Montreal History: 1869-1889

Montreal's Working-Class Culture: Joe Beef's Canteen

Joe Beef's Canteen was a notorious tavern in Montreal's waterfront district during the late 19th century, serving as a stronghold for working-class culture and values.
The tavern was owned by Charles McKiernan, a charismatic figure who transformed the tavern into a dynamic force for the working class.

Charles McKiernan's Background

McKiernan was born in Cavan County, Ireland, on December 4, 1835, and joined the British Army at a young age.
He served in the Crimean War and earned the nickname "Joe Beef" for his talent in providing food and shelter.
After leaving the army, McKiernan settled in Montreal and opened the Crown and Sceptre Tavern, later known as Joe Beef's Canteen.

The Canteen's Atmosphere

The tavern was located in the waterfront warehouse district and was known for its unique atmosphere, with a dim light outside the door and a general assortment of exotic and commonplace items inside.
The barroom was crudely furnished, with wooden tables and chairs, and sawdust covering the floor.
Behind the bar, a large mirror reflected a general assortment of bottles, cigar boxes, and curios.

The Canteen's Patrons

The clientele was mostly working class, consisting of canal labourers, longshoremen, sailors, and ex-army men like McKiernan.
The tavern also attracted the floating population along the Atlantic coast, including tramps and petty criminals.
Unemployed labourers visited the Canteen in the early morning to look for day labour and often remained there throughout the day.

The Canteen's Recreational Activities

The tavern was rich in popular recreations, including a menagerie of monkeys, parrots, and wild cats.
McKiernan's bears, particularly Jenny and Tom, were a main attraction, and their antics, including beer consumption and billiards, were a source of entertainment.
Minstrels and musicians performed in the tavern, and good food and drink provided the setting for a night out.

Charles McKiernan's Role

McKiernan was a man of learning, reading various newspapers, and employing a musician to entertain his customers.
He led much of the entertainment, debating topics of the day, and amusing patrons with humorous poems of his own composition.
McKiernan's poetry and tales allowed his patrons a temporary mastery over the forces that dominated their lives outside the Canteen doors.### Joe Beef of Montreal
Joe Beef, a tavern keeper, was a figure of notoriety in Montreal in the 1870s.
His tavern, Joe Beef's Canteen, was a popular gathering place for casual laborers and waterfront workers.

Poetry and Protest

Joe Beef wrote poems and songs that reflected the struggles of the working class.
One of his poems lamented the loss of his freedom and the mistreatment of workers.

Economic Depression and Labor Unrest

In the 1870s, Montreal was plagued by economic depression, which severely affected casual laborers.
Joe Beef's Canteen became a hub for laborers to discuss their grievances and organize protests.
The tavern keeper was a strong supporter of the laborers' demands for better working conditions and higher wages.

The Lachine Canal Strike

In 1877, laborers working on the Lachine Canal went on strike, demanding a wage increase to a dollar a day, a nine-hour day, and an end to the "truck system" of payment.
Joe Beef provided food and shelter to the strikers, and even sent bread and soup to the strikers on the canal.
He also used his skills as an orator to attract public attention to the strikers' demands, speaking in rhyming couplets to rallies and meetings.

Support for the Strikers

Joe Beef's support for the strikers did not go unnoticed by the contractors, who accused him of being a troublemaker.
However, the tavern keeper's actions were seen as a necessary response to the poor working conditions and low wages faced by the laborers.

Joe Beef's Canteen also provided a range of social services to the waterfront community, including a cheap place to stay, meals, and medical care.
The tavern keeper even offered to provide a doctor to attend to the poor in their homes, and raised money for the Montreal General Hospital.

Impact on the Community

Joe Beef's Canteen became a respected institution in the waterfront community, providing a space for workers to organize and demand better working conditions.
The tavern keeper's actions demonstrated that the problems of casual laborers and the poor could be overcome by collective action and community support.

Montreal's Working-Class Culture: Joe Beef's Canteen

Joe Beef's Canteen was a notorious tavern in Montreal's waterfront district during the late 19th century, serving as a stronghold for working-class culture and values.
The tavern was owned by Charles McKiernan, a charismatic figure who transformed the tavern into a dynamic force for the working class.

Charles McKiernan's Background

McKiernan was born in Cavan County, Ireland, on December 4, 1835, and joined the British Army at a young age.
He served in the Crimean War and earned the nickname "Joe Beef" for his talent in providing food and shelter.
After leaving the army, McKiernan settled in Montreal and opened the Crown and Sceptre Tavern, later known as Joe Beef's Canteen.

The Canteen's Atmosphere

The tavern was located in the waterfront warehouse district and was known for its unique atmosphere, with a dim light outside the door and a general assortment of exotic and commonplace items inside.
The barroom was crudely furnished, with wooden tables and chairs, and sawdust covering the floor.
Behind the bar, a large mirror reflected a general assortment of bottles, cigar boxes, and curios.

The Canteen's Patrons

The clientele was mostly working class, consisting of canal labourers, longshoremen, sailors, and ex-army men like McKiernan.
The tavern also attracted the floating population along the Atlantic coast, including tramps and petty criminals.
Unemployed labourers visited the Canteen in the early morning to look for day labour and often remained there throughout the day.

The Canteen's Recreational Activities

The tavern was rich in popular recreations, including a menagerie of monkeys, parrots, and wild cats.
McKiernan's bears, particularly Jenny and Tom, were a main attraction, and their antics, including beer consumption and billiards, were a source of entertainment.
Minstrels and musicians performed in the tavern, and good food and drink provided the setting for a night out.

Charles McKiernan's Role

McKiernan was a man of learning, reading various newspapers, and employing a musician to entertain his customers.
He led much of the entertainment, debating topics of the day, and amusing patrons with humorous poems of his own composition.
McKiernan's poetry and tales allowed his patrons a temporary mastery over the forces that dominated their lives outside the Canteen doors.### Joe Beef of Montreal
Joe Beef, a tavern keeper, was a figure of notoriety in Montreal in the 1870s.
His tavern, Joe Beef's Canteen, was a popular gathering place for casual laborers and waterfront workers.

Poetry and Protest

Joe Beef wrote poems and songs that reflected the struggles of the working class.
One of his poems lamented the loss of his freedom and the mistreatment of workers.

Economic Depression and Labor Unrest

In the 1870s, Montreal was plagued by economic depression, which severely affected casual laborers.
Joe Beef's Canteen became a hub for laborers to discuss their grievances and organize protests.
The tavern keeper was a strong supporter of the laborers' demands for better working conditions and higher wages.

The Lachine Canal Strike

In 1877, laborers working on the Lachine Canal went on strike, demanding a wage increase to a dollar a day, a nine-hour day, and an end to the "truck system" of payment.
Joe Beef provided food and shelter to the strikers, and even sent bread and soup to the strikers on the canal.
He also used his skills as an orator to attract public attention to the strikers' demands, speaking in rhyming couplets to rallies and meetings.

Support for the Strikers

Joe Beef's support for the strikers did not go unnoticed by the contractors, who accused him of being a troublemaker.
However, the tavern keeper's actions were seen as a necessary response to the poor working conditions and low wages faced by the laborers.

Joe Beef's Canteen also provided a range of social services to the waterfront community, including a cheap place to stay, meals, and medical care.
The tavern keeper even offered to provide a doctor to attend to the poor in their homes, and raised money for the Montreal General Hospital.

Impact on the Community

Joe Beef's Canteen became a respected institution in the waterfront community, providing a space for workers to organize and demand better working conditions.
The tavern keeper's actions demonstrated that the problems of casual laborers and the poor could be overcome by collective action and community support.