History of Sainte-Dorothée, Laval, Québec, Canada*

One of the first houses was the Laurin house (652, rue Marcel-Gamache), erected in 1850, 19 years before the founding of the parish, a stone's throw from what was to become the village's public square.

grandquebec.com

During the summer of 1868, the parishioners collected nearly $2,500 for the construction of the church and the presbytery.
The churchwarden Félix Charron and the farmers Louis Laurin, father and son, donated land for the cemetery and the public place, intended for the auction and the storage of cars. In addition, a piece of land is reserved for the use of the parish priest, west of Montée Gravel.
grandquebec.com

Little by little, dairy production, predominant in Sainte-Dorothée in 1869, gave way to market gardening.
The market gardeners, who sell their early vegetables in the major markets of the metropolis, claim reduced tolls at the entrance to Montreal and seek to become more and more productive. At the Bonsecours Market in Montreal, vegetables sold at high prices, so much so that, from 1920 to 1940, production under glass was multiplied by five. Île Jésus, and in particular Sainte-Dorothée, then became what would rightly be called “the garden of Montreal”.
grandquebec.com

The parish of Sainte-Dorothee was founded at the western tip of the island in 1869.

grandquebec.com

From 1885, the municipality started paving its roads with the help of landowners, who were required to provide men, horses, cars and tools, in proportion to their homes, in addition to installing wooden sidewalks in the village.

grandquebec.com

In 1893, a first street was opened to the south and east of the public square, which now makes it accessible by car from all sides.
From then on, the place was used for the exhibition of stallions, but only on working days, under penalty of a fine of “five piastres”.
grandquebec.com

1895 - Sainte Dorothée
Sainte Dorothée, a post-village in Laval co., Quebec, 15 miles from Montreal.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

During a smallpox epidemic in 1902, a hygiene committee was set up which adopted severe measures intended to stem the contagion.
Thus, teachers can only accept vaccinated students in class. As a gesture of solidarity, food will be provided to families affected by the disease.
grandquebec.com

In 1903, the first school in the village was built on this land, which today has become the Sainte-Dorothée primary school.

grandquebec.com

1906 - Sainte Dorothee
Sainte Dorothee, a post-village of Laval co., Quebec, 15 miles from Montreal.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

In 1915, with the strong growth of the recreational tourism industry, the western part of Sainte-Dorothée stands out to become Laval-sur-le-Lac.

grandquebec.com

Around 1920, the village grew. Along Principale Street appear a hotel, a forge, a sawmill and a general store housing a bank branch (but the latter – a branch of the Bank of Hochelaga, will be the scene of the most devastating fire, June 21, 1929).

grandquebec.com