tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30145177125399204512024-03-18T04:18:02.924-04:00The Kitchissippi MuseumDave Allston's blog about west Ottawa's little-known history, with stories, photos and information covering the fascinating history of the historic Kitchissippi neighbourhoods.Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-41866208114362820812024-02-26T23:21:00.003-05:002024-02-26T23:21:15.200-05:00Nepean High School's 100th Anniversary!<p>This school year marks 100 years since the opening of Nepean High School on Broadview Avenue in Westboro! </p><p>My article in this month's Kitchissippi Times tells the story of the early days of Nepean High School, and how it evolved over time. It was impossible to tell the full story of the 100 years of the school in less than 1500 words, so it's more of a summary of the construction of the building, some tidbits from its earliest days, and then details on how the school expanded over the years.</p><p>I have a lot of pride as a former Nepeanite, and a soon-to-be Nepean parent (my oldest will be starting there in September). So I loved working on this article. (My Editor also very kindly included at the bottom one of my grad photos from when I graduated from Nepean back in 1998. Long hair and all).</p><p>Check out the article at <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2024/01/29/the-100-year-history-of-nepean-high-school/">https://kitchissippi.com/2024/01/29/the-100-year-history-of-nepean-high-school/</a></p><p>Note there unfortunately was no 100th Anniversary Reunion/celebration planned. I was proudly a part of the Committee that worked on the 75th back in 1998, but this time around, there was a lot more restrictions involved in trying to plan something. Though a small committee of interested volunteers attempted to plan something starting over a year ago, it never got pulled off sadly. Alumni probably deserved better, but it is what it is. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVAO5bUNZd6YNSrnea3072epnfuCMFuUCH1XgL-Op_KY4u-5xi2B1_fxxSJRTssFNjw7EbUyihI6iczwnegouRXSYo5JCwm_VdWqoeSqetWVMpvnbNrCm5pN-iYaeA8m5EZ9N_Wh-H3DePkmRSgzET-aCfwvauFgWytue6jl0AlQIWlsTQLTvg1wqSQ4/s3437/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__Dec_15__1923_%20crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="3437" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVAO5bUNZd6YNSrnea3072epnfuCMFuUCH1XgL-Op_KY4u-5xi2B1_fxxSJRTssFNjw7EbUyihI6iczwnegouRXSYo5JCwm_VdWqoeSqetWVMpvnbNrCm5pN-iYaeA8m5EZ9N_Wh-H3DePkmRSgzET-aCfwvauFgWytue6jl0AlQIWlsTQLTvg1wqSQ4/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__Dec_15__1923_%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-51966300018596698102024-02-26T23:12:00.007-05:002024-02-26T23:12:47.057-05:00A big change: Island Park Drive just before the Queensway arrived!<p>I recently found a very cool photo that I just had to write a blog post about. But the photo requires a little background info...</p><p>The summer of 1960 was the beginning of major changes for the residents of Island Park Drive near what is now the Queensway. This would have been a pretty quiet spot for the most part, especially after the trains stopped running in 1952. Westenders must have enjoyed the quiet from the disappearance of the trains, while also enjoying the new found freedom of crossing north/south without the safety risk.</p><p>Up until 1952, the CNR Renfrew Division line had tracks running through the entirety of Kitchissippi. This line has a history all the way back to 1892 with the creation of the Ottawa, Arnprior, and Parry Sound Railway. This single track certainly created a division line through the neighbourhood, but it was nowhere near the size or obtrusion that the Queensway would become, making 1960 a true milestone year when the neighbourhood changed significantly.</p><p>Here is what the track looked like near Island Park Drive in 1955, which would have been about the same five years later. Just an abandoned lonely railway track to nowhere.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP6GKeyYKxED1EPqorESkD1pTtTBEFx9mqtlPwZFmyl3K0YjNfIp-RqexYiH_2SpqCUyJWyjNNgRk-apE6AbdV8feMMAJtbd1Hnaty0mij46ZOgICZ_Ltx6Psu6M9eZG-gKkqipbu6wZUnOUtfZU6vyW8hyC9ADibd_RZaB7CpduqleMgc3dgsCi152U/s2250/CA-24213%20-%201955-08-XX%20-%20Railway%20Crossing%20Kingsway%20Church-jpg%20resize.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="2250" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP6GKeyYKxED1EPqorESkD1pTtTBEFx9mqtlPwZFmyl3K0YjNfIp-RqexYiH_2SpqCUyJWyjNNgRk-apE6AbdV8feMMAJtbd1Hnaty0mij46ZOgICZ_Ltx6Psu6M9eZG-gKkqipbu6wZUnOUtfZU6vyW8hyC9ADibd_RZaB7CpduqleMgc3dgsCi152U/s320/CA-24213%20-%201955-08-XX%20-%20Railway%20Crossing%20Kingsway%20Church-jpg%20resize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Abandoned CNR rail tracks in August 1955. <br />Kingsway United Church (now Kitchissippi UC) is at<br />left, and the view is to the west. The crossing at Island <br />Park Drive is in the foreground. <br />(City of Ottawa Archives, CA-024213)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The track had been removed in the late fall of 1952 from just west of this location, at about where Carling intersected the old CN line, all the way west to South March, and then trains still running into Ottawa were permanently switched to the Beachburg line instead. This little diagram from the Ottawa Journal does a good job of describing that:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvwa1OVKyz8bjfE4Lg2icNd_bKWGdB5AvqYQuEakUjEjx8mUXXE9MhRmbsFqedYBqsmUUfxWY8avQrh3chchpUNJNCrbJSrcJv04xIpwzPpmEwUqiyUS4V_CtLgSv6bJTXEdZ_-eEgo_CnHlL2dQMWXhKAUJZ2UPbGtm6j1eRLI-XZ98Y9AU3swJNxDw/s4183/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Sep_16__1952_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3465" data-original-width="4183" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvwa1OVKyz8bjfE4Lg2icNd_bKWGdB5AvqYQuEakUjEjx8mUXXE9MhRmbsFqedYBqsmUUfxWY8avQrh3chchpUNJNCrbJSrcJv04xIpwzPpmEwUqiyUS4V_CtLgSv6bJTXEdZ_-eEgo_CnHlL2dQMWXhKAUJZ2UPbGtm6j1eRLI-XZ98Y9AU3swJNxDw/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Sep_16__1952_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal, September 16, 1952</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The tracks running east from Carling through Kitchissippi sat mostly abandoned for another 7-8 years, until the NCC finally removed the tracks to as far as Bayswater sometime between late fall 1959 and early 1960. The downtown tracks on the crosstown line were still being used for reversing trains, and for downtown businesses who used spurs and still depended on them until they could relocate their operations. They would come out a couple years later.</p><p>The big day came on August 2nd, 1960, when Island Park Drive was closed to through traffic, to allow for a complete makeover of this location. Sewers were rerouted, the new Queensway overpass was constructed, and the actual route Island Park Drive took would change. With the closure of Island Park Drive, all traffic was instead rerouted down Harmer and Helena!</p><p>The closure lasted more than a year. Holland was also closed for similar Queensway-related reasons during this time, and when it was finished, Parkdale then was closed. It must not have been an easy time to get around in the west end. In fact, the Citizen called it "bedlam" at one point. Especially for the residents of Helena and Harmer. Can you imagine steady traffic running in both directions on those streets? With no Queensway yet, Island Park closed, and Holland closed? </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGCHFD9Qh1j7pt89tpGpBI9sO7VbfUwaMyNiJTgAEv8tXwW7B_GM3-d8oSXUgVf3J3NrZGGqXdbABGlOktAvuRzMKjTLnkVGVsCt17EZHC_StrYT0d8InMBMXaxHm5mMUOxWJ3aYyZQdHe-udemkOfo7qCxXBmt-sYT1sczy3MeBrizTmAC8GRd34b8w/s4924/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Aug_2__1960_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4924" data-original-width="4598" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGCHFD9Qh1j7pt89tpGpBI9sO7VbfUwaMyNiJTgAEv8tXwW7B_GM3-d8oSXUgVf3J3NrZGGqXdbABGlOktAvuRzMKjTLnkVGVsCt17EZHC_StrYT0d8InMBMXaxHm5mMUOxWJ3aYyZQdHe-udemkOfo7qCxXBmt-sYT1sczy3MeBrizTmAC8GRd34b8w/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Aug_2__1960_.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, August 2, 1960</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvgoD-r79HVG_HUdJ60ca4ScC-SAQ4TWExcvf-4OYZCfYJnG-pGgIygNQpe4cgIwkewSDPe6s9xA2nDxwxo4lVhojDwTJUmgAN_YeJyYX9-9mxiAhWsrQ7bDoJWxwMPwbVK5PLkmY8YZ4Eovlm8hC9Ig-e6OX9PcTB_lqbcyeX-hI4puJPuT1rFz9wP4/s4610/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_29__1960_%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2856" data-original-width="4610" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvgoD-r79HVG_HUdJ60ca4ScC-SAQ4TWExcvf-4OYZCfYJnG-pGgIygNQpe4cgIwkewSDPe6s9xA2nDxwxo4lVhojDwTJUmgAN_YeJyYX9-9mxiAhWsrQ7bDoJWxwMPwbVK5PLkmY8YZ4Eovlm8hC9Ig-e6OX9PcTB_lqbcyeX-hI4puJPuT1rFz9wP4/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_29__1960_%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, August 29, 1960</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The changing of the path of Island Park Drive was a big change. But the original Island Park Drive still remains today. What is today Island Park Crescent is actually the original Island Park Drive. If you drive along Island Park Drive south from that spot where you can turn off IPD onto Island Park Crescent in front of Hampton Park, all the way until you come out from under the Queensway by Kitchissippi United Church, that is all "new" roadway created in 1960-1961. </p><p>The trees and greenspace of Hampton Park used to come much further east all the way over to what is now Island Park Crescent (so that open, hilly greenspace next to the Queensway offramp was originally all part of Hampton Park, as was what is now Island Park Drive in this section).</p><p>So here comes the photo I was excited to find...</p><p>On August 8th, a photographer from the Ottawa Citizen captured the Dibblee Construction Company working on the rerouting of the sewers.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWphqQ5qdac5FlZtaKwvJS_VuNFHKB9FkYAwlf0KUb6jq3gByng4rZ0Mq-MvIpT79EyD-n6is9VfqK17_k43VUOIyqOB_o4AVW6AwiygWgeRCePwpbZ9l7sddqFPX2aA-_PSMY6curb0Znl8-pReoZfPZBM2X_kvhc6r9gKt6Sqa2i0mfl9cC7GXHJSxo/s3115/CA-27955%20-%201960-08-10%20-%20full%20uncropped%20orig%20redux%20tho.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3115" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWphqQ5qdac5FlZtaKwvJS_VuNFHKB9FkYAwlf0KUb6jq3gByng4rZ0Mq-MvIpT79EyD-n6is9VfqK17_k43VUOIyqOB_o4AVW6AwiygWgeRCePwpbZ9l7sddqFPX2aA-_PSMY6curb0Znl8-pReoZfPZBM2X_kvhc6r9gKt6Sqa2i0mfl9cC7GXHJSxo/s320/CA-27955%20-%201960-08-10%20-%20full%20uncropped%20orig%20redux%20tho.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Island Park Drive looking south-east during sewer rerouting work<br />August 10, 1960 (City of Ottawa Archives, CA-27955)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The photographer would have been standing in front of Hampton Park, about where the offramp ends and curves onto Island Park Drive today. Some of those sewers and works can be seen today in the grassy area between IPD and IPC still. And they certainly still exist underneath... that is the beginning of the Cave Creek Collector.</p><p>I cropped out the ugly sewer trench for the below photo, which then creates a cool panoramic view of Island Park Drive itself, and the houses at left, as well as start of Island Park, Ruskin and Kenilworth streets that can be seen in the distance on the right.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tnPpCHtSQeshp9hVnqt27cE4OpxZs6gdUygpQj-ZqbcVKzFk2TbzCMLdyqdNSyxOadKn4sxyqtnOzoyn2dlqy3chMK1SxTEpYARhGeuRueV-SaPyw8w7JMyHpqbKZOvGwMw902k7ZJS3MF__cJnxL0_CTRI6El_Adg__oAacxAajLntBnJF2jh5cUTM/s3115/CA-27955%20-%201960-08-10%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20before%20Qway%20-%20sewer%20install%20Dibblee%20Construction%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="3115" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tnPpCHtSQeshp9hVnqt27cE4OpxZs6gdUygpQj-ZqbcVKzFk2TbzCMLdyqdNSyxOadKn4sxyqtnOzoyn2dlqy3chMK1SxTEpYARhGeuRueV-SaPyw8w7JMyHpqbKZOvGwMw902k7ZJS3MF__cJnxL0_CTRI6El_Adg__oAacxAajLntBnJF2jh5cUTM/s320/CA-27955%20-%201960-08-10%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20before%20Qway%20-%20sewer%20install%20Dibblee%20Construction%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Same photo cropped (pt of City of Ottawa Archives, CA-27955)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It's impossible to be able to do a then-and-now kind of comparative photo because the Queensway just takes up so much of the old space, and it is elevated enough that there's no way to capture a similar angle. I did the best I could using Google Streetview, which at least shows the three houses at the left, and then whammo, there's the Queensway overtop of most everything else in the centre of the above photo. So, so different:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ghac9vDMcL0Z84G_1qOCPP99ReMwL5SFde_jVEmCRUQvOOVQaHrl0_C6J3K9gFWO1vDbc97vml4ukizygSqt1C5ffmpfZX2N1RTVg-0FLyA8Lf0M4j4gkqw59ERmoej6GhxV1td0XwgaqHsADmA2-zPyT0OrQqO7dfLL2HocGhHWg2qKYrGVkuqim3g/s1621/Google%20Streetview%202016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1621" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ghac9vDMcL0Z84G_1qOCPP99ReMwL5SFde_jVEmCRUQvOOVQaHrl0_C6J3K9gFWO1vDbc97vml4ukizygSqt1C5ffmpfZX2N1RTVg-0FLyA8Lf0M4j4gkqw59ERmoej6GhxV1td0XwgaqHsADmA2-zPyT0OrQqO7dfLL2HocGhHWg2qKYrGVkuqim3g/s320/Google%20Streetview%202016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Google Streetview 2016 - Island Park Drive offramp</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And to get a close-up view of those three houses (625-629-633 Island Park Crescent today), also shows how cut-off they became. They went from being in the wide open, on the main, picturesque Island Park boulevard, with just a solitary train track separating them from the greenspace alongside and the rest of IPD on the south, to being literally walled in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlUhiziePj4bSXl95fvs_5kiW81_Ow48DWROdC6KhwPnv6BbcrBzJn8oe1ZO-8nZytqvq24MB0js6R6EW4FQU9VQ0wrSULm9V_pRf8Y2oG-p2ju-5YP_npwm3OK3gabWMDd9Egek2DbSj2vmmd42U8MidgMrEdnbS_rXSQzMwCnFwXmhb981PdtW1z-g/s1675/Google%20Streetview%202021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1675" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlUhiziePj4bSXl95fvs_5kiW81_Ow48DWROdC6KhwPnv6BbcrBzJn8oe1ZO-8nZytqvq24MB0js6R6EW4FQU9VQ0wrSULm9V_pRf8Y2oG-p2ju-5YP_npwm3OK3gabWMDd9Egek2DbSj2vmmd42U8MidgMrEdnbS_rXSQzMwCnFwXmhb981PdtW1z-g/s320/Google%20Streetview%202021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Considering that the original right-of-way for the CNR line was only 80 feet, and the NCC was obligated under the terms of the agreement to expand this to 180 feet to fit the Queensway, it's surprising that very few houses in this vicinity had to be expropriated and moved/demolished to make it fit (this was not the case a little to the east, and particularly through Hintonburg, where groups and sometimes full blocks of houses had to be expropriated and either demolished or moved). </p><p>The Citizen published a photo of the ongoing construction a week later, but other than the creative view through a sewer, it's kind of a boring photo. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qZICXFP10Gkh699_sdh-nXS7U-mLsUUZ0wxfZtYlkN797641AG_vq8b6waPRGpuqEMcpFRHPcxvJQGEt_a7TUbN1OejNj8Kpr5Ch4ka1-nJu2TfmbYbUTtRoDsj59JL5hwfcrFjUJVU6zE1xEkdf58vPQScXvSbjcRbmfR6D1vsClctzi0-cYDGKdAQ/s4619/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Aug_16__1960_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4202" data-original-width="4619" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qZICXFP10Gkh699_sdh-nXS7U-mLsUUZ0wxfZtYlkN797641AG_vq8b6waPRGpuqEMcpFRHPcxvJQGEt_a7TUbN1OejNj8Kpr5Ch4ka1-nJu2TfmbYbUTtRoDsj59JL5hwfcrFjUJVU6zE1xEkdf58vPQScXvSbjcRbmfR6D1vsClctzi0-cYDGKdAQ/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Aug_16__1960_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, August 16, 1960</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Here is a view less than a year later of the same area, with the overpass construction underway. I wish more progress shots like this existed, but this appears to be the only close-up oblique aerial I've seen of the IPD part of the Queensway under construction.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTeUp_F_7-BCtHo4jyNDichwXg5Xz8bzgvB33vmZ47Zlewpy1p1dZuhbQxuJUvcE_jP11YePNJ7qH2x7B_IvLl5vtcsp63-X5MQsSBpWwTAvqhY0zIcHHY-F7i7WM0tSkyuji5gDijGE23a3logYKgwOWErH37rf8_6EsgYHqvCPIf8S-rYRrA-uQGUs/s3444/CA-8453%20(resized)%20from%201961-04%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2745" data-original-width="3444" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTeUp_F_7-BCtHo4jyNDichwXg5Xz8bzgvB33vmZ47Zlewpy1p1dZuhbQxuJUvcE_jP11YePNJ7qH2x7B_IvLl5vtcsp63-X5MQsSBpWwTAvqhY0zIcHHY-F7i7WM0tSkyuji5gDijGE23a3logYKgwOWErH37rf8_6EsgYHqvCPIf8S-rYRrA-uQGUs/s320/CA-8453%20(resized)%20from%201961-04%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">April 1961 Island Park Drive overpass under construction.<br />Island Park Drive running south at top.<br />(City of Ottawa Archives, CA-08453)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Hope you enjoyed seeing this photo of the final days of Island Park Drive before the Queensway arrived in and changed the neighbourhood!</p><p>p.s. You can read more on the arrival of the Queensway in an article I wrote (9 years ago!?) at the Kitchissippi Times: <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2015/06/11/ottawa-history-queensway-416/">https://kitchissippi.com/2015/06/11/ottawa-history-queensway-416/</a></p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-9253150442407534852024-02-20T00:55:00.000-05:002024-02-20T00:55:00.838-05:00The detailed history of the Merkley-Zagermans property<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd82LZzAT-fQ4EMyb6M9-I1X7pO9La6CzA-nzlGUVTqIxY7GhCvyxmz7gROeB0NzPc9tElBnUInR3K7yE8riGDLqP1zlqXFCCMHlJaI-dEOukOBUKPkzpUabU1bCXsUmq9pR_5WWBjLZURx7CeFPVmCYVvSv7twX_6-3aBQrzc2xZsBPxwhavENQS9f4/s947/Merkley%20Supply%20-%20StreetView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="947" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd82LZzAT-fQ4EMyb6M9-I1X7pO9La6CzA-nzlGUVTqIxY7GhCvyxmz7gROeB0NzPc9tElBnUInR3K7yE8riGDLqP1zlqXFCCMHlJaI-dEOukOBUKPkzpUabU1bCXsUmq9pR_5WWBjLZURx7CeFPVmCYVvSv7twX_6-3aBQrzc2xZsBPxwhavENQS9f4/s320/Merkley%20Supply%20-%20StreetView.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ7wwwZt4sW7SRxyG7ekqWBD5GT1ZMU2LZCX_-xbpTF0yqaby_1zbw4SiDO2YxjWdpjRJLkZBDFmZ2amt9aNaO6ERD9YMd94h86Sj3-d6COgS1dcYY5x9Be1w0vvYcJ3BsQ1U0dCDL44EXqumqATeTQdHqe-CgfmAFx82SdHCsb3zsaBE4epSgTDgIIo/s1701/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__May_31__1958_.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1701" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ7wwwZt4sW7SRxyG7ekqWBD5GT1ZMU2LZCX_-xbpTF0yqaby_1zbw4SiDO2YxjWdpjRJLkZBDFmZ2amt9aNaO6ERD9YMd94h86Sj3-d6COgS1dcYY5x9Be1w0vvYcJ3BsQ1U0dCDL44EXqumqATeTQdHqe-CgfmAFx82SdHCsb3zsaBE4epSgTDgIIo/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__May_31__1958_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>One of the west end's most well-known and respected businesses is also a bit of a step back in time. We all know Merkley Supply on Bayview Station Road, just past the LRT overpass on the Mechanicsville side of Scott Street. Probably most of us have stopped in there at one point in our lives to pick up stones or brick, or some other kind of building material. We probably even take it for granted that we have a business like this in our community, as likely in most urban centres, to visit a business like this would likely require a trip out to the suburbs. But we take it for granted because it's always been there... as Merkley's since 1979, but also as Zagerman's for nearly 50 years before that. Yes, it is closing in on 100 years that a builder's supply yard first opened in this spot, and I think it is well worth profiling how the business first arrived, how it grew, and how it has survived. The Zagerman story is an especially interesting one, so I hope you enjoy this bit of early local history.</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>How this parcel of land came to be</b> </p><p>It's a prime piece of land, squeezed in between the working class neighbourhood of Mechanicsville and the Ottawa River. It's development as an industrial spot dates back 120 years, and ties in to an early west end lumber mill, and includes an interesting land trade with the City in the 1930s that affected the shape of Laroche Park and Merkley today. Here is the back story.</p><p>What is today the area comprising of Laroche Park Merkley Supply, and the Canadian Heritage building at 64 Bayview (perhaps better known as the original Keyes Supply building), was originally laid out as Blocks Q, R and S of the original "Bayswater" subdivision plan by the estate of Nicholas Sparks, laid out on December 21st, 1875. The Blocks were bisected by two streets that only ever existed on paper, Cunningham Street and Nicholas Street, which ran to Bayview Road, or as it was originally known "the Road from Little Chaudiere". </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVI6vhJET17IAcK0HxsvSew9ygBPpI6tDmrDxTri5J2hYGxRT2lp68LAxTf_g-W4xGqYbgPYdD3iWn1Y4hyphenhyphengEwthPiALTTCMiWk49gl_TZob2U9aAcreHGx45kjXgZzlG5odI8j5Wrwgv1PZ5LLBUuUJkpbmd2vbmBimu9xkZ32PdhbldHh4FaUfwIHw/s992/Blocks%20QRS%20on%20Plan%2060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVI6vhJET17IAcK0HxsvSew9ygBPpI6tDmrDxTri5J2hYGxRT2lp68LAxTf_g-W4xGqYbgPYdD3iWn1Y4hyphenhyphengEwthPiALTTCMiWk49gl_TZob2U9aAcreHGx45kjXgZzlG5odI8j5Wrwgv1PZ5LLBUuUJkpbmd2vbmBimu9xkZ32PdhbldHh4FaUfwIHw/s320/Blocks%20QRS%20on%20Plan%2060.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A portion of County of Carleton Plan 60</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Block S was the first part of this property to be sold, but not for over 30 years, until June 11th, 1906, when it was acquired by the Shepard & Morse Lumber Company for $1,500. Shepard & Morse, a Vermont-based company, had offices and lumber piles in Ottawa dating back to the mid-1880s when they had begun lumbering operations up the lucrative Ottawa River. They had acquired the old Mason mill on the opposite side of Bayview in late 1902, and soon built a new, modern saw mill to boost their operations. Some records show that both the Mason mill and the Shepard & Morse mill had used the Block S property (on the west side of Bayview) for stacks and piles of logs and lumber for years, but that was done unofficially. </p><p>For the most part, the land on the west side of Bayview Road sat vacant and unused until 1911, when the City expropriated Blocks Q and R for the purposes of constructing the West End Drainage System, which included a large concrete septic tank and bacteria beds. (You can read more details on this expensive, but never-used purification system built between 1911 and 1913 at <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2015/11/13/laroche-park-westfest/">https://kitchissippi.com/2015/11/13/laroche-park-westfest/</a>). The City paid the Sparks estate $21,000 (not until November of 1918, after a lengthy battle over the expropriation fees) for the two blocks of land.</p><p>The failed septic tank was buried, and the land closer to Stonehurst was used as a dump throughout the next decade. Laroche Park opened in June of 1926 overtop of that old dump, and for a while, it was uncertain whether any of the rest of the land had any true potential. The land more to the east (Block S, the future site of the majority of the Zagerman property) was seen as having questionable value for any development or use. </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Morris Zagerman's first arrives on Bayview Road</b> </p><p>However on March 10th, 1927, Morris Zagerman entered the picture. Shepard & Morse had ceased operations at the mill site in late 1926, and Zagerman purchased the closed mill and its equipment from the Chaudiere Water Power, who had taken over Shepard & Morses's affairs. Zagerman was responsible for the clearing of the site. A group of 25 men were hired that same month (March of 1927) to demolish the mill and all the buildings, and salvage any usable pieces of machinery or materials, which were re-sold. Zagerman immediately began to advertise this second hand timber for sale.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-4ZWpaR0wM0G0SrDTQMLU_9iDw0VsSyPxfxObWjIc1Y8o1F48xHu0EvrpRdbCaCN16SyENgNLrizHasR9euyk3e0TInOpjun8-6UEpBBzRQpb9qQFSu0Ge_WIZN9SgMn23qk_6jtwJFt8i7ZgiD4Y8Pz6bG5R2h8yE5zWETPZygrsYiI3Ihm93hBUEw/s4921/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Mar_19__1927_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4921" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-4ZWpaR0wM0G0SrDTQMLU_9iDw0VsSyPxfxObWjIc1Y8o1F48xHu0EvrpRdbCaCN16SyENgNLrizHasR9euyk3e0TInOpjun8-6UEpBBzRQpb9qQFSu0Ge_WIZN9SgMn23qk_6jtwJFt8i7ZgiD4Y8Pz6bG5R2h8yE5zWETPZygrsYiI3Ihm93hBUEw/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Mar_19__1927_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, March 19, 1927</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(On a side note, it is intriguing to wonder where some of this wood ended up from the dismantling of the vast buildings on the Shepard and Morse property. My house on Gilchrist Avenue was built in 1927, and some of the joists and beams used in its construction are definitely repurposed pieces of large wood that well pre-date 1927. Could my house have some of the old timber from the original Mechanicsville mill of the late 1800s? Could many of our houses of the same vintage? It's very possible!)<div><p>Anyways, the M. Zagerman Company was still relatively new at that time, in 1927. The Company had been established by Morris Zagerman around 1925 (ads by the company in the 1950s and 1960s would use the date of 1923 as the company's starting point, but that doesn't appear to agree with records from that era). </p><p>Morris Zagerman was born in 1897 in Krasnostav, Russia. He arrived in Ottawa in June 1920, shortly after the passing of his mother in the Ukraine, with a fairly substantial amount of money ($1,000 cash). His immigration papers noted that he was destined to work for the William Freedman Company.</p><p>Freedman was a bag manufacturer, with operations out of 534-538 Wellington Street, and it appears Zagerman must have been a relative or old friend. Zagerman soon became his second-in-command, as he was named Secretary-Treasurer of the firm seemingly upon his arrival in Ottawa. However, Zagerman never got to work in bag manufacturing. Freedman was in the midst of converting his business, errecting a large warehouse on Hickory Street near Carling Avenue, where he would become a dealer in building materials and supplies.</p><p>In 1923, Morris married Mildred ("Millie") Sadinsky, and the couple were living in the Byward Market. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUgrup130DqaFxHCX8k3tVGRVhJjSxSoMSqFvCZoTjj7nNctGGGWqd19H0ljQVdzZ-9YnCQMBAvstp6MgtmkH8OFDe169BaWB_J_-xqyZA4-hEoJWI3gDipRQJVON9o5xshI_lVgtinKDSBqJnykUCn3RSxrsHrSEE2CU390UxeZUnepuYonsxLDE2hg/s3264/Morris%20Zagerman%20and%20Mildred%20assumedly%20-%20from%20Ancestry.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUgrup130DqaFxHCX8k3tVGRVhJjSxSoMSqFvCZoTjj7nNctGGGWqd19H0ljQVdzZ-9YnCQMBAvstp6MgtmkH8OFDe169BaWB_J_-xqyZA4-hEoJWI3gDipRQJVON9o5xshI_lVgtinKDSBqJnykUCn3RSxrsHrSEE2CU390UxeZUnepuYonsxLDE2hg/s320/Morris%20Zagerman%20and%20Mildred%20assumedly%20-%20from%20Ancestry.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A young Morris Zagerman, with wife<br />Millie (source: Ancestry).</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In July of 1924, the William Freedman Company suffered a major loss when a major fire destroyed their massive new $60,000 four-and-a-half storey warehouse on Hickory Street. Called by the Citizen "one of the most spectacular blazes the city has witnessed in a long time", it could have been exponentially worse had the fast-acting fire crew not noticed a large number of tanks each containing 5,000 gallons of gasoline next to the factory, owned by Campbell Steel & Iron Works. </p><p>But around that time, Zagerman's relationship with Freedman appears to have gone sour. By the fall of 1924, Zagerman took the Freedman Company to County Court over a disputed promissory note of $666 in connection with a shipment of wood from Whitney, Ontario. After two long days in court, Zagerman won a judgment for $152, but it appears cost him his relationship with Freedman. The 1924 city directory for Ottawa listed Zagerman as a "furrier" (someone who sold or even created fur garments), which must have been a short-lived career move.