You wish to visit the Hurtubise House?

Exciting news: the photography exhibition is now accessible for our visually impaired visitors! Ask for the audio guide!

Ease the process by booking directly online (see below)! Do not forget to wait for our confirmation before coming on your guided tour.

If you prefer to reserve by email, you still can do it by writing at coord@hcq-chq.org 

General Informations

From July 8 to July 24 is happening Historic Places Days, an event created by the National Trust for Canada! The goal is to discover and celebrate the Canadian heritage.

Come to visit us by reserving your spot at coord@hcq-chq.org

This summer, treat yourself to a journey through time in pictures.

This summer, there’s no need to travel far for a change of scenery. Maison Hurtubise, located on chemin de la Côte-Saint-Antoine in Westmount, transforms itself into an exhibition gallery during the summer and invites you to take a trip back in time to the Belle Époque, through a photographic exhibition featuring numerous photographs taken by Leopold Hurtubise.

“En photo… Être montréalais à la Belle-Époque” presents unpublished photographs taken by Dr. Hurtubise in the early 20 th century, from 1901 to 1908. Nearly twenty images captured by the photographer’s Premo bellows camera are on display in the ancestral residence that bears his name. These photos have been selected from some 300-glass plate negatives dating from the early 20 th century, bearing witness to Montreal’s urban life at that time.

Far more than a simple photographic exhibition, this initiative by the Canadian Heritage of Quebec (CHQ) promotes a long-term historical vision. The CHQ has embarked on the immense task of archiving this rich photographic collection documenting Montreal’s social history. Stored in the archives of Maison Hurtubise, these documents required special attention.

The Heritage team has ensured that the exhibition is accessible to all audiences, including the visually impaired, who will be offered a bridge between the visible and perceptive worlds thanks to a detailed and explanatory audioguide.

Come experience La Belle-Époque in pictures through the eyes of Leopold Hurtubise, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from June 20 to August 10, 2023, at 561 chemin de la Côte-Saint-Antoine in Westmount. Visitors must reserve their guided tour in advance to coord@hcq-chq.org.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2023 edition of the prize “Capture ton
patrimoine”!

Hurtubise House had the pleasure to welcome the team of Action-Patrimoine in order to
celebrate the finalists of a photography contest that aimed to highlight Quebec’s
heritage. The contest allows students from the 3rd cycle of elementary
school, as well as those from high school to explore their region’s heritage through the art of
photography. The finalists came at the event with their proud relatives and teacher
mentors.

A special bravo to Gaïa Viénot, the winner of the distinction prize, who charmed the jury with a beautiful photograph of a carpenter working with wood! Her photograph successfully represents an aspect of Quebec’s intangible heritage. A Canon EOS Rebel T7 camera was given to Gaïa!

To have a better look at all the finalist’s photographs, please do not hesitate to visit the
website of Action-Patrimoine!

Few words on the Festival d’Histoire de Montréal

Montreal has a rich history: alive, intense and multicultural! Come to discover or rediscover it through 14 history, archeology and ethnology museums that are accessible to everyone. Their exhibitions and archives gather more than 2.3 million objects that express the evolution of the territory of Montreal from prehistory to the present day. Each year, the museums present with passion and precision more than 30 exhibitions and events along with regular visits and numerous online activities. Fourteen museums and just as many ways of telling the stories of the city and its past… and to make us love it even more.

➡️ To learn more about it, visit the website of the Festival d’Histoire de Montréal

The Proposition of Hurtubise House

Have you ever asked yourself what a dissection over a century ago would have looked like? Have you ever tried to imagine the way Queen Victoria’s death has been honored in Montreal?

Coming back for another summer, the photography exhibition from the turn of the 20th century is featured in the Festival d’Histoire de Montréal! Come and discover immortalized scenes taken by the last occupant of Hurtubise House, Leopold Hurtubise. Be ready for fascination and wonder!

Novelty! Do not let your visual handicap keep you from the visit: the photography exhibition made several ajustements in order to adapt it for our public with visual impairment. Do not hesitate to come and ask for our adapted guide to live a unique audio experience!

