The Louis-Joseph Forget House
|
When the Macdonald Stewart Foundation was endowed in 1973, David and Liliane Stewart began looking for a building to house the Foundation. By sheer coincidence they learned of the viability difficulties of the United Services Club, lodged in one of the few remaining grand mansions of Montreal’s Golden Square Mile built in 1884- The Maison Louis-Joseph Forget. Purchase of this building added another example of the Foundation’s heritage mission, as well as a home for the Foundation.
The house has a grand history. Maria Raymond and Louis-Joseph Forget were married in 1876; in 1882 Maria Raymond bought the land for their house on Sherbrooke Street from William Workman. The lot was originally part of John Redpath's property which he had bought from M. Desrivieres in 1836 and subdivided, simultaneously extending Drummond Street north towards the mountain. The design of the Louis-Joseph Forget house is attributed to Maurice Perrault, a well-regarded architect. His design for the Forget house was designed to impress passersby and sits high above the sidewalk. The slate mansard roof is characteristic of Second Empire architecture, while the sober cut limestone facade is more English in its expression. With the phenomenal business success of Mr. Forget and his growing family, he called on the renowned architect Maxwell brothers ( Edward and William Sutherland) to expand the house in the early 1900’s to add a billiard room and redecorate the living room into a magnificent music room. Typical of the neighbouring mansions it included a dining room, an office, and a breakfast nook which doubled as a staging area for meals in the dining room brought by the staff from the basement kitchen and staff areas. Aside from the bedrooms upstairs on the second and third floors, plans include a classroom for the couple’s five children. Although the back yard had been reduced by the addition of the billiard room, the coach house closed the property on the north side and would witness the transition from horse drawn carriages to the automobile. These turn of the century additions and renovations reflected the growing wealth of Mr. Forget, who built a veritable estate in Ste Genevieve which became the families principal residence with the downtown home as a pied à terre. Mr. Forget died in 1911 and his widow converted the billiard room into her personal chapel. An elevator was installed just before Mrs Forget died in 1925 and then the building was sold to the United Service Club. From 1927 to 1974, the United Services Club, initially a group of World War I officers of the three services (Navy, Army and Air force) occupied the house, making some modifications. It was a typical private club with dining room spaces and bars, along with reading and meeting rooms that were used for social gatherings. There was a women’s entrance and lounge abiding by the traditions of the time. By the early 1970s, with the club’s membership waning after the influx of World War II officers now growing old, the Club needed some help and David Stewart, being a military man himself, came to the rescue. The Foundation purchased the house and left the Club to use the first floor, thus condensing its footprint and allowing the Foundation to occupy the rest of the building. In 1974 the Quebec Ministry of Culture declared the house an historic monument with restrictions on the exterior and interior. The Forget House closely associated with the endeavours of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation and community well being. When David Stewart and his wife Liliane established the Macdonald Stewart Foundation in 1973, after the sale of Macdonald Tobacco Inc, they sought a site to reflect their shared passion for Canada's history. David Stewart was particularly sensitive to the protection and knowledge of the built heritage of his hometown, as evidenced by his active and financial involvement in the birth of Heritage Montreal. The Forget House would facilitate the pursuit of the family patronage and house the Foundation's administrative offices, but also allow charitable organizations to share available space to carry out activities associated with their missions. The Forget House met all these requirements, especially since it is located on one of the last intact blocks of the Golden Square Mile. They were, however, well aware of the need to undertake an adequate program of restoration and upgrading of the residence, both inside and outside. This work was spread over several years and was carried out with great care under the supervision of renowned experts in the field of national heritage conservation. The integrity of the Forget House, classified as a Historic Monument, continues to be one of the Macdonald Stewart Foundation's main mandates. The Forget House has proven to be a major partner for charitable and community organizations that have centralized their activities on the premises or that use the various rooms available to them to take steps relevant to their mission. Over the years, the Forget House has seen activities as diverse as fundraising events, auctions, conferences and workshops ranging from the conservation of religious heritage, health care for children and seniors, to services offered to veterans. The Forget House is inseparable from the Foundation's accomplishments, but also from the work of numerous charitable organizations. This formula has made it possible to carry out projects essential to the development and improvement of our community and society. The public spaces in the House can occasionally be rented by other non-profit organisations whose missions align with that of the foundation. Inquiries in this regard can be made through the contact form on this website. |
The Louis-Joseph Forget House booklet
For rental inquiries, please contact:
[email protected] |
