Pioneers' Obelisk (Montreal)


The Pioneers' Monument Obelisk is a monument in Old Montreal.

Overview

The granite obelisk commemorates the founding of Fort Ville-Marie, later to become Montreal close to this spot on May 17, 1642. The monument was erected by the to celebrate the city's 250th birthday.
The obelisk is made from a block of granite that stands tall and is square at its base. It took 40 horses to drag the shaft into the city in 1893. The monument was unveiled on May 17, 1894.
It has been moved a number of times before it was placed in its present location in 1999. It made its debut somewhat west of its present location. In the 1940s it moved again, to the Old Customs House. The monument's present location is believed to be where Montreal's first mass was held.

Plaques

Each of the four faces of the obelisk bears a plaque.
The first plaque describes the founding of Montreal by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve on May 18, 1642.
A second plaque describes the creation of the monument by the Société historique de Montréal and provides a quote from the first mass by Barthélemy Vimont.
A third plaque, located on the south-face, provides a list of the Founders of Montreal, including organizers and benefactors of the mission, most of whom remained in France. Prominence is given to Jérôme le Royer de la Dauversière and Jean-Jacques Olier, founder of the Society of Saint-Sulpice.
The final plaque, located on the north side of the obelisk, lists the names of the colonists who came between May and December 1642. The North plaque translates from French to:
Names of the first colonists of Montreal
1642
May–August
August–December
General notes about pioneers listed: Father Barthélemy Vimont is not listed among the first colonists, but there is abundant evidence that he gave the first mass at Ville-Marie on May 18, 1642. Also, the name of Adrienne Du Vivier is listed with her husband. However, Du Vivier was still in France at the time of the first settlement, marrying Hebert in 1646. The couple, along with their eldest daughter, Jeanne, then sailed from France to New France with Maisonneuve in 1648. Hebert and Du Vivier's second daughter, Pauline, was the first white baby baptized in Ville-Marie. Some research also lists Nicolas Godé's eldest son, Francois, as part of this first mission but most research suggest that he remained in Quebec before travelling to Ville-Marie in the fall of 1642. The Godés have been called the "First Family of Montreal", as their children that accompanied them were all in their teens or younger at the time of the first settlement. No other children accompanied this first group.

Photographs