Event details

Would you like to come to Hurtubise House for the Festival? Here you have some practical information…

🗓️ When? May 12, 13 and 14, 2023

💲Prices:

• 5$/person (14 years old and over)
• Free for 13 years and less
• Note: plan to have the exact amount in cash

IMPORTANT! Before coming to the house, be sure to reserve your spot at the following email address: coord@hcq-chq.org

3 easy steps:

1. Choose your day: May 12, 13 or 14, 2023
2. Select your preferred moment: AM (10:00-12:00) or PM (1:30-3:30)
3. Tell us if you need an adapted guide

Enjoy your visit!

Written by Delia Oltean

And here it is, finished… It is magically perfect! However, you must take a few steps back to see all the colours sparkling in the dark… The coloured globes reflect the lights and send red and green beams everywhere, it’s beautiful. When you get closer, it’s the little details of each bauble that are revealed. Yes, this year, our Christmas tree is very nice!

Suddenly a thought comes to mind: what is the history of this beloved tree?

We must go back as far as the Middle Ages to see these famous Christmas trees. The only difference is that then they were not in our homes, but in theatres (Lebel, 1996, p. 24)! It was not until the 16^th century that the first decorated trees appeared in Alsace and Strasbourg. What were the ornaments? Apples, sweets, pretzels, and paper roses as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. Gifts for children were also hung among the branches (Marsh, 2015).

Even though the tradition of the Christmas tree originated in France, it seems that the practice was not really pursued by the colonists in Nouvelle France. It was not until the wife of a German general, Friederike Charlotte Louise von Riedesel, decided to light a tree on Christmas Eve in Sorel in 1781 (Lebel, 1996, p. 24).

As for the famous Christmas baubles, they appeared in Germany during the 1830s and did not immediately find their place on the branches of the tree, but rather were hung in the windows. The function of the baubles was to detect evil spirits who wished to spoil the holiday (Lebel, 1996, p. 25). Indeed, if we see our own reflection, it means that we are a real human being who can receive our gifts. Without a reflection, however, we must be careful!

The practice of setting and decorating one’s Christmas tree gained popularity during the Victorian era, in 1848, after an illustration depicted the royal family decorating their Christmas tree. Even though Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, contributed to the popularity of the tree, it is necessary to mention that, contrary to popular belief, the tradition had already been started by Queen Charlotte at the turn of the 19^th century (Marsh, 2015).

As the 19th century progressed, inventions such as the electric bulb also contributed to the magic of Christmas: the manufactured production of garlands began around 1890. Interestingly, the first Christmas tree lit by small electric bulbs in Quebec was in Westmount in 1896 (Lebel, 1996, p. 26)!

This year, it is Maison Hurtubise’s turn to join the tradition of lighting the Christmas tree. During the holiday season, don’t hesitate to pass by the house—it’s your turn to observe this tree with a fascinating history!

We wish you a happy holiday season.

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Bibliography :

Lebel, J.-M. (1996). Mon beau sapin : coutumes et décorations de l’arbre de Noël. Cap-aux-Diamants (47), 24–27. https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/8234ac

Marsh, J. (2015). Christmas in Canada. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/christmas-in-canada

Written by Delia Oltean –

The very first motorized carriages replacing horses, gramophones used to broadcast music, cameras… All these inventions dating from the end of the 19^th to the beginning of the 20^th century were discovered progressively by the last generation of Hurtubise. At the beginning of this century, rich in all kinds of changes, the increase in the family’s level of education contributed to quench the thirst for knowledge of the last ones who lived in the house. The access to art stimulated the different passions of the family until they left behind them, still today, traces of this interest.

Two names stand out when we go back to the beginning of the last century: Melvina and Léopold Hurtubise. Melvina’s profession as a nurse did not prevent her from improving her talent for drawing. Some of her drawings are still preserved in the house and can be viewed during a guided tour. Leopold, on the other hand, was more interested in technology and artistic fashions than in the application of any particular art.

