Donegana's Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Donegana's Hotel |
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Donegana's in The Illustrated London News
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| General information | |
| Type | Private House Vice-Regal Residence School Hotel |
| Location | Old Montreal |
| Address | Notre-Dame Street |
| Coordinates | 45°30′37″N 73°33′09″W / 45.5103°N 73.5525°W |
| Construction started | 1821 |
| Renovated | 1850 |
| Destroyed | 1880 |
Donegana's Hotel, once known as Bingham House, was a very important building in Old Montreal, Quebec. It stood near Notre-Dame Street and Bonsecours Street. This building had many different lives.
It started as a private home in 1821. Then, from 1837 to 1843, it became the official home for the Governor General of Canada. After that, it briefly housed the High School of Montreal from 1843 to 1846.
Later, a man named Jean-Marie Donegana bought it. He made it much bigger, turning it into the largest hotel in the British Colonies. Donegana's Hotel became famous across Europe and North America. People said it was as grand as New York's famous Astor House. Sadly, the hotel burned down on August 16, 1849, after some riots in Montreal.
The land was sold in 1850. A new Donegana Hotel was built nearby. It did very well until the 1870s. Important people, like the family of former President Jefferson Davis, stayed there after the American Civil War. In 1880, this second hotel was replaced by the Hôpital Notre-Dame.
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Donegana's Hotel: A Historic Montreal Landmark
This famous building in Montreal had a rich history. It changed roles many times, from a fancy home to a grand hotel. Its story shows how much Montreal grew and changed in the 1800s.
From Private Home to Governor's Residence
The main part of the building was started in 1821. It was built for William Bingham, a rich American. He was getting ready to marry Marie-Charlotte Chartier de Lotbinière. William Bingham's father was a very wealthy man in the United States. The house was inspired by a grand home in London, England.
A Home for Important People
The Bingham house quickly became a popular place for Montreal's high society. Many important people lived there or visited. In 1834, the Binghams moved to Paris. They rented their home to Lord Seaton.
In 1837, Lord Durham became the new Governor General of Canada. He chose this impressive house as his official residence. He wanted it furnished in a "superior style." No expense was spared to make it perfect. Other Governors General, Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Bagot, also lived there. They stayed until 1843, when the Binghams sold the house.
A School's First Home
In September 1843, the building became the first home for the new High School of Montreal. There were 167 students by the end of the first school year. The closing ceremony was held in the large hall, which used to be the Binghams' ballroom. Important people like Peter McGill and Lord Metcalfe attended. In 1845, the school moved to its own new building.
The Grand Donegana's Hotel
In 1845, Jean-Marie Donegana bought the house. He was already a well-known hotelier in Montreal. He kept the front of the building as it was. However, he added many new parts to the back. Donegana's became the largest hotel in the British colonies.
Luxury and Fame
The hotel offered every luxury imaginable. Guests could enjoy hot and cold baths at any time. Gas lighting lit up the hotel, making the rich marble decorations look amazing. Each of the 150 rooms had its own bathroom. The dining room was huge, and a gallery around the cupola offered a 360-degree view of the city.
Even though Montreal was a smaller city then, its inns were known for being grand. Donegana's was said to be as good as Astor House in New York. A British Army officer described it as "magnificent." He loved the superb furniture and the excellent service. The cuisine (food) was also top-notch.
Famous Guests and Events
In 1847, Donegana's hosted the first Charity Ball. It raised money for the Montreal Maternity Hospital. The Governor General, Lord Elgin, supported the event.
A fun story tells of Lord Mark Kerr, Lord Elgin's assistant. He once rode his horse through the hotel's dining room. American tourists staying there were first shocked, then very amused! He received many invitations to New York after that. Many important people stayed at Donegana's. These included Maurice Sand and Jérôme Napoleon Bonaparte. When Parliament was meeting, guests included Sir Allan Napier MacNab and Chief Justice Joseph-Rémi Vallières de Saint-Réal.
Later Life: A Hospital's Beginning
In 1880, the second Donegana Hotel building found a new purpose. It became the first home of Notre-Dame hospital. It could care for about 50 patients. By 1900, the hospital had grown too much for the building. The hospital moved to a new location in 1924, where it still stands today.
See also
In Spanish: Hotel Donegana para niños
- Ritz-Carlton Montreal
- Windsor Hotel, Montreal
