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The History of 3995-4001 Berri Street in Montreal

Researched and written by James Schidlowsky, June 2023. [Co-head of research, multimedia sector and technical/I.T. manager at OBORO's New Media Lab from January 2020 to August 2023]

Caveat : I am not a historian/researcher/archivist by trade or training. I do this because it interests me.

This document relies enormously on the archives of the City of Montreal and the digitized archives of the BanQ (Bibliothèque et archives nationales du Québec). One can find many types of documents online, including Lovell's's annuals/directories¹, atlases, insurance maps, newspapers, photos, etc.

One could say that this century-old building has been through three different periods wherein its main use was centered around a certain vocation, even if the last two periods overlapped for a few years:

• "Automobile Period", 1912-1955 (East End Garage, New East End Garage, Lauzon Drive Yourself),
• "Garment Period", 1956-2001 (Mirado, Model Lingerie, Quality Knitwear, Dénommé Vincent, Léotards Pazapa, etc.),
• "Art Period", 1991-present (OBORO, Studio XX/Ada-X, le GIV, Dazibao, Articule, Geordie, RCAAQ, etc.)

The 4001 Berri building comprised/comprises the civic numbers 3995 (from about 1956), 4001 and 4003 (until about 1960), as well as 4000 De Chateaubriand (which is no longer used or displayed anywhere).

In fact, before 1926, the civic numbers were 789 and 791. In the 1920s, to correspond to a certain logic due to the expansion of streets northward, many north-south streets were renumbered. For Berri street, this was between 1925 and 1926 (and this was not even the first time this had happened).

The construction date of the building that exists today was in 1920, not in 1929 as indicated by the municipal tax information.

Note: All the maps, plans and aerial photos are dimensioned in such a way that the 4001 is exactly in the same spot, so that one may more easily see the evolution. To situation oneself, here is a satellite image from Google, circa 2023. Near the end of this page, there is an image navigator which allows one to rapidly see the changes over the years.

Let's go back in time a bit to around 1890 when there were only a few buildings on the street, which was probably barely a dirt road at the time. The map shows lots divided over the lands belonging principally to J.C.H. Lacroix, in the St-James Ward (later, Lafontaine Ward). It also shows the Montreal city limit line (or actually the old limit), which ended there, at an angle, not even following Duluth street (which was known as St-Jean-Baptiste street). It was the upper town here.

There were a few houses (maybe), three of which are on the land of the future 4001.

The civic numbers on Berri were first renumbered around 1894, and these houses seemed to have disappeared that same year. Here is the situation circa 1907, according to Pinsoneault's atlas. To situate oneself, the civic numbers 783, 785 and 787 correspond to the building just south of the 4001 (now 3985/3987/3989 Berri):

It seems as if there was no other construction on the lot until about 1912, according to this map published in Charles E. Goad's atlas. We can see one or two buildings on the lot. The part in yellow is in wood, and the part in pink is in brick. According to the 1912 edition of Lovell's, this is the East End Garage. It's the beginning of the Automobile Period.

On this map dating from 1915, there is now a brick building with the same dimensions as today's 4001, three storeys tall, but we shall soon see that it is not in fact the same building as today. On the ground floor, there is a garage, on the 2nd floor, there is car storage, and on the 3rd floor, repairs were done. The elevator was at the back of the building (as indicated by the rectangle with an "H" in it, H for hoist), so one had to access it via the De Chateaubriand alleyway.

Here is an advertisement published in the L'autorité newspaper on September 9th, 1916 announcing a car made in Ontario. According to this inflation calculator by the Banque du Canada, $885 is equivalent to $21294 in 2023.

On January the 8th, 1920, a fire destroys the garage!!!

[THE EAST END GARAGE DESTROYED BY A VERY VIOLENT FIRE THIS MORNING, RUE BERRI]

La Presse, January 8, 1920 [excerpt, translated] ²

An exceptionally violent fire, a little before 9 A.M. this morning, completely destroyed the garage “East End”, Berri Street, a few steps from Duluth Street. Some claim that around a hundred cars were there either under repair or wintering, suffered the same fate, others believe that there was only at most fifty cars in the building at the time of the fire. Around fifteen neighboring dwellings, to the north and south of the garage, also suffered considerable losses from fire, water and smoke. At the back, on the other side of the alley, a good number of sheds adjoining properties on rue Saint-Hubert were also partially destroyed by the flames that the wind pushed in this direction. Losses are generally claimed to be between $150,000 and $200,000. while many say that the total damage everywhere will reach a quarter of a million.

