These aren’t romantic photos. They are looking at the innards of the city, some showing a side that isn’t often portrayed. Almost every photo in this essay would easily pair with a historical essay. I would love gaining access to the interiors of many of these buildings, but for now these are exteriors only.
Authentic Grit
Comments
4 responses to “Authentic Grit”
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Wow, I really love this slideshow! I have a thing for “grit.” 🙂
I remember seeing your gigantic print of the cover image (Intersection of Iberville and St-Joseph) and being blow away by it. Nice work!
These photographs are less than 15 years old yet many of the scenes look entirely different now. Nice that you documented them as they were then.
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Interesting views of these buildings and sites. I grew up in Montreal in the mid-60s to early 70s. It felt more industrial then. Building like Place Ville Marie and Place Bonaventure were just completed or nearing completion – and Expo ’67. It seemed like a very transitional time for the city. Love the photo of the Wellington CN Bridge with the cyclist and skateboarder.
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These are great! Love the subject matter. In one of these locations, I think Jimmy Hoffa may be buried. Also love the title Authentic Grit. I may steal that title some day. Not to be entirely off topic, but have you seen the re-make of True Grit by the Cohen Bros starring Jeff Bridges? It’s very good.
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Ed – I didn’t know you saw the print in the show. It was placed right next to a photo by Gabor Szilasi and I was looking forward to meeting him but when I did he was hassling me about using a digital camera, which didn’t seem called for. You know I think he was a great photographer.
Bev – You’ve been through a whole metropolitan cycle now, with the Bonaventure completely changed and PVM an old building. I like these buildings though. I do wish I could get inside too. In the bridge photo you chose one of my favorites too. Thanks!
Edward – Lots of concrete, to be sure. I think Hoffa was probably in the old Giants Stadium, but no proof there. Thanks for the movie tip.
A friend off line wrote:
“The development of Montreal’s grain silos had a profound impact on US east coast ports in the early 20th century. Only the annual freezing of the St. Lawrence kept Montreal from owning nearly all grain export trade in those days. Now the city is largely bypassed. It’s an interesting episode in trade history. They are impressive structures.
Montreal was closer to Europe by sea routes and the ship traffic through the Great Lakes and the Welland canal was cheaper than unloading onto trains in Buffalo, then loading them again onto ocean-going ships in NYC. I first read of it in a history of Brooklyn by Thomas Campanella (worth reading). Montreal’s role as an entrepôt was then bypassed by the Seaway and also changes in the geography of world trade in which Europe is less of a factor (Asia).
The grain trade to Europe was big business. The development of the steamship in the 19th century opened up European agriculture to heavy competition from North America, Argentina and Australia.”
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