A glimpse of Westmount Park as seen through vintage postcards
By Michael Walsh
Previously published on December 9, 2021
When was the last time you purchased a postcard? Those of us “of a certain age” can recall the time-consuming (and costly) process of taking photographs and waiting days to process the film, only to find several blurred and overexposed images.
Of course, today’s smartphones give every owner photographic tools that nearly match professional standards. This technical progress has left many of us with thousands of (forgotten or misplaced) images embedded on old memory cards, discarded smartphones and cloud-based servers.
I enjoy collecting postcards from the early 1900s – the main reason is that there are fewer of them in existence. Plus, looking at them closely, one can appreciate the labour required in the composition and lithographic processes given the technical infancy of that period.
You might be surprised to learn that Westmount Park and the City’s floral clock were the subjects of several cards photographed and published by the John Valentine & Company in Dundee, Scotland. In 1923, they opened a Montreal office and operated until 1980, when they were sold to Hallmark Cards.
For your enjoyment, what follows is a glimpse of Westmount’s past through the images of postcards:
Welcome to Westmount Park
The early days
At leisure and at play
Westmount’s famed floral clock
Images: postcards from Michael Walsh’s collection
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Michael Walsh is a long-time resident of Westmount. Now happily retired after nearly forty years in higher-education technology, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, uncovering its past and bringing to light the history behind its familiar places. michaelld2003@ hotmail.com • Westmount Overlooked blog
Thank you for sharing these postcards. Majestic park!
Yes, postcards have endured, while smart cards are often lost. The correspondence is often very interesting too. Thanks for these images of bygone days.
Thanks for another fascinating piece . It is a clever way to document the park! Plus an absorbing hobby.