</p><p>In late October 1924, just after the court proceedings wrapped up, the first ever ads run by Zagerman appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, promoting "Belting, new and second hand, and other mill supplies. Leather aprons a specialty. M. Zagerman and Co." </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VuHW_55jr-StX8rhIII62VbPnmxwoi6EhOu3QTWaV4eQh2pB37y7Y4ylDI-be9zvR5Q-mQh8G0brWXmSP_Ga_7UAuMVrb558dq6fCDguN_bjmklZXoNX1UsNYgKWWz9SMinbwumTnvPqiDxZ-tx4alBPkXnfjOfs7ahdo7xIs6v-0U0H_pf7mRkCjpo/s4832/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_24__1924_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="4832" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VuHW_55jr-StX8rhIII62VbPnmxwoi6EhOu3QTWaV4eQh2pB37y7Y4ylDI-be9zvR5Q-mQh8G0brWXmSP_Ga_7UAuMVrb558dq6fCDguN_bjmklZXoNX1UsNYgKWWz9SMinbwumTnvPqiDxZ-tx4alBPkXnfjOfs7ahdo7xIs6v-0U0H_pf7mRkCjpo/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_24__1924_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, October 24, 1924</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Zagerman had gone back to the office space that Freedman had occupied back in 1920 on Wellington Street, an old warehouse building that had been known as the City Iron & Bottle Company, near the corner of Commissioner (the exact spot is today is the most north-easterly corner of the new LAC-OPL library building being built on Albert Street). Here he leased one small portion of the building, at 538 Wellington. </p><p>The M. Zagerman Company initially focused on "leather belting", and the supply of materials and machinery for the sawmill trade, both new and used, which he sold out of this small space at 538 Wellington. Zagerman though, held long-range plans to develop a lumber and building materials department. By the summer of 1925 he did advertise the sale of "slabs and blocks of wood, hard and soft", and wood sold "wholesale, in car lots". </p><p>Zagerman was a dedicated advertiser, with ads running in the depths of the classified ads section of the Citizen. The progression of the ads over time show a definite growth in the business over the following couple of years, with a more varied stock being advertised.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl20WyiMdsLW6DuDOfnoEtfUa6Ezl9xgLuav8SHoJE0YJ6Jd4Yp6Ae6uDOavCpWvAGvr5iYHXjZ0yzmkERGxw9a4bPKGNtadjFVmegcUyY-nvMS3b15DL2bkBGnfGMPy489nHNzFuELNfdJiONXx-DFXLbf8E4T7cBdnZLRD6FFAx3S4hRO8IXbjz-9cU/s4910/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Apr_23__1926_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="4910" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl20WyiMdsLW6DuDOfnoEtfUa6Ezl9xgLuav8SHoJE0YJ6Jd4Yp6Ae6uDOavCpWvAGvr5iYHXjZ0yzmkERGxw9a4bPKGNtadjFVmegcUyY-nvMS3b15DL2bkBGnfGMPy489nHNzFuELNfdJiONXx-DFXLbf8E4T7cBdnZLRD6FFAx3S4hRO8IXbjz-9cU/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Apr_23__1926_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, April 23, 1926</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>That fall, Zagerman was even offering the sale of "700 new woollen blankets, $2.25 and $4.50 a pair", and 15 sets of double harnesses.</p><p></p><p>Back to the Shepard & Morse Mill... Seemingly, the acquisition of a bankrupt saw mill plant was up Zagerman's alley, and he took the opportunity to clear out the Shepard & Morse site. Throughout 1927 he advertised wagons, carts, sleighs, boilers, fire hoses, windows, doors, lumber, brick and stone, all available on site at the former mill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMX0wdgZ_GOTDgLKxhJcHXntm2sZVaCzMmA2XK2s5mhaWRJVs4NmR5OrZ7jwpQ-Cd5N17IBKxSRwvceWmq1_iF8-qlQcuh_bZu3eZZ08A9-wdyVAFk83LDsU3qbc516RvULonpi4JXN1ce8vk1JA_5MDtkDIAhxHMJXENE6p_r-pA7C8S0noe99yJj34/s7948/1927-06-24%20-%20HA300-006%20-%20zagerman%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2817" data-original-width="7948" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMX0wdgZ_GOTDgLKxhJcHXntm2sZVaCzMmA2XK2s5mhaWRJVs4NmR5OrZ7jwpQ-Cd5N17IBKxSRwvceWmq1_iF8-qlQcuh_bZu3eZZ08A9-wdyVAFk83LDsU3qbc516RvULonpi4JXN1ce8vk1JA_5MDtkDIAhxHMJXENE6p_r-pA7C8S0noe99yJj34/s320/1927-06-24%20-%20HA300-006%20-%20zagerman%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">June 24 1927 - the future Zagerman site is vacant land,<br />while the former mill has been demolished and the<br />remaining wood and materials are piled for sale.<br />Also visible is the abandoned septic tank to the west.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In late 1927, Zagerman acquired the Russell Shale Brick Plant in Russell for $31,500 for all of their land, machinery and equipment. The firm had been in business from 1912-1925. Zagerman dismantled the plant and began selling off 6 million bricks, iron, lumber and all sorts of materials.</p><p>Business grew quickly. By 1928, Zagerman's had grown into one of the city's top firms for demolition and disposal. The firm purchased the building they were located in, and expanded into the neighbouring units on Wellington (534-536-538). The company acquired the contracts to demolish and dispose of the assets at the Ottawa Transportation Building on Canal Street, the old St. Luke's Hospital, and the famed Russell Hotel and Russell Theatre (which he did in partnership with his Wellington Street landlord, the City Iron and Bottle Company). Zagerman set up an office at Sparks and the Canal to handle his increased business in the city. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH5TLnNMxK_HEEB-p5ReT8CIEC3s_ZqGtTZbUm1p3JGzIFG7TMkcHLZqfZRuGz6VYe3Tq34Qpbvd6Lz4aW2Axpu0Wi6e7Z1SZmdbAicyj0EMIdvBsWpYLJNfT6WhIfa9A8Y2Ke1pDgbMcVLeSzFHJUA9CL8u07TNQ72rACxcz6fAin6Kpw-BT8H0oLiI/s5238/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Jul_14__1928_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5238" data-original-width="5007" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH5TLnNMxK_HEEB-p5ReT8CIEC3s_ZqGtTZbUm1p3JGzIFG7TMkcHLZqfZRuGz6VYe3Tq34Qpbvd6Lz4aW2Axpu0Wi6e7Z1SZmdbAicyj0EMIdvBsWpYLJNfT6WhIfa9A8Y2Ke1pDgbMcVLeSzFHJUA9CL8u07TNQ72rACxcz6fAin6Kpw-BT8H0oLiI/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Jul_14__1928_.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, July 14, 1928</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The job on the Russell Block was not smooth, as the two firms involved spent much of the summer embroiled in a battle with the City over the speed at which the dismantling was occurring. Of particular concern was a large stone wall at the rear, which was apparently was left in a dangerous way, and the local Magistrate threatened to send Zagerman and his partner Brahinsky to jail if they didn't hustle the job faster. The job was also mired in delays owing to at least two injuries to workers, multiple court charges of obstructing the street, and a battle between Zagerman and the City over implementation over the new "fair wage clause", which ultimately resulted in Zagerman turning down the St. Luke's Hospital job. The Zagerman Company was also taking jobs outside of Ottawa (including the dismantling of the former McFadden Mill at Nestorville, near Sault Ste. Marie). </p><p>Meanwhile Zagerman was becoming further engaged in the Jewish community of Ottawa, taking on a role on the board of Ottawa Lodge No. 885 of B'Nail B'rith in early 1928, a first step in the Zagerman family's long history in the Ottawa Jewish community.</p><p>In August of 1928, Zagerman acquired a 198x99 foot of property north of the CNR line on the west side of Queen Street in LeBreton Flats for $12,000, with the intention of clearing the buildings to build a three-storey $50,000 warehouse. This set of buildings was old 40 to 54 Queen Street West, reputed to be among the oldest buildings at the time in the Flats, which included a small stone residence where J.R. Booth first lived when he came to Ottawa in 1850. Zagerman went ahead with those plans in May of 1930, sadly long before heritage building preservation was a thing, though many, including the Ottawa Citizen, lamented the loss of this historic, important home.</p><p>Zagerman spent over a year on the Shepard & More job, and must have liked the Bayview area, as in the spring of 1930, he made an agreement for the purchase of the "Block S" piece of land from the trustees of Shepard & Morse. He immediately hired a team of fifty men to prepare the property for use.</p><p>However, when word of the purchase spread, Mechanicsville and Hintonburg residents took up a petition against it, which was presented by Alderman Ernest Laroche, Alderman N.J. Lacasse, and local resident James Finn to the Board of Control. The residents did not like the idea of the Zagerman Company opening a "junk yard" on the property. Finn said neighbours did not want this kind of business in the district, as it would be a menace to health, a fire risk, and would lead to higher insurance rates for homeowners.</p><p>However, Zagerman argued against the petition, claiming "he was not in the junk business, that he has not a junk yard and does not intend to open one." </p><p>"We didn't buy the land for a park or playground, but for industrial use", said Zagerman to the Citizen. The neighbourhood opposition concerned him, and so he laid off his fifty workers just as they had started to work. Zagerman told the Citizen he would be willing to sell the land at cost, but added that "if the city did not allow industries on that site it might as well stop trying to get industries for the city." </p><p>His firm, he said, "was negotiating with other industrial concerns to use part of the property and his firm intended to erect buildings as well as to store machinery and building material in the yard."</p><p>The Board of Control decided to leave it with their lawyers to decide whether Zagerman's proposed business could be classified as a "junk shop", and also to decide what powers the city had to prevent certain uses of the property. "The board is entirely in sympathy with you", said Con. Tulley to the local residents, "but we want to know our powers to restrict." </p><p>The trail of information on the neighbourhood opposition goes cold in the newspapers of the era, so it would seem the City could do little to stop Zagerman from opening his yards at Bayview. </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>M. Zagerman & Co. Open on Bayview Road</b></p><p>The sale officially was made on June 11th, 1930, with a sale price of $5,000 for the Block S property. Zagerman paid $1,000 down, and mortgaged the remaining $4,000.</p><p>He immediately began to make use of the site, as by late July 1930, his began to advertise his yard "at Bayview Road, opposite Ottawa West station" (which of course was the old CPR passenger line station which was located just about where the Bayview LRT station stands today). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcQe14CACCFuBLXcwPDdFlHk9M_18nTG9MJxHZhZH_gK4oIM3X5mEOg2N6SCyg85o99ZxbOnx205xjJCTR9fZ3sPScJJt7Ep3Pl0VqT-BU1qLNAZJjOHSxsV32OWZxeDBJgdKf8vz-d6ULKLOftSFIg9vIjoyNF2K42h-diN33ThEEvlfinHjSHrAxtk/s4917/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Jul_26__1930_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3930" data-original-width="4917" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcQe14CACCFuBLXcwPDdFlHk9M_18nTG9MJxHZhZH_gK4oIM3X5mEOg2N6SCyg85o99ZxbOnx205xjJCTR9fZ3sPScJJt7Ep3Pl0VqT-BU1qLNAZJjOHSxsV32OWZxeDBJgdKf8vz-d6ULKLOftSFIg9vIjoyNF2K42h-diN33ThEEvlfinHjSHrAxtk/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Jul_26__1930_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, July 26, 1930</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Below is one of the earliest ads specific to the Zagerman Company's offerings at the Bayview Road location:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYb2q-7Js8YMoYRsL-FegjSC0izAgRjYQGNfW2e5waAx0R_uQxWTgfxbLSXxW8J-JLVx6MEHzzqKy5cO6PYPg0lJrrMmgvVETGp9_9o5G9BCJKYOC7m2yu4Le0RbgXauMAeovVkbFX25YA2YskGmO51wPjElWatp-3evw_k8v3U2Udyg-G5pt_CRReUmE/s5001/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Sep_20__1930_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2368" data-original-width="5001" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYb2q-7Js8YMoYRsL-FegjSC0izAgRjYQGNfW2e5waAx0R_uQxWTgfxbLSXxW8J-JLVx6MEHzzqKy5cO6PYPg0lJrrMmgvVETGp9_9o5G9BCJKYOC7m2yu4Le0RbgXauMAeovVkbFX25YA2YskGmO51wPjElWatp-3evw_k8v3U2Udyg-G5pt_CRReUmE/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Sep_20__1930_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, September 20, 1930</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The photo below shows the Zagerman & Co. yard in October 1931, one of the earliest available photos of the business. The triangle of space is well in use, with a handful of large sheds built along Scott Street next to the CPR line, and there appears to be a fence around the perimeter of the property. Note the former Shepard & Morse mill site on the opposite side of Bayview is almost completely empty by this point.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4NpcXcqto_GN7eKULNfT91of6K4Lp8drzEtMGnUDLBGJsVVCdDSkw7KwdGGBV4z0BrwAxYhAN0xSiRpA_gWLiPwMWL500qEnLcbLK0PuGl-eOrlCqJd7eR7j6LnYCeIqZvxGsW9ZZLwEwlvHtMe-na4NRSXeEEKzVk0wWMmmoXF8PWiTGUX71g5bq2o/s5946/1931-10-02%20-%20A4369-051%20-%20zagerman%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2303" data-original-width="5946" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4NpcXcqto_GN7eKULNfT91of6K4Lp8drzEtMGnUDLBGJsVVCdDSkw7KwdGGBV4z0BrwAxYhAN0xSiRpA_gWLiPwMWL500qEnLcbLK0PuGl-eOrlCqJd7eR7j6LnYCeIqZvxGsW9ZZLwEwlvHtMe-na4NRSXeEEKzVk0wWMmmoXF8PWiTGUX71g5bq2o/s320/1931-10-02%20-%20A4369-051%20-%20zagerman%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">October 1931 view of the Zagerman yard and Laroche Park<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Another early Zagerman ad:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3_9VgauvA0c2ocbhMwf68Vrn0Xfe9JqzpfIjipulmb_xjp9eWjDoUiJxRVDejjAQjNQT_bxYqse-orCiD28P2Fc9qkAiwDpUZSWRT5PTmJoGpnjFRA5KK3_MVUYk78ZuPq63H3VUe_UpuFxWAbOWJCFiOkLD3NSj1_5AkmCTT0C2dFXBM6gPe4iVMTg/s3896/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__Jun_11__1932_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3896" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3_9VgauvA0c2ocbhMwf68Vrn0Xfe9JqzpfIjipulmb_xjp9eWjDoUiJxRVDejjAQjNQT_bxYqse-orCiD28P2Fc9qkAiwDpUZSWRT5PTmJoGpnjFRA5KK3_MVUYk78ZuPq63H3VUe_UpuFxWAbOWJCFiOkLD3NSj1_5AkmCTT0C2dFXBM6gPe4iVMTg/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__Jun_11__1932_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal - June 11, 1932</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>1932 was also the year the City began to seriously explore options for their property on Bayview. In February 1932 the City began construction on a new stable building for housing the city's horses on the east side of Bayview, that had a lot of opposition to its grand size and cost ($50,000). It opened in September. </p><p>Meanwhile the city was also planning for an even more contentious project, the construction of a new garbage incinerator on top of the Bayview garbage dump (which was along the bay). With the future of the site uncertain, the local aldermen voted in March 1932 to close the dump, which had informally been in use for several years. They also proposed the construction of a building for the Ottawa Humane Society on the property, which was also not favoured by local residents, nor even some members of the Humane Society, who were concerned about the effects on the animals of the smoke and soot from the nearby roundhouse and railway yards. The plan was tentatively accepted, though later cancelled (the Humane Society would eventually build here, but not until 1951). On top of all this, the new filtration plant on Lemieux Island opened on April 30th, and Bayview Avenue carried the traffic to and from the Island.</p><p>Towards the end of 1932, City Council established a Town Planning Commission, and installed Noulan Cauchon as the Commissioner. Among other tasks, Cauchon was responsible for completing a zoning plan for the city, selecting a site for the National War Memorial, widening Sussex Street, adding traffic circles and rounding corners throughout the city to help with traffic problems, and closer to home, laying out the ever-expanding Bayview Road civic yards property, and improving access to the new Lemieux Island plant.</p><p>After nearly a year of negotiation on and off with Zagerman, the Town Planning Commission and the Commissioner of Works for Ottawa (F.C. Askwith) announced they had struck a deal to exchange land with Zagerman on Bayview. This would allow for the city to properly centralize their civic workshops, build storage sheds next to the stables, and provide a better layout for the civic yards. </p><p>More importantly, the City was seriously looking at building a bridge to Quebec in this vicinity. They were considering two options: an extension of the roadway to Lemieux Island over to Quebec, or a completely new bridge that would be a continuation of Hinchey Avenue. Either route had a requirement to bring significant additional traffic on Bayview, and thus the city wanted to acquire part of Zagerman's property to enable the widening and reshaping of Bayview Road to do so. Ultimately, the bridge idea went nowhere, and Bayview's route was never altered. Even Bayview Road itself was not widened until the early 2000s (when the roundabout was eventually added).</p><p>As part of the deal, the city officially closed off Randolph Street (originally Nicholas Street), which ran through (on paper only) the middle of Blocks Q, R and S, in behind Laroche Park. This piece of land, 45,738 square feet in size, was then given over to Zagerman. This was very contentious, and 200 property owners (assumedly in Mechanicsville) opposed the closing of the street, as it was worried that new buildings would encroach on the Laroche Park playgrounds. Alderman Lacasse led the congregation fighting the closure, and had been tipped off my a city staff member who had shared with him the city plans to construct the buildings alongside the park. The staff member who was caught sharing those plans was apparently fired. </p><p>Cauchon called it a "misunderstanding and misrepresentation", and that no buildings, not even sheds would be placed near the park, and that closing the non-existing Randolph Street just made sense. He argued it could never exist in reality, and if it were to open, "would lead from nowhere to nowhere as the Board of Railway Commissioners would not allow a railway crossing at that point." </p><p>"It is probable that none of the signers, including the aldermen, could point to the four corners of the street they didn't want closed", half-joked Cauchon.</p><p>By eliminating Randolph, it allowed for proper footage to be available to do an exact exchange of land with Zagerman "foot for foot". "Mr. Zagerman does not get one five cent piece in cash" said Cauchon. "The deal is all to the advantage of the city. Mr. Zagerman acted as a gentleman throughout, he was fair, square and accommodating." </p><p>Cauchon also said that the man fired by the city was not let go because of sharing information with the alderman, but because "there was no work for him to do that he could do satisfactorily. This man had drawn a plan showing a building encroaching on the playgrounds but he had no authority to do so." </p><p>Though Cauchon also added that though the current plans did not affect Laroche Park or its playgrounds, if it was shown down the road that it might, he would not hesitate to recommend that part of the playgrounds be taken if needed for the development. "A $500,000 centralization plan should not be thrown over because of a section of the playground." </p><p>The sale documents were dated officially January 16th, 1933, which saw the City sell a portion of Block R to Zagerman for $1, while Zagerman sold an equal-sized piece of Block S to the City for $1. </p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujwmGGt8er3__p2wG-IwzMY9cvCZ6WIqt6FQQfbzffFlFB5ueSC0U9LiDdset4nXUWXnJXpKy4IAj5QOgeCW06BkX-XEppJkvh54_uYLQbyxRtCHtVnuS_JtyN4P63yFdqQ5OVNJgDH4Zt_QM-xp44rh_tD3yReb2vgccA4sg9z1TA4r_s8NniSas6Zs/s843/Zagerman%20lot%20lines%20-%20GeoOttawa%20labels2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="843" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujwmGGt8er3__p2wG-IwzMY9cvCZ6WIqt6FQQfbzffFlFB5ueSC0U9LiDdset4nXUWXnJXpKy4IAj5QOgeCW06BkX-XEppJkvh54_uYLQbyxRtCHtVnuS_JtyN4P63yFdqQ5OVNJgDH4Zt_QM-xp44rh_tD3yReb2vgccA4sg9z1TA4r_s8NniSas6Zs/s320/Zagerman%20lot%20lines%20-%20GeoOttawa%20labels2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>GeoOttawa map showing the current boundaries of the four</span><br /><span>parcels in this area, with the red lines to mark the original lines</span><br /><span>between Q, R, S, which were divided by two streets. The green</span><br /><span>polygon roughly marks the land Zagerman received, while the<br />blue polygon shows the land Zagerman transferred to the City</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>With his largely expanded area, Zagerman was able to build out his yards.</div><div><p>It appears in the fall of 1932, Zagerman closed down his offices and warehouse on Wellington Street, and had all operations out of the Bayview location. In an era when most businesses were suffering due to the depression, Zagerman had hit on an industry that was perfect for the era. He could buy up firms that went out of business (of which there was no end), and acquire buildings to be dismantled (which were also plentiful) and sell off discounted stock and second-hand materials (which were in high demand in an era when few could afford new, full-priced equipment or materials). </p><p>The 1930s would be a period of great growth for the Zagerman Company. Following the land transfer, he would re-jig the property from the layout as seen below, to the layout that exists today, more to the south. Note the 2-storey office at the entrance to the yard along Bayview, which still stands today.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9v-pX4YRQwfhjwH6DiD1m1B2Xq0AAn7n3nDyRssu8CIlcauPiRGcSRGkqYP72ECOGTbg5jnyhrku2AQLBAsb9QK76iJWaxAtcPPnf-O53ZtjoXhQXO4rfUhbj_oddXsuJSDKNURsex2T8uRMs29E496OrnJ7bwy5djUIRB-ly1UalRtGnbnVKfUNZNK8/s2346/1933%20aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1993" data-original-width="2346" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9v-pX4YRQwfhjwH6DiD1m1B2Xq0AAn7n3nDyRssu8CIlcauPiRGcSRGkqYP72ECOGTbg5jnyhrku2AQLBAsb9QK76iJWaxAtcPPnf-O53ZtjoXhQXO4rfUhbj_oddXsuJSDKNURsex2T8uRMs29E496OrnJ7bwy5djUIRB-ly1UalRtGnbnVKfUNZNK8/s320/1933%20aerial.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">May 1933 aerial view of the Zagerman property. North at top.<br />CPR line at bottom and Bayview Road from top to bottom.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The photo below from 1937-1938 shows the new layout, and a significant new number of buildings, including the long addition along Bayview of the main office-machine shop building.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnCPh4cnGdtOfeIgxloGrfhHuFXeGO8_07Jr31Jy25l0kXa6qyh3wLM1pH8UFWI7Wuxxyv4bVhz4m42QG4IpLkiCczT6RFRqqum2n6lulYWwETHDpmnipzNnYlRPBIU61DXElUCw-lryZ1ZLqQst3MFoFt4cYYh3YGcUezPJOHIY9YuQjJteKRMXfa7w/s2749/193X-XX-XX%20-%20A6289_015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="2749" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnCPh4cnGdtOfeIgxloGrfhHuFXeGO8_07Jr31Jy25l0kXa6qyh3wLM1pH8UFWI7Wuxxyv4bVhz4m42QG4IpLkiCczT6RFRqqum2n6lulYWwETHDpmnipzNnYlRPBIU61DXElUCw-lryZ1ZLqQst3MFoFt4cYYh3YGcUezPJOHIY9YuQjJteKRMXfa7w/s320/193X-XX-XX%20-%20A6289_015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1937-1938 view looking east of the Zagerman yard</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Modern Containers Ltd. & Keyes Supply Company Ltd.</b></p><p>On June 17, 1940, The City sold the adjoining piece of land along Bayview to the north of Zagerman's to Modern Containers Ltd. for $1,854. </p><p>Modern Containers was a company with headquarters in Toronto which traded on the TSE. At the time it was operating at 344-348 Queen Street in Ottawa. Leslie Irving Finnie was President of the Company (from 1930 until he retired in 1945).</p><p>A $10,000 building permit was taken out for the new factory in April 1940, which was to house the plastics division. The factory was opened by the following February, and was operating 24 hours a day. One of the first jobs for the factory was a war contract for $12,266 to help the Department of Munitions and Supply. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyBqagZWQC1J5toH2SWDaISGcjoiGPbwrnHYitSFLH1rJXcgzNfAGu_O-O1aKxp7trRYo8NCt09PbjWnQ2tb5iX4fOTbiqvqaEQZa7o_KwYMVWC5Sv9tnbbe3XkaeYhG8pFATvcIsbM9QlDH9r7Tzp8BMhTyYlF4AxmhrgwFADrWw4azuOqTvnMvWZFU/s1157/Modern%20Plastics%20Streetview%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1157" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyBqagZWQC1J5toH2SWDaISGcjoiGPbwrnHYitSFLH1rJXcgzNfAGu_O-O1aKxp7trRYo8NCt09PbjWnQ2tb5iX4fOTbiqvqaEQZa7o_KwYMVWC5Sv9tnbbe3XkaeYhG8pFATvcIsbM9QlDH9r7Tzp8BMhTyYlF4AxmhrgwFADrWw4azuOqTvnMvWZFU/s320/Modern%20Plastics%20Streetview%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">84 Bayview Station Road today. Now Canadian Heritage<br />originally Modern Containers Ltd. factory, built 1940-41</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This business would grow quickly. A large addition was added over the winter of 1942-43, and another large two-storey factory addition in June 1951, along with several other smaller additions during this period. </p><p>In June of 1954, Keyes Supply Company Ltd. purchased this property from Modern Containers (who left Ottawa and maintained their operations largely in Scarborough) for $160,000. A total of 32,000 square feet of heated space and 7,000 square feet of warehouse, with room for expansion and ample parking. Keyes had been in the business of "wholesaling automotive parts, garage equipment, radio, television, household appliances and refrigeration equipment and supplies" since 1915, with branches in Northern and Eastern Ontario, including North Bay, Kingston, Belleville, Cornwall, Sudbury, Pembroke, Kirkland Lake, Hawkesbury and Sault Ste. Marie. </p><p>Keyes opened for business just before Christmas 1954. They advertised their new address for the first time in an ad on December 22nd.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoIZJzu_sO2JTEoXQQ2fn13SmN7D1dj65cmTktgxZ-z3hkmin1UFKj3iHk9a9b567C8x0QJE-f2k4JH5j3CWdXaYtk-d76wxZpExJhQ2gp8-cLs-NKJ0MLMyGOxKkfmWWE14NjRzLZykCh2NbWE012jOW6g74Lv2XwNMlMgGATfe2yxI8C2egu-HQ_YA/s3857/The_Ottawa_Journal_Wed__Dec_22__1954_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3857" data-original-width="3365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoIZJzu_sO2JTEoXQQ2fn13SmN7D1dj65cmTktgxZ-z3hkmin1UFKj3iHk9a9b567C8x0QJE-f2k4JH5j3CWdXaYtk-d76wxZpExJhQ2gp8-cLs-NKJ0MLMyGOxKkfmWWE14NjRzLZykCh2NbWE012jOW6g74Lv2XwNMlMgGATfe2yxI8C2egu-HQ_YA/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Wed__Dec_22__1954_.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal - December 22, 1954</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This building today is government space occupied by Canadian Heritage. </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Zagerman's in the 1940s and 1950s</b></p><p>Throughout WWII, Zagerman's helped fill the gap for businesses requiring precious materials. In an auto-biographical history written in 1963, Zagerman's had this to say about their role: "During the Second World War years, when supplies of new machinery and material were impossible to obtain, Zagerman's invariably came to the rescue with used equipment for important lumber and paper mills, feed and flour firms and other vital industries." </p><p>On June 26th, 1941, Ottawa held its first test blackout, darkening the entire city at the sound of air raid sirens. This was for war preparedness, in case the bombings which were so prevalent in England might come overseas. Whistles were required to help sound the alert and all clear signals. Morris Zagerman loaned all the whistles required, keen to help in any way he could. At 10:30 p.m. the blackout went in effect, and the first call in to headquarters at 10:35 to report visible light ironically was reported at the Zagerman factory on Bayview. </p><p>In 1942, Zagerman's received permission to install railway siding off the CPR main line which ran alongside the factory. The railroad siding came in from the rear of the property, up to the long iron warehouse in to the centre of the yard, about 500 feet, and would have aided in the shipping and distribution of materials.</p><p>Starting around 1942, Zagerman's got into the home building business, acquiring los and building new houses. They built three brick veneer duplexes on Marlborough Avenue in late 1942. Closer to home, the company took out permits in May of 1943 for a brick veneer double at 43-45 Caroline Avenue and one at 110 Grange Avenue in May of 1943 (they also built 57-59 Caroline a little while later). </p><p>Another key purchase occurred in October 1942 when Zagerman's acquired a large property owned by the St. Lawrence Wrecking and Building Company Ltd. at the corner of Lisgar, Bank and Nepean, at a cost of $58,000.</p><p>Morris and his wife Mildred became increasingly involved in Jewish community affairs. By 1943 Morris was Vice-chairman of the Talmud Torah board. Notably, he was campaign chairman in the successful bid for construction of a new synagogue in Ottawa. Construction on the synagogue began at the corner of Rideau and Chapel in November 1949. