Rosemont

In 1904, three thousand workers entered the Angus shops to build and maintain locomotives and rolling stock. The Canadian Pacific complex came with facilities of its own, including a dining room, a library and a bank branch. North of the shops, the former Crawford farm became Old Rosemont. Developers divided the property into building lots and laid out streets and lanes for housing. The industrial investment did not fill every lot immediately: substantial land remained vacant, while the working population included skilled tradespeople and households that owned their homes.

Rue Masson runs through Rosemont as a shopping street. Other land was set aside for recreation. In 1910, Maisonneuve acquired the grounds for a large park, adding a municipal golf course and clubhouse in 1923. The park’s original territory later shrank to accommodate the Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Olympic Stadium. Back at Angus, the industrial buildings had large windows and ventilation, as well as employee training and recreational facilities.

Key places

• Angus shops : railway building and maintenance complex.
• Crawford farm : farmland developed as Old Rosemont.
• Masson Street : shopping street through Rosemont.
• Maisonneuve Park : land acquired for a large park in 1910.