The Golden Square Mile • (Mille Carré Doré ),Montreal, Qc. #CanadianVisitList

The Golden Square Mile, is a  the nostalgic name given neighbourhood developed principally between 1850 -1930. Found at the foot of Mount Royal in the western section of downtown Montreal,  it denotes a profound ‘Memory of Cultural & Mercantile History of Montreal.

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From the 1790s, the business leaders of Montreal looked beyond Old Montreal for sites upon which to build their country homes. They developed farmland on the slopes of Mount Royal north of Sherbrooke Street, creating a neighbourhood famous for its grandeur and architectural splendour.

At the Square Mile’s peak (1850–1930), its residents included the owners and operators of the majority of Canadian rail, shipping, timber, mining, fur and banking industries.

By the 1930s, multiple factors led to the neighbourhood’s decline, including the Great Depression and much of the younger generation, moved to the City of Westmount.

During the Quiet Revolution, many of the Anglophone  businesses created in Montreal, moved to Toronto.

In this period, the Square Mile evolved to gradually become the central business district, and many of its grand houses were demolished. The face of the Square Mile was altered, leading to the formation of ‘Heritage Montreal: to preserve historic architecture in the city.

By 1983, only 30% of the mansions in the northern half of the Square Mile survived demolition; and 5% survived south of Sherbrooke Street. Many of the remaining mansions, such as the James Ross House, today known as Chancellor Day Hall, are today owned by McGill University. Other historic buildings owned by Concordia University.

Nevertheless, the mansions of the Golden Square Mile represent a prosperous period during which Montreal was the cultural and financial capital of Canada.

Borders

The neighbourhood, has borders measuring roughly a square mile, covering the area between Dorchester Boulevard in the south, Pine Avenue at the foot of Mount Royal, University Street in the east, and Guy Street (along with Côte-des-Neiges Road) in the west end.

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‘ A Vibrant Community ‘

The Golden Square Mile, has become the ‘prime area’ of the Retail Community where many famous buildings of Architectural relevance, Hotels, Museums, Places of Faith, Restaurants, Bistros and Specialty stores can be found.

‘Quartier Du Musée:

Within the Golden Square Mile lies the ‘Quartier du Musée’, which is located approximately within the parameters of (Sherbrooke St. West, Crescent Street, DeMaisonneuve Street and St. Catherine St. Ouest), below the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Within this immediate area. many architecturally reputed buildings can be found, depicting a resoning feeling of History and Place.

Much of the Scottish Architectural Heritage is found in this area, renowned ‘Brownstone Buildings’ with Stained Glass Windows have been placed under protection with Concordia University.

These buildings found within the Peter McGill District have been magically transformed into Irish & Scottish Pubs, creating an ‘spirit of animation of cultural & oral history’.

Facing this area on Sherbrooke St. West, can be found the Church of St.Andrews & St. Pauls.  A devoted program reflecting the culture of the founding peoples, they offer a continuous program of reflection.  The Summer Organ Concert Series currently under way and invited Choirs from across Canada, make a complete Program of Discovery.

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For visitors, tourists and students studying in this area, an eternal experience remains in ones heart ‘forever’.