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.
