The Goode House

On November 2, 2020, Westmount City Council designated the Goode property as a heritage immovable. The interior of the private residence located at 178 Côte-Saint-Antoine Road is now protected by a municipality, a first in Quebec. This regulatory measure will allow the Goode house to continue to exist in the community’s shared memory — without freezing it in time— all while allowing the building to fulfill its foremost role as a space for living.

Built in 1840, the Goode House is one of the oldest in the City, and a rare example of Greek Revival architecture in Quebec. It was originally one of a group of four identical houses, of which two remain. Since 1884, three generations of the Goode family have preserved the architectural integrity of this exceptional house.

Having avoided modern upgrades for almost two centuries, the house presents a rare degree of authenticity and integrity, as revealed a study involving Christina Cameron, Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage.“The interior of the Goode house retains a remarkably complete collection of woodwork, plasterwork and other fittings that have survived since its original construction in the early 1840s,” says Cameron.

Furthermore, the firm WAA studied the landscaping around the house. Together, its indigenous and exotic plants, a mini-orchard, greenhouses, terraces and decorative garden borders provide a fascinating remnant of the development of 19th-century suburb garden design. The study testifies to “a rare continuity, making the garden and landscape of the residence truly unique in today’s world”.

The heritage designation will protect the characteristic elements of the house, both exterior and interior, hence the importance of the whole municipal process.

A large portion of the City of Westmount was recognized in 2011 by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site of Canada. In 2018, the City won the prestigious Prince of Wales Award for Municipal Leadership in Heritage. Westmount continues to protect exceptional places for future generations.

February 2019 - The process begins

The Urban Planning Department reports on the heritage relevance of 178 Côte Saint-Antoine Road and requests Council’s support to initiate a heritage designation process.

Spring-Summer 2020 - Heritage Studies

The City commissions external experts to complete two heritage studies: an architectural and a landscape heritage study.

July 2020 - Adoption of Notice of Motion

Council gives notice of motion that it will present for adoption a “By-law to designate the Goode House as a heritage immovable”.

September 2020 - Online Public Meeting

The Local Heritage Council holds an online public meeting to explain the proposed By-law. The session is followed by a 15-day written consultation.

Comments received

November 2020 - Adoption of the citation

Westmount City Council adopts By-law 1552 and declares the Goode House as a heritage immovable in accordance with the powers granted to the City under the Cultural Heritage Act (R.S.Q., Chapter P-9.002).