Saint Helen Island Fort
Saint Helen Island Fort (1820-1870, 1870-1945) - A British Fort and Arsenal established in 1820 after the War of 1812 under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Elias W Durnford, Royal Engineers, on Saint Helen's Island in present day Montreal City, Quebec, Canada. Abandoned by the British in 1870 when they left Canada and taken over by the Canadian Government. The actual name of the fort is unclear.
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Saint Helen Island Fort History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Montreal.
Constructed between 1820 and 1824 by the British as replacement fort for the Montreal Citadel. The fort was built under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Elias W Durnford, Royal Engineers on Saint Helen's Island.
The Arsenal portion of the fort was built as a five sided enclosures with three story buildings forming four of the sides. The fifth side facing the river was an earthwork. At the end of the earthwork was a blockhouse that looked out over the river. Opposite the entrance to the arsenal was a powder magazine and beyond that was a 250 man barracks that housed both officers and enlisted men in a four story structure. The barracks burned down in 1875 after the British left and only the bottom floor remains.
The fort served as a cholera hospital in the 1832-1834 cholera epidemic. It became a military prison in 1848 for a short time. In 1870 the British troops left Canada and the Canadian government took over the post.
During the World War I the fort served as a munitions depot. During World War II it served as a prisoner of war camp and later as a military prison.
Between 1960 and 1970 the David M. Stewart museum was installed in the Arsenal buildings.
Current Status
A part of the David M. Stewart museum which operates the site on Saint Helen's Island, Montreal City, Quebec, Canada. The fort and arsenal buildings have been externally restored with the exception of the barracks which burned down in 1875. That barracks has only the lower vaults remaining. The Arsenal buildings house the David M. Stewart museum and library and have been converted for that use but parts of the original interior are exposed. The main arsenal yard has a cannon collection on display and a period blockhouse at the far end. A large paid parking lot that can cost you between $6 and $20 to park is at the entrance. The museum also has an an admission fee.
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Location: David M. Stewart museum on Saint Helen's Island, Montreal City, Quebec, Canada. Maps & Images Lat: 45.518929 Long: -73.53655 |
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Visited: 30-31 Jul 2013
Saint Helen Island Fort Picture Gallery
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