Long before the Plateau-Mont-Royal became one of Montreal's trendiest neighbourhoods, the area was home to a 19th-century botanical garden and zoo where Montrealers marvelled at the sight of hippopotamuses, acrobatic circus acts and a live whale in a tank.
This piece of history has resurfaced in recent weeks thanks to an archeological dig that unearthed what is believed to be part of a fountain marking the former site's entrance.
Historical records suggest the fountain base was part of one of the city's first botanical gardens, which was founded by Joseph-Édouard Guilbault in the 19th century. A poster from 1862 advertised the arrival of the Hippozoonomadon circus, featuring the "largest elephants the world," a hippopotamus, as well as horse riding and comedy shows.
"The monster is, we are told, as large as any one has ever attempted to transfer from one place to another," read a Montreal Herald article from May 1863. The 19-foot animal was "larger than the one exhibited by Barnum, and by which he realized such immense profit," the article continued, in reference to P.T. Barnum, founder of the American travelling show Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Bernard Vallée, a historical tour guide who has studied the gardens, described Guilbault as a "Canadian Barnum" who understood people's need to escape their tough lives.
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