The property at 1500 Ottawa Street has been the site of major events that have marked the evolution of the City of Montréal. From 1819 and 1826, the building of the Lachine Canal enabled the growth of the areas to the west of Ville-Marie, along the shores of the largest maritime route into the heart of the continent. This location was where industry and workers settled at the dawn of Montréal's industrial revolution.

In 1845, the area around 1500 Ottawa was rapidly changing. The Sulpicians divided Saint-Gabriel farm into plots along the shores of the canal, including the current site at 1500 Ottawa. The Lachine Canal was doubled in width and depth. The basins and canals were set up for unloading and transferring goods, as well as to supply water and energy for the new industrial facilities along the shores of the canal. The neighbourhood witnessed the creation of a port inside Montréal.

Creation of the Saint-Gabriel Basins

In 1848, the first rectangular basin was dug at the site of 1500 Ottawa Street, along the current Rue du Séminaire. Named the Saint-Gabriel Basin (Figure 1), it included an artificial island used to transfer logs that had been rafted up the Lachine Canal. The Saint-Gabriel Basin was expanded in 1853 to accommodate the increase in commercial activities on the canal.

In 1880, Basins 1 and 2 were created by dividing the Saint-Gabriel Basin. Basins 3 and 4 were dug to the west between 1873 and 1885, following the expansion of the canal (Figure 2).

Setting up four basins between the Lachine Canal and Ottawa Street not only increased mooring surface for ships, but also lead to the building of warehouses for sand and gravel storage, reservoirs, cranes and access ramps. At this time, the site was very active and it was difficult to find free space on the piers (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

Opening the St. Lawrence Seaway

Although the intensity of industrial activities fluctuated during the first half of the 20th century, the industrial decline of Montréal's southwestern neighbourhoods really began when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959. The canal permanently closed its locks to maritime traffic in 1970. From 1966 to 1971, the basins were gradually filled with excavated earth from the construction of Montréal‘s metro.

In 1978, Canada Post Corporation (CPC) built a postal distribution centre at 1500 Ottawa Street, and occupied the building until 2003. In 2007, Canada Lands Company acquired this site, which is the first of five properties to be redeveloped Montréal’s New Harbourfront initiative, mandated by the Government of Canada.

Sources (text and images):

• BACHMANN, Sébastien, DÉCARIE, Catherine and Sabiha TOUAMI, Évolution du paysage culturel, Lieu historique national du Canada du Canal-de-Lachine (Development of the Cultural Landscape, Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada), Parks Canada, Montréal (2003).
• Société d’Archéomatique Chronogramme-Lauverbec, Archaeological Inventory, Basin no.4, Lachine Canal, Preliminary Report, Montréal (2005)
• GROUPE CARDINAL HARDY, Analyse et orientation d’aménagement, 1500 Rue Ottawa, Preliminary Report, Montréal (2008).