431-433, Place Jacques-Cartier / 250 Le Royer Street
This three floors and a half house was built in 1804. The first owner, Jacob Wurtele of German origin, was an innkeeper. On this site existed a wooden house that was destroyed to build a new one. Since Wurtele had another residence on Place Royale, it is possible that at the beginning the Jacques-Cartier Square House was leased. We know however that in 1810, he received his clientele there and was living in it. He died the following year. His wife kept the house and operated the hostel until her death in 1819.
It is Thomas Del Vecchio who became owner of the house in 1822. He also had another hostel, the Three Kings Inn and the Italian Museum on Royal Place. A floor was added to the building in 1825 by Del Vecchio, so it seems. Until 1912, the heirs still owned the hotel which changed name a few times.
A fourth floor was added to the building around 1900 and stables were built in the back yard. Then Pacific Vandelac came. He was an innkeeper/Tavernier. The Vandelac family has been trading in the house for 50 years.
A parking for cars had become necessary according to municipal leaders. So the city of Montréal expropriated several buildings to this end, including the Wurtele House in 1961. A "miracle" saved these historic jewels. The old Montréal as a heritage to be saved and protected for the posterity was finally decided. The parking lot issue was forgotten. Between 1968 and 1973, the fourth brick floor disappeared and the house recovered it original look. Now the ground floor houses a restaurant.
