Thursday 3 April 2014

Hudson & Orsali, and J. Alfred Ouimet; Montreal

Built for Victor Hudson in 1857, the warehouse below included some retail space on the Rue Saint-Paul side. The name of two of the tenants can still be seen on the façade: Hudson & Orsali, and J. Alfred Ouimet.

Hudson & Orsali rented the warehouse between 1887 and 1905. The company imported fine food and beverages from England, France, Spain and the US. As for Joseph Alfred Ouimet, whose company imported perfumes and soap, he moved in in 1928. In 1948 his wife Marie-Antoinette Mercure bought the building. The company continued trading at this address until 1975.

The oldest sign reads simply:

Hudson & Orsali

Something else might have been written below (a few traces of letters can be seen) but I there is no way I can decipher it.

The one for Ouimet reads:

J. Alfred Ouimet
Importateur

Location: Rue de la Commune Ouest, Montréal

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