THE CAUSE
A little before 9 A.M. some garage employees were working on the third floor in the welding department, when a can of liquid air blew up, reason unknown. Moments later, seeing no further explosions happen, some ventured to go back to the upper floor. It was then noted that the fire had made it into the roof and reached the front cornice. Employees had already sounded the alarm and were rescuing toolboxes and personal effects.

[...]
Of the building, all that remains are a few bits of walls which will have to be demolished to avoid accidents.

in June 1920, the East End Garage company was liquidated ³ and in February 1921, the new company called New East End Garage was created ⁴.

Thus the 4001 building which exists today was built in 1920 (with possibly some finishing touches in early 1921), and the New East End Garage opens its doors in February/March of 1921. Here is an annoucement published in La Patrie in March 1921 (« Est 7354 » is the telephone number). Note the "à l'épreuve du feu" [fireproof] !

Translation: NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Fireproof garage – room for 300 machines – Gasoline service – Two five-gallon pumps – two air pumps always maintained at a pressure of 150 lbs. – Assortment of oils. REPAIRS OF ALL KINDS SPECIALTIES – Painting, upholstering and mudguards. Department for drivers, accessories of all kinds – washes – Day and night service.

Here is a small ad published in La Presse November 16th, 1925, annoucing winter storage of cars for $5 a month.

On an insurance plan of the city dating from 1926: The building is marked "GARAGE"
1st: Office, Garage Service, Auto Top upholstering
2nd: Repair Shop
3rd: Auto paint shop, Car storage
The elevator is now at the center of the building as it is today. But how did cars get there? Did they enter via the double doors situated at the north corner? Or as before, via De Chateaubriand?

By the way, the employees of the New East End Garage had a hockey team in the commercial league. Here are some results from a game in 1928. ⁵

This photo dating from 1930 of an East End Garage motorcycle with a sidecar was surely taken in front of the 4001, looking toward the corner of Duluth avenue. The triplexes on the left have the same style of cornices above the windows (although the staircases and balconies have been changed since). In the upper right, painted on the brick wall, we can make out the words "GARAGE", "SERVICE", and "GENERAL". At that time, the facade of the adjacent building (closer to Duluth) stuck out further than that of the 4001. [unknown photographer, McCord Museum collection⁶].

« The Gagalas Affair » : On the night of December 14 to 15, 1936, the night before municipal voting day in Montreal, there was a fight in the New East End Garage. The body of Frawas Gagalas (or Gabalas) was found dead at the foot of one of the stairs of the Champ-de-Mars. There are witnesses who claim that he was the victim of the attack in the garage. There are also allegations according to which this “assassination” was linked to electoral fraud during the municipal elections, that the garage was rented by the organization of Adhémar Raynault (one of the candidates for town hall) for a rally and to commit said fraud. See Annex A for further details. Or read this sensationalist article excerpt published in l'Illustration nouvelle on October 13, 1937 with the headline “Savignac wants a report on Gagalas but not on the unpunished murders! Why do we refuse to deal with the Bouclier, St-Pierre, Gaudette, Feigenbaum, Verdon, etc. affairs. ? »:

[Translation: The public is concerned. On various occasions, we have drawn to the attention of municipal authorities the multiple murders that the municipal police have failed to clarify. Echoing public opinion, we demanded some action from our municipal council but our city councilors never acted. THE MURDERERS REMAIN AT LARGE. However, during yesterday's meeting at the municipal council, Mr. J.-M. Savignac presented the following motion: WHEREAS, before the Court of King's Bench, sitting in Montreal, in the case of Réal Denis vs Paul Bouchard, it is shown that, on the night of December 14 to 15 last (1935), in a garage on Berri street in Montreal, known as the “New East End Garage", in the presence of 450 to 500 individuals, a citizen was savagely attacked, beaten and knocked unconscious by an unknown person who then disappeared, taking with him outside, in a car, his victim bloodied and almost dying; WHEREAS, there is also evidence that intoxicating drinks were consumed in very large quantities during the night in this location where, the next day, pools of blood were found on the walls and on the floor; WHEREAS, according to the information received, the municipal police, when informed, went to this garage to make observations; WHEREAS, the facts revealed in this case have deeply moved public opinion; WHEREAS, this Council must have a complete and detailed report on this entire affair; Proposed by Alderman Savignac, seconded by Alderman Dubreuil, that the Executive Committee be requested to obtain without delay and submit to the Council a report on these facts, from the Police Department and the Security Office of the city. And the motion was adopted without discussion.]

