A, W, Dow, senior clerk, Grand Trunk Railway (1897).

W. E. Taprell, clerk Canadian Pacific Railway (1897).

E. B. Kirkham residence (1897) – clerk, Guarantee Company of North America.

From Wikipedia:

“The Guarantee Company of North America (GCNA), founded in 1872, is the largest purveyor of contract surety and fidelity bonding in Canada.

It started out providing fidelity bonds for the employees of the railways (such as the Grand Trunk Railway) in the 1800s.

Its beginnings are traced back to an Edward Rawlings who in 1863 was dispatched from London, England, to Montreal, Canada, to begin this venture. He went out of business, but together with his clients and friend Sir Alexander Galt acquired a charter on April 9, 1872, with Sir Alexander as president and Rawlings as manager in Montreal, Quebec.

Today the GCNA is the largest provider of insurance to government and governmental organizations in Canada.

It is the largest company providing contract and commercial surety bonds in Canada.”

G. Mann residence (1897) – Manager of the Salada Tea Company.

From Wikipedia:

“Salada tea was founded in 1892 by Montreal businessman Peter C. Larkin. Larkin’s main innovation was to offer its tea packaged in foil packaging, as opposed to being sold in loose form from chests, which helped to establish a uniform, consistent flavor, and a guarantee of freshness to its drinkers. Salada became one of the leading teas in Canada and the northeastern United States.

By 1917, Salada was so popular in the US, that it was able to establish its own headquarters and blending and packaging plant at 330 Stuart Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The architects were Densmore and LeClear. This former headquarters building’s large bronze doors by Henry Wilson are inscribed with images of the history of the Ceylon tea trade, as well as Larkin’s own contributions to a commitment to quality in the field. Though the building has been sold on several times the doors are still there.

By the 1950s, Salada had established plants across North America. Salada is now a division of Redco Foods, Inc. in Little Falls, New York.”

Grey spring morning in Westmount Park.

(Photograph shown on TWN)

Sign, on a loading dock door, attesting to the former staffs’ deep attachment to the hospital before its closure.

Large parking garage built for the hospital’s visitor parking. The street parking meters, even today, offer no grace periods and must be used 7 days a week from 0700-22:00 (the only ones, like this, in Westmount).

Former Reddy Memorial Hospital on Tupper Street (named Quiblier Street in the 1800s).

The hospital was one of nine area hospitals, closed in 1997, by the Quebec government as a cost-cutting measure. The building now houses the YMCA and the Batshaw Youth & Family Centres.

Behind the former Packard Motor Car Company of Canada Ltd. building.