When Leopold acquired the house in 1911, he took the opportunity to add “symbols of modern comfort to the interior, namely running water and electricity.” (Stewart and Robichaud, 2001, p.52) The Hurtubise house had thus been renovated to allow for the additional comfort that the technologies of their time allowed. Far from simply modernizing the interior, Léopold also modified the exterior look by undertaking renovations. He wished to “break the plain appearance adopted during the 1870s.” (Stewart and Robichaud, 2001, p.52) To achieve this result, the fieldstone rendering was removed, the siding on the addition differed from that of the house, and some windows were added.

Following the renovations of the Hurtubise House in 1911, the major change remains, despite all the modifications, the Beaux-Arts style gallery at the front of the house. Very trendy in the United States, Beaux-Arts architecture was popular between 1880 and 1930 and is recognizable by its massive appearance with many decorative arches and columns (Jackson, 2021, para. 7). This type of architecture was much more commonly used for large public buildings (for example the Grand Central Terminal in New York City), although it is possible to see privately owned homes of the elite in Newport, Rhode Island (Jackson, 2021, para. 3). The gallery of the Hurtubise House was first expanded to cover the entire length of the façade. The gallery turns the corner of the house to allow the addition of a staircase along the wall. It is likely that Leopold’s inspiration for the Beaux-Arts came from his travels (it should also be noted that Melvina lived in New York for some time). The gallery is then in the image of the trendy architecture of the time!

Sources:

• Stewart, A. Robichaud, L. (2001). Étude patrimoniale de la maison des Hurtubise. Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française et Ministère de la Culture et des Communications. 
• Jackson, A. (2021). Beaux-Arts Architecture: Definition, Characteristics & Style. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/beaux-arts-architecture-definition-characteristics-style.html 

Written by Delia Oltean –

To walk on the grounds of the Hurtubise House is to walk on years of history and on a land that has seen many generations pass. It is not surprising, given the age of the Hurtubise House, to learn that underneath a few layers of soil are found artifacts or fragments of objects forgotten and buried over time. Already, it is possible to notice some stones emerging from the lawn while walking near the carriage house. Let’s look at the meaning of these stones that can easily be missed…

It is necessary to go back to 1839 when the Hurtubise family’s land ownership changed radically. The land, since the acquisition of Louis Hurtubise in 1699, had never been divided and yet, the two brothers Antoine-Isaïe and Benjamin-Dominique decided to do otherwise by dividing the agricultural land in two.

On a plan by H. S. Sitwell, a prolific cartographer of the mid-nineteenth century, it is possible to see that to the southwest of the house there is a well (it is the one that can be seen by the stones today). It seems that it was condemned sometime later, and that the family replaced it with another one, very close to the house. “This second well had a cement cover and a wrought iron pump” (Stewart and Robichaud, 2001, p.57).

The history of the wells does not end there, however, as there are traces that suggest a third well: on the east side of the property there appears to have been a well surrounded by a board fence (Stewart and Robichaud, 2001, p.57). The second and third wells are no longer visible today and, despite some estimates from an archaeological excavation conducted in 2011, the exact location of these two other wells remains a mystery (Archéotec inc., 2012, p.73).

Sources:

• Steward, A. et Robichaud, L. (2001). Étude patrimoniale de la maison des Hurtubise. Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française. 
• Archéotec inc. (2012). Inventaire et supervision archéologiques. Ville de Montréal et ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine. 

Written by Delia Oltean –

The number 563 Côte-Saint-Antoine Road is the current address of the Maison Hurtubise. Interesting to visit, who would have thought that an equally interesting history could also be hidden in its civil address?

Focusing on “chemin de la Côte-Saint-Antoine” reveals that the name has changed several times since the 1680s. At first without a name, it was not until 1730 that the first version of the name appeared: “grand chemin de la haute folie.” The second version of the name followed in 1760: “grand chemin de la haute côte.”

