| Windsor Hotel | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Hotel |
| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Construction started | 1875 |
| Completed | 1878, 1906 (North Annex) |
| Destroyed | 1957 (all but North Annex) |
| Cost | CAD$500,000 (1878) |
| Website | |
| https://lewindsormontreal.com/en | |
The Windsor Hotel (opened 1878, closed 1981) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is often considered to be the first grand hotel in Canada, and for decades billed itself as 'the best in all the Dominion'.
Early years[edit]
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The hotel was constructed between 1875 and 1878 by the Windsor Hotel Company consortium of six Montreal businessmen, including William Notman. It was capitalized at C$500,000.[1] At the time Montreal was Canada's largest city, and the centre of commerce in the young country. The consortium was formed to construct an opulent new hotel to symbolize the city's growing prominence and wealth, and to serve visitors arriving at the nearby train station (which itself was replaced soon thereafter by Windsor Station).
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The hotel opened without fanfare on January 28, 1878.[1] Soon after, an opening gala was held that was the largest social gathering Montreal had ever seen. It was attended by Lady Dufferin (the wife of the Governor General), the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, Princess Louise and the Marquess of Lorne.
The hotel was not an immediate success. It was leased by the consortium to James Worthington and losses led to the operation being returned to the consortium to run. Instead of retrenching, the hotel expanded to include the 'Stanley Street Wing'. The hotel was buoyed by the successes of the Montreal Winter Carnivals of the 1880s, which were held in the square outside the hotel.[1]
The Windsor Hotel was soon at the centre of Montreal's social and business worlds, attracting not only railway visitors, but also business leaders, politicians, socialites, artists, and even royalty. The hotel was home to both the annual St. Andrew's Society Ball and the Winter Carnival Ball, the former being a mainstay of the hotel and of Montreal's social calendar for nearly a century. Sarah Bernhardt, Mark Twain, Dolores Costello, Rudyard Kipling, Fanny Davenport, Lillie Langtry and Oscar Wilde were among the Windsor's famous guests in its early years.
Expansion[edit]
In 1906, a fire destroyed almost 100 guest rooms. The fire did not adversely impact the hotel's success or reputation, but simply prompted significant renovations and the addition of a new wing, known as the Windsor Annex,[1] to the north of the original building. The number of rooms more than doubled, going from 368 to 750, and the hotel now occupied an entire city block. The north annex contained the famous 'Peacock Alley' (named after the peacock designs in its stained glass windows), and two additional ballrooms. Unlike the rest of the hotel, the north annex was designed in the Second Empire style.[2] The new annex cost C$1 million to construct and opened in 1908.[1]
The success of the hotel helped draw large commercial enterprises to this part of Montreal, including Morgan's and Ogilvy's, and contributed to the slow decline of Montreal's other grand railway hotel, the Hotel Place Viger.
Montreal's pre-eminent hotel[edit]
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In 1917, the owners of the Montreal Canadiens, the Quebec Bulldogs, the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Wanderers met in one of the Windsor Hotel's restaurants to form the National Hockey League. In 1919, the Dominion of Canada Football Association (today known as the Canadian Soccer Association) held its fifth General Meeting at the Windsor, the first after a four-year hiatus because of the Great War.
Executives of both the Canadian Pacific Railway and Grand Trunk Railway kept permanent residences in the hotel, making the Windsor home to men who controlled most of Canada's transportation infrastructure and much of its economy. In his later years, Stephen Leacock spent his winters living in the Windsor Hotel. Some of Leacock's writing, and much of his correspondence, was written on hotel stationery.
During the first ever royal tour of Canada by a reigning monarch, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stayed at the Windsor Hotel, and their arrival on May 18, 1939, attracted throngs of well-wishers to the hotel. The crowds were so large that one man died of a heart attack, many others collapsed due to heat and exhaustion, and the police found 64 children that had been separated from their parents. At a state banquet in the hotel prepared by chef Gabriel Meunier, Montreal's francophone mayor, Camillien Houde, famously remarked in his address to the monarchs: 'I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming. And my wife thanks you from her bottom, too.'
Decline[edit]
In 1957, another fire destroyed a third of the hotel. This time the damage was extensive, and the original hotel structure had to be demolished. The cupola, weighing some 15 tons, came down on August 12, 1959.[1] Within the next five years, the Tour CIBC office tower was constructed on the site of the original hotel.
The North Annex was all that remained of the Windsor Hotel, but it did contain 200 guest rooms, two ballrooms and Peacock Alley. The Windsor Hotel continued to operate out of the North Annex for almost another 25 years, but competition from newer hotels lead to the Windsor's slow decline. In 1975, Dolores Costello returned to the hotel for her seventieth birthday party, in honour of the hotel that had been her second home decades earlier. This party was perhaps the last true glimpse of the hotel's former grandeur before the Windsor's closure in 1981.
Conversion of North Annex to office building[edit]
In 1987, the Windsor Hotel reopened as an office building called 'Le Windsor'.
