Remains

The port as we know it today is the result of major development work done in the early 20th century. The years 1896 to 1930 were the Port of Montréal’s golden years, a time when it was the destination of trans-Atlantic ships and trains from all over North America. Millions of tonnes of merchandise travelled through Montréal, and to meet demand, the port modernized its facilities by building structures such as grain elevators, sheds and higher quays.

Relics of this heyday are still visible, like giants from another era. If you listen, they will tell you the fascinating history of the Port of Montréal.

Refrigerated Warehouse

Cold-storage warehouse on the shore of the St. Lawrence.
Port de Montréal – Archives /APM-0731

Meat stored in the cold-storage warehouse.
Port de Montréal – Archives /APM-3560

The Port of Montréal was more than just a grain port. A wide range of perishable goods also transited the port and needed a storage facility.

In the 1920s, its most prosperous era, the Port of Montréal built leading-edge infrastructure, including the cold-storage warehouse and the neighbouring refrigeration plant on the north side of the Clock Tower basin. Besides grain, many perishable goods transited the Port of Montréal, such as butter, cheese, meat, fruits, vegetables, and eggs.

The cold-storage warehouse shut down entirely in 1978. Declared a historic monument by the federal government in 1996, the old warehouse has since been converted into a residential complex.