Some combination homes and shops dating from prior to 1850 can still be seen near Rue Saint-Vincent, old examples of the near-total makeover of Rue Saint-Paul in the 19th century. At the time, their display windows attracted well-to-do ladies seeking local crafts and the latest products from England.
Then came the warehouse-shops, carrying the latest industrial goods from Montréal and abroad, at wholesale prices. Their roofs are flat rather than sloped, indicating that they were built after 1850.
An 1840s building shows a rounded corner at a time when simplified forms were preferred.
This commercial building from 1873 is one of the few to have retained its mansards,
an architectural detail in the Second Empire style.
