Nashen Notes

History of Cote Saint-Luc

History in Brief :

In the 17th century the area now known as Cote Saint-Luc was hunting land that was held by the seigneurs of Île de Montréal. A farming settlement of 209 people was recorded in 1818. Cote Saint-Luc incorporated as a village in 1903, town in 1951, and city in 1958.

On Jan. 1, 2002 the City of Cote Saint-Luc ceased to exist and was merged into the newly created Borough of Cote-Saint-Luc-Hampstead-Montreal-West, one of 15 boroughs in the mega-city of Montreal.

The Cote Saint-Luc Demerger Committee was formed and co-chaired by then Hampstead Councillor Anthony Housefather and Former CSL Councillors Mitchell Brownstein, Ruth Kovac and Glenn J. Nashen.

On June 20, 2004 a referendum on demerger was held in Cote Saint-Luc and 88 other cities across Quebec.  87% of CSL voters cast a YES vote to reconstitute the former city.

Municipal elections for the reconstituted City of Cote Saint-Luc took place on November 6, 2005.  Anthony Housefather was elected Mayor of the new city and Mitchell Brownstein, Ruth Kovac and Glenn J. Nashen were all elected by acclamation.

Cote Saint-Luc officially became a city once again on January 1, 2006.

More History:

I was invited to speak to the residents of the Griffith McConnel Residence on Parkhaven Ave where I presented a visual history of Cote Saint-Luc.

I spoke of the land and people that inhabited the local area since the 17th century.  Using a slide collection borrowed from the Côte Saint-Luc Public Library, I highlighted the people who were actively responsible for the founding and early days of the City.  This was not only a nostalgic reminder of the ‘good old days’ for many seniors who remember our City from way back, but was an interesting and exciting education for me as well.  Our Public Library is a wonderful resource of hidden treasures.

Côte Saint-Luc’s roots date back to the 17th C. when the area was used as hunting land held by the seigneurs of Ile de Montreal.  In 1818 a farming settlement of more than 200 people was active here.  The Village of Côte Saint-Luc was incorporated in 1903 by Mayor Luc Prud’homme.

In 1928 the Leger family moved into a run-down and abandoned Sulpician stone church and school which was located on the corner of Côte Saint-Luc Road and King Edward.  The church was built in 1845.  The Leger’s converted the building into an impressive  home and the interior was fitted with exquisite wood imported from Columbia.  The seven Leger children grew up in the house and Mme.  Leger kept a vegetable garden as well as a cow and several chickens out in the back.  Fresh eggs were sold daily to Côte Saint-Lucers.  A garage was built on the side of the building to house the family car and the local doctor’s two horses.

In the early 1930s Mme.  Leger opened a general store and post office.  Outside stood Côte Saint-Luc’s first and only two gas pumps.  The store was famous for its large candy department and it held the village’s only snack bar.

Other interesting facts about local history is that Mayor Prud’homme’s farm house stood where the Côte Saint-Luc Shopping Centre is now situated.  The farm was later called the Red Top Farm.  Griffith-McConnell resident, Mrs.  O’Neil, recalled riding horses at the farm.

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