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Backgrounder |
Remember When...?
My Encounter with the Architecture of Old Hull
Origin
Remember When...? was developed by Harry Foster, former director of the Photography Section of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. During the course of his lunchtime strolls, and on his way home from work, he would explore the neighbourhoods around the Museum. He loved the mix of old and new buildings, as well as the many styles of architecture, and took a series of photos of various structures to capture the true nature of Old Hull. The creation of this virtual exhibition was one of his final projects before he retired from the Museum.
Context
In 1800, Philemon Wright founded a settlement in West Quebec, and mills, dams and hotels were quick to follow. Ezra B. Eddy later continued this development with the construction of factories. In 1875, Wrightstown was renamed Hull (renamed Gatineau in 2002 following the amalgamation of five municipalities: Aylmer, Hull, Gatineau, Masson-Angers and Buckingham). Over the years, the city underwent major modernization with the introduction of a water system, hydroelectricity and public transportation. Between 1875 and 1971, however, several devastating fires, together with urban renewal, wiped out a good part of the architectural heritage of Old Hull. The contemporary photos featured in this exhibition show some of the historical buildings that still remain.
Virtual Tour
Starting with a map of the area, visitors click on arrows indicating the locations of buildings featured in the exhibition. They can also navigate from the picture index and directly select the photos they want to view. The images are accompanied by captions and historical notes, providing information on the buildings and the people who inhabited them. To better illustrate the transition between yesterday and today, a slow dissolve alternates between contemporary and archival photos of the same location.
Content
Reflecting the eclectic architecture of old Hull, Remember When...? features a wide range building styles. Several businesses are depicted, including the oldest barber shop, which is located at 93 Papineau Street on one of the smallest lots in the city. Many old residences are included as well, ranging from the lost E.B. Eddy mansion on Montcalm, which used to be where the present-day Holiday Inn Plaza de la Chaudière now stands, to more modest homes such as the Sanche house at 245 Papineau Street. Remember When...? also looks back at industrial buildings such as the foundry on Montcalm, which has been converted into a sportsplex, and shows the profound transformation that certain sites have undergone during the twentieth century, including the locations currently occupied by the Canadian Museum of Civilization and Scott Paper.