Here's a photo of the alleged location of the attack inside the New East End Garage, published in the Le Canada newspaper on June 10th 1937 during the trial:

The last appearance of the New East End Garage is in the 1939-1940 edition of Lovell's annual. Lauzon Drive Yourself moves in around 1940. One could rent cars there, and there was still garage service.

Here is an advertisement for Lauzon Drive Yourself, published in Le Petit journal in 1940:

[Translation: Our rates are lower than the lowest in Canada. Come see us. Our cars are clean and in good order, almost all are equipped with radio.]

From this point onward in this document, the grey boxes like the following one indicate listings from Lovell's annuals.

(Note: I never found anything about "Magic Helmanlite Products". I wonder what they made.)

Here is an aerial photo dating from 1947 ⁷:

From 1950 to 1955, the building appeared to be empty, or at least, there are no listings in Lovell's. The Lauzon business had moved and was concentrating on their driving schools, establishing several branches in Montreal and the South shore in the 1960s. Lauzon still exists today, and their driving schools are all over the province. Lauzon sold the building in 1955, and it is the end of the "Automobile Period".

Around 1956, the "Garment Period" begins with Mirado Mfg Co Ltd (children's wear, and later sportswear), and Quality Knitwear at address 3995, the first time that this address appears.

Here is an aerial photo dating from 1958 ⁸: we see that the neighboring building (the 4025 Berri) has been rebuilt, and its facade is now aligned with that of the 4001.

From 1959 to 1970, there is a snack bar type restaurant, called André Snack Bar and later Emond Palma Snack Bar.

Here is a want ad looking for experienced sewing machine operators to work at Mirado Mfg, published in La Presse in 1958:

From 1960, there are no more listings for 4003.

Here is a want ad looking for experienced operators of sewing machines, remeshing machines and presses. "Steady job. Air-conditioned workshop. Inquire at Quality Knitwear Co.". Published in La Presse in 1962 (overlock is a type of sewing machine):

Here is a collection of want ads looking for operators of various garment industry machines as well as makers of samples to work at Model Lingerie, published in La Presse between 1960 and 1964:

According to Lovell's, Model Lingerie is on the second floor, but their want ads indicate the third floor.

In 1970, another period wherein the 4001 seems empty, i.e. there are no listings for 4001 in Lovell's from 1970 until 1977 (and I think that the 1977 listing is in error). However, the 3995 address is going strong with knitwear.

From 1974, there are no listings for the 3995. Nelson Yagod buys the building in February 1976 and his company Aero Luggage Corp. moves in. Here is the commercial listing in Lovell's:

Soon after, this little ad appears in La Presse, offering spaces and workshops for rent.

Finally in 1977 listings appear in Lovell's, but I think there was an error, and these businesses should have been listed at 3995 and not at 4001.

In 1980, these two businesses are listed under 3995 rather than 4001.

In 1984 there are finally other occupants for the 4001 (according to Lovell's), several still in the business of manufacturing clothing (or luggage), for instance Dénommé Vincent (ready to wear fashion for men, their workshop and possibly boutique) [see the profile in EncycloFASHION.] et Léotards Pazapa (specialised in clothing for dance) [see article in La Presse in 1985 ].

(Note: Debra Schram founded and ran Hornblower Books (an independent publisher sales and publicity group, 1979–2009) which eventually expanded with branches in several cities).

In December of 1991, Daniel Dion and Su Schnee, founders of OBORO, rented the whole building. They lived there and had studios to work on their art. It is thanks to them that the building developed its artistic vocation, following their vision of creating a building dedicated to art, in the spirit of a culture of peace, a Buddhist principle of equanimity. They worked very hard and chose their tenants accordingly.

