VC Tunnel Revisted

The Wellington Street Tunnel was constructed in the early 1930s as an alternative to the CN Wellington Swing Bridge just a little ways down. Meant primarily as a connector between both sides of the canal, the tunnel fulfilled the important function of getting goods, merchandise, and supplies to the city from the port, it also helped to interconnect Montreal and its surrounding and developing residential (like Verdun) and industrial areas (like Cote-St. Paul). Here are a couple of shots I grabbed from some heritage site online.

As you can see this was quite the undertaking back then. The tunnel had a pedestrian walkway on one side and was the main thoroughfare of street cars and other vehicles at the time. Abandoned in 1994 for security and safety reasons, the tunnel system remains locked up and now covered in graffiti, a silent reminder of a time passed.

 

I've only been frequenting this area for a little while now, but it's definitely one of the more interesting for me as I have only had the opportunity to enter into the tunnel a few times, and when I have I have not gone in that far because of a lack of equipment or by the time I get there my camera is dead from a day long flick mission. I tried making a couple of specific mission plans for this spot but it seems it's always locked up or re-barred whenever I do. Although, a couple of times over the last few months I've gotten in thanks to some folks who either a) left the main gate open, or b) somehow parted the bars on the side so I could slip in. But didn't have a good flash light on me and my camera flash can only take me so far. I even went in with an external flash, but again, that can only take you so far.

In my research of this area I've come across some interesting stuff. Back in October 2009 there was some sort of art show that took place complete with rows of candles for internal lighting and small groups of guitar and bongo playing hipsters. Urban Exploration Montreal went in a couple of times over the past decade but they never really went the extra distance to show off some good shots of the interior and graff that's in there. Other interested parties have also used the tunnels for photo shoots such as suicide girls (a very interesting shoot indeed) and other artists and photographers.

These are my shots over the last few months all bundles into one update. There isn't a whole hell of a lot of pics like most of my other posts, namely cause this spot hasn't changed a whole lately. So the shots above are just quick updates from outside the tunnel. I guess this post is more of the shots I got from inside the tunnel.

In any case, I plan to go back at some point to map this spot out entirely so keep posted for those shots hopefully in the near future.More from October through December coming soon.

Urban Ambush: Barry's place Sept 2010

I used to live in Griffintown on the corner of Ottawa and Murray in a little 1 & 1/2 run down, turn of the century apartment, converted sometime in the 50 years prior to my habitation. It was a wicked spot though. Ten minutes away from either work or Concordia, and close to just about anywhere I needed to be downtown but with out all the hustle and bustle that a spot in the Plateau or up on St. Catherine's might bring. Minus the smell of horse shit in the summer thanks to the stalls next door at the infamous Griffintown Horse Palace run by Leo Leonard and all the blown dirt in my kitchen from the trucking transport company across the street, I loved the spot.

Leo Leonard (source)

I don't know how many times I had a cold beer with Leo (he prefers his warm) on either of our stoops listening to him recount events from the 50+ years that has lived there. Leo's one of the last remaining true Irishmen in the Griff. And he's still holding on to the spot regardless of the encroaching construction crews on the horizon. And I got a feeling that ol' Leo is going to hold out till his last days too. He's a tough old bastard. If your in the Griff then be sure to stop by Leo's and pet a horse. If he's around pay the man some respect and spark up a chat with him, he's always got something to talk about, and he's really a great guy.

I moved out around 2005. Little did I know that right across the street from me was Montreal's board master Barry Walsh. I haven't known Barry for that long, having only the opportunity to chat with him here and there at events or the couple of times I stopped by the concrete pipe at Olympic Stadium. But in September when he invited my buddy to stop by and paint at his place on Murray he was more than gracious to allow me to tag along to shoot some flics and chill to. And here I was thinking that I was holding it down in the Griff when I was there, when I walked in I realized that Barry had taken it to the next level.

According to the Mirror, a couple of years back Barry and Karim worked out permissions to build a half-pipe next to the Vélomakak bike shop. The results of those efforts along with the help a dedicated group of skaters and friends was a solid monster half pipe 7 & 1/2 high and 18 feet across. Built for a fast ride, big air, and with a 3"coping allowing for a wide variety of lip tricks this half-pipe is unlike any other in Montreal. Barry and his crew, who have become synonymous with the concrete pipe at Olympic Park, built this ramp as a nod to that pipe wanting something similar, only bigger with a better ride.

And for those of you who don't know then make a point of it to pick up a copy of Pipe Fiends: A Visual Overdose of Canada's Most Infamous Skate Spot (2006) by Barry Walsh and Marc Tison. It's a solid book giving the history of the concrete pipe at Olympic park and those who have made it a second home over the years, packed full of crazy shots of everyone who's rolled through and the stories they shared. I only recently got my hands on a copy and can't wait to give it a good read. When I do I'll post my review.

But I digress. As I said, I was there that day along with my buddy to chill, paint, flic some shots and soak in some fall time chillin' with the blessing of Barry at his awesome half-pipe homestead. Although he wasn't pleased with his work overall that afternoon, it was still good to hang out with my buddy painting, shoot the shit, and catch a glimpse of Barry and the crew get some big air and long grinds on the ramp.

All-in-all I got to say I was beyond impressed with this spot: a sick ramp, tonnes of space for chillin', a ridiculously spacious patio and walkway set up -great for summer parties and bbq sessions- and an equally chill pad. On top of that he's parcelled out his wall space to some of the locals to ply their works. I didn't get too many shots, not many as I didn't want to be too shutter frenzied on my first visit. Hopefully next time I'm around I can get some action shots on the ramp.

You can't beat this. Much thanks to Barry and KidPQ for having me along.

Stay posted. More from TA, CBR and October updates* coming soon.