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNDZ3zHa-IkSQCruY0eQsbpvH3ita8Um8sZmAiia7kP1C1if5nSKDmAEeB3Eip6RJO-DbGeO7ki7VyNta48zmvw_jnQPKJ2yRpN0hgcUve0nQrjWjof7YtiJDDfHARJzFq7lo4YKVqpqSnmGslSma0S-sq1HJLJEPBsG5LXnlvqXgZCPI7mnG4Zhb4QY/s4841/The_Ottawa_Journal_Mon__Nov_21__1949_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4841" data-original-width="3903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNDZ3zHa-IkSQCruY0eQsbpvH3ita8Um8sZmAiia7kP1C1if5nSKDmAEeB3Eip6RJO-DbGeO7ki7VyNta48zmvw_jnQPKJ2yRpN0hgcUve0nQrjWjof7YtiJDDfHARJzFq7lo4YKVqpqSnmGslSma0S-sq1HJLJEPBsG5LXnlvqXgZCPI7mnG4Zhb4QY/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Mon__Nov_21__1949_crop.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal - November 21, 1949</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The couple was also involved in charitable work, of which many examples can be found over the years throughout the pages of the Citizen and Journal. One such example is shown below:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehNvL-GUcv2a2IMF9pN-CtKxdmu1RkiINvaVJ6noYkZsg92lTzvz2jh0bAlruzk3ozH-Mpipf5J5aT8vrzTVZ5GuXT25_NPQiV-0Wt_-8M8zCdu1quOQHLeYLUIathWx3yJCLST3BwVBeKifqYcbve7B2yRwtxJVoCX6Kxh2tKZc7y86Hb-fmuy28N_w/s6443/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Nov_20__1956_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6443" data-original-width="4865" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehNvL-GUcv2a2IMF9pN-CtKxdmu1RkiINvaVJ6noYkZsg92lTzvz2jh0bAlruzk3ozH-Mpipf5J5aT8vrzTVZ5GuXT25_NPQiV-0Wt_-8M8zCdu1quOQHLeYLUIathWx3yJCLST3BwVBeKifqYcbve7B2yRwtxJVoCX6Kxh2tKZc7y86Hb-fmuy28N_w/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Nov_20__1956_.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - November 20, 1956<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>I guess Morris Zagerman wasn't perfect... In May of 1946, Zagerman pleaded guilty in police court to building a building on the property without obtaining a permit first. He was fined a wrist-slap penalty of $25 for the offense!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSx96480GS93lCOV_iGS74kCeD-tkkVYH1W5hQBFi8A2Ghoisdu3-yQejI9wbP8bqTGgGvnwYbP2luobgVy1kr3bFRYpiE8Gy9ieBJqtH-k01aCIEhVFjH3B2Eu8K8v3Yr4MDzxIYpaiTBqGD3drcwBRAatM1dJAR8Cgyuo9Fb4NkiO9iE4nWvRej4ec/s6805/The_Ottawa_Journal_Fri__May_17__1946_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3936" data-original-width="6805" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSx96480GS93lCOV_iGS74kCeD-tkkVYH1W5hQBFi8A2Ghoisdu3-yQejI9wbP8bqTGgGvnwYbP2luobgVy1kr3bFRYpiE8Gy9ieBJqtH-k01aCIEhVFjH3B2Eu8K8v3Yr4MDzxIYpaiTBqGD3drcwBRAatM1dJAR8Cgyuo9Fb4NkiO9iE4nWvRej4ec/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Fri__May_17__1946_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal - May 17, 1946</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This is a cool illustration of the Zagerman Company property as it was in 1948. This is from the Goad's Fire Insurance Plan for the City of Ottawa. Blue indicates stone or cinder block, pink is brick and yellow is wood. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYyEafUVjww7lJhEYtrxpXtT6HF4KuJykD9nzC_BvTPQcIlEDxxCO57z62JElqb7kgALk9DKA1HxxtcUqoYcJ7zWinmwUkD_e7O9VMuM5TWBXtUaAo-dLce-MMPulFwie6-ar7sYZJdFcoTyu8DS6rZhyniGHKFbX2mbBqjrvXZEbAJrGh0qDf6UCGi8/s4624/1948%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="4624" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYyEafUVjww7lJhEYtrxpXtT6HF4KuJykD9nzC_BvTPQcIlEDxxCO57z62JElqb7kgALk9DKA1HxxtcUqoYcJ7zWinmwUkD_e7O9VMuM5TWBXtUaAo-dLce-MMPulFwie6-ar7sYZJdFcoTyu8DS6rZhyniGHKFbX2mbBqjrvXZEbAJrGh0qDf6UCGi8/s320/1948%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1948 fire insurance plan view of Zagerman's</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Steel became an important part of the Zagerman business in the 1950s. Here is an early ad promoting their available materials: </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM0NGXKVPc4sVsLgLsoquozuZmSHRclFfAigxojvQWP8NGBT_mjpl2qN9w_Fe3X7e9echL_c91pXX4dJEAPECG796BUevfvWfsF6PKibsydKvHeyX_eo8gfoDUl6i1J7dmFiaWnjunU57GkZX_xlq4R5xCZLQZcxQIxmIoNwfTBR_JiLeSup-MkUf8xA/s5540/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Dec_8__1953_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5540" data-original-width="4715" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRM0NGXKVPc4sVsLgLsoquozuZmSHRclFfAigxojvQWP8NGBT_mjpl2qN9w_Fe3X7e9echL_c91pXX4dJEAPECG796BUevfvWfsF6PKibsydKvHeyX_eo8gfoDUl6i1J7dmFiaWnjunU57GkZX_xlq4R5xCZLQZcxQIxmIoNwfTBR_JiLeSup-MkUf8xA/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Dec_8__1953_.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - December 8, 1953</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Over time, Morris and Mildred slowly handed off the company to their sons Herbert and Norman, who would become President and Vice-President respectively. Herbert joined the firm and became manager of the credit and accounting department in the mid-1950s, while Norman joined a few years later, after his graduation from Carleton College.</p><p>Norman was also a significant figure in the Jewish community in Ottawa. He was president of the Jewish Community Council of Ottawa/Vaad Ha'ir, and helped establish the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation. He also served on the boards of the Ottawa General Hospital, Carleton University, Algonquin College, Canadian Jewish Congress, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, among others.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IIk8d3s5kqSaPmuArdFblY6DDbr9wRZUAuLei1I7xEEtr3lkMvqP-lQuo5gn8gXRJF7HM4ICe4fbzD_pRDf9Lc3f6rKTd9vrpXUmKhG4M9fX03Z7Ge2dU3IsOH36zXqG41GMmrhTiyTDY4wjmSbGsqdC4w5WB8KaAxkmvN8IRmXMOxnzHNgPAN0jQ_o/s1411/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_%20Herbert-Norman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1027" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IIk8d3s5kqSaPmuArdFblY6DDbr9wRZUAuLei1I7xEEtr3lkMvqP-lQuo5gn8gXRJF7HM4ICe4fbzD_pRDf9Lc3f6rKTd9vrpXUmKhG4M9fX03Z7Ge2dU3IsOH36zXqG41GMmrhTiyTDY4wjmSbGsqdC4w5WB8KaAxkmvN8IRmXMOxnzHNgPAN0jQ_o/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_%20Herbert-Norman.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - May 30, 1958</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In 1958 Zagerman's celebrated their 35th Anniversary by taking out a triple full-page ad in both the Journal and Citizen. The firm boasted of their history and services, highlighting their Steel Department, Conveyor and Transmission Drives team, Material Handling Equipment and the General Machine Shop. At the time Zagerman's employed 35, noting that at peak periods that number increased to 40 and more. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBzPIZyodJk3jYw5TBw_emO-CEiF_xddIbE2pIsCd_wojCRHYbedKCjcWLYiCTzWE5Ri414IwEkrO6OfNRMiNki2XuoJKHVGB7MtHXyiCf0R0Q1Hd56yJQmRI2MjRWHBmRnQ3c0lS9AwlWnlhGbJK7hHsf4ktFqDoEDi3s3MJPuUy0CfDLnQelAkso24/s2210/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2210" data-original-width="1376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBzPIZyodJk3jYw5TBw_emO-CEiF_xddIbE2pIsCd_wojCRHYbedKCjcWLYiCTzWE5Ri414IwEkrO6OfNRMiNki2XuoJKHVGB7MtHXyiCf0R0Q1Hd56yJQmRI2MjRWHBmRnQ3c0lS9AwlWnlhGbJK7hHsf4ktFqDoEDi3s3MJPuUy0CfDLnQelAkso24/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_%20(1).jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - May 30, 1958</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The ad also showed photos of some of their key staff:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-tej5rtQ6Z3hQZ53R2FwBynBH8a8ozJhGRPIYQulUFMvPWaRpzAVNg6nuxDu2MmtXHngtKWh4hq6exo8jAWQZ1OkzmZznTImVX8WcskvsktSjnGc4jdI30DJmLBZ-IXSvewpj2W_GRtgT8uxGRwcGvbRKdpTPusjlPgmDH-RhAJ3GI0kZ7JJQ2W9614/s2965/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_%20(2)%20senior%20staff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="2965" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-tej5rtQ6Z3hQZ53R2FwBynBH8a8ozJhGRPIYQulUFMvPWaRpzAVNg6nuxDu2MmtXHngtKWh4hq6exo8jAWQZ1OkzmZznTImVX8WcskvsktSjnGc4jdI30DJmLBZ-IXSvewpj2W_GRtgT8uxGRwcGvbRKdpTPusjlPgmDH-RhAJ3GI0kZ7JJQ2W9614/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_%20(2)%20senior%20staff.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - May 30, 1958</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As well as a great exterior photo of the building!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACSPe5tN0OWIocQrmfa4chLetXmdNALLZnWH5urxXnQW8qj_d8r5UKqBJtjvQMuPexCLmwn6KOjr2dtP94b1aVnrvSJp8Rnq0o_0X_3lAfuZvYRi12Qz3yOeTe0vyJxerEBknqzOlcHzqdKcC9pZS2cCOkdDp-1XwXPPkw3QH6SjaR1SDgKw4Z2GumYc/s2031/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="2031" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACSPe5tN0OWIocQrmfa4chLetXmdNALLZnWH5urxXnQW8qj_d8r5UKqBJtjvQMuPexCLmwn6KOjr2dtP94b1aVnrvSJp8Rnq0o_0X_3lAfuZvYRi12Qz3yOeTe0vyJxerEBknqzOlcHzqdKcC9pZS2cCOkdDp-1XwXPPkw3QH6SjaR1SDgKw4Z2GumYc/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__May_30__1958_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - May 30, 1958</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><b>Photos from the 1960s</b></p><p>Here are a few views of Zagerman's from the 1960s:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi3Ku9VzCoV2FN79ruo121hBHtINOIFhijqTRPAr8b8JTFkkZMzxYbfepLiWVpfI2EWimvS_xMjQqlPOX7IIrwlhzpBSBuQ5wVPsCBOYXgGVn0HS4UZ0iQhsV3JYm-IY-C8bYbi3DLrFqhCb66sY5Hp-J2_cbJHrWlGPrP0DKCkZjauli2mqUyGspuyM/s1743/CA-8256%20-%201960-05-26%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20Zagerman%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1743" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi3Ku9VzCoV2FN79ruo121hBHtINOIFhijqTRPAr8b8JTFkkZMzxYbfepLiWVpfI2EWimvS_xMjQqlPOX7IIrwlhzpBSBuQ5wVPsCBOYXgGVn0HS4UZ0iQhsV3JYm-IY-C8bYbi3DLrFqhCb66sY5Hp-J2_cbJHrWlGPrP0DKCkZjauli2mqUyGspuyM/s320/CA-8256%20-%201960-05-26%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20Zagerman%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking northeast - May 1960<br />(taken from City of Ottawa Archives, CA-08256)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuyCbmuZ-VT8rDSdgsE2D7vUkA-3gWoRZoxYwYVJZ0aTTPWfgvulmSbUiqVKTATyUULQp2HjFjQGAKNoIBTnn8gZ_UuE7ya5NP0NwowZ8enybJJ28lwAk6HmvP855zERWtsMvvMj8Fz4i3N6j6JKPMhhUTfvKrUh1n5dyVCOIlNSlzMK8kYam7DMBLaQ/s1908/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_18__1963_%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="1908" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuyCbmuZ-VT8rDSdgsE2D7vUkA-3gWoRZoxYwYVJZ0aTTPWfgvulmSbUiqVKTATyUULQp2HjFjQGAKNoIBTnn8gZ_UuE7ya5NP0NwowZ8enybJJ28lwAk6HmvP855zERWtsMvvMj8Fz4i3N6j6JKPMhhUTfvKrUh1n5dyVCOIlNSlzMK8kYam7DMBLaQ/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_18__1963_%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - October 18, 1963</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtjwGOfnq57i-eaJOARhagk2DbRINnITsYYiMKXYj4ZXUL56HZOubbNuJZ1PdHewOPpB4JMco31UfevZXAXTBOXjNQDuuH-CmR0awwyD-7Uw7zfT7w6uLIMsVXSSKlDJrFYWVYShyphenhyphen9i_oJ1l5paA_6Buubi5bCd0izfMiI6Brt6zlCWRnmQ9Q3zNm0P8/s1317/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_18__1963_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="1317" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtjwGOfnq57i-eaJOARhagk2DbRINnITsYYiMKXYj4ZXUL56HZOubbNuJZ1PdHewOPpB4JMco31UfevZXAXTBOXjNQDuuH-CmR0awwyD-7Uw7zfT7w6uLIMsVXSSKlDJrFYWVYShyphenhyphen9i_oJ1l5paA_6Buubi5bCd0izfMiI6Brt6zlCWRnmQ9Q3zNm0P8/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_18__1963_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - October 18, 1963</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cyNhZQEarFyR3u9PBnPMnrpRPb21PWhIvZPM5qlwcaJT_DkQHqhvCx9CGORhSw8yvxTUN9RNx6fDP5Eaqzkj5-4Z749uX6Upp7tuFDCFQ-y699jFVeY122aJLe_21azSmsb-sGJq20r6ZhQEijekZXlVuEN8mwhpKtoB92rVcHSkPIFuKnVHhhmIVF8/s1024/7089%20leaving%20roundhouse%20pit%2023%20-%20Bruce%20Chapman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1024" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cyNhZQEarFyR3u9PBnPMnrpRPb21PWhIvZPM5qlwcaJT_DkQHqhvCx9CGORhSw8yvxTUN9RNx6fDP5Eaqzkj5-4Z749uX6Upp7tuFDCFQ-y699jFVeY122aJLe_21azSmsb-sGJq20r6ZhQEijekZXlVuEN8mwhpKtoB92rVcHSkPIFuKnVHhhmIVF8/s320/7089%20leaving%20roundhouse%20pit%2023%20-%20Bruce%20Chapman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">CP7089 leaving roundhouse pit, circa 1965<br />(courtesy of Bruce Chapman)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcDL2feRBH7KfJMIFEXprdALRpJVnF4XUsrRpg2rg0FAyaDYxrfyGZ4BMLxl8Sl8jXn8PEGjYy9Gwn_duhaDIf_cErwEfUJ9QPz5_k7cjG9HyUgKC3gs8SnamSDZcsbsXTIFvfkhf6O7SGpGszHXq6_X7iAFQZ2eOBjnEu3ST1IGq4b0FKyiFXajcgdA/s3992/CA-9085%20-%201965-12-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20Zagerman%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2808" data-original-width="3992" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcDL2feRBH7KfJMIFEXprdALRpJVnF4XUsrRpg2rg0FAyaDYxrfyGZ4BMLxl8Sl8jXn8PEGjYy9Gwn_duhaDIf_cErwEfUJ9QPz5_k7cjG9HyUgKC3gs8SnamSDZcsbsXTIFvfkhf6O7SGpGszHXq6_X7iAFQZ2eOBjnEu3ST1IGq4b0FKyiFXajcgdA/s320/CA-9085%20-%201965-12-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20Zagerman%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking southeast - December 1965<br />(taken from City of Ottawa Archives, CA-09085)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn1i8mcQBFRUGa0H3ScMX99SlHoCyZKdmm_VIuxZ9pVCvZeKYRbmGrieHh45pGPP5jeB9DAjStFEqGxFKfGu5RhcLO-gK6szv070B_AnR4tGwkDQvkuo6CQTIY-DvNXKNZCI5v6kYaceDXqlRW-WcJ09SxOhpnVJt77bsBLhqO0k9BuY-JfgawiKML3Q/s4592/CA-9136%20-%201966-04%20-%20Onoszko%20Zagerman%20crop%20v2.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3859" data-original-width="4592" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn1i8mcQBFRUGa0H3ScMX99SlHoCyZKdmm_VIuxZ9pVCvZeKYRbmGrieHh45pGPP5jeB9DAjStFEqGxFKfGu5RhcLO-gK6szv070B_AnR4tGwkDQvkuo6CQTIY-DvNXKNZCI5v6kYaceDXqlRW-WcJ09SxOhpnVJt77bsBLhqO0k9BuY-JfgawiKML3Q/s320/CA-9136%20-%201966-04%20-%20Onoszko%20Zagerman%20crop%20v2.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking west - April 1966<br />(taken from City of Ottawa Archives, CA-9136)</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Zagerman's was also famous for its long billboard (longest in the city), stretching three blocks along Scott Street. In the fall of 1963 it read: "Behind this wall lies a builder's paradise - everything to build a house - everything to make a house a home."</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFGKW8PfDq4tdBu0hER4aTKJ4SuOUS7Nj5nYlufdpU61_fGHcWi37e1VfLP4m7gAwZuiR5UKwmGkNDoFOsBV0JbM2hy12LHK5EMkHMXEXwKDfbGU4W0t9XI9B1_Fso5dwwiqQxPUQeUys0b9Y01hynV_WVZyN0jc7Wh5ULhqKC8dzGOLkbTlB0ef7n5g/s2498/1227%20going%20west%20to%20Brockville%20past%20Zagerman%20fence%20-%20from%20Bruce%20Chapman%20-%20originally%20John%20Frayne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="2498" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFGKW8PfDq4tdBu0hER4aTKJ4SuOUS7Nj5nYlufdpU61_fGHcWi37e1VfLP4m7gAwZuiR5UKwmGkNDoFOsBV0JbM2hy12LHK5EMkHMXEXwKDfbGU4W0t9XI9B1_Fso5dwwiqQxPUQeUys0b9Y01hynV_WVZyN0jc7Wh5ULhqKC8dzGOLkbTlB0ef7n5g/s320/1227%20going%20west%20to%20Brockville%20past%20Zagerman%20fence%20-%20from%20Bruce%20Chapman%20-%20originally%20John%20Frayne.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Zagerman billboard in behind the CPR main line, circa 1964.<br />This is engine 1227 heading west to Brockville.<br />(Courtesy of Bruce Chapman, originally John Frayne)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1LGlLb-btprI0zd3213FCpvH218dAJQZ95fmu4N56a_VqQlxU7IZ1MQAeemg8L9quK2aBn_ffevOxFBYp0x46lONVdMGm2ZifdUuho68oDFqzcJ_oji3lfA3J4T8HdgS973DYRu1lmiBsWnQBx-agtUK5JUy4adWWOMVM8oPwD8DojC6fN-8_-JVWO4/s3341/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Jun_17__1976_billboard%20to%20use.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1952" data-original-width="3341" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1LGlLb-btprI0zd3213FCpvH218dAJQZ95fmu4N56a_VqQlxU7IZ1MQAeemg8L9quK2aBn_ffevOxFBYp0x46lONVdMGm2ZifdUuho68oDFqzcJ_oji3lfA3J4T8HdgS973DYRu1lmiBsWnQBx-agtUK5JUy4adWWOMVM8oPwD8DojC6fN-8_-JVWO4/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Jun_17__1976_billboard%20to%20use.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The billboard just before Zagerman's closed - June 1976<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Morris Zagerman, founder of the business, passed away at home on Thursday December 21st, 1967. He was 70 years old. News articles from the following spring noted he left an estate of over $2M. He left bequests to many organizations in Ottawa, including Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, St. Patrick's College, the Ottawa Jewish Community Centre, Ottawa Tamud Torah, Perley Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, the YMCA, YWCA, and others. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3jas8XzSjQAuEHLtsY0MtM2WKnGjroNS8-qdGwa0CtE4wntjpZilGg1KmVla-l3EtsvC6l-rqPw7B6TtreATyKp_Aeulc7tE32Zx_CmRVo5MJY6otuJv6JHiLAddRaLjKPgKp5g73PVTZt36CfkccUjPNh482M1fukK2KVUQNLr9XMrMwqcu9rdoqNQ/s1699/Morris%20Zagerman%20-%20founder%20of%20Jewish%20CC%20-%20from%20CJHN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1699" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3jas8XzSjQAuEHLtsY0MtM2WKnGjroNS8-qdGwa0CtE4wntjpZilGg1KmVla-l3EtsvC6l-rqPw7B6TtreATyKp_Aeulc7tE32Zx_CmRVo5MJY6otuJv6JHiLAddRaLjKPgKp5g73PVTZt36CfkccUjPNh482M1fukK2KVUQNLr9XMrMwqcu9rdoqNQ/s320/Morris%20Zagerman%20-%20founder%20of%20Jewish%20CC%20-%20from%20CJHN.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morris Zagerman (source: CJHN)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>The Great Zagerman's Fire of 1969</b></p><p>Many long-time neighbourhood residents have never forgotten the night of the huge million-dollar fire that took out a large part of the Zagerman's and Keyes properties. I'm sure some of you who began reading this at the start scrolled down here hoping I'd cover the fire. So here we go...</p><p>One of Ottawa's largest fires of all time, and the biggest seen in 12 years according to fire officials, the blaze could be seen for miles around, lighting up the sky for hours. </p><p>The fire began around 11:15 p.m., and swept through the entire stock of Zagerman's lumber, and other building materials. It also destroyed the wrought-ironwork shop and all of its expensive equipment. A building housing facilities for making concrete rods was heavily damaged. Three Zagerman trucks were also destroyed. The structural steel section and the office and main warehouse along Bayview were untouched by the fire.</p><p>By 2:30 a.m., the fire was brought under control, though there were still some hot spots which flared up until after daybreak.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c8WPrSbWRvCttSPNZ2jzOLu-hQBMxqIgUj6szmeHyJMe1zUOTWUvDeKdYj8p5K9ZToAj3ZsV-kI3cgWSVkbhc04jHU30N7S0xOndOPdfB9sOtmTGUOluZAtknMoM7wsbxBbto43WVJtSmV9iFbGESixG125Q2YaCMkdtXalvUgUcb8WDgQToYU9MsNI/s4117/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Oct_14__1969_%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3185" data-original-width="4117" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1c8WPrSbWRvCttSPNZ2jzOLu-hQBMxqIgUj6szmeHyJMe1zUOTWUvDeKdYj8p5K9ZToAj3ZsV-kI3cgWSVkbhc04jHU30N7S0xOndOPdfB9sOtmTGUOluZAtknMoM7wsbxBbto43WVJtSmV9iFbGESixG125Q2YaCMkdtXalvUgUcb8WDgQToYU9MsNI/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Oct_14__1969_%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - October 14, 1969</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There was concern during the fire for the houses nearby on Stonehurst Avenue, about 500 feet away, especially as there was some heavy winds that evening. However, firefighters were aided by the fact that there was heavy rain throughout the fire, helping keep roofs wet, preventing the drifting burning embers from igniting roofs. Impressively, all the damage was contained to the Zagerman's-Keyes properties, and there were no injuries or deaths. </p><p>The fire began in a small supply shed to the west side of the company's main concrete-block office and administration building. It then swiftly spread through a 300-foot long timber storage shed. It was first noticed by employees of the city's traffic engineering maintenance depot on Bavyiew. Workers saw the flames while they were loading their trucks.</p><p>"It looked like it started in the Zagerman property in the lumber sheds", city employee Roger Page told the Ottawa Journal. He and another employee ran across to try to move some of the Keyes trucks out of the yard, but changed their minds when they noticed a sign on one of the buildings warning of explosive materials. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYi-W7_LYiFj42xmOhEGkFBeW-s3qw8R3ra_mOfjSuYLZg0ceg8YrEbaovX5LlwneUZbqY9G2beQc2ql-3PRKYPfLQf8ecXHP4m9V0IL8GA9u5L2M4LEff9L0HDVmQEIdsYETNu2578SuoWSNrapjPrLS8Ei8E8QDeRQDO6izn_eLXE_XH08DM1zi3S8/s2863/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Oct_14__1969_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1982" data-original-width="2863" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYi-W7_LYiFj42xmOhEGkFBeW-s3qw8R3ra_mOfjSuYLZg0ceg8YrEbaovX5LlwneUZbqY9G2beQc2ql-3PRKYPfLQf8ecXHP4m9V0IL8GA9u5L2M4LEff9L0HDVmQEIdsYETNu2578SuoWSNrapjPrLS8Ei8E8QDeRQDO6izn_eLXE_XH08DM1zi3S8/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Oct_14__1969_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - October 14, 1969</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Firemen began to arrive on site as the 50-foot-high flames lit up the air. Six pumpers and four aerial ladder trucks were pressed into service as the blaze jumped from one storage building to the next. Ottawa Fire Chief Phil Larkin said "every available piece of equipment" was used in the battle. Three explosions worsened the fire, as it moved through paint and oil supplies. </p><p>After an hour, the fire spread to the Keyes Supply Company next door. Four delivery trucks in the yard were hit first, and then the fire moved to three storage sheds containing tires, oil and electrical appliances, which were destroyed. The rear of the main company building was also damaged, which saw a number of television sets and other appliances lost before fire fighters could prevent further spread. Keyes employees had been called down to the fire and ran in and out of the office carrying files and records. A building at the rear of the main building, containing starting fluid, gas-line antifreeze, oil cans and paint thinner was protected against fire with a constant dousing of water.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT3aUu9cWjyYxURjXcB63o8ag1BzsiQoPD1h0EG9A8llnpDdS4aeVjgLKtaKPaoB_h03kbMbV_u5-lf_IRglAa5HGYM7Ft_zAhdonX2imyKStJxbFShlLxbTJvr2Q0Y5A3up1rwVGPg2gH0jO4l2JXTqnIPsawrvz1LtFJVfPMce9nMfv_qJ8bnszEAM/s4388/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Oct_14__1969_%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4388" data-original-width="4024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT3aUu9cWjyYxURjXcB63o8ag1BzsiQoPD1h0EG9A8llnpDdS4aeVjgLKtaKPaoB_h03kbMbV_u5-lf_IRglAa5HGYM7Ft_zAhdonX2imyKStJxbFShlLxbTJvr2Q0Y5A3up1rwVGPg2gH0jO4l2JXTqnIPsawrvz1LtFJVfPMce9nMfv_qJ8bnszEAM/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Oct_14__1969_%20(1).jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal - October 14, 1969</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As the fire occurred late in the evening, most residents in Mechanicsville and along Scott Street were likely unaware of the fire until they heard sirens and looked out their windows. Eventually hundreds of residents (held at a safe distance by police) gathered to watch the blaze. The heavy rains however led some to leave. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO9pQP5qdqWdByG_5tdB5E8L05zQ0Fr9NY_GBPYHt_j_KHiQWAyGMSsBrhwVYPlcMUDtnw26UfkN3cf4vv9HQiHHI19W0GhmJiXJSI-3MXCypJ_ZswgAcYd_GmmfNWC9K8j43pTX2ICOhZnlpTKLrYFRA5H5z9Br8DxP9L4uk2dN1TAS9YxDwFJp_quc/s4537/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Oct_14__1969_%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4107" data-original-width="4537" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO9pQP5qdqWdByG_5tdB5E8L05zQ0Fr9NY_GBPYHt_j_KHiQWAyGMSsBrhwVYPlcMUDtnw26UfkN3cf4vv9HQiHHI19W0GhmJiXJSI-3MXCypJ_ZswgAcYd_GmmfNWC9K8j43pTX2ICOhZnlpTKLrYFRA5H5z9Br8DxP9L4uk2dN1TAS9YxDwFJp_quc/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Oct_14__1969_%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - October 14, 1969</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Norm Zagerman was in Regina travelling with the Ottawa Rough Riders football team on a road trip. He received the news on Tuesday morning that the plant had burned down. He immediately rushed back to Ottawa.</p><p>Both Zagerman's and Keyes were fully insured, and by the end of the week, Zagerman was alerting the public that business remained open as usual. Hans Kutner, manager of the lumber and building supplies department told the Citizen "we have a lot of lumber to sell", and noted that his staff was at full strength, selling lumber undamaged by the blaze. Work was to begin soon to clear the rubble and debris from the yards. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW1AGzZMVQlgkZcaNDaU8KeqUQK_KaJAQhOcvNM9Ubkwew1Wwqn0mKgOgoH5-cUFLaVN7N3wrW1BdoLqRSMJ1teL2j4uWhL09kg_U6LahSbXLjp1XMS_VPY9jD7y9NIHoDOu3SuiyfScuGPPoGHeqzlvc5tnycYgWMDiThAcBwMhYwhUwxJ6f0AEvE8U/s7602/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Oct_18__1969_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7602" data-original-width="2131" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW1AGzZMVQlgkZcaNDaU8KeqUQK_KaJAQhOcvNM9Ubkwew1Wwqn0mKgOgoH5-cUFLaVN7N3wrW1BdoLqRSMJ1teL2j4uWhL09kg_U6LahSbXLjp1XMS_VPY9jD7y9NIHoDOu3SuiyfScuGPPoGHeqzlvc5tnycYgWMDiThAcBwMhYwhUwxJ6f0AEvE8U/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Sat__Oct_18__1969_.jpg" width="90" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - October 18, 1969</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Hans Kutner is a notable figure with an impressive story of his own. He was born in Germany in 1910, and amazingly was a survivor of the M.S. St. Louis, a ship which in 1939 infamously carried 900 Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany to North and Central America to escape persecution. The ship attempted to disembark in Cuba, the US and Canada, before having no choice but to head back to Europe, where an estimated one-quarter of the ship's occupants were killed in Nazi death camps. Known as the "Voyage of the Damned", the story is a black mark on Canada's WWII era history. It is incredible that Mr. Kutner survived this ordeal, and ended up in Canada managing the lumber and building materials section of Zagerman's. He passed away in Ottawa in 2001 at the age of 91. </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Zagerman's leave Bayview</b></p><p>By the early 1970s, Zagerman's was a $10 million a year supply business for construction, lumber, woodworking and textile industries. They had bought out Keyes Supply in October of 1972 for $475,000 and took over its buildings. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr9gdLS67McMPLQzORV5BCTH2PH9dKzNuy14fb8oiYSx3BNPujnR6JteOUE9CwEEdS97LcZUpGRtfKVnfs-5qsw2C78Pw7dyvmDH11kWFW8ngMmnmNHAzVeSuuFTlt9nTmpsNwv5kfs2tJYyel2csdxRQBfjlG_gXz1KLAS0SCtO2jhtezS3tK1-kvKE/s1749/CA-10408%20-%201974-07-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20Zagerman%20crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1749" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr9gdLS67McMPLQzORV5BCTH2PH9dKzNuy14fb8oiYSx3BNPujnR6JteOUE9CwEEdS97LcZUpGRtfKVnfs-5qsw2C78Pw7dyvmDH11kWFW8ngMmnmNHAzVeSuuFTlt9nTmpsNwv5kfs2tJYyel2csdxRQBfjlG_gXz1KLAS0SCtO2jhtezS3tK1-kvKE/s320/CA-10408%20-%201974-07-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20Zagerman%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Zagerman's lot from the west looking east, July 1974.<br />(part of City of Ottawa Archives, CA-10408)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Over time, steel fabrication became one of the chief outputs of the Zagerman Company (they would later supply the steel for Place Bell Canada, the first phase of Place du Portage and the Carleton University Arts Tower). In 1974, general manager Ron Watts stated: "We take the steel from the companies, design the raw product to meet a customer's specifications, make that product and then erect it." </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmtCsn72T7rurmpxmhOEvZt0mhZtN9cWn_DjnpdkuqPQjLFt_oa44l_qiSrnCXk-1q4Z3ReARr7ZtWpR1EAa7RyTMuKHUVm4_57Dnvn-9W3ZEmYGdIPfNKpiGq1ntg9rc5fRqOkxohMjHaKtA9VMYqpGdN3Lz_L2A-xFP8FYA6W6vOxWAbYMYX1AxpiA/s4292/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_18__1963_crop%20steel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2713" data-original-width="4292" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmtCsn72T7rurmpxmhOEvZt0mhZtN9cWn_DjnpdkuqPQjLFt_oa44l_qiSrnCXk-1q4Z3ReARr7ZtWpR1EAa7RyTMuKHUVm4_57Dnvn-9W3ZEmYGdIPfNKpiGq1ntg9rc5fRqOkxohMjHaKtA9VMYqpGdN3Lz_L2A-xFP8FYA6W6vOxWAbYMYX1AxpiA/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Oct_18__1963_crop%20steel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - October 18, 1963</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>However, in late 1973, Zagerman's acquired property out at 1630 Star Top Road at Innes, and let it be known that they would soon begin to move operations away from Bayview and out to the new location. It would be a gradual move that would take almost three years until full operations were moved to Star Top. Part of the reasoning behind the move may have been simply the high property value of the Bayview land. The land was also of great interest to the NCC as they considered options for developing both LeBreton Flats and Mechanicsville.