When Daniel and Su arrived, there was also the Geordie Productions theatre company and the Quebec Drama Federation, and so began the "Artistic Period", which overlapped with the "Garment Period", since Dénommé Vincent were still there, and for several years more. Léotards Pazapa had left the building around 1989-90.

After about 10 years of existence, OBORO left their Cooper building address (3891 boul. St-Laurent, suite 499) and moved into the 4001 on the third floor (local #301) in May 1992.

Around 1993, the R.C.A.A.Q. (Regroupement des centres d'artistes autogérés du Québec) [an association of Quebec artist-run centers] moves in at address 3995, and remains there until they move out in autumn of 2011.

(Note: Stephen Horne and Lani Maestri, artists, lived and worked in a space on the first floor. Christine Lajeunesse, artist & graphic designer, lived with her husband Alain in the space on the second floor which is now OBORO's studio-résidence. Later she became the artistic director at Éditions du Boréal [book publishers]. She plays euphonium in the musical group La Fanfare Pourpour.)

Studio XX has its beginnings briefly in the building, subletting a tiny space from the RCAAQ ⁹ before moving to 24 Mont Royal W. in late 1997 (or perhaps the Spring of 1998, and then later at 338 Terrasse St-Denis in the autumn of 2000), to eventually return to the 4001 in 2007.

(Note: Bilodeau B, is Bernard Bilodeau, who was OBORO's general director for many years, but he did not actually live in the building. This is surely just another space belonging to OBORO, but listed under his name.)

In 2001 the construction project of OBORO's New Media Lab begins in the space that was occupied by Dénommé Vincent (#200). The artist and digital luthier Alexandre Burton (founding member of artificiel and eisode) had a studio on the first floor.

(Note: Digiacomantonio R (sic), is Roberto Di Giacomantonio, who lived in a space on the first floor with Annie Tremblay. Both are artists and worked at OBORO).

OBORO's New Media Lab opened its doors in the autumn of 2004, in suite #200.

In early 2007, the Groupe Intervention Video (GIV) moves into space #105 in the 4001. This shows that Lovell's of 2009-2010 was in error, because this was where Articule was, and by August 2006, they were already on Fairmount avenue. Studio XX (now called Ada-X) left their space on Terrasse St-Denis and returned to the 4001 to open its doors in suite #201 on May 1st 2007.

After about 168 years of existence, Lovell's stops publishing their annuals.

Dazibao leaves the 4001 during the summer of 2010 ¹⁰. Apparently they lived a nomadic life, occupying different spaces until settling in their current location on De Gaspé in the spring of 2014.

The RCAAQ vacates the 3995 Berri in the summer of 2011 and the Conseil québécois des arts médiatiques (CQAM) moves in. In autumn 2015, the Regroupement des arts interdisciplinaires du Québec (RAIQ) also moves into the 3995 Berri, sharing the space. These two entities fuse in June 2021 and become REPAIRE (Regroupement de pairs des arts indépendants de recherche et d'expérimentation), still at the same address.

In 2012, the photographer Eric Paré has a studio in suite #202 and in 2017 establishes the studio Xangle in suite #103.

Geordie Productions leaves the 4001 around May-June 2017. The company still exists.

Many other artists have lived and/or worked in the 3995-4001 Berri building, but did not appear in the listings of Lovell's.

Here is a listing as it would appear if Lovell's still existed in 2023:

In 2023, Le 4001 Berri Pôle artistique was created and acquired the building towards the end of the year. According to their website, it is a non-profit social economy enterprise with a cultural vocation whose goal, among other things, is to develop a key artistic hub in Montreal by bringing together organizations involved in artistic dissemination, distribution, production, and mediation.

Annexes

Annexe A. "The Gagalas Affair", 1936-1937

It was thought that his name was Gabalas, not Gagalas, and that his first name was Frawas or Franas or even Frances. And that he was Lithuanian or Greek.

The incident occurred on the night of December 14 to 15, 1936, the night before municipal polling day in Montreal. The venue was the New East End Garage, 4001 Berri Street ("in the north end of town", which was more true at the time). The candidates in the elections were Camilien Houde, Adhémar Raynault and Candide Rochefort. Raynault becomes mayor of Montreal.

