The building known as the “Morgan’s House” or the “Colonial Building” represents a page in the history of Victorian Montreal. The house was built in 1853. It is a stone building of 4 floors, marked on the Hopkins’s map of Montreal in 1879.

James Morgan, the first owner of this house, was following in the steps of his father James and grandfather Henry as a President of the company “Henry Morgan and Co. Limited”. The enterprising Scottish Morgans were well know in Montreal first of all for their stores. Their enormous store with beautiful windows display was standing near by at the corner of Saint James Street (presently Saint Jacques) and McGill. A photo of the interior of the Morgan’s store, full of luxurious and beautiful goods, has been preserved till present. Another store, which until recently was called “The Morgan’s Store” by old Montrealers, is the present “Bay Store”, one of the landmarks of Ste-Catherine Street. It is exceptionally splendid these days with its Christmas decorations.

However, James Morgan was famous not only for his stores. “The Colonial Building” was the Head Office of his Real Estate and insurance company. Having started with the life-work of his grandfather and father, Morgan, who arrived in Montreal as a child, by the end of his life became a prominent wealthy citizen, member of the Montreal Club of Millionaires. His abilities, insightfulness and business skills demonstrated themselves in the years to come in various activities. In particular, he was one of the founders of the companies “Montreal Cement”, “Colonial Real Estate Company”, “British Columbia Securities”. As noted by his contemporaries - he was an honest businessman and his methods were straightforward. It is worth mentioning that Morgan was famous for his charity, contributing to the promotion of social and cultural life in Montreal.

Some words about the events witnessed by this old building.

Once military bands marched along McGill Street while citizens hurried towards Victoria Square, located near-by, for the official opening of Queen Victoria Monument. The festivities commemorating the arrival to Montreal of the 18 year old Prince of Wales left unforgettable memories for the citizens of Montreal. In this Square was heard for first time the charming voice of the young girl Emma Lajeunesse who became later the renowned Canadian singer Madame Albani, a famous soprano, applauded in many cities around the world, including the Russian capital Saint-Petersburg.

In the vicinity of this building the eminent Montreal photographer William Notman summoned an array of horse-drawn carriages to imprint for the future the image of McGill Street. Employees of famous steamship companies such as Allan and later Cunard Transatlantic Line whose offices were located nearby hurried to the river and the port along this street and in front of Morgan’s house. This building also remembers the 1887 floods, when the untamed St. Lawrence River broke its banks and inundated the streets of the Old City. The waters at that time reached the base of the Victoria Monument and it was possible to float by boat to Morgan’s House.

Although this house is a witness of the events in the Victorian era and later days, it stands at a remarkable place and can start counting its history from the days of the founding of Montreal, which, actually at that time was called Ville-Marie.

It is known that the city was founded in 1642 by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve and six years later on the 14th of January 1648 this piece of land was transferred to Germain Bourguignon, named Le Patron. Three decades later a wall of cedar was built on this land to defend the town from the attacks of the Iroquois and the British.

In 1717 Gaspard Chaussegros de Léry, a military engineer, designed the plan for the reinforcement of the city fortress. His plan did not show any buildings where Morgan’s house stood rather a mighty stone fortification encompassing the entire city. Not far from here were the gates of Recolle which provided an entrance to Montreal. It is at these gates that the American troops of General Montgomery, sent by US Congress to capture New France awaited the keys to the city. Alas, the triumph of the Americans did not last long. They captured Montreal without resistance but at Quebec fortune failed them. On New Years Eve - December 31 the army of mercenaries whose contract expired that day scattered after the first gun-shot was fired by the defenders of Quebec. Poor General Montgomery was wounded and buried under a snow storm.

But the old fortification did not last long. With the change in power and the arrival of the British administration it was taken down. This made way for a new street which was named after the famed Scotsman James McGill. But the foundations of this building still preserve as a talisman part of the old fortification of the New France colony.

Irina Lapina
December 10, 2007