Interesting question: How long would it take to walk from 405 Bois Franc Road to Cartierville School?
We have an interesting comment from Rhonda Forbes at a previous post which is entitled:
Graeme Decarie has a question about the old Bois Franc. Do you know the answer?
The comment reads:
Hello, cannot believe I just found this discussion I can add some info. My grandfather William Duncan Forbes worked for Pitfields in the 30’s and 40’s as his manager? of cattle. My father and his siblings grew up in a house provided by the Pitfield farm at 405 Bois Franc Road. We understood it to be on the farm.
My dad grew up as the cattleman’s son alongside Michael Pitfield that someone wrote of in earlier comments. I understand that the roads have changed very much since then but I wonder if someone could tell me what the walking distance would have been from 405 Bois Franc Rd. to Cartierville School?
When my father joined RCAF 1942 he was living there (with his family) and his father was still working for Pitfields. Tsk
I calculated it would take between 1 hr 16 min and 1 hr 30 min
I recall, from previous posts about Cartierville School, that the school was on Somerset. I do not have the address of the school but it’s a short street so the precise location is not that important. Using Google Maps, I note that a walk from Bois Franc Road to Somerset will take 1 hr 16 min via Henri Bourassa or 1 hr 30 min along Gouin.
It’s wonderful to know of the connection of the Forbes family to the local history related to Bois Franc Road that we’ve talked about at this site!
Hello Jaan Pill,
Thank you so much for connecting with me. And for the time and effort you put into answering my question. It was quite a walk for little ones. I hesitate to ask another question. (I’m full of them) Because Bois Franc Road has changed so many times over the years, is there still a house at 405? Or due to multiple changes in this road if there IS a 405, is it in fact in a different location than the original? I’m doing some genealogical research and whenever you get a new piece of information it always leads to new questions in an effort to clarify.
Again thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I was very excited to find this group and read everything people wrote. It brought back old family stories of my father and his siblings and this walk of over an hour to school and back seems to fit their memories.
How lovely that would take the time to find an answer and reply. I appreciate it very much.
Rhonda Forbes
Hello Rhonda Forbes,
I’m pleased to help out. That’s a good question – is there still a 405 Bois Franc Road? I’ve not been able to find it using Google Maps. I vaguely recall from earlier discussions at this site that Bois Franc has gone through many changes. Among the changes is a residential development from the 1990s:
Bois Franc
Are you familiar with the Montreal Then and Now Facebook Group? I would suggest that you post your question at that group. In the past I’ve had a lot of help from Montreal Then and Now when a site visitor was looking for an archival map of St-Laurent.
I will also check with people who may be able to find an answer to your interesting question about 405 Bois Franc.
An additional note: If you do a search for 405 Bios Franc in St-laurent then the app takes you to numbers such as 4400 Bois Franc, which is not what you’re looking for.
A Google Maps satellite view enables you to have a close look at what Bois Franc Road looks like now:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chem.+du+Bois-Franc,+Montréal,+QC/@45.4999717,-73.7353599,686m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4cc93d4b473bc35f:0x5ede92d69c9da549!8m2!3d45.4999717!4d-73.7353599!16s%2Fg%2F1tghcs09?entry=ttu
Message from Gina Cayer:
Cartierville school was at the corner of Gouin Blvd and Somerset. The main entrance was on Gouin. The school burnt down in April of this year.
Gina adds that the building had been abandoned for many years. Most recently, as I understand, it had been a Montessori School.
Good to have the details. Amazing that it burned down! The building lives on in the memories of the students who attended the school.
Below are links to three videos documenting the April 5, 2024 fire at Cartierville School:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvVPVvJAJv8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt67Q_zRFNA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZjC3e2tMeo