HOBOKEN. - FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Library was built in 1896-97 on Church Square Park. It was the third library in New Jersey. It contains a very important historical collection of books, photos, publications, original documents and even council minutes related to the history and culture of the city of Hoboken.

The dome was originally sheathed in copper. Being a Historical Building, in 2008 a grant was given to repair, restore and rehabilitate it. It is a very active site with lots of activities for the citizens of Hoboken of all ages.

PARTHENAIS-PERRAULT I - Montréal

401-403, Place Jacques-Cartier

Built at the same time as its neighbour of the Jacques-Cartier Square, this house bears the names of the two owners, Louis Parthenais and his son‑in‑law Augustin Perrault. Erected in 1812-1813, this corner unit was rented to François Papineau, a merchant. Various shops followed: grocer, innkeepers, hardware shops.

The wall on the Plaza and the one on St-Paul Street have been rebuilt inn stone and the ground floor windows enlarged in 1842 at the same moment as the neighbour’s house. A physician, Victor Perrault was the owner from 1855 to 1901. Then his daughter kept the building until 1919. A tobacco merchant was occupying the house since1869, Léon Larue. At first he was a tenant, but later he bought the building of the Perrault heirs in 1919. While Larue occupied the corner of the building, several other tenants lived in the other section of the house:, a laundry, taverns and restaurants and even a footwear merchant. The LarueTabagie was replaced by a candy store and then from 1940, taverns and restaurants have been serving beer and meals.

In 1961, automobile being more and more important in the sector, the city decided to build a parking lot and to expropriate several historical witnesses for this purpose. Fortunately, before the damage became a reality, a law was passed in 1964 declaring the Old Montreal a historic district. Farewell parking. The House was then rented in 1966 and restored the next year. Nowadays a souvenir shop occupies the ground floor.

Being in the historic district of old Montréal, this building is now preserved by the law as being part of Montreal Heritage. 

HOBOKEN - CITY HALL

The site was formerly occupied by a public market and has been donated by Colonel John Stevens. In 1883, the middle part of the building was built. The City Hall was enlarged in 1911. Two wings at the front were added plus a jail at the back. The original mansard roof became a third story which was used as an armory during WWI. The main entrance is original. In 1976, the City Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places thus protecting it for future generations.

The building houses the mayor’s office of course plus different others: clercks offices, Municipal Court and others. A display of art works in relation with the city has been installed on the second floor.

At the top of the City Hall two golden eagles keep an eye on the city. It seems they were given names. One would be called Hobo. We can easily guess the other one’s name.

PARTHENAIS-PERRAULT II- Montreal

407-413, place Jacques-Cartier
There are actually two houses built side by side in 1812 by Louis Parthenais and son‑in‑law Augustin Perrault. Both were traders in potash, a valuable product obtained by maceration of hard wood ash. It was used for the laundry soap manufacturing, cleaned the sand in the manufacture of glass and even to make permanent colors on printed cotton.

Louis Parthenais owned the 407 building while Augustin Perrault was the owner of 413. After the death of Louis, Augustin bought Louis’ parts from the heirs in 1841. His son Francis became the owner in 1855. After that the heirs of the Perrault family kept it until 1919.

Originally, the 407-413 was rented and a hostel and a tavern occupied the places. It has been rented during almost the entire history of the building, but with different tenants. It bore the name of Hotel St-Louis from 1890 to 1915. Transformations took place in 1842, the façade was rebuilt with stones and broader Windows installed on the street floor.

Between 1979 and 1980, the building has been restored to its original condition. A restaurant still occupies the ground floor. Fortunately, it is now protected by provincial and municipal laws

HOBOKEN - ENGINE #3

NELSON HOTEL - Old Montreal

417-425, place Jacques-Cartier

Besides being known as Hotel Nelson, the building has three other names: Auberge de l’Amical, Jacques-Cartier Hotel and Roy Hotel. Built in 1865 by a merchant Amable Cyprien Prévost, the building remained in the family until 1927. First two traders occupied the ground floor, a grocery store and a pharmacy. Hotel Jacques - Cartier was receiving its customers in the upper floors. A change of vocation occurred between 1875 and 1880 with the coming of The Grand Trunk, a railroad company.

After the departure of The Grand Trunk, the building was back to its former hotel function until the end of the 20th century. There were a few years of vacancy and a new owner, Philias - Arthur Benoit took possession of the house in 1927. At this moment, the name of the building was changed into Hotel Nelson, name that has been retained for almost forty years. A last name surfaced in 1980, the Auberge de l’Amical. At this moment, its role as a hotel ended. The Benoit family remained owners until 1997.

A restaurant now occupies the ground floor and offices the upper floors. On the South wall, the name "Hotel Nelson" is still printed and reminds us not of the Admiral Nelson who dominates on top of its column on the plaza Jacques-Cartier, but rather the doctor and patriot Wolfred Nelson who also has been Mayor of Montreal in 1854 and deputy. On November 23th 1838, in the battle of St-Denis, he was at the head of the Patriots who won a victory against the British army.