The Birth of a Giant
In 1874, the Montreal Cotton Co. was planning to build an immense manufacturing complex. Attracted by the site’s hydropower potential, investors decided to establish the spinning mill in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. The Saint-Charles River was diverted for the purpose of electric power generation.
The architects designed buildings of monumental proportions, somewhat resembling a medieval castle with crenellated towers and bridges to the mills. The first part of the factory was completed in March 1877, and the last, in 1898. State-of-the-art equipment was imported from Great Britain and the Montreal Cotton Co. produced its first piece of fabric in May of that year.
TRANSCRIPT
In 1877, the Company built four spinning mills using grey limestone rock from nearby quarries.
While the equipment was imported from England, the interior architecture was of American influence.
The load-bearing walls were made of stone, the beams and jambs were heavy timber,
and the floors were hardwood-covered planks. Support columns every three metres were equipped...
...with fire hoses to make sure every corner could be covered.
The spinning mills were given nicknames over time. The “Old Montreal Mill” became “La Vieille” because it was the oldest structure. The southernmost building was called “South Mill”, and the “Louise” building was named after Queen Victoria’s daughter. “Empire” was homage to England and, finally, the last facility to be built was named “Gault”, after one of the founders and company president, Andrew F. Gault.
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