</p><p>The firm was also changing how it was doing business. At one time, Zagerman's offered mill services across Canada, but transportation costs made it impractical for them to compete in other areas outside of Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley, so their client-base was largely narrowed to this area. Material shortages for steel and polyethylene also hampered business, as did strikes in the rubber and wall board industries in 1973.</p><p>Despite all this, by 1974, Zagerman's employed 80 people, which increased to 130 during peak construction periods, with a focus on hiring students in the summer. </p><p>The first plant opened by Zagerman's on Star Top was for steel fabrication, which opened in 1974.</p><p>In April of 1975, the NCC took out an option to purchase the 7.75 acre Zagerman site, at what was estimated to be a $4M price tag. The option had a deadline of June 28th, and would give Zagerman's one year to vacate if they exercised it (originally the NCC negotiated to have them out by March 1976).</p><p>Media reports from May of 1975 indicated that no one knew exactly why the NCC wanted the land. A rumour circulating indicated that it may be for a new solid waste recycling plant. NCC Chairman Edgar Gallant said that if the land would be acquired, it would form part of the LeBreton Flats development. </p><p>Sure enough, on June 16th 1975, the NCC officially submitted expropriation papers, giving them ownership of the Zagerman's property. The sale price was $3.4M. </p><p>The site at that point was reportedly being considered by the NCC for a garbage-burning steam heating plant. </p><p>By May of 1976, the City was in active negotiations with the NCC to make a deal to build the long-awaited arena (Tom Brown Arena) for the area on the Zagerman site. The NCC no longer felt a garbage plant was suitable for the site, and had no real plans for the land. The NCC was willing to consider a deal which would see a land swap with the City. However, the City considered the Zagerman's site too costly to lease or buy due to environmental concerns with the soil. Alderman Pat Nicol agreed that the Zagerman site would be "the ideal location" for the arena, but staff estimated the clean-up of the site would come with an additional $300,000 price tag. </p><p>The City was also concerned the NCC was going to charge as much as $263,000 per year for rent for the property if it adhered to its policy of renting federal lands at market rates. "Let's put it this way. Are we going to rent a $3.4 million property to the city for a $1 a year?", asked a senior NCC spokesman. Previously the NCC would rent land to municipalities for recreation purposes for $1 per year, but that policy had just recently changed.</p><p>The City and NCC spent the summer negotiating over a variety of offers, the City fully committed to finding space to build something for the long-overlooked Mechanicsville community. </p><p>Finally, it was agreed that the City would transfer five small parcels of land to the NCC in exchange for the Zagerman property. It looked to be a done deal as it was approved by Board of Control and went to Council. However one of those parcels was controversial - a triangle of parkland just west of the intersection of Carling and Richmond Road, which included the Old Forge building. This inclusion "infuriated" Controller Marion Dewar and members of the Pinecrest-Queensway citizen's committee. Under terms of the swap, zoning on the property would be commercial, leading Dewar and others to believe it would be sold to a developer who would build a commercial development. What incensed them the most seems to have been the fact that the citizen's committee wasn't consulted about the deal. Dewar and Nicol had "wild arguments" at Council where Dewar later admitted "I went berserk". </p><p>In the end, this obstacle led to the failure of the deal, and the City instead acquired the land on the south side of Scott Street where Tom Brown was soon after constructed. The Zagerman property was left in limbo.</p><p>Meanwhile, Zagerman's had completed departed Bayview Avenue by mid-1976, and were almost fully operational and open with all services at Star Top the week of June 21st, 1976. They later had their formal opening on October 20th, including showing off their new two-level warehouse with a capacity of 100,000 square feet. </p><p>Just a few months later, in October of 1976, M. Zagerman & Co. was sold in a deal that was estimated to be as high as $10M, to a syndicate of developers, including Norm Zagerman, the former owner-manager of M. Zagerman, who retained 18% of the business in the deal.</p><p>On August 30th, 1994, after struggling financially for several years, M. Zagerman & Co. declared bankruptcy, bringing an end to the Zagerman firm. At this point, the company owned Zagerman Steel in Embrun and Zagerman Homecare Building Centre on Cyrville Road in Gloucester. A total of 35 employees lost their jobs in the closure.</p><p>The firm owed 240 creditors more than $4.7M, plus $2M to the Bank of Montreal and the CIBC. The company's total assets were just $1.25M. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3RgB-MEPFehEujUBuAIxVJ_qDKFNllwzgrlqb286qkaHjtdY-WwvL9ueUyVCAR69rIQZ_Vm5YGwwcm-0udGDFu5t64WkZP0FvKaWIl0OD82JRm2gXTm2k7qCcJ5rr9eFJDIGTw4OIKQVxjSzoDZRxFC-K1WSPbQv1fc-F-KgQA7Oq6GkYlUIV46T_Bw/s2863/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Jun_18__1976_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="2863" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3RgB-MEPFehEujUBuAIxVJ_qDKFNllwzgrlqb286qkaHjtdY-WwvL9ueUyVCAR69rIQZ_Vm5YGwwcm-0udGDFu5t64WkZP0FvKaWIl0OD82JRm2gXTm2k7qCcJ5rr9eFJDIGTw4OIKQVxjSzoDZRxFC-K1WSPbQv1fc-F-KgQA7Oq6GkYlUIV46T_Bw/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Jun_18__1976_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A photo from Zagerman's final days at Bayview<br />Ottawa Citizen - June 18, 1976</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Back on Bayview, in September of 1976, the NCC issued tenders for the job of demolition of three buildings that must have been in dilapitated condition, and general clean-up at the Zagerman site. </p><p>By June of 1977, the site remained vacant, and was used for staging for Canada Day festivities, including tryouts for the Great Canadian Birthday Party Parade. </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>The Merkley Supply Company Era</b></p><p>The Merkley Supply Company has a history dating back over 120 years! In 1901, the Ottawa Brick and Terra Cotta Company Ltd. located on Riverside Drive near Billings Bridge, sold its operations to A.H. Merkley. The Merkley family ran the brick plant (under the Ottawa Brick and Terra Cotta name) for another 60 years, until it was expropriated by the federal government to make way for taxation and recreation centres. The government ordered the demolition of the 81-year old plant in 1961. </p><p>By that time, it was D. Cameron Merkley and Hugh Merkley, sons of A.H. Merkley who were running the company. In 1961, after the sale of the plant, the Merkleys decided to get out of the brick manufacturing business, and instead operate a builder's supply business, which they named Merkley Supply Ltd. They set up operations in the Spring of 1961 in a small yard at 31 Rochester Street.</p><p>In 1979, they decided to expand operations and took up a lease from the NCC of the property at 100 Bayview Road. The earliest listings for the business operating out of Bayview are from February of 1979. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25Txd2EL544sty86fX8q8brjgyd4n8dzw9PFOA90l2pGiCn3Wd6rTqS9bpY220R4863WYbTpHJUNU6Q5StTWN18UaDvJ6hiEgy0ZEjqXk3bPqT1iWLOXWc28OcvxH0KGO1bmhI7xtyhpBGfQDWKG6UAq5ftGEB3kmRQ5w2yg3VGDSKa-s1fa5-HGzoEc/s4433/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Feb_13__1979_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4321" data-original-width="4433" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25Txd2EL544sty86fX8q8brjgyd4n8dzw9PFOA90l2pGiCn3Wd6rTqS9bpY220R4863WYbTpHJUNU6Q5StTWN18UaDvJ6hiEgy0ZEjqXk3bPqT1iWLOXWc28OcvxH0KGO1bmhI7xtyhpBGfQDWKG6UAq5ftGEB3kmRQ5w2yg3VGDSKa-s1fa5-HGzoEc/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Feb_13__1979_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The first Merkley Supply ad at 100 Bayview<br />Ottawa Citizen, February 13, 1979</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Cam Merkley was a past president of the Ottawa Construction Association (1966) and was also involved in Merkburn Holdings Ltd., a developer, owner and property manager of office and light industrial properties, which he co-founded in 1970, and operated until his retirement in 1998. He later passed away in 2012 at the age of 86. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkHc3eVu0PlelXfvusvLC3eUZhKwyG-w0YgUer6-Wka2AzQQXVw1qGybA8Vv-BsAwLmqO5atZvAQx1F3JjBbKEVjXelu7Y7erFyv0wQa-1TEGsaMYqFztqYVMkHcnDXEDRmy5YetGfGdF74k36dMyqBi5rTr59_fzLBB0M-ZicV2O_Lv1003aum0Tj_M/s2570/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Jun_12__1998_Cam%20Merkley%20crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2570" data-original-width="2192" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkHc3eVu0PlelXfvusvLC3eUZhKwyG-w0YgUer6-Wka2AzQQXVw1qGybA8Vv-BsAwLmqO5atZvAQx1F3JjBbKEVjXelu7Y7erFyv0wQa-1TEGsaMYqFztqYVMkHcnDXEDRmy5YetGfGdF74k36dMyqBi5rTr59_fzLBB0M-ZicV2O_Lv1003aum0Tj_M/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Jun_12__1998_Cam%20Merkley%20crop.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cam Merkley in 1998 (Ottawa Citizen)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>One important side note, in 1986, the NCC and City sold a large two-acre piece of property, what to that point had been the rear portion of the Zagerman/Merkley yard, to the Protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Church. A $4.8M development built between late 1986 and opened in early 1988, saw a church, and the five-storey 60-unit St. Vladimir's Residence (a non-profit seniors apartment building) and Cultural Centre constructed.</p><p>In 1996, Cam's son Robert Merkley became President of Merkley Supply. He also soon after became president of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association and chair of the Ottawa Construction Association. </p><p>In 2004 Merkley's was described as being "the largest masonry yard in Eastern Ontario, with a market share of approximately 80%", and employed 43 staff.</p><p>In 2018, the Ottawa Construction News wrote that "most of (Merkley Supply's) clients are contractors and property owners, but about 10% of the company's volume is with individual consumers, often referred by architects and designers for custom, residential and renovation projects."</p><p>Merkley continues successfully today, with hopefully a long and prosperous future on Bayview Station Road. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HEcrh2BDURYrwrgqE-L2Oa4e2fqG_tCjVNHZFIyxqCZtcBH3AcVsw7oPZhkbMn0DdhYCn3_5rMTjnLJW7dl9VSQNDGrVD2cAYVhyphenhyphenTCM_mgVem7rJ_M1aqilQK3Gqf30GayTimUdn_pxNELLsqHIm7MzJfV7PwJHhXegb0ZyVY3I3tWDk12XMPduxg_o/s1365/Merkley%20Supply%20-%20GoogleEarth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1365" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HEcrh2BDURYrwrgqE-L2Oa4e2fqG_tCjVNHZFIyxqCZtcBH3AcVsw7oPZhkbMn0DdhYCn3_5rMTjnLJW7dl9VSQNDGrVD2cAYVhyphenhyphenTCM_mgVem7rJ_M1aqilQK3Gqf30GayTimUdn_pxNELLsqHIm7MzJfV7PwJHhXegb0ZyVY3I3tWDk12XMPduxg_o/s320/Merkley%20Supply%20-%20GoogleEarth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-4456707139801917152024-01-23T13:32:00.003-05:002024-01-23T13:32:46.530-05:00Live Presentation "Ottawa's Shoreline ... Built from Garbage?" this Saturday!I am honoured to be making a live presentation this Saturday for the Historical Society of Ottawa. The talk can only be heard in-person at the Ottawa Public Library Auditorium on Metcalfe at Laurier. It is this coming Saturday (January 27th) at 1 p.m. (No reservations/tickets required, but I would recommend showing up a little early as space is limited).<div><br /></div><div>The topic will be similar to what I wrote about in my two-part series in the fall for the Kitchissippi Times on the significant filling in of Ottawa's shoreline with garbage in the 1960s, and how many different Ottawa projects occurring at the time all intersected with those decisions. There was also a direct effect on Mechanicsville's future, and today still, decisions are being made that will be affected by those decisions of 60 years ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can read the two articles at <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/09/11/early-days-from-landfill-to-useable-land-how-the-ottawa-river-shoreline-was-built-using-garbage/" target="_blank">Part One</a> and <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/10/25/early-days-how-garbage-helped-build-the-parkway-and-saved-mechanicsville/" target="_blank">Part Two</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>More information on the Historical Society of Ottawa presentation this Saturday can be found at: <a href="https://www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/activities/events/eventdetail/113/16,17/ottawa-s-shoreline-built-from-garbage" target="_blank">https://www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/activities/events/eventdetail/113/16,17/ottawa-s-shoreline-built-from-garbage</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also slated to be appearing on the CBC radio show "In Town and Out" Saturday morning on CBC Radio One (91.5 FM in Ottawa), sometime between 6-9 a.m. (not sure what time yet) to talk about this subject and promote the Saturday afternoon talk.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope to see you there! </div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-60089102122898454082024-01-12T23:17:00.002-05:002024-01-15T17:36:06.406-05:00The Story of Sam Gordon - Memorable Early Westboro Teacher<p><i>(This is the first of what I hope will be a series of articles about life in Westboro in the 1850s)</i></p><p>Today Westboro is home to many large schools, and dozens of excellent teachers helping educate the roughly 2,000 kids that attend these schools. But today I want turn back the clock 170 years to primitive Westboro, when the neighbourhood had just one school, with one room full of kids of all ages (who travelled in from all over the area), and most notably for the sake of this story, one teacher.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I wrote about the early days of schools in Kitchissippi a few years ago (check out that story <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2019/05/06/history-education-schools-old-nepean/">here</a>) and in the article, I wrote about the first school, which was established in 1851 in what is now Westboro, on land donated by the Thomson family (who built Maplelawn, aka the Keg Manor home). </p><p>The Thomsons donated a 66' x 99' piece of land in 1851, in the heart of what would one day be Westboro, but at the time was simply part of the wilderness of Nepean Township. The name Skead's Mills was still years away, and the early names of Baytown and Birchton would come later too. The land really was in the middle of nowhere. Even All Saints Church was still 14 years away from having its cornerstone laid. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwtrrdDLeHrbWVvJoE4xl8UH6B5yAVHBsppbhHXdm0s91aW73-8q8bshKOLre6DXNnsqNedrP5ukksxO8OauQB7OJSxNRJJ6iGkvz_DBR0zJYjDq5anuOgOM2dDq_RKmsWJ7-qLdRAsTIC66M6qHahi4UGpD1G69jMnmpoUou2FLWbRnMYIVsA5YQPI4/s1038/ss10-jockvale-ps-1889_orig%20Nepean.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1038" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwtrrdDLeHrbWVvJoE4xl8UH6B5yAVHBsppbhHXdm0s91aW73-8q8bshKOLre6DXNnsqNedrP5ukksxO8OauQB7OJSxNRJJ6iGkvz_DBR0zJYjDq5anuOgOM2dDq_RKmsWJ7-qLdRAsTIC66M6qHahi4UGpD1G69jMnmpoUou2FLWbRnMYIVsA5YQPI4/s320/ss10-jockvale-ps-1889_orig%20Nepean.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">19th century frame school house. (This is not in Westboro, but<br />an example of what it may have looked like. This is actually<br />Jockvale School, also in Nepean Township, circa 1889).<br />(Source: Nepean Museum)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The school was built on what is now the northwest corner of Richmond and Churchill (where Gezellig's is now located), and would have looked not unlike the school depicted above. Today's Churchill Avenue Public School traces its origins back to this 1851 school.</p><p>Very little is known about this original school house, or even the brick one that replaced it in 1866 when the first one was apparently beginning to fall apart. </p><p>So that makes it all the more exciting that I stumbled across a really great story about the school from the 1850s. I mean, any story about Kitchissippi from that era is rare and exciting, but this one brings alive such a cool early days story that I just had to share it. </p><p>It's all thanks to an interview the Citizen did in 1927 with an elderly Ottawa resident, James McIsaac, who had attended school in Westboro in the 1850s, and remembered fondly one of the teachers there from that time, Mr. Sam Gordon.</p><p>The story is set during the years 1856 and 1857 while James McIsaac was a young 8-9 year old student at the school. </p><p>Now at the time, most of the teachers in Nepean Township were male. And the school had just one room to accommodate the 20 to 30 students in attendance (the earliest figure I have is 29 students who attended in the 1863 year, which is a few years after this story is set, so the number of students attending in the mid-1850s was likely even smaller). The student population would have been made up of children from west end farms stretching from Woodroffe to Bayswater, from the Ottawa River all the way south to Baseline. This was what was known as Nepean Township "school section 2". It was just farms, and at the time in the mid-1850s, only half of the land, if that, was even occupied.</p><p>Sam Gordon had come to Bytown from Ireland in the early 1850s, part of the large number of Irish relocating to Canada at the time, largely due to the potato famine. He was a college graduate, and had been the head of an academy of some kind back home. He was in his fourties, and unmarried. It was on his very first day of school in Westboro that the mysterious Irishman caught the attention of his group of farm kids. </p><p>Sam had been brought in as a replacement teacher and on his first day, upon arriving at school, the students noticed a new fiddle hanging on the wall. </p><p>"When recess came the pupils ran helter-skelter into the yard", recounted the Citizen. "Soon through the open door they heard what Mr. McIsaac describes as the most beautiful violin music. One by one the pupils crept back into the school and sat listening spellbound to the strains that came from the master's fiddle." </p><p>"Well, children", Gordon said at the conclusion of his piece, "you evidently like music. I love it, so we will have plenty of it." </p><p>And they did. From then on, every day at recess, Gordon would play his fiddle for the children. As well, on every Saturday afternoon, Sam had all the children back for what he called the "school house cleaning", where he would play more music. Barn dance music was mixed with music "which made many of the children cry, it was so sad and solemn." Eventually, Sam taught the children drill and fairy dances on these Saturdays, all to the music of his violin. "Ah, those were the days", recalled McIsaac. </p><p>McIsaac noted though that before there was music, there was work. "The boys carried water from the school well, and the girls swept and scrubbed the school floor. The soap and brooms were bought with money brought by the children from home. Now wasn't that nice? It gave the little ones a real sense of ownership in the school."</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0FD_OQB1uIf1z8wc1kHdzh-AnEEphrhUvMZrIEsAcguZJPEGrsnBjBNVIAf7PPTtydhc8t_gkI1IyZ4LvMTL4xwNK54LoyXWKWWafVi_w7ZbFVj8SaLRWXoxo9NWoifrD2j9Soarz3bcRkChwhO4vUmaagArlWClHAR7ft_sUGZ8B7KHuQEUQwOTbzY/s1690/ankervillageschool1848.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1690" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0FD_OQB1uIf1z8wc1kHdzh-AnEEphrhUvMZrIEsAcguZJPEGrsnBjBNVIAf7PPTtydhc8t_gkI1IyZ4LvMTL4xwNK54LoyXWKWWafVi_w7ZbFVj8SaLRWXoxo9NWoifrD2j9Soarz3bcRkChwhO4vUmaagArlWClHAR7ft_sUGZ8B7KHuQEUQwOTbzY/s320/ankervillageschool1848.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Village School in 1848" painted by Albert Anker</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sam Gordon was also an artist, and drew on the walls and in the children's books. He drew "the most beautiful sketches of landscapes, of cows in the nearby fields, of the children themselves, of the schoolhouse, and of all sorts of pretty things", remembered McIsaac. "This old bachelor seemed to have a beautiful soul and the children all loved him."</p><p>Gordon was unique for the era. The Citizen called him "a teacher who ruled by love and the power of music at a period when other teachers ruled by physical force." There was a ruler and a strap present in the school, said McIsaac, but they were seldom, if ever used.</p><p>But the use (or at least the threat) of physical force by teachers at the time was usually necessary. Male students attending school in the country were often the sons of farmers. They were often physically big and very strong, having put in many years of hard labour on the family farm. And they could be as old as 25 attending school in that era. The Citizen compared them to the supervisors of lumbering jobs in the forest:</p><p>"The old time school teachers (forties to sixties) were nearly all what in the vernacular might be called cards. Most of them had oddities of manner and action which will make them long remembered. They had also a vigor of action which made them celebrated. In many ways they were in a class with the bush foremen of the fifties and sixties. Both had to hold their jobs by force. Both had to be supreme, no matter how. If the big boys ran the school, the teacher had to resign and teacher jobs were not numerous. The bush foreman had, on his part, to handle men who were rough and ready and who would just as soon fight as eat. Some of them would sooner fight than eat. Some of them were larger physically than the foreman, and if the foreman resorted to questionable methods of holding his job, he had cause for excuse." </p><p>So back to Sam Gordon, his value to the kids was never more apparent than from one time when he fell ill for a period of time, and a temporary teacher was brought in to the Westboro school house. The replacement teacher was a larger man of about 50 years of age. "After this chap had been in the school a couple of days, the pupils all knew just how much they really thought of Sam", said McIsaac.</p><p>The new teacher came from somewhere in the country, or perhaps Bytown, McIsaac couldn't remember clearly. But he recalled that he walked in to work each day, carrying with him a bundle which contained his lunch. Each morning upon arrival, he would place the bundle up in the school loft through a trap door. </p><p>The replacement teacher also apparently had a habit of falling asleep mid-class with his head on the desk. </p><p>"Well it was not long before the children discovered how soundly the temporary teacher slept. One day two of the larger boys had the temerity to get on the teacher's desk and by mutual aid succeeded in getting the teacher's bundle down from the loft", recalled McIsaac. "Then they went out to the road and put the bundle on a load of logs which was being taken to Bytown."</p><p>"The boys were back in their place before the teacher woke up. When the teacher looked for his bundle at noon that day there were lots of excitement", joked McIsaac.</p><p>"It was noticed that then next day the teacher took only 40 winks, so to speak, and the day after that Sam Gordon came back and all was well."</p><p>McIsaac shared another remembrance of another temporary teacher who filled in at one time, a younger man, who was studying for the ministry, and who lived along the Rideau River. McIsaac recalled he had a "marked dislike" of dust inside the school. As Richmond Road was a dry dirt road at the time, particularly in the heat of the spring or early summer, and as the school faced Richmond Road, dust that was kicked up by the road would constantly find its way inside the school. </p><p>"He was a kind teacher, but his habit of always flecking dust off his clothes and polishing his desk sort of got on the nerves of the children."</p><p>What a neat glimpse into the long lost days of very early Westboro! </p><p>As records are so sparse from the era, I could not confirm who Sam Gordon was, or definitively confirm where he went after his time in Westboro. It appears likely that he is the same Sam Gordon who a few years later was teaching in Goulbourne Township, in school section 2 there. The 1863 Superintendent's report to Carleton County Council noted that Samuel Gordon was their teacher, with 48 pupils, in a log school house. </p><p>Old records of Goulbourne Township in the 1860s also list a Samuel Gordon living and farming in Munster Hamlet, but with a sizable family. As our Westboro Sam Gordon was a bachelor without children, it seems unlikely the Munster Sam Gordon is the same one. And with the commonality of the name, I can't connect him definitively to any records. So the trail simply goes cold.</p><p>However, it's clear the influence Sam Gordon had on that group of early west end children, particularly when you consider how 70 years after the fact, James McIsaac was able to recount with such incredible detail the man who had left such an impression on him as a youth. </p><p>So, it appears this story remains just that - a tidbit of school life in Westboro so long ago. And it is thanks to the interview with elderly McIsaac in 1927 that this story is preserved and can now bring Sam Gordon to life again, 170 years later.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNntZODJ8XHxrxCGGo0hx68QpU5Dnigxkkhb6wRQpGC2VggC-oyqQkXCe1dlustrhiCrK8cix7WZBvQDlCTaAOGhrEpT95yBUpVprG7hvHBVsU_DWFqFp0Ds7MgbYjAQSki4-pIN13aMfjw1K5OfgyE4WUpIO5afd-Qv4_EeIzfG9Zf223VqQq3Cb9G0I/s1200/The-Violinist-Alson-Skinner-Clark-oil-painting.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="999" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNntZODJ8XHxrxCGGo0hx68QpU5Dnigxkkhb6wRQpGC2VggC-oyqQkXCe1dlustrhiCrK8cix7WZBvQDlCTaAOGhrEpT95yBUpVprG7hvHBVsU_DWFqFp0Ds7MgbYjAQSki4-pIN13aMfjw1K5OfgyE4WUpIO5afd-Qv4_EeIzfG9Zf223VqQq3Cb9G0I/s320/The-Violinist-Alson-Skinner-Clark-oil-painting.webp" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Violinist" - Alson Skinner Clark</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-91217976601235998102023-12-12T09:49:00.001-05:002023-12-12T09:49:34.151-05:00A 1940s Christmas at Byron House<p>For the December issue of the Kitchissippi Times, I've written about a local history story that has unfortunately become lost to time. </p><p>One of the most impressive homes on Island Park Drive played an important role during WWII! Read all about "Byron House" at <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/11/30/early-days-a-1940s-christmas-at-byron-house/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/11/30/early-days-a-1940s-christmas-at-byron-house/</a></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwojrB633UJKIhlQQuREGBTalYznFVyVsh7dOGEuk69UuH4r0kr-HCUDqW-Q_n9JMWGbkXDvxazQK0NTi97r6Q_VHHJt34AepHCNIHJoGMT-JSsc96D7dOOoH4THzn6baLJROi3Q928XR6qOhXGlrom6mQZcF1a4LludGTPuWpHyizTFR0R6Sq0Xf2HM/s2070/Kirkpatrick%20House%20-%20Nov%201940%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="2070" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwojrB633UJKIhlQQuREGBTalYznFVyVsh7dOGEuk69UuH4r0kr-HCUDqW-Q_n9JMWGbkXDvxazQK0NTi97r6Q_VHHJt34AepHCNIHJoGMT-JSsc96D7dOOoH4THzn6baLJROi3Q928XR6qOhXGlrom6mQZcF1a4LludGTPuWpHyizTFR0R6Sq0Xf2HM/s320/Kirkpatrick%20House%20-%20Nov%201940%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Byron House/Kirkpatrick House in 1940</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Bonus content! Incredibly, a telephone call from July 1941 made by two of the children at Byron House on Island Park Drive back home ot the UK was recorded and preserved by the BBC. You can hear a snippet of this call from Polly and Geoffrey Carton at: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/history-ks2-world-war-2-clips-children-evacuated-abroad/zby4bdm">https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/history-ks2-world-war-2-clips-children-evacuated-abroad/zby4bdm</a></p><p>I've also amazingly tracked down video footage of the children at Byron House in an archive in the UK. I'm working with an archivist there to hopefully acquire this film footage (I have no idea how long it is, or what it shows), but I think it would be amazing to see some video of the house and the children enjoying it 80 years ago. Fingers crossed I'm able to get ahold of it soon.