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 was a very famous building in Old Montreal, Quebec. It was first known as Bingham House. You could find it on the corner of Notre-Dame Street and Bonsecours Street, close to Bonsecours Market.
This building had many lives! It started as a fancy private home in 1821. Then, from 1837 to 1843, it became the official home for the Governor General of Canada. After that, it was a school for a few years, called the High School of Montreal. Later, a man named Jean-Marie Donegana bought it. He made it much bigger, turning it into the largest hotel in all the British Colonies at the time. Donegana's Hotel became super famous across Europe and North America. People said it was as good as, or even better than, the famous Astor House in New York City. Sadly, the first Donegana's Hotel was burned down during the Montreal Riots of 1849.
But the story didn't end there! The land was sold in 1850, and a new Donegana Hotel was built. This second hotel was also very successful. Important people stayed there, like the family of Jefferson Davis, who was a former president of the Confederate States of America. In 1880, the second hotel building was replaced by the Hôpital Notre-Dame, a hospital.
Contents
The Bingham House: A Grand Beginning
The building started as a private home in 1821. It was built for William Bingham, a rich American man. He was getting ready to marry Marie-Charlotte Chartier de Lotbinière the next year. Their home quickly became a popular spot for Montreal's high society. Many important people visited or lived there.
In 1834, the Bingham family moved to Paris. They rented their house to Lord Seaton for a while. Then, in 1837, Lord Durham became the new Governor General of Canada. He chose the Bingham house as his official residence. He wanted it to be furnished in a "superior style," and no money was spared. Other Governors General, Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Bagot, also lived there. The Binghams sold the house in 1843, as they had moved to England.
In September 1843, the house found a new purpose. It became the first home of the High School of Montreal. Many students, 167 of them, started classes there. The school's first closing ceremony was held in the large hall. This room used to be the Binghams' ballroom. In 1845, the school moved to its own new building.
Donegana's Hotel: A Place of Luxury
In 1845, a well-known hotelier named Jean-Marie Donegana bought the house. He was already famous for managing Rasco's Hotel in Montreal. The front of the building looked the same as the Bingham's home. But Donegana added many new parts to the back.
Donegana's Hotel became the largest hotel in the British colonies. It stretched all the way to the Champ de Mars. The hotel offered every luxury you could imagine. Guests could enjoy hot and cold baths at any time. The gas lighting made the rich marble decorations look amazing. Each of the 150 rooms even had its own bathroom. The dining room was huge, measuring 100 by 218 feet. A gallery around the cupola on top gave a fantastic 360-degree view of the city.
Even though Montreal was a smaller city in 1845, its inns were known for being grand. Donegana's Hotel was said to be as good as the famous Astor House in New York City. It was also compared to many fine hotels in London. A British Army officer visiting Montreal called it a "magnificent establishment." He said the furniture was superb and the service was excellent. The French waiters were "most admirable." The food was also described as very fancy and special.
In 1847, Donegana's Hotel hosted the first Charity Ball. This event helped raise money for the Montreal Maternity Hospital. The Governor General of Canada, Lord Elgin, supported the event. Later, Lord Mark Kerr, Lord Elgin's assistant, played a prank. He rode his horse through the dining room while many American tourists were there. The tourists were shocked at first, then very amused! Guests at the hotel included famous people like Maurice Sand and Jérôme Napoleon Bonaparte.
From Hotel to Hospital
In 1880, the building that was once Donegana's Hotel 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 old hotel building. The hospital moved to a new, larger location on Sherbrooke Street in 1924. It is still there today.
Images for kids
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Donegana's in The Illustrated London News
See also
In Spanish: Hotel Donegana para niños
