Pamphlet: 1843 to 1923, 80 Years of Merchandising. Henry Morgan & Company Limited, Montreal.
Photos of the pamphlet:
Pamphlet: 80 Years of Merchandising, page 1, source the McCord Museum, M6483
Pamphlet: 80 Years of Merchandising, page 2 and 3, source the McCord Museum, M6483
The text reads as follows:
Our Growth
The firm of Henry Morgan & Company was founded in 1843 by the late Mr. Henry Morgan: it was then known as Smith & Morgan -- this partnership continuing for seven years. Mr. Smith retired when Mr. James Morgan, Sr., came out from Scotland to become a member of the firm. The first place of business was at 240 Notre Dame St. West, between Recollet and McGill Streets.
With the expansion of business which took place, the firm had need of more commodious quarters, and in 1853 moved to 208 McGill Street, just south of Notre Dame Street. In 1858, the firm again having need of larger premises, extended through to what is now 284 Notre Dame Street.
In 1866 the firm again moved into what was then one of the finest buildings on St. James Street. A building which has since been torn down and where now stands the Eastern Townships Bank Building at the corner of St. James Street and Victoria Square.
Moving to St. Catherine Street
APRIL 21st, 1891, was a notable milestone in the development of this business. On that day the old downtown site was vacated at the corner of St. James Street and Victoria Square, a site which had been occupied since 1866, and the Firm moved to the new building which they had erected on Phillips Square.
This was the first retail business to leave the old established downtown district, but the wisdom of going so far uptown was regarded with grave doubts by many. The far-sightedness of this move, however, soon proved itself, for the growth of St. Catherine Street was rapid and continuous, and it has now become the most important shopping street in the City.
The present site on Phillips Square is still one of the most central and valuable in the retail district.
So rapid was the growth of the business that it was found necessary to build a large Annex. This Annex, fronting on Aylmer Street and joining the Main Phillips Square Building, was opened in 1900. In 1905 the Firm enlarged their premises on Union Avenue, adding what was known as the Union Avenue Annex.
This Annex was demolished in the Spring of 1923 to make way for the permanent new addition.