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIHmY-7cKCPx7qAAnS3apTzen8N0OrjUlXqJYza6QJpwvf08fdxWhYfTuCa5B1y-fr-EICYDzOoZMCsfFVIJxqD3fve835J6zQTFiVk6ibTcmMD5bC161A8ZTghl9PHV_URK8mo2-AXx5WgYjYjouiP_So2wTXVk6S1ImQEoYub3uauWD9X_hQcr_KfE/s1867/Group%20out%20for%20a%20walk%20-%20Nov%201940%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1867" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIHmY-7cKCPx7qAAnS3apTzen8N0OrjUlXqJYza6QJpwvf08fdxWhYfTuCa5B1y-fr-EICYDzOoZMCsfFVIJxqD3fve835J6zQTFiVk6ibTcmMD5bC161A8ZTghl9PHV_URK8mo2-AXx5WgYjYjouiP_So2wTXVk6S1ImQEoYub3uauWD9X_hQcr_KfE/s320/Group%20out%20for%20a%20walk%20-%20Nov%201940%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Byron House children out front of 539 Island Park Drive</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPa30g-FAOSBM5h7rBv5uC1ckfiBTObRH-tk1IGIceBPqttQTrTHSOZ6xIqZzoq-QeA_0ifmzW19ejjyE8ptoqQNqygDQpE0LPjeL_j2M0n9QrIgjnm3WptWz2I5se5c3YkPTaU95QcsT_7AfeZ3RRi_mPB1t2YBYRV3nAcy0VQTmbIG3cD-xZMbFV9o/s2242/Miniature%20IPD%20project%20-%20Nov%201940%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2242" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPa30g-FAOSBM5h7rBv5uC1ckfiBTObRH-tk1IGIceBPqttQTrTHSOZ6xIqZzoq-QeA_0ifmzW19ejjyE8ptoqQNqygDQpE0LPjeL_j2M0n9QrIgjnm3WptWz2I5se5c3YkPTaU95QcsT_7AfeZ3RRi_mPB1t2YBYRV3nAcy0VQTmbIG3cD-xZMbFV9o/s320/Miniature%20IPD%20project%20-%20Nov%201940%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Byron House children work on a miniature model<br />of Island Park Drive as part of a school project in 1940</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-45948712263471859182023-12-03T22:26:00.005-05:002023-12-03T22:27:32.641-05:00Kitchissippi's Heritage over the last 20 years & the urgency of what's coming next<p>My November article for the Kitchissippi Times is an important one. I usually cover a single topic or event for the Times, but this month, as it was the 20th Anniversary issue for the Times, I chose to write about how heritage has evolved in our neighbourhoods over the last twenty years. But more importantly, how heritage is severely threatened by Ontario Bill 23, which in a year's time will effectively render almost all of our most heritage-worthy (but not-yet-designated) buildings exempt from designation. </p><p>This is an issue which is getting hardly any attention in mainstream media. Maybe because there's still another year to go until it becomes a real problem. But that year will go quickly, and by then, or even six months from now, it will be too late. </p><p>Please read the article to learn more about what we stand to lose not only in Kitchissippi, but across Ottawa and the province as a whole. </p><p><a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/11/04/protecting-the-past-how-kitchissippis-heritage-has-changed-over-20-years/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/11/04/protecting-the-past-how-kitchissippis-heritage-has-changed-over-20-years/</a></p><p>The only solutions are to cross fingers and close our eyes and hope the provincial government changes its mind about the heritage registers (not likely, maybe not even possible now); to ignore it and just let it happen and see so many heritage designation-worthy buildings be torn down and there will be nothing we can do about it; or we can act now and pursue designation of those buildings we deem most important to maintain. </p><p>As part of the article, the Times filmed me giving a little 15 minute guided tour of Kitchissippi's most heritage-worthy buildings, with a few quick facts and details about a few of them. You'll find the video at the bottom of the article, or you can view it directly on Youtube at:</p><p><a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/11/04/protecting-the-past-how-kitchissippis-heritage-has-changed-over-20-years/">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhYUjRwJkRk</a></p><p>I know the City and our councillor Jeff Leiper, as well as each community association in Kitchissippi, are taking steps to review what might be possible, and to prioritize which buildings ought to be reviewed for designation. I wrote up a detailed report myself for Jeff's office, and included a "top 25" list for his consideration, and I'll be speaking with all the community associations next week about it, and offering my help. But it will take a lot of community input to help push this along. It's a mad scramble, and it's a mess, but this is what we're stuck with.</p><p>If you'd like to provide your input, the City is asking for it! Check out this link for how you can contribute: <a href="https://engage.ottawa.ca/reviewing-heritage-register" target="_blank">https://engage.ottawa.ca/reviewing-heritage-register</a></p><p>More to come!</p><p><br /></p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-81993724183883372422023-12-03T22:15:00.002-05:002023-12-03T22:38:50.099-05:00How garbage helped build the parkway and saved Mechanicsville<p>This fall, I wrote a two-part column for the Kitchissippi Times on how garbage was used to fill in three bays on the Ottawa River, between Mechanicsville and LeBreton Flats, creating artificial land. That land was primarily used for the creation of the Kichi Zībī Mīkan (Ottawa River Parkway), but much of it still remains unused, awaiting potential future use by the NCC for embassies or who knows what at LeBreton. </p><p>Part one I previously posted here in the Museum (<a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/09/11/early-days-from-landfill-to-useable-land-how-the-ottawa-river-shoreline-was-built-using-garbage/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/09/11/early-days-from-landfill-to-useable-land-how-the-ottawa-river-shoreline-was-built-using-garbage/</a>).</p><p>This is part two: <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/10/25/early-days-how-garbage-helped-build-the-parkway-and-saved-mechanicsville/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/10/25/early-days-how-garbage-helped-build-the-parkway-and-saved-mechanicsville/</a></p><p>Part two focuses on Lazy Bay, and how this popular water spot was filled in, which may have actually saved Mechanicsville. If it wasn't for filling in the Bay, the Parkway may have had to run much further south, which would have cut significantly into the housing of the neighbourhood. And honestly, that wouldn't have been seen as that bad an option to City Council, who considered the whole of Mechanicsville for major urban renewal at the time. A huge 1960s project would have seen the entirety of the neighbourhood torn down a la LeBreton, and replaced by apartment blocks. Thankfully this was avoided, in part due to the filling of Lazy Bay. </p><p>The building of the National Arts Centre also played a key role in filling in these bays, and you'll want to read about the astonishing fact that less than a year after garbage was dumped indiscriminately in to the bays, expensive contracts were let to remove some of the garbage! (But only in certain areas, certainly not the full length of the Ottawa River). </p><p>I plan on writing a "part 3" over the Christmas break (exclusively here for the Museum) on what all this means today, and what water and soil testing and sampling has shown over the last 20-30 years. The results are interesting, and I put in quite a bit of time in the fall digging in to the results. So more to come on that soon. </p><p>Note, I will also be making a presentation about this whole topic, which will feature many visuals/photos/etc. for the Historical Society of Ottawa on Saturday January 27th. It will be at 1 p.m. but will NOT be broadcast online I don't think. It will be an in-person Speaker Series event at the auditorium of the Ottawa Public Library. I don't believe you need to be a member of the HSO to attend, but I certainly encourage you to consider taking out a membership to help this valuable group, and the work they do to help promote and preserve heritage in Ottawa. </p><p><a href="https://www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/activities/events/eventdetail/113/16,17/ottawa-s-shoreline-built-from-garbage">https://www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/activities/events/eventdetail/113/16,17/ottawa-s-shoreline-built-from-garbage</a></p><p>Please enjoy part two and perhaps I'll see you in January!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t3lZJ0JJzf7MVOJUAXbIGcYbKW-6BELDCJ0fiGOSWRg5UmFoLtqwArCn5VAR1zDIkrdo6gR2x1hBHzgftV1hoKKv0wB99byHZXKKZ_TauIEqmI9DUz6ekaovZD0SFk-y4zRixbGpCVviU-p9vlMZBqFmnB7FnfulfHTzn_dM6BsFuznHARDjjlEkqRM/s1462/1928%20view%20of%203%20bays.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1462" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t3lZJ0JJzf7MVOJUAXbIGcYbKW-6BELDCJ0fiGOSWRg5UmFoLtqwArCn5VAR1zDIkrdo6gR2x1hBHzgftV1hoKKv0wB99byHZXKKZ_TauIEqmI9DUz6ekaovZD0SFk-y4zRixbGpCVviU-p9vlMZBqFmnB7FnfulfHTzn_dM6BsFuznHARDjjlEkqRM/s320/1928%20view%20of%203%20bays.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lazy Bay-Bayview Bay-Nepean Bay in 1928</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEPAOrqhKdCHUBZPPfTc43M8hy9xkM6bz_eP-hiO5E_SvDpnMrm2aaxGx9s8JKdtBBfzEsZHsh9uZYl_Vn0IMgL3OSzX8jD1WVWclIUSLHVkrXVGkngbcwETXsvUH_30q39lvFrVLWC5fExDHujd2eqygrXrQWcr-nWvvGXh6qUJ5ubcOJI-SaSYVCwQ/s1463/2022%20view%20of%203%20bays.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1463" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEPAOrqhKdCHUBZPPfTc43M8hy9xkM6bz_eP-hiO5E_SvDpnMrm2aaxGx9s8JKdtBBfzEsZHsh9uZYl_Vn0IMgL3OSzX8jD1WVWclIUSLHVkrXVGkngbcwETXsvUH_30q39lvFrVLWC5fExDHujd2eqygrXrQWcr-nWvvGXh6qUJ5ubcOJI-SaSYVCwQ/s320/2022%20view%20of%203%20bays.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The same three bays in 2022</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-33459751567486151212023-09-14T09:39:00.001-04:002023-09-14T09:39:20.600-04:00Creating land: How the City's garbage became the new Ottawa River shoreline<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_yXyYVpDqz916SBj2kA0dJYBgifmogQ60gb-6JEzZ3x5vLhFgnfRNBUFgNU855LzYli5HGVP2qN-P17lzzKr177G_a2_TT9HlIJrVBWro2FuvTC1Ij1bELG3Q7i76K_06tokUsB9DSKeJ9-RxvsWMwPeLZcKb-91c223vu_C5Fizmjhm-8-fFSFoE78/s3000/CA-8684%20-%201962-11-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20Nepean%20Bay%20crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="3000" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_yXyYVpDqz916SBj2kA0dJYBgifmogQ60gb-6JEzZ3x5vLhFgnfRNBUFgNU855LzYli5HGVP2qN-P17lzzKr177G_a2_TT9HlIJrVBWro2FuvTC1Ij1bELG3Q7i76K_06tokUsB9DSKeJ9-RxvsWMwPeLZcKb-91c223vu_C5Fizmjhm-8-fFSFoE78/s320/CA-8684%20-%201962-11-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20Nepean%20Bay%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">lookng east from Bayview, November 1962<br />(source: City of Ottawa Archives, CA-8684)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>While conducting research for my book on Mechanicsville, I began looking at the history of Lazy Bay, and the "Lazy Bay Commons", as a portion of the abutting land is sometimes called. For those of you who don't know the term, Lazy Bay is the little bay that comes in from the River alongside the Parkway, just north of Laroche Park. Lazy Bay Commons is the greenspace south of the Parkway, on which the NCC is proposing the construction of a row of embassies. </p><p>Prior to doing this research, I'd known that when the Parkway was first built, that the City and NCC had built up areas along the shoreline to help ensure a relatively straight line of travel, close to the river, to take advantage of the picturesque views. In order to do this, a large area in the LeBreton Flats, Bayview and Mechanicsville areas (as well as an area closer to McKellar and Woodroffe) were filled in. I also knew that rock was brought in to create the base. And probably like most people, that's about all I really knew. Yes I'd heard the rumours of old garbage dumps or pits along the route, and probably like most people, assumed it was just old temporary dumps that had existed in LeBreton or the open areas around Bayview. </p><p>However, as I dug deeper in to the research, I discovered that in fact, the story was far more complex. That the story of the Parkway and the created land over which it travels, from Mechanicsville east through LeBreton Flats, has many interconnecting parts to other major NCC and City of Ottawa projects happening at the time. Most notably - the shifting of all city garbage dumps and collection from the west and east ends - to the shoreline of the Ottawa River. Yes, in the early 1960s, the city garbage trucks brought their loads to the shore; ordinary citizens brought their old fridges and televisions and bags of trash; and many of the houses of LeBreton Flats, exprorpriated as part of the "urban renewal" of the neighbourhood, were discarded just a few hundred feet away into Nepean Bay. </p><p>My September column in the Kitchissippi Times introduces this topic, and the history behind the Parkway and how the new land was created. This was not just an Ottawa concept, cities across North America were doing the same thing. And the short-sighted solution to solving problems at the time, are now wreaking havoc 60 years later as plans are made to build on these articifically-created landfill sites, including most notably at Lazy Bay Commons.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kRdmef7CtZnhNEWVSYypU5AdF5En9NuG84M9DQpMr5MDfhJSjy-j-iPfm3BmwdmdMkfgRiKuspGlT398wAm-x-w4DRIs29q2dAPw174icnbsXeiZ-4LF-JTRpCtoMzjapW_EfjvFyUzrj3BlY_mhz3r8s6OripjezOzUE8c6N2yhMGYymhxYCbrywJE/s1138/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Mar_8__1963_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1091" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kRdmef7CtZnhNEWVSYypU5AdF5En9NuG84M9DQpMr5MDfhJSjy-j-iPfm3BmwdmdMkfgRiKuspGlT398wAm-x-w4DRIs29q2dAPw174icnbsXeiZ-4LF-JTRpCtoMzjapW_EfjvFyUzrj3BlY_mhz3r8s6OripjezOzUE8c6N2yhMGYymhxYCbrywJE/w307-h320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Mar_8__1963_.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - March 8, 1963</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This article is part one of a two-part series (part two will run in October), and it really only scratches the surface of the whole story, but I think gives a good overview. Please read the full story at the link below:</p><p><a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/09/11/early-days-from-landfill-to-useable-land-how-the-ottawa-river-shoreline-was-built-using-garbage/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/09/11/early-days-from-landfill-to-useable-land-how-the-ottawa-river-shoreline-was-built-using-garbage/</a></p><p>Note that in the printed/paper version of the newspaper, an error was printed, giving the date of one of the photos as 1968. That is incorrect, it was from 1962. It is fixed in the online edition.</p><p>Also, the perils of writing for a print newspaper meant that I had to cut down a lot of content into about 1,600 words, which my editor further edited down to fit. One quote I really liked that got removed I'm going to re-add here, from near the end of the article, discussing the problems in LeBreton Flats as families left their expropriated houses, and they were left boarded up and vacant:</p><p><i>Though the first houses began to be demolished in October 1963, Ottawa’s Fire Chief urged it wasn’t happening fast enough, and pressured the NCC, calling the houses “time bombs ready to go off”. The Journal wrote of the boarded up homes: “They’ve been taken over by drunks who wine-and-dine and sleep at their leisure, children who play in the ghostly rooms and sheds, and scavenger junkmen at work, systematically stripping them of everything saleable.” </i></p><p><i>The NCC quickly began pulling down the houses, and placing them in the Bay. Many of the original LeBreton Flats houses still exist today – buried deep below the Parkway.</i></p><div>I hope you enjoy the article. Remember to watch for part two in October! Also I will be giving a public talk on this subject in January for the Historical Society of Ottawa. Stay tuned for more info on that!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIhrVlmZWub5CtkveQPNTYaY0O7vwy4UH0woPNVV0fhy9rk255qNkUIHDb_OstfBmDRGOYsoOFbgRBZZaglJO_Dg2P5DLW34p-1k1yPB7SVqes9oihL_xtVNCECORCqAD1x_TMknaBmLIPDRpXk3wyU1YA7Mv_4Ez3LyqaL8wLiLXJfV7Xbyybs_sjHs/s2814/Scan0900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2549" data-original-width="2814" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIhrVlmZWub5CtkveQPNTYaY0O7vwy4UH0woPNVV0fhy9rk255qNkUIHDb_OstfBmDRGOYsoOFbgRBZZaglJO_Dg2P5DLW34p-1k1yPB7SVqes9oihL_xtVNCECORCqAD1x_TMknaBmLIPDRpXk3wyU1YA7Mv_4Ez3LyqaL8wLiLXJfV7Xbyybs_sjHs/s320/Scan0900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-19984331581682282732023-06-12T19:10:00.002-04:002023-06-12T19:11:05.786-04:00Goodbye 226 Carruthers Avenue - A profile<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3xb0TgHyPo_W5e7XEWCktDgvSqFv67nQoJjtYgTfVFkIT8iYnaq01eP8AD3T4v9pgPqz9yW7Yma3LbQjbE1_KebqSLM6z17ZluVgqqYJLXnRnYRmPvzZglH8wqhxCTPjU45KeFMOiqxnVUCOgk8kH5BqIErFwsWpiYmSaHj_-G8kcLfIgJsInA5V/s1098/Oct%202020%20streetview.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1098" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3xb0TgHyPo_W5e7XEWCktDgvSqFv67nQoJjtYgTfVFkIT8iYnaq01eP8AD3T4v9pgPqz9yW7Yma3LbQjbE1_KebqSLM6z17ZluVgqqYJLXnRnYRmPvzZglH8wqhxCTPjU45KeFMOiqxnVUCOgk8kH5BqIErFwsWpiYmSaHj_-G8kcLfIgJsInA5V/s320/Oct%202020%20streetview.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">October 2020 - Google Streetview</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My recent article on 50-52 Armstrong was quite popular, so I thought I might do another similar write-up on another classic Hintonburg house about to meet its end. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>The house at 226 Carruthers Avenue is a tiny little one-and-a-half storey house set well back from the street. This little place has seen it all in Hintonburg, from the neighbourhood's earliest beginnings. It was actually the first house built on Carruthers south of Scott Street (the Hintonburg half of Carruthers). It dates back so far, in fact, that it had a Cave Street address when it was first built in the 1880s (Carruthers Avenue's original name). It stands today in the middle of a full built-up neighbourhood, with houses all around it, but in 1888 when it was first constructed, it stood against the backdrop of a small forest that came right up to the backyard.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have a photo of the 19th century Hintonburg forest, but this fire insurance plan demonstrates it pretty well, showing the west side of the street on the top, and no Hinchey Avenue or Pinehurst Avenue to be found. Instead, "thickly wooded ground (mostly pine)" make up the area in behind, with pine trees coming right up to the rear of the house.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmOBR76QlTGEVbh_ASy1A-Z3VnURTG4yMwqDHBSOYce2ByI-DKKN0I3-daDH0-di_yH8h6M0qSoIr9E0F_CHp6J2EySEWULAkNeWcrJ2bmTfWWTZNFEAZi2fER0iImaCKaYn6C-7tYW9p-aMfTo78M1lg_jdHZstH9BPf2cMxV9VvX7B34DffyqFL/s1632/1902%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1632" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmOBR76QlTGEVbh_ASy1A-Z3VnURTG4yMwqDHBSOYce2ByI-DKKN0I3-daDH0-di_yH8h6M0qSoIr9E0F_CHp6J2EySEWULAkNeWcrJ2bmTfWWTZNFEAZi2fER0iImaCKaYn6C-7tYW9p-aMfTo78M1lg_jdHZstH9BPf2cMxV9VvX7B34DffyqFL/s320/1902%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The 1902 fire insurance plan of Ottawa, showing<br />Carruthers Avenue. 226 Carruthers was then numbered<br />#41, and can be seen as one of the only houses on the west<br />side. The other streets to the west do not exist yet. Even<br />Ladouceur Street has not been cut through yet (houses in<br />its path on the east side of Carruthers would later be moved)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The house at 226 Carruthers is a hearty one. It has lasted 135 years, through at least three significant fires, the arrival of electricity, plumbing and sewers. It has stood as part of rural Nepean Township, the independent village of Hintonburg, and in the City of Ottawa. Much larger buildings have sprung up on either side, dwarfing the little house with its 27-foot deep front lawn. But it has persevered through it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Go by today, however, and the fences are up. Demolition is imminent any day. The development plans are approved, and this small piece of property will flip things on the neighbours, suddenly dwarfing them as a big, three-storey strucutre. The little old home that hundreds of Hintonburgians have called home over the last century-and-a-third will be taken down in minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>226 Carruthers was constructed in 1888 by 39-year old British-born geologist Francis John Stubbington, husband of Mary Ann, and father of five (with two more yet to come). The family had arrived in Canada not long before 1888. They came right to Hintonburg, at first renting a small house on Stirling Avenue, where their fifth child, daughter Dulcibel Maria Stubbington was born in December 1887. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stubbington acquired lot 12 on Carruthers from lumberer Robert Hurdman, who had acquired most of Carruthers Avenue a few years prior. They had a handshake agreement on the deal. Stubbington's purchase was never officially registered, as often buyers would work out an arrangement that was akin to a "lease to own" type of agreement, where they would make payments on the land and build a house over time, with the understanding that once the land was paid off, the property would be deeded to them. Renege on the land payments, and it goes back to the original owner, including any structures that had been built thereupon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stubbington would have started construction early in 1888, the small frame house likely not taking too long to build in its first, likely primitive state. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Stubbingtons settled into early Hintonburg life, with eldest child Mabel scoring as the top student in her class (senior third class) at Hintonburg Public School in June of 1889. Francis was listed in various sources as a geologist, engineer and machinist during his years in the village.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, the family did not remain in Hintonburg long, as by early 1891, the family was living in the Sudbury vicinity, where they ultimately would remain, Francis no doubt called in for a mining job he couldn't refuse. Later he would be listed as a 'prospector' at Copper Cliff in records. </div><div><br /></div><div>The house went through a series of occupants, with its next real owner-occupant being Frederick Murch, who acquired the property from the estate of Robert Hurdman on December 29th, 1908, for the sale price of $1 (which indicates that likely Murch had been paying Hurdman gradually over years), which is confirmed by the fact that records show he had first moved into the house between 1902-1903. </div><div><br /></div><div>Murch was a mill labourer, and had actually first been living on Carruthers in a different house (262 Carruthers) dating back to about 1898. He was English-born, and had a wife Fanny, and two children.</div><div><br /></div><div>By 1912, Ladouceur Street was cut through, and the appropriately-named Forest Avenue (now Hinchey) in behind was beginning to fill with houses.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O4VDu9G5aUr5mN9eb06fDZOzLoMakwNkklO6R6yGCOkVVOxAAhDpPRv-QBogQ-C2cYpnccs-xvJmE3AbcEjbseQHk927f2EaYMnEF7Qf8fLMdbXdYJsm_23WMmElQLPiVPVoztrlgPX62Kj8KNl48ZYgzJCrtOvw6gGqLqGS4zU9B_WIXy-Ohxx7/s1021/1912%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1021" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O4VDu9G5aUr5mN9eb06fDZOzLoMakwNkklO6R6yGCOkVVOxAAhDpPRv-QBogQ-C2cYpnccs-xvJmE3AbcEjbseQHk927f2EaYMnEF7Qf8fLMdbXdYJsm_23WMmElQLPiVPVoztrlgPX62Kj8KNl48ZYgzJCrtOvw6gGqLqGS4zU9B_WIXy-Ohxx7/s320/1912%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1912 Fire Insurance Plan</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The fire insurance plan above also shows the large rear shed that was built sometime around 1910, and still stands today (or at least an older shed with the same footprint still stands today).</div><div><br /></div><div>***</div><div><br /></div><div>In 1915, the double next door at 228-230 Carruthers (which is also fenced off and appears destined to be demolished sometime soon) was built. Its construction, however, appears to have been a disaster. That June, Spadina Avenue real estate agent Ernest W. Foster acquired the full lot (which included 226 Carruthers and the empty half lot to the south) from Louis A. and Minnie B. Smith, and took out a mortgage for $3,400 towards the construction of the duplex. Less than a month later, Foster signed a sale agreement with Morris Glattenburg, a St. Patrick Street grocer, to buy the full property. It is unclear if it the deal was made in anticipation of the completion of the house, or if Foster sold it mid-construction, but regardless, Glattenburg took over the project.</div><div><br /></div><div>By October, Barrett Brothers, one of Ottawa's top lumber and contractor supply shops put a lien on the house, for lack of payment on a bill of $178.18 owing. Glattenburg took out an additional mortgage of $820, from Harold K. Pinhey, son of Charles H. Pinhey, and a local investor/capitalist. But by year's end, he gave up, and surrendered the property to Pinhey due to finances. Oddly, records show Pinhey sold the property back to Louis Smith a year later; the same Louis Smith who had owned the property prior to the double being built! </div><div><br /></div><div>228-230 remained a rental building for the duration of its life. You could even obtain free accommodations in 1916...if you were a lady:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovQOJAXcfdrbvMBazZpYTgkCws9VxNDLrnJGjbmbRitF_6x0T3PQ33ETYu9eYywbUroqBhtmHWkW7NMsNWCl9iu4m6Hu7Cus8QhTyHHMd8EndiAjbUqUfDfzGZ165tqLz3odk9yoaHlKsv1rsQsw4MnTbVvtfWVQWchcW80DTswi-xIXEQtBXyMUQ/s4589/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Aug_8__1916_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1821" data-original-width="4589" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovQOJAXcfdrbvMBazZpYTgkCws9VxNDLrnJGjbmbRitF_6x0T3PQ33ETYu9eYywbUroqBhtmHWkW7NMsNWCl9iu4m6Hu7Cus8QhTyHHMd8EndiAjbUqUfDfzGZ165tqLz3odk9yoaHlKsv1rsQsw4MnTbVvtfWVQWchcW80DTswi-xIXEQtBXyMUQ/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Aug_8__1916_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, August 18, 1916</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>During WWII, it was renovated to accommodate two units in each half. A quick look at records from 1945 show families of 4 and 3 living at 230, and families of 8 and 3 living at 228. That's 18 people living in the house!</div><div><br /></div><div>Records show that both buildings, 226 and 228-230 Carruthers have been rental properties for the last 100+ years, and interestingly, whenever the houses were sold, they were sold together, as the entirety of lot 12 on plan 83. The owners over time have been: Abbot Helmer and James H. Gowan (1917-1921), Thomas Heanin (1921-1941), Blanche Joanette (1941-1945), Rogers Joanisse (1945-1959), Jakub and Yvette Ostrowski (1959-1976), and Ainsley T.E. Anderson (1976-at least 1996, when the records I have free access to end). </div><div><br /></div><div>The property (again including both buildings) sold in 1941 for $3,300, in 1945 for $4,000, in 1959 for $12,000, and in 1976 for $65,000. </div><div><br /></div><div>***</div><div> </div><div>Back to 226, Frederick Murch's wife died in 1914, and he moved out. A variety of tenants occupied the house over the next 20-plus years. The house shows up on the 1921 Census as the home of 24-year old Hintonburg-born "riverman" Joseph Lessard, his wife Marie Rose, and two young sons René and Leo. It also notes the house contained just three rooms (that's total rooms, not bedrooms), and that the Lessards were paying $10 per month in rent. Sadly, 3-year old René would pass away later that year from diphtheria. (Annoyingly, it appears the house was vacant or missed on the 1931 Census).</div><div><br /></div><div>The house had its first fire late in the evening on May 9th, 1925. While Alfred O'Connor was not at home, and his wife and four children were in bed asleep. Mrs. O'Connor was awakened by smoke, and discovered that the kitchen was on fire, and spreading to the rest of the house. She managed to get all four of the kids out of bed and out of the house, and went over to the neighbours. Firemen were called, and the entire interior of the house and all contents destroyed. Alfred came home just before midnight to the scene.</div><div><br /></div><div>The shell of the house must have been salvaged, as the house was rebuilt eventually (it was listed as being vacant in the summers of 1925, 1926 and 1927), but occupied again by 1928. </div><div><br /></div><div>On January 7, 1937, another fire happened in the house, when stovepipes overheated, which set fire to an upstairs partition while the house was occupied by a Mrs. D. McLeod. It was reported that damage to the house in this instance was "slight". </div><div><br /></div><div>Around 1937-1938, a new family moved into 226 Carruthers and would remain for well over a decade. At the time, Paul Parent was 28 years old, working as a machinist, with a wife Anita, and three young children.