Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène
Encyclopedia
The Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène, an historic site on Saint Helen's Island
that belongs to the city of Montreal
, Quebec
, was constructed in the early 1820s as an arsenal in the defensive chain of forts built to protect Canada
from a threat of American
invasion. Although not heavily fortified, it served an important purpose as the central artillery depot for all forts west. These included Fort Henry
and Fort Lennox
. The red stone used to build the Fort is a breccia
quarried on the island, which is situated in the St. Lawrence River between the island of Montreal and the south shore.
The Levis Tower, contrary to popular belief, was not part of the fortifications on the island. It was built in the 1930s to house a water tower..
left the fort for ruin, it became part of the City of Montreal. In the 1930s, it was restored as part of a job creation project during the Great Depression
. During the Second World War, it was used as an internment camp for Italian
Canadians. During the summer months the Fort houses two reconstituted 18th century regiments, The Olde 78th Fraser Highlanders, and Les Compagnies Franches de la Marine.
Today the Fort is also home the David M. Stewart Museum, an institution founded in 1955 to collect, store and display historical artefacts from Canada's colonial past, particularly that of New France
. The museum collections include artefacts dating from the 16th century through to the 19th century. Both the Fort and the museum are open year-round.
The noon day gun salute is a tradition that was originally undertaken by British troops stationed at the fort. It use was to act as a form of synchronization for the city. The cannon fire signaled noon solar time. Today it is continued by museum staff dressed in the regimental dress of the Royal Artillery.
An encampment is set up next to the parade square simulating 18th century colonial life in New France. Bread is baked in a wood-fired oven daily as well as children's crafts and games are set up to give a hands-on approach to education of life during the 18th century.
Saint Helen's Island
Saint Helen's Island is an island in the Saint Lawrence River, in the territory of the city of Montreal. It is situated immediately southeast of the Island of Montreal, in the extreme southwest of Quebec. It forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago...
that belongs to the city of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, was constructed in the early 1820s as an arsenal in the defensive chain of forts built to protect Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from a threat of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
invasion. Although not heavily fortified, it served an important purpose as the central artillery depot for all forts west. These included Fort Henry
Fort Henry
Fort Henry is the name of:*Fort Henry , a 1646 fort near present-day Petersburg, Virginia*Fort Henry , a 1774 fort near present–day Wheeling, West Virginia...
and Fort Lennox
Fort Lennox
Fort Lennox National Historic Site occupies most of Ile aux Noix, an island in the middle of the Richelieu River in the parish of Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Quebec, near the Canada-U.S. border...
. The red stone used to build the Fort is a breccia
Breccia
Breccia is a rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix, that can be either similar to or different from the composition of the fragments....
quarried on the island, which is situated in the St. Lawrence River between the island of Montreal and the south shore.
The Levis Tower, contrary to popular belief, was not part of the fortifications on the island. It was built in the 1930s to house a water tower..
History of the Fort
After the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
left the fort for ruin, it became part of the City of Montreal. In the 1930s, it was restored as part of a job creation project during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. During the Second World War, it was used as an internment camp for Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
Canadians. During the summer months the Fort houses two reconstituted 18th century regiments, The Olde 78th Fraser Highlanders, and Les Compagnies Franches de la Marine.
Today the Fort is also home the David M. Stewart Museum, an institution founded in 1955 to collect, store and display historical artefacts from Canada's colonial past, particularly that of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. The museum collections include artefacts dating from the 16th century through to the 19th century. Both the Fort and the museum are open year-round.
David M. Stewart Museum
The museum, housed inside the garrison features a permanent exhibition and an annual one, usually opened in the spring months. During the summer months, the museum plays host to reconstituted 18th century regiments that perform daily military maneuvers. The regiments, the Olde 78th Fraser Highlanders and Les Compagnies Franches de la Marine perform daily musket drills, fife and drum and bagpipe shows.The noon day gun salute is a tradition that was originally undertaken by British troops stationed at the fort. It use was to act as a form of synchronization for the city. The cannon fire signaled noon solar time. Today it is continued by museum staff dressed in the regimental dress of the Royal Artillery.
An encampment is set up next to the parade square simulating 18th century colonial life in New France. Bread is baked in a wood-fired oven daily as well as children's crafts and games are set up to give a hands-on approach to education of life during the 18th century.