Français
Welcome Page
Properties for sale
Regional History
Laurentian Place Names
What's It Worth
Associations
E-mail us

T

O BE DEMOLISHED

The Mount Sinai Hospital building sits on a 25-acre parcel of land and was in continuous operation from 1930 to 1998. It is a stunning example of Art Deco, or Northern Deco, architecture and was designed by Charles Davis Goodman and David Jerome Spence. Goodman was a McGill graduate while Spence, somewhat his senior, was from Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from MIT. The building is described in Sandra Cohen-Rose's book Northern Deco, Architecture in Montreal: Although Art Deco was essentially an urban architectural style, Mount Sinai Sanatorium.is a rare example of its use in a country setting. Except for the addition of a grey stone entrance with arched windows, the front façade of the sanatorium has changed little since the days when tuberculosis-afflicted Montrealers flocked to the country to breathe its fresh air.With its buff stucco, set off by dark brown metal spandrels and trim, and turquoise-glazed tiles, Mount Sinai Sanatorium is reminiscent of Southern Deco and would seem more appropriate surrounded by swaying palm trees rather than gigantic pines. Judaic symbols are found everywhere. A central copper dome houses a chapel with a large stained- glass window. On the wall at either side of the chapel window are gold mosaic menorahs (candelabra), with candles of white mosaic, set against a background of blue mosaic. Stylized menorahs are also used below the raised portions of the crenulated roofline. Stone bas-relief Stars of David decorate the main entrance, which, like that of the 1932 Montreal Botanical Gardens, steps down to a path leading to an octagonal-shaped pond.

The institution itself moved to Montreal 10 years ago, but the building was used by the Centre hospitalier Laurentien until it was mothballed in 1999. This building replaced the original sanatorium that opened its doors around 1909 at the same location and may have been the first Jewish community- funded health treatment centre in Canada.

For several years a group of people have been working together to find a new use for the building, but time is running out. One of the major blocking points has been that the site is contaminated and decontamination could be very costly. Once the Centre hospitalier Laurentien becomes the legal owner at the start of the year, they intend to call for tenders for demolition.

If you have any ideas that could help us save this important element of our community heritage please contact us at the office of Doncaster Realties Inc. by phone, fax or email. Time is of the essence.

Photo courtesy of Sandra Cohen-Rose

Return to What's it Worth index