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Monday February 12th, 1951, 226 Carruthers was the scene of yet another fire, but this was its most horrific and terrifying. Just before 5 p.m. that Monday afternoon, Paul and Anita's 14-year-old daughter Anita (who had the same name as her Mom) was attempting to light the wood stove in the kitchen of the house, likely to start making dinner for her family. The fire did not immediately start, so Anita grabbed a can of coal oil to help start the fire. Unfortunately, she made a mistake - she grabbed a can of gasoline that was stored in the kitchen, used in summertime for an outboard motor. She poured the gasoline into the stove, and then lit a match. There was a massive explosion. "Spurting, searing flames enveloped her body as the stove exploded", wrote the Journal. She had been turned into a "human torch". </div><div><br /></div><div>The only other occupant of the home at the time was Anita's 15-year-old brother Donat Parent, who came rushing in from another room where he had been on a telephone call with a friend. Donat was "galvanized into action by shrieks of pain and terror", reported the Journal.</div><div><br /></div><div>"At the kitchen door, he was met by a swatch of blow-torch like flames. Vainly he tried again and again to penetrate the room. It was no use", said the Journal. Donat ran outside and ran into next-door neighbour 11-year-old Ronald Lepage, who had no doubt heard the explosion. Donat sent Ronald to the corner of Hinchey and Ladouceur Street (the location of the nearest fire alarm box), to ring the alarm. Firemen from three stations were now on their way.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Agonizing screams from his trapped sister made the youth determined that he would get into the kitchen", continued the Journal. "Then there was silence".</div><div><br /></div><div>"Realizing that every second was precious if he was to save the girl, the youth raced around to the front of the home, and after smashing a kitchen window, pulled himself into the burning room. His sister was lying on the floor unconscious, her clothes afire", reported the Citizen. "Without thought of his own safety, Donat lowered himself into the burning room, and after smothering the flames consuming his sister's clothing, carried her out of the window and to the safety of a neighbour's home". </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JX4abX-KnfYl3AVpqdswGUUW9GWaJDfX3cKGf3VgJQ_kzQwAM0a9OhHk1P9c5lumdAZIF3Limzn88Lzh3iV1FHzFRegJXReTxHtb5kzALmJK5QY1vrnnAP-d--uR7GjoaAg-SeWKrTFbi4QNG-OmLCNkJBGOhYYOkIt0soIvShSka6Z9utMg_v4E/s2545/Anita.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="1482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JX4abX-KnfYl3AVpqdswGUUW9GWaJDfX3cKGf3VgJQ_kzQwAM0a9OhHk1P9c5lumdAZIF3Limzn88Lzh3iV1FHzFRegJXReTxHtb5kzALmJK5QY1vrnnAP-d--uR7GjoaAg-SeWKrTFbi4QNG-OmLCNkJBGOhYYOkIt0soIvShSka6Z9utMg_v4E/s320/Anita.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, February 13, 1951</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Anita was taken next door to 224 Carruthers, the Lepage family home. Upon arrival of the first firemen, she was transported immediately in an emergency car, and was in a fight for her life. She arrived at hospital with first, second and third degree burns on her face, arms, upper portion of her body and legs. Donat also had minor burns to his hands, arms and face, but was treated at the scene.</div><div><br /></div><div>The teens' Mom was alerted at work a while later when police came to tell her about the fire, and the condition of her youngest daughter. </div><div><br /></div><div>The story was front page news the next morning, with a large photo of heroic Donat appearing at the top of that front page. The Citizen reported that Anita remained in very critical condition, and that her family was understandably very concerned. "I'm not worried for myself", Donat told the Citizen, "It's my sister's condition that worries me right now. I only hope everything will be all right." </div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zMImoJ4P6MiVPP8b4DrBOWFZB2bAPnZTCT9f3P9TRz_4EVz4zRdYBEwTTZrA2nsMjhp4VJAOlx0GexeOqE-i55vQ2xaTv8lPTN3cpbws2dAgJ0vNWFatQYWAg6uQQN0OisiKPvxHmD1ToQaPAQGouLC8HqySeXECvEKDECQeKdn78fbiULoKV8Z7/s7583/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Feb_13__1951_%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7583" data-original-width="3785" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zMImoJ4P6MiVPP8b4DrBOWFZB2bAPnZTCT9f3P9TRz_4EVz4zRdYBEwTTZrA2nsMjhp4VJAOlx0GexeOqE-i55vQ2xaTv8lPTN3cpbws2dAgJ0vNWFatQYWAg6uQQN0OisiKPvxHmD1ToQaPAQGouLC8HqySeXECvEKDECQeKdn78fbiULoKV8Z7/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Feb_13__1951_%20(1).jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">February 13, 1951<br />Front page of the Ottawa Citizen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Though I could find no other follow-ups in the media about the fire or Anita's condition, a bit of research shows that she did survive and eventually recovered. Donat Parent was a hero for his actions, as was Ronald Lepage, whose quick action in ringing the fire alarm saved 226 Carruthers. The interior suffered significant fire damage, but was repaired soon after, and the family moved back in, though it appears they did not remain long. </div><div><br /></div><div>Gerard and Madeleine (Richer) Rolland became longer-term tenants through the 1950s and 1960s, with three young daughters. There could have been longer-term rentals since the 1960s, but I didn't dig into this era of the house's history for this article.</div><br /><div>Unfortunately I could not locate a vintage street-level photograph of 226 Carruthers (if anyone out there has one, I'd love to add it to this story!). I do have a couple of old low-elevation aerial photos that shows the house a little. In the top one from December 1965, the house is hidden behind the larger building at the corner (Carruthers is along the top, Hinchey at bottom), but the large shed can be seen.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXhq_uCvmjO4lkUJ5cmeQFfEGJ2gzJvMOULdGZEuWUTScCN0MhfNxM6HVdjaCgZA8ieV2qqlAsvT8v-izSSR9nPVhSyV0R90FfsziDoip5pJ9zaW5vPaf6TB_rhfj000Jo3Qr7qcRo7tGYSjx1KnOkYqQOaKX3PGhtHay1FRK5Tqk57BwM638bnm6/s1038/CA-9085%20-%201965-12-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20226%20with%20huge%20shed%20behind.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1038" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXhq_uCvmjO4lkUJ5cmeQFfEGJ2gzJvMOULdGZEuWUTScCN0MhfNxM6HVdjaCgZA8ieV2qqlAsvT8v-izSSR9nPVhSyV0R90FfsziDoip5pJ9zaW5vPaf6TB_rhfj000Jo3Qr7qcRo7tGYSjx1KnOkYqQOaKX3PGhtHay1FRK5Tqk57BwM638bnm6/s320/CA-9085%20-%201965-12-XX%20-%20Onoszko%20226%20with%20huge%20shed%20behind.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">December 1965 ,with large shed at rear<br />(Source: City of Ottawa Archives, CA-09085)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>In this second photo, the house is again hidden, a victim of its major setback from the street. It's a nice shot of the store and building at 224, and the double at 228-230 at least.<br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRvT0qtCAghZC813ogbAmu6tBA9-GT_QypelvBLXyEojHq-IAiExlwHwmuwk7L15l01XCUSJKA8b8DfL7uy57phmEUFp89hgoMryozrSo6N5fNjxcvatIl6owLQXuA_w8SHn1mUZl-8hlQKfsJEjDpJJ28BAs3oZ7rNlVV_bR-soByr0PlQW4F3z8/s753/CA-9136%20-%201966-04%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20crop.tif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="753" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRvT0qtCAghZC813ogbAmu6tBA9-GT_QypelvBLXyEojHq-IAiExlwHwmuwk7L15l01XCUSJKA8b8DfL7uy57phmEUFp89hgoMryozrSo6N5fNjxcvatIl6owLQXuA_w8SHn1mUZl-8hlQKfsJEjDpJJ28BAs3oZ7rNlVV_bR-soByr0PlQW4F3z8/s320/CA-9136%20-%201966-04%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20crop.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">April 1966<br />(Source: City of Ottawa Archives CA-09136)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Here are two shots taken a few weeks ago, showing both 226 Carruthers, and 228-230 fenced off, usually a sign that the bulldozers are on their way. To note though, from everything I've read, 228-230 was not intended to be demolished (yet at least), and is not a part of the redevelopment of the 226 part of the lot. So perhaps it will remain standing a bit longer. </div><div><br /></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRYpsDCnQjCXQWqe4sTv8yXd4XaW4WWqo5FRvXZ_oif_jjg1N_evsDEZo2OkqLoYkkToLJhVI_J4O6VdBtRnIzZMmMIAHy787TVnwyvAki2ts7EPiKHxp9FQ7OkUT8hshOWMiFIUFocc8pX31izv0Z0KxeR3uMbCY5h43yKGhpuZbnPeNXRT4zR1U/s4032/IMG_1957.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRYpsDCnQjCXQWqe4sTv8yXd4XaW4WWqo5FRvXZ_oif_jjg1N_evsDEZo2OkqLoYkkToLJhVI_J4O6VdBtRnIzZMmMIAHy787TVnwyvAki2ts7EPiKHxp9FQ7OkUT8hshOWMiFIUFocc8pX31izv0Z0KxeR3uMbCY5h43yKGhpuZbnPeNXRT4zR1U/s320/IMG_1957.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">228-230 Carruthers Avenue - May 2023<br />(Photo by Dave Allston)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2eQASwPOBYe24YQXn-ZbOjNq8uWJNb1o39Gd5akXkb2kSKzvxYXztrsmY6CzKvTN4joeNRCNdbRtlUG3QW34ldh9U3o6iZ3r4QRR0Ni4M6siaQQ84LV_WOa_8Tz8WUugD4eYTqU1LxUqyZ4tnKiVQ50uIKd3EkyXb1pEkEHRJXkDYsCTdse8ivzR/s4032/IMG_1959.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2eQASwPOBYe24YQXn-ZbOjNq8uWJNb1o39Gd5akXkb2kSKzvxYXztrsmY6CzKvTN4joeNRCNdbRtlUG3QW34ldh9U3o6iZ3r4QRR0Ni4M6siaQQ84LV_WOa_8Tz8WUugD4eYTqU1LxUqyZ4tnKiVQ50uIKd3EkyXb1pEkEHRJXkDYsCTdse8ivzR/s320/IMG_1959.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">226 Carruthers Avenue - May 2023<br />(Photo by Dave Allston)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The property is now owned by an incorporated business known as 226 Carruthers Holdings Inc. Back in the fall of 2021, an application was made to the City to divide the property into two parcels, creating one parcel for the existing 228-230 part, and a new parcel for what would be built at 226. The application would also create an easement for a shared driveway. </div><div><br /></div><div>The new building at 226 Carruthers was to be a three-storey, three-unit dwelling.</div><div><br /></div><div>Minor variances were sought at the City's Committee of Adjustment in October of 2021, and the application was refused (they wanted to make the new 226 lot a width of 8.4m when 10m is required; they wanted the lot area to be 225.6 m2 when a minimum of 300 m2 is required; and they wanted an interior side yard setback of just 0.2m when a minimum of 1.2m is required). The owners took the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal, where in July of 2022, the appeal was approved, and the project could go ahead. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8hDf-r8cerDvT3znZOwBtjHYtjBOY5CqaabkBK8jUVjZRCVK6k_-Nwos99fmV0jAYaclq_9fG52t_p8L9KIsuPRKJVX1OSOZBLqsOYeaYi4bmftf2laBtDL07b9bjNxdrysEzuRqHkVNgGmp8G-stkL3K3Tm-jPlXAuN6jt6QgQkkLUm-S27BWuw/s1337/Fotenn%20Planning%20and%20Design%20twitte.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1337" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8hDf-r8cerDvT3znZOwBtjHYtjBOY5CqaabkBK8jUVjZRCVK6k_-Nwos99fmV0jAYaclq_9fG52t_p8L9KIsuPRKJVX1OSOZBLqsOYeaYi4bmftf2laBtDL07b9bjNxdrysEzuRqHkVNgGmp8G-stkL3K3Tm-jPlXAuN6jt6QgQkkLUm-S27BWuw/s320/Fotenn%20Planning%20and%20Design%20twitte.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Proposed three-storey, three-unit building<br />(Source: Fotenn Planning + Design, Twitter)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>You can see more of the plans here: <a href="https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?documentid=81579">https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?documentid=81579</a></div><div><br /></div><div>So farewell to 226 Carruthers Avenue, a small but integral piece of Hintonburg's history that will sadly be lost like so many before it. </div><div><br /></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-51834961982123092612023-06-02T13:08:00.002-04:002023-06-02T13:08:58.226-04:00The 1931 Census of Canada! An Index for Kitchissippi<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTKGFsdmQyiN72yNxcQsX5QGv9lixZGBLtsm_td7J_8gR9n1QLtwtZvXwBRcvQArFqNV5BB7iMhMSDX1cG1IxKcPHORZVCgzsYf07x4YgmFhM-aR7maNvKvY8MsijilTrEjX259KYJlWEAapNDR6dSfm140ZJxVEbQ6Y-A3XFia7rfYQCKL54uQOA/s6742/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__May_28__1931_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6742" data-original-width="4717" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTKGFsdmQyiN72yNxcQsX5QGv9lixZGBLtsm_td7J_8gR9n1QLtwtZvXwBRcvQArFqNV5BB7iMhMSDX1cG1IxKcPHORZVCgzsYf07x4YgmFhM-aR7maNvKvY8MsijilTrEjX259KYJlWEAapNDR6dSfm140ZJxVEbQ6Y-A3XFia7rfYQCKL54uQOA/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__May_28__1931_.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, May 28, 1931</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Yesterday, June 1st, 2023 marked a major milestone date for Canadian historians and genealogists! </p><p>Library and Archives Canada after 92 years were finally legally allowed to release the Census pages as of yesterday, so they've been uploaded to the link below. However, for now, it is only raw page scans. Nothing is keyword searchable yet. That will take time, and will be accomplished through LAC partnerships with Ancestry and FamilySearch for indexing and searching. (When the 1921 release occurred, it took about three months for name and keyword searching to be released). </p><p>Here is where you can go search: <a href="https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931">https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931</a></p><p>And here is a link to some background info about the Census release: <a href="https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/corporate/website-updates/pages/census-1931.aspx">https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/corporate/website-updates/pages/census-1931.aspx</a></p><p>In a few months time, we'll be able to just pop a name into a search engine and find the person in seconds. However, if you're like me, you probably just can't wait that long, and you want to look up a grandparent or other relative now! Or maybe you want to see the info on who was living in your house, since by 1931 many Kitchissippi houses were already built (this will be the first Census that many Wellington Village houses will appear for the first time, for instance!). Personally, this is an exciting day as it is the first Census my maternal grandparents will appear in, having been born in 1927 and 1930. </p><p>I'm providing some helpful info so that you too can navigate through the files and hopefully find your ancestor quickly. Some of the info I'm sharing below will help you search generally, but I'm mainly including info that will help someone locate a person who lived in Ottawa and especially Kitchissippi.</p><p>The search function as of right now is basic, and pretty frustrating if you don't know what you're looking for. You need to enter a Province, District and Sub-district. Sounds easy enough, but it isn't. The sub-districts are just listed with vague township or ward names, and sometimes as many as a dozen or more with the same name. And there is no map or code that can help decipher. </p><p>(If you've been reading some online websites and message boards, you may have heard recommended a website called ScholarsPortal that has a map tool that will tell you the 1931 Census district and sub-district if you enter an address. Don't use that tool, it's not accurate at all.)</p><p>It seems that for the 1931 Census, they simply used the electoral district boundaries, from the 1924 redistribution. This means that all of Kitchissippi is contained in Carleton County (which was divided basically where today's Somerset and Kitchissippi wards are split), which is also the Census district Carleton. Everything west of today's O-train line is Carleton district, everything east of it is Ottawa district.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynDcS_KX5eUfbW8nv1byvHPf5GRWzCShFOY37vLfgWX2MlmIA58YjjRPQge9bDOxSFgW8lz4pQ4xiNa5dC-zqSQ0xjki1W9jSg177L6jr7MCNDis8cShCc2_SkRqQcktc_LweRVv0JNIETOnxVj4_iQmKfeYT2vsbsbaFT5jG0fiVTWksvILV45AR/s3000/e011316009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="3000" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynDcS_KX5eUfbW8nv1byvHPf5GRWzCShFOY37vLfgWX2MlmIA58YjjRPQge9bDOxSFgW8lz4pQ4xiNa5dC-zqSQ0xjki1W9jSg177L6jr7MCNDis8cShCc2_SkRqQcktc_LweRVv0JNIETOnxVj4_iQmKfeYT2vsbsbaFT5jG0fiVTWksvILV45AR/s320/e011316009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Source: LAC, G1116.F7 .C3 1924)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b><i>How to search for a Kitchissippi address:</i></b></p><p>So when you go to the Census page, select Province "Ontario", District "Carleton", and then for Sub-District, I've made an index in Excel listing every Census page for Kitchissippi, and which streets appear on each page. Many streets appear on multiple pages, and even in multiple sub-districts (if it's a long street), so you may have to look in a few spots. Note too that many street names have changed, so I've also added in the street name conversions at right for reference. </p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Click here: <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1l0KhnNCPzhHFZsDaoqgVq1kqqKU2CAKH/edit?usp=sharing&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank">Kitchissippi 1931 Census Index</a></span></b></p><p>Note also that in my Index, I've listed the page # meaning the actual census page # (the number written on the original copy page). You may get confused by the LAC website page numbering, which adds a title page for each sub-district. So if my index says you want page 5, then you want LAC website "item" 6. </p><p><b><i>Still not finding your person/house?...</i></b></p><p>In about half the cases on the Census, the full civic address is listed (a street name with a house number), but in many cases, it's just a street name. Or even just simply "Nepean". Those will require a little extra digging. </p><p>If it can be of any help, I've uploaded the entirety of the street listings for Might's City of Ottawa Directory for 1931, which shows all residents of each street, sorted by house number. It's a rather poor quality scan which I did quickly some time back at the City Archives, not intending to ever publish it, but at this point, it could be a handy tool so I thought worth uploading to share. You can save this document to your PC.</p><p>Click here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Znyv_Iwa1YDWo_IfqdN0B7rrbKjwrZTu/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">1931 City Directory listing by street</a></p><p>Unfortunately, it is not an OCR scan, so you cannot keyword search it. This document will only help you if you already know what street you're looking at, and want to figure out what the house number is that's missing from the Census, or you're trying to pinpoint the location of a house on a street. Or this could be handy if you think you know which street your relative lived on, and you want to verify that first before digging through the Census pages. </p><p>***</p><p><b><i>How to search for a City of Ottawa address:</i></b></p><p>If you're looking for someone within the City limits of Ottawa, you'll want to search in District "Ottawa", but I'm afraid I don't have time to create an index for that. You're on your own to hunt through the individual pages. Perhaps these images below might be of help... it's the descriptors for the ward boundaries in the City at the time. This could help you narrow down your search area:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyZpIzAevtxTi1SXnGgO30DFo7dMhHNksqtvGoF83n5GF-CB13_6ht13WA01aC9NlEvU_mVETKPiBi1B5LBVPWZuIVDfSmykhF0Pi1Mo4LjSVHJgLRe0zkSlOi_HNN9-0AW6wtuduvGephNQ13dk7oCT2lac_-ZYgbl-eDIlLvK_l627o5kVHQl_K/s3219/wardboundaries1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3219" data-original-width="1776" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyZpIzAevtxTi1SXnGgO30DFo7dMhHNksqtvGoF83n5GF-CB13_6ht13WA01aC9NlEvU_mVETKPiBi1B5LBVPWZuIVDfSmykhF0Pi1Mo4LjSVHJgLRe0zkSlOi_HNN9-0AW6wtuduvGephNQ13dk7oCT2lac_-ZYgbl-eDIlLvK_l627o5kVHQl_K/s320/wardboundaries1.jpg" width="177" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWulFZeFPZkSFgk5XHtwdi5PVuHF-_RLwQ9gAZickHGAOcuisT9Qk7d0vtYVOszLwZuO6vUtZ-dj9RgoBgiux0h5jnFdtxsAlDYCDp_0lr6EI3NxXY2dUjxpFUhTeIHxuQ4Vy8_Ap_3FqX8k3iQsRsP10LpLGxSU3SUS4rN4juPizYKJPbXJI0Hc7P/s3219/wardboundaries2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3219" data-original-width="2123" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWulFZeFPZkSFgk5XHtwdi5PVuHF-_RLwQ9gAZickHGAOcuisT9Qk7d0vtYVOszLwZuO6vUtZ-dj9RgoBgiux0h5jnFdtxsAlDYCDp_0lr6EI3NxXY2dUjxpFUhTeIHxuQ4Vy8_Ap_3FqX8k3iQsRsP10LpLGxSU3SUS4rN4juPizYKJPbXJI0Hc7P/s320/wardboundaries2.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><p>***</p><p><b><i>How to search for an Ottawa address that was once rural:</i></b></p><p>If you're searching for people who were living in what is now within Ottawa, but was in 1931 a suburb or rural area, and the Census sub-districts you're looking at show a township lot/concession as their descriptor, the best quick tool I can suggest to find a lot/concession for the address you're looking up is to do the following:</p><p><span>i) </span>Go to <a href="https://maps.ottawa.ca/geoottawa/">https://maps.ottawa.ca/geoottawa/</a></p><p>ii) Then at the top right, click on the icon that looks like 3 pieces of paper stacked (third icon from the left). It will open a new little menu beneath it.</p><p>iii) This is the "layers" menu. Click the fourth one in the submenu "Property parcels", first by checking the little box next to it, but then clicking the arrow to the left of the check box. When it expands, check the box next to "Township Lot Labels". This will add the old traditional lot/concession numbers to the map.</p><p>iv) Go to the search box at the top left of the page and enter the address you'd like to find. If you don't know the exact address but know a general street or intersection, enter that. It will center the page to your selection, and even add a red dot on the specific address if you've entered one.</p><p>v) Zoom out a little bit by clicking on the minus ("-") sign at the top left until you can see some of those "Con" and "Lot" numbers. The one closest to your address is your old concession/lot number. If you're close in between two, you may have to look up both. But at least now you should have a lot/concession number or two to narrow down which sub-district you're going to need to read through</p><p>***</p><p>I hope this information is helpful to some of you! Good luck with your searching!!! </p><p>If you have any questions or are lost in your search, feel free to send me an email (daveallston@rogers.com) and I can try to help!</p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-76690829686494751352023-05-23T12:06:00.013-04:002023-05-23T12:21:04.347-04:00Goodbye 26-32 Armstrong Street - A ProfileEveryone knows this big brick rowhouse. A classic Hintonburg structure, it has stood the test of time for 123 years. Its days are numbered, however, as the ML Devco Inc. (Magil Laurentian Realty Investments Company) will inevitably starting construction on their condo building at 979 Wellington Street West anytime now. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13QsYCXGYtbcm7skv4hbS9CBgFXjqqPFXlsUBAbqq0VA5sL2Vm1oEk8-_ZLIz4gbBahDcjK3FzwMGD6nrcz-aoIkz6ZqITTYR7aSnB7ayGQLo8YXzlOQKQ4X0HzPo4sFXENDLZTyuVgTE1D60hnmChW3u_5dujusKD_pg3gcF5gFNMq0n-xetcUur/s4032/IMG_1935.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13QsYCXGYtbcm7skv4hbS9CBgFXjqqPFXlsUBAbqq0VA5sL2Vm1oEk8-_ZLIz4gbBahDcjK3FzwMGD6nrcz-aoIkz6ZqITTYR7aSnB7ayGQLo8YXzlOQKQ4X0HzPo4sFXENDLZTyuVgTE1D60hnmChW3u_5dujusKD_pg3gcF5gFNMq0n-xetcUur/s320/IMG_1935.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div>I love this building, and though it seemingly has lived out its life as a tenant and boarding house for so long, it will be sad to see it go. As far as the style of building it is (an early 20th-century multi-unit brick rowhouse), there are fewer and fewer of the originals still standing in Hintonburg. In terms of its shape, it's one-of-a-kind. In terms of its life story, well, just like every house in Hintonburg, it too is one-of-a-kind.</div><div><br /></div><div>If the walls could talk, it would share stories of Hintonburg going back to its first days as a part of the City of Ottawa. </div><div><br /></div><div>Carleton County Judge Christopher Armstrong owned a wide swath of the north-east corner of Hintonburg, and he built Carleton Lodge (aka Armstrong House) in 1845, which has stood directly across from 26-32 Armstrong for this past century and a quarter. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 1874, the Judge decided to subdivide part of his land, establishing builder lots (Carleton County Plan 57) on about three-quarters of his property, but keeping a large block for his stone house, and the surrounding lawns in front of it all the way to Wellington Street (then still called Richmond Road) and east to Bayview Road. But mere months after registering the plan, the Judge passed away suddenly. His widow Mary Ann Armstrong continued to sell lots, and in 1884 amidst a hot real estate market in the west end village, decided to convert the sprawling front and side lawns into another new subdivision (Carleton County Plan 89) which created the lots directly to the north and east of the stone house.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many of the lots took years to sell, and even though lot 11 was one of the largest (at about 85x100 feet), it took about 25 years to sell, and eventually it was Judge and Mary Ann Armstrong's daughter Caroline (for whom Armstrong Street was originally named - it was renamed to Armstrong in 1908 due to duplication), who finally sold the lot in two halves. Patrick J. Lacey, who had a flower shop at the northwest corner of Hilda and Wellington, bought the vacant east half of lot 11 for $350 sometime between 1905-1909 (giving him the full strip of land back to Armstrong), but I guess changed his mind, and agreed to sell the half-lot on January 10th, 1910, to Trefflé Lavigne for $700. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lavigne was a prominent Ottawa resident, having been Foreman of the power house for the Ottawa Electric Railway since the line first opened in 1891. He was a trustee on the separate school board (representing Victoria Ward) from 1907 to 1911, the last two of them as chairman. He had founded the St. Joseph's society in Hull in the 1880s, and was involved in other social organizations. He also owned several pieces of real estate across Ottawa, and must have seen this location in Hintonburg as a good investment opportunity.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6YwTh1uMrm8llWy_WoULCu_vTS5uWCQ9X06Yod4q8xmkJ7g7R51xDs1YI3MMlr5ueHcJAYcD3ZiPdnRJNUG2jWO-9qlkb0ahHHdnSpqa6BakiULlTN6OlHbIjojrMThtzP57UgIofwzn7bBvqWu3kH8mZknqAb3FzRH9YwDp5iHVsEnOQdHLyy6-/s1280/Treffle%20Lavigne%20-%20from%20Ancestry%20-%20Suzanne%20Scharf%202020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6YwTh1uMrm8llWy_WoULCu_vTS5uWCQ9X06Yod4q8xmkJ7g7R51xDs1YI3MMlr5ueHcJAYcD3ZiPdnRJNUG2jWO-9qlkb0ahHHdnSpqa6BakiULlTN6OlHbIjojrMThtzP57UgIofwzn7bBvqWu3kH8mZknqAb3FzRH9YwDp5iHVsEnOQdHLyy6-/s320/Treffle%20Lavigne%20-%20from%20Ancestry%20-%20Suzanne%20Scharf%202020.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trefflé Lavigne, builder of 26-32 Armstrong<br />(Source: Ancestry, Suzanne Scharf)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Lavigne began construction on the building soon after he acquired the lot. He did not take out a mortgage, paying for its construction himself. The building appears to have been completed sometime by the fall or early winter of 1910. It was split into four separate units, with assigned civic numbers 26, 28, 30 and 32 Armstrong Street. </div><div><br /></div><div>26 Armstrong Street was the ground floor unit, which originally was commercial space. 28 was on the second floor above 26, while 30 and 32 were two-level rowhouses. 26/28 was an exceptionally long building, 19'8" wide by 83' long along Hilda, giving the building its unique L-shape. </div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps one of the most unique features of the building is its exposed foundation, which, due to the downward slopes of both Hilda and especially Armstrong, gets to nearly six feet high at the southeast corner of the building, but only a little over two feet high on the west side. The building also fit the character of the typical builds of the era in Hintonburg with its flat roof, hand-stacked foundation and built right to the property line, with no yard or setback. </div><div><br /></div><div>The building looked mostly as it does today when it was first built, except there was a 2-storey cinder block addition at the south end of 26 along Hilda that was added just after construction, and which disappeared by the 1950s. There was also a thin 1-storey attached rear shed behind 30/32. </div><div><br /></div><div>When the building was finished, Trefflés brother Joseph Maxime Lavigne and his seven children moved in to the 26-28 half. Joseph and his 22-year old son Adolphe opened a grocery store out of 26 Armstrong, which would have been a handy addition to the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, 49-year old tinsmith Alfred Theriault and his wife and four children moved into 30 Armstrong, while 38-year old CPR brakeman John Lee moved in with his wife and two children into 32 Armstrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly, just a few months after the house was completed, Trefflé Lavigne passed away. He died on April 24th, 1911, after a short bought of pneumonia. He was just 53 years old.