Pioneers' Obelisk (Montreal)

Coordinates: 45°30′03″N 73°33′20″W / 45.500837°N 73.555642°W / 45.500837; -73.555642

Pioneers' Obelisk
Location Place d'Youville (Montreal)
Designer J.A.U. Baudry
Type Obelisk
Material Stanstead grey granite
Height 41 feet (12 m)
Beginning date 1893
Opening date May 17, 1894
Dedicated to Montreal Founders

The Pioneers Monument Obelisk is a monument in Old Montreal.

Overview

The granite obelisk commemorates the founding of Fort Ville-Marie, later to become Montreal close to this spot on May 17, 1642. The monument was erected by the Société historique de Montréal to celebrate the city's 250th birthday.

The obelisk is made from a block of granite that stands 41 feet (12.5 m) tall and is 3 feet (0.91 m) square at its base. It took 40 horses to drag the shaft into the city in 1893. The monument was unveiled on May 17, 1894.

It has been moved a number of times before it was placed in its present location in 1999. It made its debut somewhat west of its present location. In the 1940s it moved again, to the old Customs House. The monument's present location is believed to be where Montreal's first mass was held.

Plaques

Each of the four faces of the obelisk bears a plaque. The first plaque describes the founding of Montreal by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve on May 18, 1642. A second plaque describes the creation of the monument by the Société historique de Montréal and provides a quote from the first mass by Barthélemy Vimont. The plaque on the North side of the obelisk lists the names of the colonists who came between May and December of 1642.

The North plaque reads: Names of the first colonists of Montreal 1642 May - August

Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, Jeanne Mance, Catherine Barre, Jean Corry, Isabeau Panie (wife of Jean Corry), Jean Robelin, Augustin Hebert, Adrienne Du Vivier (wife of Augustin Hebert), Antoine Damien, Marie Joly (wife of Antoine Damien), Jean Caillot, Pierre Laimery, Nicolas Godé, Francoise Gadois (wife of Nicolas Godé), Francoise Godé (daughter of Nicolas Godé), Nicolas Godé (son of Nicolas Godé), Mathurine Godé (daughter of Nicolas Godé), Marie-Madeleine de Chauvigny de la Peltrie

The South plaque provides a list of the Founders of Montreal, including organizers and benefactors of the mission, most of whom remained in France. Prominence is given to Jérôme le Royer de la Dauversière and Jean-Jacques Olier, founder of the Society of Saint-Sulpice.

See also

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Place d'Youville, obélisque.

Notes

    Photographs

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