In 2006, the building was once again renovated with a total project cost of $15 million.
The office building currently houses the headquarters for Valeurs mobilières Desjardins, the securities and investment banking division of Desjardins Group, and Claridge, the trust management offices for the Bronfman family.
Preservation of the ballrooms[edit]
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Peacock Alley and a number of marble staircases have been preserved, and the two ballrooms are still used for banquets, wedding receptions and conferences.
Le Windsor's ground floor space along the front façade has been occupied by Le Piment Rouge, a Chinese restaurant and bar-lounge, for nearly three decades. During their 1988 and 1999 renovations, the restaurant restored and preserved a number of the North Annex's original architectural and design features, included ornate plaster ceilings, arched stained glass windows, and Austrian crystal chandeliers. Since 2016, the space is acquired by the management of the Windsor Ballrooms and is another event space for rent. During the 2017 renovation, the bar and most of the balcony were removed.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abcdefCollard 1969.
- ^J.D. (2008-03-01). 'Cypress now and then, but not in that order'. Coolopolis. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- Chisholm, Barbara, ed. (2001). Castles of the North: Canada's grand hotels. Toronto: Lynx Images. ISBN978-1-894073-14-1. OCLC45190818.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Collard, Edgar Andrew (December 6, 1969). 'Of Many Things ...'Montreal Gazette. p. 6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Gournay, Isabelle; Vanlaethem, France, eds. (1998). Montreal metropolis, 1880-1930. Toronto: Canadian Centre for Architecture, Stoddart. ISBN978-0-7737-5974-9. OCLC47971401.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Windsor Hotel (Montreal). |
- Photograph:Windsor Hotel Floor Plan, 1921 - McCord Museum
Coordinates: 45°29′56″N73°34′16″W / 45.498938°N 73.571065°W
The holidays mean one thing: party time.
Party hard this holiday season at any one of the gorgeous venues listed below. Flowing booze, endless appetizers, and awesome DJs, are just a few of the perks of a holiday party.
From elegant dining halls to trendy Indian restaurants, this is an unofficial guide to all the families and employers out there looking to throw a kick-ass holiday party this year.
Check out 11 spots to host a holiday party in Montreal.
Scena
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Perhaps the most beautiful event venue in Montreal, Scena is located in scenic Old Port and overlooks the Montreal Marina and Saint Lawrence River. This modern and industrial open-concept space is rife with steel and glass structures and would be perfect for an upscale holiday party.
Where: Quai Jacques-Cartier
Noel Chez Jean
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Thinking of throwing a party? Why not have it at the elegant and cozy Noel Chez Jean. The beach chalet at Ile St-Helene’s Jean-Dore Beach transformed into Noel Chez Jean for the winter months. Starting November 25th, the public is welcome to rent out the space for parties and gatherings. This exclusive banquet setting includes a gourmet meal for each guest, DJs, a wood fireplace, and an outstanding view. Available from November 25th until January 14th, be sure to book it before it’s gone!
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Rasoi
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One of our favourite Indian restaurants in the city, Rasoi is conveniently located near Marche Atwater and serves up some of the most delightful cuisine in Montreal. This hip restaurant also features a trendy exposed-brick interior and a terrace. Known for their Indian tapas, this would be an ideal venue for holiday drinks and appetizers one evening. Be sure to book their group dining room (it seats 30) in advance!
Where: 3459 Rue Notre-Dame O
The Satosphere
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Where: 1201 Boul St-Laurent
Bier Markt
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Where: 1221 Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest
Cabaret du Lion d’Or
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Where: 1676 Rue Ontario E
Bar Brutus
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Get a little wild in the VIP section of Bar Brutus. Perfect for a smaller holiday party, you and your staff will be able to let loose at this low key, bacon-themed bar. Not only will you bond over your love of bacon, but you’ll enjoy the eclectic range of retro cocktails. After all, this is a bar, and it just so happens the VIP section is Jagermeister-themed…
Where: 1290 Rue Beaubien E
Vortex Racing
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Where:2300 46e Avenue, Lachine
Rage Academy
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Blow off some steam with your closest friends and family this holiday season. You can rent out all of Rage Academy, Montreal’s own axe-throwing playground, for your own personal Christmas party. Get out all your anger and frustration just in time for the new year!
Where:1436 Rue Amherst
Oval Room
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Perhaps the most regal banquet hall in the city, the Oval Room is one of the Montreal Ritz Carlton’s fabulous venues. If you’re planning a classy holiday party for your dearest friends, family, or coworkers, you might consider splurging a little on this historic room seating up to 420 guests.
Where: 1228 Rue Sherbrooke O
Croisieres AML
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Hop aboard a boat in the Saint Lawrence for an unforgettable party experience. Cruise alongside Montreal’s breathtaking shoreline courtesy of Croisieres AML. Private groups can rent out their fleet, making for the ultimate dining/sightseeing experience.
Where: 530 Rue Saint-André