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFycvw7-2UTEhxxEMod6FDALv1GTGjTSwUw5JUc-TxLJunoBJ-OZ3d1hMm9nsivw0G8ueGsVID9uU30ko_bn4cTpqWCeZgPFpsHj1FcaA99LnY6N0Zxssi9duk2KwwiwrxWZBB4jYP36vwi9xKlJ-6Lrnfgr8VixGhIzo23GEg9suju8TVTtLDYZJ/s552/1912%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="552" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFycvw7-2UTEhxxEMod6FDALv1GTGjTSwUw5JUc-TxLJunoBJ-OZ3d1hMm9nsivw0G8ueGsVID9uU30ko_bn4cTpqWCeZgPFpsHj1FcaA99LnY6N0Zxssi9duk2KwwiwrxWZBB4jYP36vwi9xKlJ-6Lrnfgr8VixGhIzo23GEg9suju8TVTtLDYZJ/s320/1912%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The building as it appears on the 1912 fire insurance<br />plan, just a year or so after it was built</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The grocery store did not last long at 26 Armstrong, and in fact that unit was listed as being vacant from 1912 all the way to 1917. Very odd! </div><div><br /></div><div>In October of 1917, Trefflé's son Leopold Lavigne purchased the house from the estate (for $4,000) and moved into 26 Armstrong, which he converted to a residential unit. Leopold remained there for another 10 years before selling for a nice profit at $11,250 in 1927, just before the depression hit. It would remain under the ownership of George Hopper (1927-1947), E. Rosetta Leaver (1947-1963), Ivan J. Karlovcec (1963-1978), Karam and Renee Ayoub (1978-1994), and Antonio and Suzanne Bento (1994-?) (I only have access to free property registry info up until 1996). Note the entire building of all four units sold in 1994 for just $230,000.</div><div><br /></div><div>During this time, the house was always tenanted, and at times apparently operated as a boarding house. It appears to have always had reputable tenants, as a search through old newspapers does not yield stories of drug-dealing, gangs, or other unsavoury issues related to this house. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M5DVbejF92Hgz8bGyFoqNk-YxIdr-y_3CYZ-9b0zCSakCwEUo08TDe7TwPWBkuZd_blyrWdp2b9Or5W95jollMHxfI_WkqGnCFKmG_YO-qHsDMrQgpYvl63_hkT0ClxxVPbmCo2u8SZrgoW2Qg7cTMiBpyeiNolgFhRgJaAAoiy9eEpviaG0bETj/s4452/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Jun_21__1963_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4322" data-original-width="4452" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M5DVbejF92Hgz8bGyFoqNk-YxIdr-y_3CYZ-9b0zCSakCwEUo08TDe7TwPWBkuZd_blyrWdp2b9Or5W95jollMHxfI_WkqGnCFKmG_YO-qHsDMrQgpYvl63_hkT0ClxxVPbmCo2u8SZrgoW2Qg7cTMiBpyeiNolgFhRgJaAAoiy9eEpviaG0bETj/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Jun_21__1963_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, June 21, 1963</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It has however, seemingly always looked a little worse for wear. As far back as 1964, the house appeared on the city's property standards list as part of its urban renewal project. It would have been identified as having significant structural or condition concerns to appear on that list. The owner at the time would have been required to perform improvements to the building or demolish it. Obviously, the renovations were done, as the building has survived another 59 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a photo of the building from 1964 (and another from above in 1966). You can see the holes where the old cinder block addition had been, and the old chimney for the upstairs unit. I also love the old lines of laundry, Mom sitting on the little back stoop with the kids playing in the yard filled with old wood and garbage, and another little guy on a trike jealously looking in through the side fence. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWC14Y_7kwqAJCFMmk5nR-gTPox2ybwYG1ns2nWmh-eMbwVVgL6a3YdkeeEC-VA8hu7ViFg_b6KIf2sUY2o8KBrfcjeKzkw6bHhfiX8j6hpkX_ozgZiWe-ZToFM0HE4K5RE_EtHmjWx61KlEapmpYxyXeAl_D7Ej17v9cSc3l7AOEw1eNWOZ2_jg9/s1500/CA-24672%20-%201964-08-25%20-%2026-32%20Armstrong%20rear%20wall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1500" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWC14Y_7kwqAJCFMmk5nR-gTPox2ybwYG1ns2nWmh-eMbwVVgL6a3YdkeeEC-VA8hu7ViFg_b6KIf2sUY2o8KBrfcjeKzkw6bHhfiX8j6hpkX_ozgZiWe-ZToFM0HE4K5RE_EtHmjWx61KlEapmpYxyXeAl_D7Ej17v9cSc3l7AOEw1eNWOZ2_jg9/s320/CA-24672%20-%201964-08-25%20-%2026-32%20Armstrong%20rear%20wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">26-32 Armstrong - August 25, 1964<br />(City of Ottawa Archives, CA-24672)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdKKyIOrn2HFjoYx-w9yxtEmssntlqmg4GNgP2EelBeNk4jzr6zrohtCcFDlIpSKFj4krS3e1R8rPB2a0z-oWAM2ObVHggPCsvnJQ-p-EKovg9zfBZ4wA6QpP2HqvX08fj9StW_sJnA2cCoCnPcrYKICU9oNFb6zwiKkQuuq_DdQAsYN9l2Zl1j-z/s1545/CA-9136%20-%201966-04%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20Mechanicsville.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1545" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdKKyIOrn2HFjoYx-w9yxtEmssntlqmg4GNgP2EelBeNk4jzr6zrohtCcFDlIpSKFj4krS3e1R8rPB2a0z-oWAM2ObVHggPCsvnJQ-p-EKovg9zfBZ4wA6QpP2HqvX08fj9StW_sJnA2cCoCnPcrYKICU9oNFb6zwiKkQuuq_DdQAsYN9l2Zl1j-z/s320/CA-9136%20-%201966-04%20-%20Onoszko%20-%20Mechanicsville.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View looking west down Armstrong at Hilda. April 1966.<br />26-32 Armstrong is visible on the southwest corner.<br />(City of Ottawa Archives, CA-09136)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Here is a recent view of the house during its final years as an occupied home:<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ_sE_D7CEd90PTvfWIlyANqeYTT3NaMEAmjtTYEDlSQN4srnlWDLHwkl1M0CtN5xtQ7pzLZmbcTWvzbu7YL9D_MN_3ogLEPjm_r7y3j0yPYHXhk0NuxLKJiGIQbq9UpTozcI4PumWSO05xBxQxCbewwWRui6GKAFJ-iVw7JeLjqXJeNXbuDpBrvL/s1035/June%202014%20Streetview.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1035" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQ_sE_D7CEd90PTvfWIlyANqeYTT3NaMEAmjtTYEDlSQN4srnlWDLHwkl1M0CtN5xtQ7pzLZmbcTWvzbu7YL9D_MN_3ogLEPjm_r7y3j0yPYHXhk0NuxLKJiGIQbq9UpTozcI4PumWSO05xBxQxCbewwWRui6GKAFJ-iVw7JeLjqXJeNXbuDpBrvL/s320/June%202014%20Streetview.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">June 2014 (Google Streetview)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Here are a few photos showing how the house the appears today. The condition of the house is poor, several windows are open and broken, as it has been boarded up since late 2020 or early 2021. No one here but a single squirrel hanging out in a quiet spot on the front porch. (All photos taken May 22, 2023 by Dave Allston):</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTzB7WlfeTrqsZu8X6gjg8CtmXERzDoIHfmYYMPewFGSkNUtfZpGAmVzWjNk-96gqdboT3N7N8Mtg-sZszBrncMKs0y_eJvfnXOoOWoXNMYNm5PbmwgaZ6Cq18EbpIdkqXln4DCuHlukWlsclzKqzGlVbZG_V7X8sb_zzPYOGXMttGIWCrPCE3538/s4032/IMG_1916.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTzB7WlfeTrqsZu8X6gjg8CtmXERzDoIHfmYYMPewFGSkNUtfZpGAmVzWjNk-96gqdboT3N7N8Mtg-sZszBrncMKs0y_eJvfnXOoOWoXNMYNm5PbmwgaZ6Cq18EbpIdkqXln4DCuHlukWlsclzKqzGlVbZG_V7X8sb_zzPYOGXMttGIWCrPCE3538/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGejJf2D3ulg6yaXBAKXCYX7nLyiP7ezjwOXBRuJqZIJP0k_6tjdO9hjQv1_PnzX-rFf8X-y88K-6Q3IzdKCA1l2TQmkgTEJKL1nwY3GpgayOMWhYwLy0IajOhE0xJfKSIjRgmMXX_ZjqyT74VLELq0x8Zq2ZJ5FOwe52yCQyRQYk0ihCzy002lZqw/s4032/IMG_1928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGejJf2D3ulg6yaXBAKXCYX7nLyiP7ezjwOXBRuJqZIJP0k_6tjdO9hjQv1_PnzX-rFf8X-y88K-6Q3IzdKCA1l2TQmkgTEJKL1nwY3GpgayOMWhYwLy0IajOhE0xJfKSIjRgmMXX_ZjqyT74VLELq0x8Zq2ZJ5FOwe52yCQyRQYk0ihCzy002lZqw/s320/IMG_1928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0T0D9tKWTYs5mdjgDxbxxZVxQmha1lkMLcxlgr2mrc1-ROE70A-QXm2iSvCxc2rotVEGIM5VvuegVCNKAhkxZ-EXDFGqeUNkMpecFt1vfjt9-BBzitT3GEvqBO4VtGOpTqcBDr6qlxqRTlx7_3kKnjsiv4JVWRIgs5SsSfyFmBR2OKW8gslhXs11/s4032/IMG_1942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0T0D9tKWTYs5mdjgDxbxxZVxQmha1lkMLcxlgr2mrc1-ROE70A-QXm2iSvCxc2rotVEGIM5VvuegVCNKAhkxZ-EXDFGqeUNkMpecFt1vfjt9-BBzitT3GEvqBO4VtGOpTqcBDr6qlxqRTlx7_3kKnjsiv4JVWRIgs5SsSfyFmBR2OKW8gslhXs11/s320/IMG_1942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzrAlWcVQ49yO30Fuifj9ZntGHuKWcdir16xeKV9MNLOC7kBwJGo6ijL4FagL3125FSPj4HUlMtx7igMb7jlcqYbnTt-tjoCVBGRSkWaM_qjMEX7nwVYlqJspPSLlWEgDCPXLPdrnYFw_ARyUkxU6OKyifoAqBPnODRZEJh72VaR18YbsPttsacOM/s4032/IMG_1934.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_8Hq3iajyGLQFilWMixBYr-QolFO_U--3NmSBm5TvAUnqMH38Neki6fibtYwIJS5gykSwo-GBd4jWrMPasdKvok7JOjgmjplFHdnMpvMWyiAYCPR8aZpXfQVZ3La_vQIx1EorC5yQAuywWjjrr5jrm1I6ZJtmR4e7nBVNMUGc4kmwNnyg5V2XXD3/s4032/IMG_1939.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_8Hq3iajyGLQFilWMixBYr-QolFO_U--3NmSBm5TvAUnqMH38Neki6fibtYwIJS5gykSwo-GBd4jWrMPasdKvok7JOjgmjplFHdnMpvMWyiAYCPR8aZpXfQVZ3La_vQIx1EorC5yQAuywWjjrr5jrm1I6ZJtmR4e7nBVNMUGc4kmwNnyg5V2XXD3/s320/IMG_1939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtWrMneI9ckSqvkUaJEpXV82U-8X_2XL2YEwtUzpG46KcLuDhFtYkFkqZAF6UjsEvxT55KqbhT6k2VeRwA1bhHMFlgDYtTgkEa9fCCTt3ojyy1dWM8guHcV-D8db9ow4QDYizuNdYCkveLPuXrOh8OS5Gg-bW3vNrkdMElLo3Vdh1jtD11DbtbySq/s4032/IMG_1934.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtWrMneI9ckSqvkUaJEpXV82U-8X_2XL2YEwtUzpG46KcLuDhFtYkFkqZAF6UjsEvxT55KqbhT6k2VeRwA1bhHMFlgDYtTgkEa9fCCTt3ojyy1dWM8guHcV-D8db9ow4QDYizuNdYCkveLPuXrOh8OS5Gg-bW3vNrkdMElLo3Vdh1jtD11DbtbySq/s320/IMG_1934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Here is a close-up of that incredible stacked stone foundation that wraps the building. Still solidly in place 123 years later: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6GfoV9KegTVK0Xg6Ujd9FQddRxG-p-o483I_SxglIVAyPp6PdjlJP3_DsxNMBlhluYYGbpkKMtuKLTUPPQT2jBhJAIdqfOLzEKjpUJbZfeWVwsPCHuZTfRdmGRglLATARJ707PjniydxAZLvJaT4_i4seb5pWHAlQXs_K2JbC1Kg984tIuEo1rZM/s4032/IMG_1947.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6GfoV9KegTVK0Xg6Ujd9FQddRxG-p-o483I_SxglIVAyPp6PdjlJP3_DsxNMBlhluYYGbpkKMtuKLTUPPQT2jBhJAIdqfOLzEKjpUJbZfeWVwsPCHuZTfRdmGRglLATARJ707PjniydxAZLvJaT4_i4seb5pWHAlQXs_K2JbC1Kg984tIuEo1rZM/s320/IMG_1947.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Not only will this building be going, but everything on the block, including the houses at 36 and 40 Armstrong Street, as well as all of the buildings on the Wellington Street West side from 961 to 979 (all of which I profiled a couple of years ago - <a href="http://kitchissippimuseum.blogspot.com/2019/02/hidden-history-eastern-end-of.html">http://kitchissippimuseum.blogspot.com/2019/02/hidden-history-eastern-end-of.html</a>). I won't get into the histories of 36/40 right now, maybe in a future post.</div><div><br /></div><div>The development plan has gone through a few iterations. It started life back in 2017 as a 9-storey proposal only on the west side of the block (along Garland), that would not have touched Hilda or the 26-32 Armstrong building. ML Devco then purchased the adjoining lots in 2019-2020, so that they owned the entire block. In September 2020, a monstrous 23-storey, 304 units building was announced, which was roundly hated by all. The developer came back in April 2021 with a 12-storey proposal, with 252 residential units, essentially the plan that stands today. It remained contentious in the eyes of many, and creates a large sense of fear as a precedent-setter for the neighbourhood along Wellington Street West in the future, allowing high-rise buildings along a traditional main street, and this one is particularly disappointing as it is next to Somerset Square Park. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OiXdT7puhFq2i99CNF3UFSANjeM4BDgmjoGgN9SdPcyDaTPbD5BjJ8b5TJ1R6m3FKufi5Ic85WJRNh5Nk0Wnxchx6Xf-YQWD5JZosBPrlhZkCvixpj_nl-ECOMPyjPQnyfeIYT3OzyeYhEcS-jpNGu5AD8jEO5R6-Lcb9VNSiwVyzUXpEmvtIfOS/s1024/ML%20Devco%20website%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1024" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OiXdT7puhFq2i99CNF3UFSANjeM4BDgmjoGgN9SdPcyDaTPbD5BjJ8b5TJ1R6m3FKufi5Ic85WJRNh5Nk0Wnxchx6Xf-YQWD5JZosBPrlhZkCvixpj_nl-ECOMPyjPQnyfeIYT3OzyeYhEcS-jpNGu5AD8jEO5R6-Lcb9VNSiwVyzUXpEmvtIfOS/s320/ML%20Devco%20website%20photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View looking southwest from Armstrong<br />(Source: ML Devco website)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>According to architect Roderick Lahey in the Cultural Impact Statement for the new build, it is noted that "material section along Armstrong and wrapping around the corner response to the Armstrong House and to the red brick building 26 Armstrong on the corner". Thus the stone and brick look, and grey and red colours of the new building is intentional, taking elements of Carleton Lodge (Armstrong House) and this old brick building that has stood here since 1910 to give some continuity to the site. </div><div><br /></div><div>The plan calls for three of the townhouse units to exist on the site of the current 26-32 Armstrong Street ("The ground floor of the building will be comprised of retail units fronting onto Wellington Street West with groundoriented townhouse dwelling units fronting onto Armstrong Street and wrapping around Garland Street. The townhouse units fronting onto Armstrong Street will be setback from the street, providing private front yards and at-grade amenity space in keeping with the residential character of the street.")</div><div><br /></div><div>Some demolition took place last July and August of the buildings on Wellington. I'm not sure why there is a delay in the demolition of the Armstrong Street houses, but I believe the application to demolish was approved back in February, so it should happen any day. Thus bringing an end to the 123-year history of this unique Hintonburg building.</div></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-8593360004485479972023-05-18T21:28:00.005-04:002023-05-18T21:28:35.936-04:00The Interprovincial LRT that nearly was!<p>I love these kinds of stories! The "what if" scenario. Sometimes they are complete fantasy. Other times, it's something that very nearly almost was. And in my Kitchissippi Times column for May, it is one of those cases. </p><p>Way back in 1898, west end residents grew tired of waiting for the Ottawa Electric Railway company to extend the streetcar lines to the west. False promises had been made since the first tracks were laid in central Ottawa in 1891. So several of the more affluent residents in the Westboro area got together and formed a company, The Ottawa Suburban Railway Company, and planned out an elaborate streetcar network that involved laying tracks to the west to Britannia and beyond, more tracks running south to Hog's Bank, and then on to a station downtown, and building a bridge near the Remic Rapids or Britannia to the Quebec side, with several spurs out to the rural areas of Quebec. </p><p>The plan went all the way to the house of commons, and nearly succeeded. It became highly political, and in the end, of course it didn't happen, but it did make a big difference, and helped bring the streetcars through the west end. </p><p>Read the whole story at the link below! </p><p><a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/05/18/what-kitchissippi-could-have-seen-the-interprovincial-lrt-that-nearly-was/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/05/18/what-kitchissippi-could-have-seen-the-interprovincial-lrt-that-nearly-was/</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRge_fwhfNiE6ZykeZJnBGWzr2Y-PMD_hO_Efm_PEQ4c6t1BclqzAVeED778ccwiAKSexmqtNiueUez-eXHwUWzs-G9qz8dCdWT6DY2rQej0OU625lmr3qqdM019VdcZ3yaWLGJhWektqtJbNgz0Nt6TkbMFxgCyvK7om_ZHQKEQ9axYnMT4XSPtKz/s6093/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Mar_2__1899_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6093" data-original-width="3712" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRge_fwhfNiE6ZykeZJnBGWzr2Y-PMD_hO_Efm_PEQ4c6t1BclqzAVeED778ccwiAKSexmqtNiueUez-eXHwUWzs-G9qz8dCdWT6DY2rQej0OU625lmr3qqdM019VdcZ3yaWLGJhWektqtJbNgz0Nt6TkbMFxgCyvK7om_ZHQKEQ9axYnMT4XSPtKz/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Mar_2__1899_.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen<br />March 2, 1899</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-91539835723924784662023-04-25T11:17:00.000-04:002023-04-25T11:17:00.190-04:00Tunney's Pasture: The Past and Future at Jane's Walk 2023<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgI7-NAzzRPWUEIdXhhDI2ISsYb7NWhnZ50olBPOPzw-Rt80G75deSePVZ8x_ivVAKmMp6BLue_dharJonuIsRkL0axPV_rcYL0gk3VPCVuv4Kzj6lc4YRa-IjOra-VTdCv8oiDEMaaDl6nCgUb1iMzSqrNsqaShh_Kk9srWVJ5JT12gPA24_FerR/s442/logo_en-4fa77543f6a098311953d59699bb7b8f59c2c6974c181e247ed78a13e3d1b512.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="101" data-original-width="442" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgI7-NAzzRPWUEIdXhhDI2ISsYb7NWhnZ50olBPOPzw-Rt80G75deSePVZ8x_ivVAKmMp6BLue_dharJonuIsRkL0axPV_rcYL0gk3VPCVuv4Kzj6lc4YRa-IjOra-VTdCv8oiDEMaaDl6nCgUb1iMzSqrNsqaShh_Kk9srWVJ5JT12gPA24_FerR/w400-h91/logo_en-4fa77543f6a098311953d59699bb7b8f59c2c6974c181e247ed78a13e3d1b512.gif" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I am very happy to announce that on Sunday May 7th, I will be co-leading a Jane's Walk at Tunney's Pasture! <p></p><p>This will be an exciting opportunity to walk the grounds of Tunney's Pasture and talk about both the history of the property, and what is planned as part of the redevelopment plan. I'll be walking with Tara Ouchterlony of Neighbours for Tunney's, to tell stories of the past, and share plans for the future, including details on what community members are pushing for in our important ongoing role at the table as part of the Communities Perspectives Group. </p><p>We'll start the walk just in behind the LRT station at 11 a.m. Sunday the 7th. The walk will take us in a circle of the grounds, down Goldenrod to the grassy area next to the parkway, then along to Parkdale Avenue, and then back up to the LRT station. We'll make 8-10 stops along the way to share a story and information.</p><p>I'm excited to talk about the former residential sections (both planned and actual inside the pasture), the shantytown at the north end, commercial businesses that have existed on the site, other early planned uses, the history of the government campus, including the nuclear reactor and animal testing facilities, and lots more. It will be a jam-packed two hour walk that also has the benefit of spending time outside and getting in a decent walk!</p><p>I've acquired the use of a speaker and microphone that will help in amplifying our voices during the talk. I expect a large crowd, so we'll do our best to ensure everyone can hear! </p><p>To attend, it is recommended you sign up in advance. Please go to the link below and on the right, enter your information in the "Walker Sign-up" section. I look forward to seeing you there!</p><p><a href="https://www.janeswalkottawa.ca/en/walks/janes-walk-ottawa-gatineau-2023/21714">https://www.janeswalkottawa.ca/en/walks/janes-walk-ottawa-gatineau-2023/21714</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy5pkaTN_vzzv4lZEWuzu1J6hXH4enhEuDs22WLS4hY-WfbCfSAqYWXnzK9KeGHjIdMJRSjvK2fB6zbTs6_x1wWZIdoeCqwUJyvqUTP34KOBJ2nP1VqfB3bL_v2UuY-jkfKGpHWEYGMwVPRxFo7PB99iGWAguFuYkWcwqpg1r0R4PaDrCeKheb3sK/s1024/TPR-Aerial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="1024" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy5pkaTN_vzzv4lZEWuzu1J6hXH4enhEuDs22WLS4hY-WfbCfSAqYWXnzK9KeGHjIdMJRSjvK2fB6zbTs6_x1wWZIdoeCqwUJyvqUTP34KOBJ2nP1VqfB3bL_v2UuY-jkfKGpHWEYGMwVPRxFo7PB99iGWAguFuYkWcwqpg1r0R4PaDrCeKheb3sK/s320/TPR-Aerial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wDHJNrtNU2hmwZgzZBnX97s-AvuhLTC3raey8p8oygFWfLUccnea5mGH070a-uWeJYEoBU4MTUTu2pEkiW5s9_nnqzeifJWZ4_ck91MPZpireiGEOX99OBXAvRIv_vdzOR_XMXohmPpEt5g3B0zu49NRLJDstRqLYVclGPA27jyNY0x3zWHdvtZC/s820/tunneyspasture-img2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="820" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wDHJNrtNU2hmwZgzZBnX97s-AvuhLTC3raey8p8oygFWfLUccnea5mGH070a-uWeJYEoBU4MTUTu2pEkiW5s9_nnqzeifJWZ4_ck91MPZpireiGEOX99OBXAvRIv_vdzOR_XMXohmPpEt5g3B0zu49NRLJDstRqLYVclGPA27jyNY0x3zWHdvtZC/s320/tunneyspasture-img2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-73426614379896414312023-04-25T11:05:00.005-04:002023-04-25T11:05:47.161-04:00A (Hockey) League of Their Own: The Westboro Pets<p>I love this story! While researching something else a while back, I came across the story of the Westboro Pets, a women's hockey team from over a century ago. The more I researched, the more amazing the story became! </p><p>You're likely familiar with the old Tom Hanks-Geena Davis movie "A League of Their Own", which brought to life the short-lived but significant popularity experienced by women's baseball during WWII. I was surprised to discover that similarly, during WWI when a large majority of young men were off fighting overseas in WWI, women's hockey experienced an explosion in popularity. And not only that, but one of Canada's top teams was located right here in Westboro! And this was back when Westboro had a population of around 5,000 people. </p><p>So this became my subject for the April edition of the Kitchissppi Times.</p><p>It's an amazing story, and took a look of digging to pull up as many details as I could find. I also searched HARD for a photograph that I know exists somewhere out there, of the team in 1917. I know it exists because it ran in the December 1978 issue of Newswest. A few years ago I acquired the old archive of Newswest from the 70s/80s which contained copies of almost every issue and original photo from the paper in those days, but sadly (and frustratingly) the December 1978 issue is missing, and that team photo was not part of the archives (likely as it had been borrowed). The January 1979 issue made mention of the running of the photo, so I know it's out there somewhere. I have copies of photos of the Ottawa team (the Alerts), but not the Westboro Pets. So if anyone reading this has a copy of it (or miraculously a copy of the December 1978 issue of Newswest) please let me know!</p><p>For now though, please enjoy this article about the establishment of organized women's hockey in Canada, it's population surge during WWI, and how Westboro had a key role in all of it.</p><p><a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/04/21/she-shoots-she-scores-the-history-of-womens-hockey-in-westboro/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/04/21/she-shoots-she-scores-the-history-of-womens-hockey-in-westboro/</a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnkcDfpA04b1ihZlRAVsdCQjxJ7CZg76PiVIQSsIGdKhpmNchrCUMXoRq_WGb14FGioUve3T_O2O92JjcvQr0KdXN2TSNiP99Clkpjja5GtZfP3fVzbGX0i3r2oW1fWwpfuvkJruEfupV0md9nBJ7-ITTzlWeeZr-IC4zcuj8YPjRBUhBx8yM5fiD/s4990/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Feb_16__1917_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3755" data-original-width="4990" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnkcDfpA04b1ihZlRAVsdCQjxJ7CZg76PiVIQSsIGdKhpmNchrCUMXoRq_WGb14FGioUve3T_O2O92JjcvQr0KdXN2TSNiP99Clkpjja5GtZfP3fVzbGX0i3r2oW1fWwpfuvkJruEfupV0md9nBJ7-ITTzlWeeZr-IC4zcuj8YPjRBUhBx8yM5fiD/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Feb_16__1917_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-55636393780961996202023-04-09T16:28:00.001-04:002023-04-09T16:28:23.416-04:00Holland Junction, the Huron-Byron streetcar yards and development<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNHnRhlYc3tzGYi4GUCJQujoCfiqftanpiVTIxzeLUhCbSjXuXe5LOpFbees-YHAojFATUcnsZ8wiIHWjyZ1QjYSvnpJANa051-8gxRp4mALhYFHw2LayKxegD3fs95v3YQ0E_ur9hraKRnSnuzlWefRVEBHMHzo0B32C55QnBykZeUzAa0EfIVYY/s3612/650-Holland%20Jct.-5%EF%80%A215%EF%80%A251-%20%20David%20Knowles%20to%20Bruce%20Chapman%20to%20me%202020-07-18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3612" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNHnRhlYc3tzGYi4GUCJQujoCfiqftanpiVTIxzeLUhCbSjXuXe5LOpFbees-YHAojFATUcnsZ8wiIHWjyZ1QjYSvnpJANa051-8gxRp4mALhYFHw2LayKxegD3fs95v3YQ0E_ur9hraKRnSnuzlWefRVEBHMHzo0B32C55QnBykZeUzAa0EfIVYY/s320/650-Holland%20Jct.-5%EF%80%A215%EF%80%A251-%20%20David%20Knowles%20to%20Bruce%20Chapman%20to%20me%202020-07-18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holland Junction. Looking west from Holland Avenue up<br />Byron. May 15, 1951. (Source: David Knowles)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The March 2023 issue of the Kitchissippi Times had a really fun article to research. It was one of those articles that started off with one narrow subject, but as I researched it, multiple twists and turns emerged. </p><p></p><p>I won't recap the entire article here, I encourage you to click the link below to read the whole thing at the Times website. However, I will share one extra story that got edited for space at the last minute.</p><p>You'll read in the article about how the Agudath Israel had intended to build where the Elmdale Tennis Club eventually did (at the southwest corner of Byron and Holland). And the article notes, correctly, that they instead moved into the old church on Rosemount.</p><p>However, what was left out, which I find kind of neat, was that when Agudath Israel agreed to sell the lots to the province to allow for the construction project of Fisher Park High School, as part of the deal they picked up a block of four adjoining, vacant lots fronting Holland and Huron, just north of Byron. These are the lots where 179-185 Huron Avenue North and 146-152 Holland Avenue now stand. This was plan B for where they were going to build their new synagogue and school. </p><p>For whatever reason, Agudath Isreal decided not long after to abandon this plan, and instead move into the Rosemount Avenue church. They sold the lots to Aurele J. Henry, who, as mentioned in the article, built the nine mostly identical doubles.</p><p>How interesting to think that a Jewish synagogue and school could have been built either where the Elmdale Tennis Club exists today, or in the middle of the Holland-Huron blocks between Byron and Wellington!</p><p>Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the story of the Holland Junction waiting room, the streetcar and city yards, and the rest of this great Kitchissippi history that is revealed in this article!</p><p><a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/03/20/early-days-when-holland-and-byron-was-mostly-railways/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/03/20/early-days-when-holland-and-byron-was-mostly-railways/</a></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3YQt6nOn6hStLXS3kK4RHfBWQ5nEyohRbnxJrT4tu0RSXvtyX-lem1H41FgqK8BSNPNlii5k-OpJVPfygWv38MTDQBQUbxJg994ComY8agrHEobtw_tz0DNGSm5gaDi74GY33kuGVK5_055JocLiBLaxmhr2Y01aV25JHulURIC6kXScD4AK24r0/s837/early%201920s%20-%20Holland%20Junction%2010perc.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="837" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3YQt6nOn6hStLXS3kK4RHfBWQ5nEyohRbnxJrT4tu0RSXvtyX-lem1H41FgqK8BSNPNlii5k-OpJVPfygWv38MTDQBQUbxJg994ComY8agrHEobtw_tz0DNGSm5gaDi74GY33kuGVK5_055JocLiBLaxmhr2Y01aV25JHulURIC6kXScD4AK24r0/s320/early%201920s%20-%20Holland%20Junction%2010perc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Early 1920s view of a streetcar heading past the<br />Holland Junction wait station. Looking northwest<br />at the corner of Holland Byron. (Source: Ottawa's Streetcars)</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-69956279954284898002023-04-08T22:21:00.007-04:002023-04-25T11:37:05.131-04:00Subscribe to the Kitchissippi Museum!<p>To my subscriber list, I apologies for the ongoing issues with the mail-out. I officially hate Blogger/Blogspot and the Mailchimp tool that works so inconsistently. I'm working on fixing all of these issues.</p><p>If you do not already receive the Kitchissippi Museum by email, I encourage you to click on the link at right under "Subscribe to the Museum!".</p><p>Or you can simply click click: <a href="http://eepurl.com/h8dQaH" target="_blank">SUBSCRIBE</a></p><p>You'll receive an email each time there is new content posted to the Kitchissippi Museum! It's a great way to ensure you never miss a post. (You should be receiving the headline/sample of each new post. I realize recently it has been sending empty emails. I'm trying to fix that, and can't explain why it started doing that. When I send a test email, it works. When the official email goes out to the subscriber list, it sends empty.) </p><p>In the meantime, I aspire to revamp this whole website and make it more organized and user-friendly, and to add more types of content. I've been saying that for a long time, and since I'm not really a web page guy, I'm limited as to what I'm able to do (also when it comes down to it, I'll always choose to research and write rather than try to do web page things). But an update/upgrade is long overdue. So stay tuned!</p><p>Thanks for reading and subscribing, I appreciate it!