Why “Haute folie (high madness)”? While it may seem enigmatic at first, the reason is quite simple. The word “haute” is chosen considering the elevation of the road on the Mount-Royal. As for the word “folie,” it is important to know that the territory, until the very early 1700s, was crossed by various native populations and that the danger represented by the journey between Ville-Marie (now the Old Port of Montreal) and this region sometimes led to skirmishes with natives. The road was so dangerous that it was madness to go to this area of the Island of Montreal. According to two historians, Stewart and Robichaud, “the house acquired the nickname of la haute folie because it was located too far from Ville-Marie to be integrated into the local defence network”. (Stewart and Robichaud, 2001, p.9).

The exact date when the name “chemin de la Côte-Saint-Antoine” was chosen remains unknown. On the other hand, it is likely that a road was opened in the 19^th century to communicate with the developing village of Saint-Henri-des-Tanneries (where a lot of leather was produced).

In 1879, the village of Côte-Saint-Antoine was founded (which will later become the City of Westmount). The area, except for the widening of Côte-Saint-Antoine Road, remained the same after the subdivision of the upper part of the Hurtubise property was completed.

It is fascinating to note the evolution of the Hurtubise House environment over the years. From a completely unoccupied environment to an urbanized area, the house is still part of the City of Westmount’s landscape today.

Sources:

• Stewart, A. et Robichaud, L. (2001). Étude patrimoniale de la maison des Hurtubise. Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française. 

Written by Delia Oltean –

The Hurtubise family’s farmland, until 1839, remained intact. Although the family, over time, acquired other lands elsewhere on the present Island of Montreal, the land that Louis Hurtubise had originally purchased in 1699 remained unchanged. It was in 1839, 140 years after Louis acquired the land that the first change in the division of the land occurred.

In the manner of the last generations of Hurtubise, Antoine-Isaïe and Benjamin-Dominique took over the farm that they will cultivate together. However, the two brothers decided to depart from tradition and divide the land into two portions that they will continue to cultivate individually. It is Antoine-Isaïe who will obtain the portion on which the Hurtubise House is located. The Hurtubise family, by this decision, will mark a long series of other actions of the same type.

Marie-Claire Laurent, Antoine-Isaïe’s first wife, unfortunately died in 1852 leaving her husband a widower. The latter remarried to Adélaïde Hudon the same year. His new wife is the sister of Ephrem Hudon who will become very close to the family and an important actor in the parcelling of the property.

In 1846, Antoine-Isaïe sold part of his land to an English bookseller and publisher named Hugh Ramsay for the sum of £75. This sale inspired Antoine-Isaïe to sell another part of his property to his brother-in-law, Ephrem Hudon. This sale was much more important, corresponding to 27.4 acres, that is to say the part of the farm that corresponds to the bottom of the Côte-Saint-Antoine Road. The sale is so important that the Hurtubise family has no longer enough space to continue their agricultural activity. This sale clearly improved the financial situation of the family who can afford to move towards professions requiring more education. 

The large portion of land that Éphrem Hudon acquired was part of the modification of the rural landscape of Côte Saint-Antoine into a new neighbourhood with multiple residences for wealthy English-speaking Montrealers. Slowly, the City of Westmount was created, and from 1895 onwards, it was called the City of Westmount.

When Antoine-Isaïe died in 1878, his son Isaïe hired a land surveyor a year later to draw up a subdivision plan for the remaining part of the farm. Despite this, Isaïe never developed his idea of selling: it would be the next generation that would sell the remaining lots surrounding the Maison Hurtubise.

Today, the Hurtubise House, along with its grounds, is a very small portion of the land originally acquired by Louis Hurtubise. During a memorial garden project in 2017, a planter on the side of the house represented the difference in proportions between the current land (a small square portion raised from the rest of the planter) and the original land (the entire rectangular planter).

Sources: 

• Ville de Westmount. (2021). Histoire. Ville de Westmount. https://westmount.org/la-ville/histoire-2/#1443015378855-6cb80bc7-976b 
• Stewart, A. et Robichaud, L. (2001). Étude patrimoniale de la maison des Hurtubise. Institut d’histoire de l’Amérique française.