Bubbles Weigens: Jewish Papineau, A Little Country Town

Description

La Petite-Patrie is a bustling multicultural neighborhood about 6 kilometres to the north of downtown Montreal. At the turn of the twentieth century the neighbourhood was considered more rural than urban and was bordered by farmland. The corridor along Boulevard St-Laurent (or “The Main”) is generally regarded as the place where East European Jewish immigrants settled in Montreal. But a considerable number found their way to this neighbourhood, which they called “Papineau.” Many of these newly arrived Jewish immigrants opened stores or worked at the railyards nearby. Florence « Bubbles » Weigens’ mother Rose grew up in “Jewish Papineau” and often shared her fond memories and stories with her daughter. This was Rose’s home, where she lived with her parents Abraham and Bracha Goldberg and her brother Moe from 1912-1922.