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In Sept. 2005, a second plaque was
dedicated at the former Westmount Home on Claremont honouring
the children who had lived there. Now a retreat for French
Catholic priests, the latter assisted us in every way to make
this reception a most gratifying one. Not only did they
permit us to hang the plaque in the front hall of their
building, they helped us set up the reception area outside in
the back, spoke a few words in English and French during the
presentation, and were our gracious hosts for the afternoon.
The plaque reads - in English and French:
A place full of memories
The Hervey Institute, 500
Claremont Avenue, Westmount, was founded approximately 1847 to
house 'half orphan children of
Protestant parents'. Following
World War I, the influx of European war refugees prompted the
need for larger premises to house the increasing number of
Jewish orphans. Purchased for this purpose in 1921 by a group
of 'uptowners' - Jewish businessmen in Westmount, it became the
Montreal Hebrew Orphans' Home and capable of housing more than 100 children at
a time.
In its first year, 82
children were cared for by volunteers from the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and the Baron de
Hirsch Institute... following
“the highest ideals in community child care”. There
were 12 dormitories, school rooms, music room, library, gym, a
kitchen with an electric stove, a complete medical floor, and
more! The children attended Berthelet School downtown and the
Shaar Hashomayim for Sabbath Services. Summers were spent at
Sunshine Camp in Shawbridge.
In June 1942, the Home was
closed due to the birth of foster care... its facilities merged
with the Jewish Child Welfare Dept. In 1944 it was taken over by the
Canadian Army, Unit No. 4 Vocational Training School
which operated there until October 1945. The building was
purchased after that by the Catholic
Corporation de l'Épiscopal de Montréal, to house the blind, then mentally handicapped
children.
The Congrégation
de la Fraternité Sacerdotale
purchased the property in 1975, renovating it and occupied it
in 1976 as a 'pension
reservée aux Ministres du Culte, aux Séminaristes
et aux Religieux'.
Throughout its history, this place and its occupants have
contributed to the well-being and cultural enrichment of the
community.
This plaque was dedicated on 11
September 2005 by the Montreal
Hebrew Orphans' Home Alumni in
collaberation with the Congrégation
de la Fraternité Sacerdotale. The text was written by Judy Gordon in
collaboration with Myer Gordon,
Muriel Fishman and les Religieuse de la Fraternité Sacerdotale….
Nancy Engel and Mitch Shiller, Jewish Family Services, accepted a donation from MHOH, monies raised
from the sale of our two books.
Among those in attendance was a
large contingent of both Homes’ alumni, complete
with children and grandchildren; CBC
Radio News - Loreen Pindera, M.C. for
the day; Doreen Lindsay, President Westmount
Historical Assoc.; Eiran Harris,
Archivist Jewish Public Library.
above: Péres Gérard Montfrette
and François Breton accept the plaque from Irving Pfeffer, a former
resident of the Home..
below: Myer
& Judy Gordon present cheque
from book proceeds to Nancy Engels,
Mitch Shiller and Manny Weiner
above: Abe Bye spoke of his memories living in the Home with
his parents who were supervisor and matron in the 1930s...
below, sharing more memories... Sheila Ross, whose
mother was in the Home, and Nettie
Shragie, alumna
