SNJM Memory Lane

To discover… some pages of a rich history

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This virtual memory trail dedicated to the heritage site of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) offers a journey through the eras from the 18th century to today. It is an invitation to discover the richness of Longueuil’s heritage and to immerse yourself in history.

With the help of archival excerpts, photos, notes and anecdotes, this tour reveals facets of the history of the city that are sometimes unknown or erased from our memories. The first poster demonstrates this well. It presents a view of Montreal without the port and the Olympic stadium while pointing out the presence of a cannery on the grounds of the Couvent de Longueuil…

This pictorial tour is also an incursion into the world of the first religious teaching congregation founded by a Canadian woman, which became international. Its influence is still felt in many parts of the world, from Canada to the United States, through Peru, Brazil and Lesotho.

Each of the outdoor posters installed on the grounds of the SNJM leads you to explore various aspects of the site.

Backyard SNJM Cemetery SNJM Memory Lane The missing Saint-Antoine brook The whims of Saint-Antoine Creek View of the garden

An 18th century heritage building

Before becoming the Couvent de Longueuil, the initial building already had a whole history. To be convinced of this, you just have to read the booklet ” Si Longueuil m’était conté… Le couvent de Longueuil ” produced by the Historical Society of Longueuil. You will discover the adventures of two families (Louis Briquet and Jean-Baptiste Roussel) intimately linked to the history of this building, which would have been erected between 1740 and 1742, according to the study of various notarial acts, carried out by Diane LeBlanc.*

The main building consists of a stone and masonry house 46 and a half feet long by 35 and a half feet wide. It is assumed that at the time of its construction, the architecture of the building was French in inspiration, as was the nearby Notre-Dame residence (Daniel Poirier house), built around 1750.

A 60 foot long by 24 foot wide shed, all stone and masonry, is located on the same site along with other small buildings. This four-story shed housed a bakery and would be transformed one hundred years later into a chapel.

*Diane Leblanc, author of the booklet ” Si Longueuil m’était conté… Le couvent de Longueuil “.

What if the Longueuil Convent told us its history?