French Resistance war veteran Roland Haumont riled powerful elites by loudly denouncing French collaborators who settled in Montreal after World War II.Then his house exploded and authorities tried to pin the gas leak blast on him.
Watch the tragic, haunting and deeply suspicious tale explained in the video below.
Looking forward to your book and as an expat living in BC I follow your blog religiously. Keep up the good work Kristian always looking forward to your next installment. BTW I just got back from Montreal and rented a car there and that was a big mistake as there is nowhere to park as all the streets in my old neighborhood were choked with cars as it is now a gentrified area. When I was a teenager growing up in the 60's on Park and Bernard there weren't as many cars and I suppose because it was a working class neighborhood and not many people could afford cars. I never owned one until I was 22. Buses and Metro were great to get around and I didn't really need one.
ReplyDeleteear Sir,
ReplyDeleteThank You, Sir, for the interesting History of NDG in my Youth, more to it than first seemed at the time.
We also heard the huge explosion in LaSalle, and the one at Monsanto, being clearly heard @ W B and Chester.
As mentioned in a post from a reader, most large cities have lost their charm with the arrival of the automobile and it's problems.
I won't drive in Montreal now at my age, and take the Metro or a train instead, or, even an Autobus a Taxi if emergent.
Last time I DROVE across Pont Champlain was in the Sixties in the Bell, and hated the long run out on the Montreal side with the Expansion Joints THUMP bump bump bump to the North shore. It was then matched with the Linear Lighting in the sides of the ramps right at eyelevel out to at least Raphael Ruffo Motel at the foot of Brock.
Crossed PC ONCE as a passenger since then, c. 1998.
Cars have destroyed so much and make getting around difficult, and, expensive.
Much of the problem is greed and the City etc., Zoning High Density housing, with a chunk always thrown in for the rarely-employed as a sop.
No wonder they have so many kids????
Anyway. Here is a tale when I worked in the Bell, Fifty years ago.
I bought a car, and thought I was something special. A moving violation, speed and reckless driving poster boy.
I often took the 106 Upper Lachine to work, but, got transferred to 375 River St. by the Verdun Industrial Complex at the foot of Atwater by the Pumping Stn at the end of the Aqueduct, the East side of Bell property facing on May.
Anyway, waiting for the 7 or 8 autobus was the Pits at 10 at night if I worked late and froze at the pumping plant, AND at Terminus Atwater for the 102. Neither Alexis Nihon nor the Metro, yet.
So I started bringing the car.
Because I was young and dumb, I drove WORSE than a Diamond Cab driver of the era. Alls Fare in Cab Fare? Cannot forget the Yahoos who used to fly around in red International panel trucks for Rod Service Ltee. picking up mail from curb side post boxes, either.
Now, to make the time I would use side streets and travel about 40 miles an hour, not too risky at late hours, and almost all cars off the road by then.
One place that was a bind and could lose time was on Terrebonne at Grand going West. The traffic light there and the next one at Cavendish were then timed to BOTH go Green at once, just by fluke.
One night, ( I would never do this in daylight as too dumb thru the school zones and Park ) I decided to get the other Green at Cavendish from a standing start at Grand. I stepped on the gas and sped thru the gears ( Remember clutches and gear shifts?? ) and used my watch to time the far light when it turned Yellow for Red = 45 Seconds @ Cavendish from Grand.
Tried 40 mph. Not enough. 45 the next night, not quite enough. Then 50. Just made it with Yellow coming on as my bumper passed the East curb. Stupid and fun, to a kid, blind corner with the Church on the right @ Bessborough opposite the Ecole.
Now, as a Hypocrite, I would not even THINK of driving in the City.
How folks do it whilst Texting, talking on the Cell and, now, with Pokeman Va to contend with?
Wish I could ride the 3A or 7 from Walkley across from Steinberg's on car-free streets along Somerled, back to the past.
Thank You.
I was somewhat spellbound by the fellow narrating the interesting story from NDG about the house which exploded. Only towards the end of the report did I realize that this fellow doing the narrating must be Kristian Gravenor himself.
ReplyDeleteI must say your report captured my interest and pleased me very much because I finally got a chance to see what you looked like. You are a much younger looking person than I had imagined. I quickly concluded that you obviously have an excellent presence and style on camera and a marvelously self-assured manner and precise delivery of the message you presented.
Please, don’t be camera shy on future similar commentaries.
A Codicil,
ReplyDeleteTo plagiarize and to paraphrase a quotation I read in the print media a while back
" Nostalgia is a realm to where people return for refuge when the world in which they now reside is going up in flames."
Pokemon GO, what next??
Thank You Mr. G., Chimples, and to many others.
Excellent work, Kristian. Another interesting and well-researched report. Looking forward to your upcoming book.
ReplyDeleteYoung......and Handsome, too!!!
ReplyDeleteThank You.