The Généreux Bath is the work of architect Joseph-Omer Marchand. The building is notable for its Art Deco-style facade and its basin topped by a large vaulted ceiling. Opened in 1927 on Amherst Street (now Atateken Street), just north of Ontario Street, the bath first addressed a need for hygiene in a neighbourhood where many homes had neither bath nor shower. The Généreux Bath closed in 1992 and in 1996, the Écomusée du fier monde moved in and turned it into its exhibition hall.

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The site includes the former prison built between 1832 and 1840, the governor’s house erected in 1895 and the surrounding wall. The neoclassical-style prison served as a detention centre between 1836 and 1912. In 1838, 12 Patriotes (the largest Francophone political party at the time) were executed here, marking a defining moment in the history of Quebec. The prison closed in 1912, and in 1921, the Commission des Liqueurs, which later became the Société des alcools du Québec (the provincial-owned liquor board), set up its head office here. In the early 1970s, the Ville-Marie Expressway construction project called for demolishing the former prison, but citizen mobilization resulted in a change in the route to protect the building.

Barracks No. 19 was built in 1903-1904 to meet the protection needs of the residents of the Sainte-Marie neighbourhood. In 1980, the Fullum Street Barracks moved its facilities to the corner of De Lorimier Avenue and Ontario Street. The following year, the building was transformed into the Espace libre, a venue for creation and performance. Notable artistic figures, such as Robert Gravel and Jean-Pierre Ronfard, are a huge part of the history of this theatre.

Built in 1931, the Mathieu Bath addressed the hygiene needs of the underprivileged community, which did not always have access to necessary sanitary facilities. Located in the east end of the Sainte-Marie district, it closed its doors in 1990. The Society to Promote the Gigantic Arts (SPAG) moved in in 1998. In 2000, the City donated the building to SPAG, which, aware of the building’s heritage value and keen on its preservation, had it renovated and transformed into a multifunctional event hall.

Designed by the great Montreal architect J. O. Marchand, the Garneau School was inaugurated in 1911. It first welcomed young girls from the neighbourhood before becoming a co-ed institution in the 1960s. After the school closed in 1982, the building became the CLSC des Faubourgs, and the name “Garneau” is now attached to another school building in the neighbourhood.

The Gabriel-Souart School is a century-old school building that has maintained its original purpose. Built in 1917 according to the plans of J. O. Marchand, the school initially only taught boys. The building was extended in 1949 to accommodate the Victor-Doré School, specializing in education for disabled students. The school changed its focus again in 1960 and opened its doors to girls at the high school level before becoming an elementary school again in 1981. It then changed its name to Garneau following the merger of several schools in the neighbourhood.

The Saint-Jacques Market is a prime example of the food and social history of the Centre-Sud. Built in 1871, the building was entirely rebuilt in 1931, according to the plans of architect Zotique Trudel. The public market ceased activities in 1960 and the spaces were transformed to accommodate various City of Montreal departments. The building was subsequently sold to a developer in 2007. Of Art Deco inspiration, the structure is still an important landmark in the landscape.

Opened in 1914, the Gédéon-Ouimet School stands out thanks to its unique architecture. Built across from the Macdonald Tobacco plant, this landmark monument by architect Joseph Venne is a testament to the efforts made to educate the working class. Still carrying out its educational mandate, it now serves as an Adult Education Centre. Gédéon Ouimet was Superintendent of Public Education, then Premier of Quebec in the late 19th century.

Initiated in the early 1980s, the Maisons de la Culture (Cultural Centres) Project primarily sought to decentralize Montreal’s cultural activity and make it more accessible to as many people as possible. The Maison de la Culture Frontenac was inaugurated in 1989 and also included a social housing project affiliated with the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (Montreal’s Municipal Housing Bureau). Built near the Frontenac metro station, the complex includes a large entrance hall, a library, an auditorium and exhibition halls. Since its opening, the Maison de la Culture Janine-Sutto has offered a rich and varied array of programming to the neighbourhood’s residents.

Jean-Claude Malépart represented the neighbourhood and championed the interests of his fellow citizens for ten years at the federal level. He left his mark and is remembered for his social commitment and contribution to the sports and leisure sector. Named in his honour, the Jean-Claude-Malépart Centre is a community sports and recreation complex located near the Frontenac metro station. The site is an important hub of activity for the citizens of Centre-Sud.