Here is the headline and part of a somewhat sensationalist article which appeared in Le Canada on June 12, 1937:

Here are (translated) excerpts from an article published in L'illustration nouvelle on December 30, 1936:

Speaking about this Gabalas affair, Mr. Armand Brodeur, from Municipal Security said: “There are people who have more imagination than common sense.”

They wanted to compare this accidental death to an assassination which is said to have been committed after a political assembly and during a gathering of election officials in a garage in the north of the city on Berri street.

There was in fact a quarrel in a garage in the north of the city on Berri street, on the night of December 14 to 15. One man, a French-Canadian (not a Greek) was injured during the quarrel. The injuries were not serious and today he is doing as well as you and I, says Mr. Armand Brodeur. Note that the corpse of Gabalas had arrived at the morgue by 2:15 AM. Note that the quarrel at the Berri Street garage broke out at 2:45 AM. At that moment Gabalas had been dead for some time and his body was lying in the morgue. How could anyone have taken him for someone else, or kill him and transport him to the Champ-de-Mars?"

Here is a (translated) excerpt from an article published by La Tribune on June 11, 1937:

During the trial of Paul Bouchard, director of La Nation of Quebec, accused of having published a defamatory libel addressed to Réal Denis, a witness linked the electoral organization of Mayor Adhémar Raynault to an alleged fatal assault committed in a Montreal garage on the morning of the last municipal elections, December 15, 1936. The investigation of the case began yesterday in the Court of King's Bench under the presidency of Judge Wilfrid Lazure.

The indictment was read at the opening of the trial. This document repeats word for word the incriminated article which, according to the complainant, was published without justification or legitimate excuse and is likely to expose him to contempt, hatred and ridicule.

This writing relates to the death of a man named Frawas Gagalas who was allegedly attacked in a garage on Berri street by supporters of Mayor Raynault who would have taken him for Mr. Edouard Dubuque, one of Mr. Camillien Houde's organizers. The article further claims that the said meeting was intended to organize "telegraphs" in favor of the mayor, and that the body of Gagalas, found in the morning on the steps of the Champ-de-Mars, looked very much like Ms. Dubuque.

Reference Sites:

• Lovell's annuals (1842-2010), digitized and made available online by the BanQ (Bibliothèque et archives nationales du Québec).
• Collection patrimoine québécois of the BanQ Numérique.
• City of Montreal Archives.
• McCord Museum Collection.
• Insurance plans of the city of Montréal, various volumes and years, via Carte-index des plans d'assurance-incendie de Montréal.
• Aerial photos of the island of Montreal.
• Municipal tax roll (Montreal).
• Google Earth.
• Internet Archive Wayback machine.

Notes :

• ^{1. Lovell's annuals was a publication wherein one could find where who or what occupied a given address (and later contained phone numbers as well). It was published yearly between 1842 and 2010, et they are all digitized and available for consultation on the BanQ's website. Caveat: There are occasionally errors, and depending on the movement of people or businesses, listings could be off by a year. Unfortunately, appartment numbers rarely appear in the case of the 4001. ↩}
• ^{2. Article published in La Presse, January 8th 1920. ↩}
• ^{3. Notice of liquidation published in the Quebec Official Gazette, No 24, Vol. 52 (June 12, 1920) ↩}
• ^{4. Letter patent published in the Quebec Official Gazette, No 10, Vol. 53 (March 12, 1921). ↩}
• ^{5. Sports section, Le Devoir, February 1st 1928 edition. ↩}
• ^{6. Photo by unknown, McCord Museum collection, Side-car, New East End Garage, Montreal, QC, 1930. ↩}
• ^{7. Aerial photo by Canadian Pacific Air Lines Ltd, Aerial Survey Division. 1947. VM97-3_7P10-35, City of Montreal Archives. ↩}
• ^{8. Aerial photo by unknown. 1958. VM97-3_02_15-088, City of Montreal Archives. ↩}
• ^{9. Erroneously, Lovell's listed Studio XX and Strange Fish Productions at 4001. Kathy Kennedy (co-founder of Studio XX) and Su Schnee confirmed to me that it was in fact at 3995.↩}
• ^{10. Article in Le Devoir, March 22, 2014↩}

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Last update: 2025.05.29.