Vauquelin Square
| Vauquelin Square Place Vauquelin | |
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The fountain at Vauquelin Square. | |
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| Type | Town square |
| Location | Old Montreal, Ville-Marie Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°30′30″N 73°33′16″W / 45.508333°N 73.554444°WCoordinates: 45°30′30″N 73°33′16″W / 45.508333°N 73.554444°W |
| Created | 1858 |
| Operated by | City of Montreal |
| Status | Open all year |
Vauquelin Square is a small urban square located in Old Montreal.
Overview
The square was a part of the fief given in 1658 to Lambert Closse and ceded to the Jesuits in 1692. It passed to the Crown in 1763 and was the site of the old prison until 1836. In 1846, the Quebec government took over the prison and demolished it, so that they could construct the new Court house in 1850.
The demolition of the old prison liberated the space necessary for the west side of the new court house. From 1858, the remaining land is created in a square called Neptune Square. At the center, a fountain was built and a small statue in the image of Neptune, God of the Sea was placed in the middle of the fountain. Starting in 1895, the square is given an original structure with a newspaper stand.
Starting in 1902, the city of Montreal rented the land for the sum of one dollar a year. In 1924, with the reconstruction of city hall, the square was renamed City Hall Square. Six years later, the name changes again. In 1930, during a public inquiry, the square was renamed Place Vauquelin, and a statue in the memory of Jean Vauquelin (1728–1772), was placed in the square. The statue was created by Paul-Eugène Benet. Vauquelin, was the French captain of a navy ship, which illustrated itself in the defense of Louisbourg during the seven-year war.
In 1966, the square was recreated to the shape it has today. Until then, cars would circulate from each side of the statue between Notre Dame Street and Champ-de-Mars. The statue of Vauquelin is now displaced and is moved towards the back of statue of Nelson, situated north of Jacques Cartier Square). Other works to the square occurred in 1984.
The monument to Jean Vauquelin (1728–1772) by Paul-Eugène Benet was unveiled on June 22, 1930. The height of the monument is 6.8 metres (22 ft) of which the statue 2.8 metres (9.2 ft).
Gallery
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The fountain
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Vauquelin Square and Nelson's Column
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Jacques Viger plaque
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