SEPIA SATURDAY (76)

Alan's prompt this week has to do with the Great Depression of 1929. 

HOW JOYFUL!!... 

oh well, 

here we go!!

here's the old MONTREAL STOCK EXCHANGE as seen in 1903. 

the building was designed by the same architect who did the NYC Stock Exchange. 

it was very prosperous for a while, 

even surpassing TORONTO's...

the financial crash of 1929 was especially felt in MONTREAL 

and its effects lingered for many years. 

it eventually recovered but TORONTO had now surpassed it. 

despite that, 

MONTREAL retained its position in the vitality of the country. 

only a political turmoil in the mid-70s 

as a separatist movement became the political force in the province of Quebec 

scaring investors away in favor of TORONTO, 

thus making it the new metropolis of CANADA.

while some enjoyed a leisurely life in the city...

others were left in an utter state of misery.

unemployed, homeless in many case, and hungry, 

people would flock to shelters to find food and comfort. 

others would rely on food stamps to help sustaining themselves and their families, 

along with their meager salaries. 

like WW1, 

WW2 brought another era of some prosperity, 

providing work for the masses, 

money for the industries 

and the economy improved.

1964. 

a tower was built to house the new STOCK EXCHANGE. 

the old building eventually became the CENTAUR theater, 

specializing in the english repertoire and new productions.

to this day, 

it still looks proud 

but since 1982, 

it has changed its name from STOCK EXCHANGE to simply EXCHANGE, 

trading now on other options than stocks. 

the economy still has its ups-and-downs, 

as we all know, 

and we all take it in stride...

i recently took this picture, 

seen here from inside the CONVENTION CENTER. 

if you have the time, 

you can see the inside of the CONVENTION CENTER right HERE. 

and the outside HERE.

for other points of view on the Great Depression, 

and other matters in some cases, 

simply visit 

SEPIA SATURDAY. 

:)~ 

HUGZ