is a historical square in Old Montreal. It is named after Marguerite d’Youville. She was a significant figure in Montreal’s history. The roads from Place Royale and McGill Street converge here.
Back in 1642, the first Montrealers settled near here. The Saint-Pierre River once crossed this area. But frequent floods forced them to move uphill toward Notre-Dame Street.
For many years, the land belonged to the Old Montreal General Hospital. This hospital was for the poor. The Charon Brothers managed it first. Later, in 1747, the Grey Nuns took over. Marguerite d’Youville founded this religious order. They were also known as the Sisters of Charity of Montreal.
The port’s proximity revived the area. In 1833, they built the marché Sainte-Anne. It was meant to accommodate farmers selling fresh produce. The building was beautiful. In 1844, the Parliament of the Province of Canada moved in. Representatives from Upper and Lower Canada met here. That’s present-day southern Ontario and Quebec.
However, disaster struck. On April 25, 1849, the building burned down. English-speaking demonstrators were angry about the Rebellion Losses Bill. They drove out the representatives and set the building ablaze. Montreal lost its status as capital city.
The building was rebuilt in 1852. It became a public marketplace again. A fish market was added. In 1871, the Grey Nuns moved to a new home on René-Lévesque Boulevard.
The city demolished the old chapel to open rue Saint-Pierre toward the port. Only the walls and traces of windows remained. Other buildings were also torn down to make way for rue Normand.
In 1901, the city demolished St. Anne’s Market and the fish market. This cleared the heart of the neighborhood. Shops, public buildings, and headquarters moved in. The City of Montreal named the area Place d’Youville. This honored Marie-Marguerite d’Youville. She was one of the area’s first residents.
From 2010 to 2018, archaeological digs took place here. They discovered thousands of artifacts. The Pointe-à-Callière Museum plans to use this site. Quebec declared it a heritage site in 2012.
Today, Place d’Youville is home to several notable buildings. These include the Pointe-à-Callière Museum. Since 2001, the eastern section has been called Place de la Grande-Paix-de-Montréal. A former fire station in the center now houses the Centre d’histoire de Montréal. A public artwork by Gilles Mihalcean, called La Peur or Fear, is also on display.
Place d’Youville has transformed over the centuries. From a settlement to a marketplace to a parliament. From a parking lot to an archaeological site. It shows Montreal’s rich history. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of history beneath your feet.