</p>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-27037964813380193592023-04-08T21:38:00.014-04:002023-04-08T22:17:07.358-04:00The Long-time Wellington & Huron Shell Station<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Zx1uIMU1FrrNPKm4G3_eAgns7qTC-CXZV0cqwlwXVZ8EsfQJcqQO_LZRG4yARMjUDJifwhbikOLaVB9m_MaIN1as3Myx4lYg_88wFyLfX7aL2TTkr-oqKijn8-I4fM0b4ulCKxpvYRiBqIdsi3_tyOqQ_U17tpOnAG2HMvDhFLVP5zUhFIfZK8w5/s1351/Oct%202022%20Streetview.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1351" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Zx1uIMU1FrrNPKm4G3_eAgns7qTC-CXZV0cqwlwXVZ8EsfQJcqQO_LZRG4yARMjUDJifwhbikOLaVB9m_MaIN1as3Myx4lYg_88wFyLfX7aL2TTkr-oqKijn8-I4fM0b4ulCKxpvYRiBqIdsi3_tyOqQ_U17tpOnAG2HMvDhFLVP5zUhFIfZK8w5/s320/Oct%202022%20Streetview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>To most residents of the neighbourhood today, the Bank of Montreal parking lot near the intersection of Wellington and Holland is just a boring parking lot for twenty cars accommodating customers of the bank. However, Wellington Village residents with long memories will recall the gas station which existed at this corner for many years. There's quite a bit of history to this parking lot, worth digging into. Through the years I've also collected a few photos of the old station, so it was only a matter of time until I wrote about it! So here we go!</p><p><b><i>Earliest Days</i></b></p><p>The land which today is the BMO parking lot was once about 300 feet inside the western border of the Hinton family farm. The future Huron Avenue was the location of a deep manmade trench that carried away the spring melt waters, and the overflow of Cave Creek, down to the Ottawa River through the Hinton farm. This trench passed underneath old Richmond Road (and Wellington Street as it was renamed to in 1907), along the east side of what is now Huron, and it is likely a decent-sized culvert existed right here in front of where the BMO parking lot now stands. Overtop of the trench on the north side of Wellington in the 1910s, and perhaps even earlier, stood a large, V-shaped billboard with advertising. </p><p>At the big 1920 Wellington Village auction of lots held by the landowners the Ottawa Land Association, John M. Ahearn, the 38-year old assistant manager (and future manager) of the Ottawa Electric Railway (sister company to the Land Association) purchased three prime lots along Wellington Street: adjoining lots 498, 499 and 500. These three lots at the northeast corner of Huron and Wellington were purchased for a total of $1,500 (which is all of the land today constituting the Bank of Montreal building and its parking lot). Ahearn was the nephew of Thomas Ahearn, who established the Ottawa Electric Railway and later the formation of the Ottawa Land Association, which was primarily interested in acquiring land along the future route of the streetcars. </p><p>The younger Ahearn's purchase was likely for investment purposes. An investment which paid off, when he formally sold the three lots in January of 1928 for $3,600, more than doubling his money, just before the economic depression set in. </p><p><b><i>The first service station</i></b></p><p>In April of 1925, Ahearn made a preliminary agreement for sale of just the one lot (lot 500) on the corner of Huron to Victor W. Quigg, who operated an auto garage at 286 Elgin Street.</p><p>Just four months later, in August, a new agreement for sale was made for the same lot, selling it to Henry G. and Colin Campbell. The Campbells were the owners of well-known Ottawa firm Campbell Steel & Iron Works (Henry G. was president and manager; Colin was secretary-treasurer). This business was described as: "Structural Steel engineers, boilermakers, electric welding, forgings, tanks, etc." which was located at 855 Carling Avenue, on the northeast corner of Champagne. The company was in business from 1870 into the 1990s, where the shops on Carling stood until then. </p><p>Anyhow, in late 1925 or early 1926, a very small service station was constructed on this lot. It may have been started by Quigg who bowed out due to costs or some other reason. Or it more likely was built by the Campbells, who were getting in on the new phenomena of automobiles. In the 1920s cars were suddenly everywhere, which created a need for service stations and gas stations. The Campbell brothers evidently were getting in on this opportunity, and acquired a few lots across Ottawa and built small service stations in up-and-coming neighbourhoods.</p><p>At that time in 1925, Wellington Village saw another service station open just a block over, Welch & Davis at the corner of Caroline (which was probably unwelcome competition for the Campbells). Otherwise, there was only the Ottawa West Garage on Wellington just west of Western Avenue (which had opened in 1922), and a garage in Hintonburg at Merton Street.</p><p>The new station at the corner of Huron and Wellington was called the "Holland Service Station", and was assigned the civic address 1251 Wellington Street. A partnership with the Shell Company of Canada saw the installation of two large tanks (one 1000 gallons, the other 500 gallons) and two pumps. It is likely the building was adorned with Shell gasoline signage, and likely the name of the operator. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp50rqb9vaAcoQDK5IZHBJgDq5vxQOt4ma6WD9IT48ynFMPBIu6YA4OrlsxQFBpLL6i-V8r8BKM0s3ALQGu5DY38ZcrcM6lwtw-udIWhowPGwsH_y4vczYqQUdHP3fIkoql5QjhGXHi3TXMRgvL2_tMITStVwXqAGaOENUqzx1ql-0mgqeCnE4GpM/s6996/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Apr_20__1925_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6996" data-original-width="4475" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp50rqb9vaAcoQDK5IZHBJgDq5vxQOt4ma6WD9IT48ynFMPBIu6YA4OrlsxQFBpLL6i-V8r8BKM0s3ALQGu5DY38ZcrcM6lwtw-udIWhowPGwsH_y4vczYqQUdHP3fIkoql5QjhGXHi3TXMRgvL2_tMITStVwXqAGaOENUqzx1ql-0mgqeCnE4GpM/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Apr_20__1925_.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ad from around the time the station opened. <br />The Ottawa Citizen, April 20, 1925.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I've never seen a photograph of this original station, which stood from 1925 to 1938, except for a couple of aerial photos which at least provide some detail on it. The photo below is from May of 1933, and shows the small station in the southwest corner of the lot, with cars parked on either side. A shortcut walking pathway goes in behind. You can see the Thyme & Again building on the left, and scaled against it, it helps show just how small the service station was.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQOrWj2sUkuPwOckuxnjOM55mV4trF__4LS0JGjAyMdk7pghaYrDlFRwmWb23Ttt9I4s9M7jZvnDDYXXhc_2QT1Qb_DSe-MGYLNFsBy_CIvkhxhEuyDzo1pr7lLzcOwYDfS-LBIAfSc5OS7svuSVsEBmRNscsRrN3i5esZ5sKu-zpcIAVB6RJw-qK/s543/1933-05-05%20-%20A4571-14%20-%20crop%20to%20original%20gas%20station%20crop2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQOrWj2sUkuPwOckuxnjOM55mV4trF__4LS0JGjAyMdk7pghaYrDlFRwmWb23Ttt9I4s9M7jZvnDDYXXhc_2QT1Qb_DSe-MGYLNFsBy_CIvkhxhEuyDzo1pr7lLzcOwYDfS-LBIAfSc5OS7svuSVsEBmRNscsRrN3i5esZ5sKu-zpcIAVB6RJw-qK/s320/1933-05-05%20-%20A4571-14%20-%20crop%20to%20original%20gas%20station%20crop2.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Holland Service Station - May 1933</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As mentioned earlier, the formal sale of this lot, as well as the two to the east was made by Ahearn to the Campbells for $3,600 in January of 1928. </p><p>The Holland Service Station was very small in size. The photo below probably is very close to how it would have appeared. The aerial photo above shows a small 1-storey structure, with a large overhang in front that would have helped protect the single car that approached for gas. The two pumps would have looked and been located similarly as well. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cP2uqd7tPrIB41sJRv0IaSVGprggv6c6dgAHmpEaCySrjBhKapMY1khpWzZgBEJS4vdQWi9_EvQZ9kNo4C72m03WWQalDSIbStCZ0TzTn9BU1_UXULtwLBXKBhXejSxIT_BeL12hNcBe7RLwdjbIvcMTlDRM3tsTv0iYZY5B6Bp_-_g8QU-MmRTr/s678/Vintage-Photos-of-Gas-Stations-in-America-from-the-1920s-to-1940s-678x381.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="678" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cP2uqd7tPrIB41sJRv0IaSVGprggv6c6dgAHmpEaCySrjBhKapMY1khpWzZgBEJS4vdQWi9_EvQZ9kNo4C72m03WWQalDSIbStCZ0TzTn9BU1_UXULtwLBXKBhXejSxIT_BeL12hNcBe7RLwdjbIvcMTlDRM3tsTv0iYZY5B6Bp_-_g8QU-MmRTr/s320/Vintage-Photos-of-Gas-Stations-in-America-from-the-1920s-to-1940s-678x381.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sample photo (not of the Holland Service Station)<br />to show how the original station likely appeared</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The station advertised itself in listings as a "service station and gas oils" business, providing "gas, oil and greasing". </p><p>Herman Armstrong was the manager by the summer of 1927 and may have been its inaugural manager. He lived at 42 Caroline Avenue and managed the station until at least 1929, possibly a bit longer. G.R. Allan was the operator in 1932.</p><p>By 1933, 23-year old Lewis Whitney Fuller (at first with a partner Robert J. McKendry) became the new operator of the service station, a role he would keep until 1941. (McKendry would be involved only until about 1935).</p><p>In early-mid 1933, after Fuller and McKendry took over operations, the station changed names and became the "Wellington Service Station". </p><p>Below is a rare ad for the gas station, run in the Ottawa Journal in 1935 (it's the last one on the list). "Subway" refers to the area where Bank Street dipped under the train tracks (now the Queensway) at Catherine Street, creating a 'subway'. The "Subway Service Station" (as it was actually known) was operated by McKendry, so it makes sense the pair would run a listing together, even though the two stations were across town from each other.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JcNFumn2egeNGPxY6JomTpxDEpljnnYj6tXYks9jLL_Gz0enBW6fTTQJ3HuoPeY3ei5Ae4OQrAekuuAdsskM3z1cLO_2EUJiORX6_vPWOJHnNWziaGCboI5nD2GoG6Yp1fqJGpWocskubu-uwEk4QjXkuP-RHE-yHPFwBLL3gc7SKvsuOU9oIsJw/s4149/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__May_4__1935_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4149" data-original-width="3996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JcNFumn2egeNGPxY6JomTpxDEpljnnYj6tXYks9jLL_Gz0enBW6fTTQJ3HuoPeY3ei5Ae4OQrAekuuAdsskM3z1cLO_2EUJiORX6_vPWOJHnNWziaGCboI5nD2GoG6Yp1fqJGpWocskubu-uwEk4QjXkuP-RHE-yHPFwBLL3gc7SKvsuOU9oIsJw/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__May_4__1935_.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal, May 4, 1935</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />This ad below mentions the Fuller station on Wellington, and also lists all of the other Shell stations in town at the time.<br /><p><b></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGjGV2hT99pelk3ynCGA1w6_PGt8RwvIQCOCWSN6kVdeFYo2Iu-uVKJAdGXUZi2ifMDnTBl2L3utXegPo6yqu-NWxvmjPWr7p1BQyknekdJ5CzD0tW9ylquqoAnZ4ZIaF7BsLVBh4twNuHR09ScxEMiT2T43sdYJ7XJGx07vrIGRlHavIiCycBW-D/s4712/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Jul_23__1936_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2931" data-original-width="4712" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGjGV2hT99pelk3ynCGA1w6_PGt8RwvIQCOCWSN6kVdeFYo2Iu-uVKJAdGXUZi2ifMDnTBl2L3utXegPo6yqu-NWxvmjPWr7p1BQyknekdJ5CzD0tW9ylquqoAnZ4ZIaF7BsLVBh4twNuHR09ScxEMiT2T43sdYJ7XJGx07vrIGRlHavIiCycBW-D/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Jul_23__1936_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, July 23, 1936</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><br /></i></b><p></p><p><b><i>The second station</i></b></p><p>On March 22nd, 1938, it was announced that a new service station would soon be built by Shell at Huron and Wellington, replacing the original one (which was only 12-13 years old). This was a significant investment by Shell, as they did not own the property, nor had they owned the first station, but now they would own the new station (on leased land from the Campbells).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCm8ic9EwqGbZLMiu8pGMZHQIZfoCLXXvWqWb11LeDH5j-Mit4_yDUUs8-OOYuuK7qyBqRurlMbXOvPqc00hDcL5-cRROqA1OTw6kEneSQiOMPfk8EdsfV_Y446UNz1JImFizXNVSZWn8juBDPFMswXmsAg0DWkA_jxCSdpmhQRJgrTwXaXsFjKia/s4944/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Mar_22__1938_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2152" data-original-width="4944" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCm8ic9EwqGbZLMiu8pGMZHQIZfoCLXXvWqWb11LeDH5j-Mit4_yDUUs8-OOYuuK7qyBqRurlMbXOvPqc00hDcL5-cRROqA1OTw6kEneSQiOMPfk8EdsfV_Y446UNz1JImFizXNVSZWn8juBDPFMswXmsAg0DWkA_jxCSdpmhQRJgrTwXaXsFjKia/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Mar_22__1938_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal, March 22, 1938</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>These plans was later confirmed when the building permit was noted in the April 2nd newspaper, indicating the Shell Oil Company had taken out a $5,000 permit to build a "cinder and stucco service station". </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zazloCx4XQw42g6PeckHn-foECz6kRrZ6taY_7LYgBfWCE-EABmXOt_u3eyDxMXLfFSoNDCIzLMK8_q7YXilyysilbvrdLZtvqo4yDicmc40d_wl_aCaSwOvSgyWJP9rbQP3Iu5tdjHtPPA3HWkoPVDf5V8chk8oOlc_Cr8UrjS3Gd_MFpmhqWNY/s6974/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__Apr_2__1938_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6974" data-original-width="2759" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zazloCx4XQw42g6PeckHn-foECz6kRrZ6taY_7LYgBfWCE-EABmXOt_u3eyDxMXLfFSoNDCIzLMK8_q7YXilyysilbvrdLZtvqo4yDicmc40d_wl_aCaSwOvSgyWJP9rbQP3Iu5tdjHtPPA3HWkoPVDf5V8chk8oOlc_Cr8UrjS3Gd_MFpmhqWNY/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Sat__Apr_2__1938_.jpg" width="127" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal<br />April 2, 1938</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The new station was to be much larger and have many more features. To compare, the original station had a tax assessed value of just $500 in 1937, but the new station had a $2,600 valuation in 1938. The new building had two halves. The west half was an office, about 30x30 in size, while the larger, eastern half, had bays for cars to be worked on, and was closer to about 50 feet wide, and 25 feet deep, set back just slightly from the office. The building had a light grey stucco finish, with red lettering advertising the Shell name. Two pumps without any overhead covering were placed out front for drive-in service.</p><p>L. Whitney Fuller remained on as operator of the new station, which would have opened by the fall of 1938. </p><p>The building is illustrated in the 1948 fire insurance plan for Ottawa (see below). It appears in blue as it was of cinder block construction. The new Bank of Montreal building is shown next to it, as well as 153 Huron Avenue in behind. The fire plan doesn't share too much detail, though it does note the location of the underground tanks. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4B8qmWZ-_Z4bpPhbpBeIK0QVBss9tgY8T4JOw1PxOWU4zmUcx2McKaXaAliiG4VA5CobatudBLPjm3OaG9hnyHyhKGeNzgSrSmU_RJbmMUQGlPNGJduQEQmtRV9ugs6BbP2bb_17YHHnnJc3Cb5Z-k7ffQopr0r2DNoHTHoA-KXQ9mGxwWw_L3xr/s826/1948%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="826" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4B8qmWZ-_Z4bpPhbpBeIK0QVBss9tgY8T4JOw1PxOWU4zmUcx2McKaXaAliiG4VA5CobatudBLPjm3OaG9hnyHyhKGeNzgSrSmU_RJbmMUQGlPNGJduQEQmtRV9ugs6BbP2bb_17YHHnnJc3Cb5Z-k7ffQopr0r2DNoHTHoA-KXQ9mGxwWw_L3xr/s320/1948%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1948 fire insurance plan</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm glad to say I have a few photos of the gas station, all taken within the same period of about 1949-1958. (If anyone else happens to have any other photos of the station, I would love to see them, and add them to this post!)</p><p>This first photo below doesn't actually show the station unfortunately. It's from a video clip of a vehicle driving east down Wellington approaching Holland. The red and yellow truck or jeep at left would be parked at one of the pumps. The BMO building at left has an awning up:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6JmW9cbM2MLxybxfK8BzKDBVe4HtUAHQkTMZxKzjztv0hR2PXmP9E2en0WOI2mKQX2PmOz0Ec50BDi-a_DAumEPwi-CWgdyIW2ZWaew7L-uOmJT_63a5djufNkXTseWi2wZ6JF5wOixJQg1ygRf9JKhGmk5RcpAnwDT5ed240U5Gcxo2GRc067jr/s680/Safe%20Driving%201949%20video%20screencap%20cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="680" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6JmW9cbM2MLxybxfK8BzKDBVe4HtUAHQkTMZxKzjztv0hR2PXmP9E2en0WOI2mKQX2PmOz0Ec50BDi-a_DAumEPwi-CWgdyIW2ZWaew7L-uOmJT_63a5djufNkXTseWi2wZ6JF5wOixJQg1ygRf9JKhGmk5RcpAnwDT5ed240U5Gcxo2GRc067jr/s320/Safe%20Driving%201949%20video%20screencap%20cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1949. Shell station just out of view on the left.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This photo is from 1957, and is fuzzy because it is the background of another photo, but I've cropped it down to show the Shell station (as well as Higman's Hardware store - now Thyme and Again). </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP1OlvtfPVksPxbwp5LCXFQXIsMsm7VVZI41I0TFyyD9lykR511wODccyLl7taFkPZWGjZVk9KXcw5QOKE0UqUfQBDEbVnTLFvieAtnyJDV5Z4O32RSaoBy1IiaFxIDStfjr6SHFOFZasEOAWI1mToXpM36Vv0UKZLCnkND7Cg6-i2mEip0Q_pdYf/s1271/35b%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1271" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP1OlvtfPVksPxbwp5LCXFQXIsMsm7VVZI41I0TFyyD9lykR511wODccyLl7taFkPZWGjZVk9KXcw5QOKE0UqUfQBDEbVnTLFvieAtnyJDV5Z4O32RSaoBy1IiaFxIDStfjr6SHFOFZasEOAWI1mToXpM36Vv0UKZLCnkND7Cg6-i2mEip0Q_pdYf/s320/35b%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Circa-1957 view (courtesy of Suzanne Abercrombie)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>This next photo, again the gas station shows up in the background, of a photo taken of what was the original Morris Home Hardware location inside the Bank of Montreal building. The photo was taken in the spring of 1958 when the Morris' new building was completed.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpDQaqzTJQP0-ud84NYCGKZIIUAfftIObxATlsVMriS-WDpSh73KJ1iD03KQiw9EfKi4CuhG7E-UH-LatdOZQDPHLUKuGT1MzHSXO-1LyAwWdYT6RrC0ezVKCh4m2NqxtQsFcBWinI0wqL0yqxDXgXqEaagaTmjMaaeSnA2RuCPDP7VsNJ0PU5bNh/s3624/36.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="3624" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpDQaqzTJQP0-ud84NYCGKZIIUAfftIObxATlsVMriS-WDpSh73KJ1iD03KQiw9EfKi4CuhG7E-UH-LatdOZQDPHLUKuGT1MzHSXO-1LyAwWdYT6RrC0ezVKCh4m2NqxtQsFcBWinI0wqL0yqxDXgXqEaagaTmjMaaeSnA2RuCPDP7VsNJ0PU5bNh/s320/36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spring 1958 (courtesy of Mike Morris)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>These are the best two photographs, they come from a National Film Board video I shared previously (<a href="http://kitchissippimuseum.blogspot.com/2020/07/rare-found-video-footage-of-wellington.html">http://kitchissippimuseum.blogspot.com/2020/07/rare-found-video-footage-of-wellington.html</a>) from 1953. There is a nice colour shot of the pumps, and then the station itself:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TMvpEV-L6Zcdf-vi9FQVixk-fszLOnycDvgFFpiMoRiyK3eU_T79-mLABqWzWg3SngzYb0S8zww8h_otK1HEpdzLio1mMSnnlRYm10akTC2MqNK9BRiCrzXO94Cks9xJ_jlZMK20CZOYkzRU4YxvRRUAhjVOgjV0AwlIjK7GuQgjp_H6RPij6P2i/s640/vlcsnap-2020-07-24-09h37m38s584.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TMvpEV-L6Zcdf-vi9FQVixk-fszLOnycDvgFFpiMoRiyK3eU_T79-mLABqWzWg3SngzYb0S8zww8h_otK1HEpdzLio1mMSnnlRYm10akTC2MqNK9BRiCrzXO94Cks9xJ_jlZMK20CZOYkzRU4YxvRRUAhjVOgjV0AwlIjK7GuQgjp_H6RPij6P2i/s320/vlcsnap-2020-07-24-09h37m38s584.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-d4a8_gxI76bfswpS2AwBJSGwKwMRMflP32MJza7NGD0dSDLHURPnR7OG1rbv6J5i6zW3S-AshSagyDiVVVzuskmaaZMEivTJ_RTh1-P1h621VswbPGna_ntMNrVX5Y9hp7JJEAJ1tzmRpcELFVl4RAOlHkkfQhcLVqqOnhZJuRM-uyonshVw8fV/s640/vlcsnap-2020-07-24-09h38m02s228.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-d4a8_gxI76bfswpS2AwBJSGwKwMRMflP32MJza7NGD0dSDLHURPnR7OG1rbv6J5i6zW3S-AshSagyDiVVVzuskmaaZMEivTJ_RTh1-P1h621VswbPGna_ntMNrVX5Y9hp7JJEAJ1tzmRpcELFVl4RAOlHkkfQhcLVqqOnhZJuRM-uyonshVw8fV/s320/vlcsnap-2020-07-24-09h38m02s228.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>By March 1941, a new operator had taken over the Shell station, Norman Edwin Darragh, who ran the station until about 1948. Norm was 26 years old when he took over the station. He was married with a young daughter. He was a former junior and senior amateur hockey player, who had two famous uncles who played in the NHL (including uncle Jack, who was part of the Ottawa Senators in the first year of the NHL). </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qz-2aqbISV8SgbdZ1MvaeBbvdhVRIK6pgJFqC13tLhWoqCJlNmwgWAZxLMO2KZBxaRwqagxlOlnD72gfp6YDa_FvjGJIaihx-wFEth0U6ow-Lro4p02qNex0RyEij1JPH33nyFisa5dxPcL9QoyqwWZVqpopyiqBAamzWg3SMZCHTihf-N9eACul/s6555/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Feb_28__1947_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5783" data-original-width="6555" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qz-2aqbISV8SgbdZ1MvaeBbvdhVRIK6pgJFqC13tLhWoqCJlNmwgWAZxLMO2KZBxaRwqagxlOlnD72gfp6YDa_FvjGJIaihx-wFEth0U6ow-Lro4p02qNex0RyEij1JPH33nyFisa5dxPcL9QoyqwWZVqpopyiqBAamzWg3SMZCHTihf-N9eACul/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Feb_28__1947_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, February 28, 1947</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I recently acquired a cool old matchbook from the Darragh gas station!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6TA5yyc_tErkQHFLbUD2-x20E1u6Pc1xbxPG9VLce3eqW8BL_L8Af5CZjR0nEa0kc5lNcjOa3g1HcdE07B8l3q-M_jGcCTlsWFLx_lyq5NlKmZCDAV91SeOtyJL1aMcBL5EZW8Dxu0QNceRl9fOgianwOL8xp_jpUzMqyZzyOxUHvQW4EM1DVi2b/s1600/Shell%20Norm%20Darragh.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6TA5yyc_tErkQHFLbUD2-x20E1u6Pc1xbxPG9VLce3eqW8BL_L8Af5CZjR0nEa0kc5lNcjOa3g1HcdE07B8l3q-M_jGcCTlsWFLx_lyq5NlKmZCDAV91SeOtyJL1aMcBL5EZW8Dxu0QNceRl9fOgianwOL8xp_jpUzMqyZzyOxUHvQW4EM1DVi2b/s320/Shell%20Norm%20Darragh.jpg" width="135" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matchbook, circa 1946<br />(Source: personal collection)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Norm Darragh and Whitney Fuller actually have a bizarre connection. Around the time Fuller became operator of the original service station (1933), he married Beatrice Bryan. At some point, the couple divorced, and twenty years later in 1953 (after Darragh had left the gas station), Beatrice married Norm Darragh!</div><div><br /></div><div>In May 1946, the Campbells would sell lot 498 to William Haughton who built the Bank of Montreal building. The other two lots (lot 499 and 500) and were sold in March of 1947 by the Campbells to the Shell Oil Company of Canada (who already owned the building on the leased land) for $6,000. </div><br />In 1948, a new operator took over the station, Ed Joiner, who became a big name in the auto service industry in west Ottawa. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04ptaWXEj3mrG50ll0ohdWEU69XED65r2tPojUL-r1wTVMDx1d1nEKIBtaI2xG-yvr1dPjB_-jXSGBlHeG7O7e7Qa7QqxRvvECPf8bWv06axuebyhJbj2yhBLEUMDnv185-U8PQjlzFURaOZdXXYYnXQH502adRSkdw1vzmOiCdJrUX6hzoLt9vy2/s3446/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Aug_4__1964_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3446" data-original-width="1926" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04ptaWXEj3mrG50ll0ohdWEU69XED65r2tPojUL-r1wTVMDx1d1nEKIBtaI2xG-yvr1dPjB_-jXSGBlHeG7O7e7Qa7QqxRvvECPf8bWv06axuebyhJbj2yhBLEUMDnv185-U8PQjlzFURaOZdXXYYnXQH502adRSkdw1vzmOiCdJrUX6hzoLt9vy2/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Aug_4__1964_crop.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In 1952, the Ottawa Citizen profiled 25 year old Paul Dobson, who had come to Ottawa after an incredible young life. He was born in Lisbon, and moved to Athens, Greece at the age of three, and then England at six. He left school in 1943, took a year's farming course, then joined the Royal Marines in WWII. After the war he was located to Germany as a lieutenant with the British occupation force. In 1947, he chose to return to civilian life and moved to Singapore, where he worked at a rubber plantation. He returned in England in 1951, and decided to hitchhike to Athens. After accomplishing that, he returned to England and got paperwork to move to New Zealand. However at the last moment, someone told him about the wonders of Canada and the glories of working as a lumberman in the north. He came here instead. In October of 1952, he arrived in Montreal, ready to work in the bush. He came to Ottawa on the advice of a stranger who told him this was the city for lumberjacks (because just a few miles north you'll find lots of work at a place called Kapuskasing, he was told). Paul discovered it was more than a few miles away, and that lumbering season was over. So he found the position at Joiner's Shell station and took it. "This way, I meet all kinds of Canadians every day, and only by meeting Canadians and getting to know Canada can I decide just what I want to do in my new country", said Dobson. </div><div><br /></div><div>The photo below, taken from the Citizen, shows Dobson working in the Wellington Shell station:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlv20abMBcVgFTZ2qHfWi6lbzahzaukKneXd4LsxlQkRG359dnunL85KMqTqwFhMiPc4k5_g5yRiCT95PFKPldPXHJkXhFu-Dy3FY4l2lLD--lS24_S-MQ4hrR7Kel33rBwnBIz57YekxgRPnpNCY-L5kFCCddfFzOgN5rzu7FGk6pGrfcYkUfQtf/s3501/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Nov_18__1952_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3501" data-original-width="2437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlv20abMBcVgFTZ2qHfWi6lbzahzaukKneXd4LsxlQkRG359dnunL85KMqTqwFhMiPc4k5_g5yRiCT95PFKPldPXHJkXhFu-Dy3FY4l2lLD--lS24_S-MQ4hrR7Kel33rBwnBIz57YekxgRPnpNCY-L5kFCCddfFzOgN5rzu7FGk6pGrfcYkUfQtf/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Tue__Nov_18__1952_crop.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen. November 18, 1952.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>This is just a neat coupon/ad that Joiner ran in the paper in 1954:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqP2WHzGtrqhbRmOK2-tkaq1bilHFBr0ZFBBz3f9C8_9DQQepu7uAnYUiTz1H3xklXh_NB049-BPm2FkK548V_WQWukFSJyrYqE_iFFiaQt72hjnpZshnVWU5Z8Pctv6LmIWb71vOPhxAjcwqTD66T7IOFCrIID1dU0StfG3x9AD2Tb1rG6r8aYPD/s3989/The_Ottawa_Journal_Mon__Apr_12__1954_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2644" data-original-width="3989" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqP2WHzGtrqhbRmOK2-tkaq1bilHFBr0ZFBBz3f9C8_9DQQepu7uAnYUiTz1H3xklXh_NB049-BPm2FkK548V_WQWukFSJyrYqE_iFFiaQt72hjnpZshnVWU5Z8Pctv6LmIWb71vOPhxAjcwqTD66T7IOFCrIID1dU0StfG3x9AD2Tb1rG6r8aYPD/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Mon__Apr_12__1954_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal, April 12, 1954</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Joiner was also a hobbyist race car driver, and had a 1939 Chevrolet customized to advertise his business in the popular auto races at Lansdowne Park. This great photo from 1956 survives:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3biFPPOusuAYB7yaJoF8EE9vBaTtA83qvAdAv42WHS6B7WU5XKy1EyEPMnl-6uu43Lxzhst9oiPLp1casBLL1G0aclrgF1FUIg3QoFk-bkFY5SBz6id-ng3chYMnr_pn_nTRuGTzRtG2sJ25cISJ6V8wXp2A2KdfjhY7LE60S8keAsw4kQ51KBZZ/s1000/Ed%20Joiner%20-%201939%20Chev%20in%20the%20pits%20June%206%201956%20-%20photo%20by%20Ted%20Grant,%20courtsey%20Ottawa%20Archives.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3biFPPOusuAYB7yaJoF8EE9vBaTtA83qvAdAv42WHS6B7WU5XKy1EyEPMnl-6uu43Lxzhst9oiPLp1casBLL1G0aclrgF1FUIg3QoFk-bkFY5SBz6id-ng3chYMnr_pn_nTRuGTzRtG2sJ25cISJ6V8wXp2A2KdfjhY7LE60S8keAsw4kQ51KBZZ/s320/Ed%20Joiner%20-%201939%20Chev%20in%20the%20pits%20June%206%201956%20-%20photo%20by%20Ted%20Grant,%20courtsey%20Ottawa%20Archives.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ed Joiner's car "in the pits" at Lansdowne Park<br />June 6, 1956. Photo by Ted Grant. Courtesy Ottawa Archives.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As business grew, and traffic in the west end grew (particularly with the establishment of the Tunney's Pasture campus), Joiner briefly operated at a second location in 1957-1958, 24 Richmond Road at Piccadilly (where The Piccadilly condo building now stands).</div><div><br /></div><div>In the spring of 1958, Ottawa instituted a new Sunday closing bylaw, which allowed Joiner to be closed on Sunday for the first time, enabling him to spend the day with his family. He had a life with little time to himself, being open every day except Christmas. In an interview with the Citizen, he welcomed the extra rest, noting that every day was a hard day of work, from opening the station at 8:30 in the morning until close. "Got to (hustle) if you want to make a success of this business", he said. "The term 'service' means just that. If you want to make and keep customers you've got to keep moving." </div><div><br /></div><div>Joiner noted that he saw the neighbourhood service station as an institution which plays an important role in the community. "One of the operator's biggest rewards is the number of friendships he makes. Actually in addition to giving all kinds of free service, he has to operate a combination first-aid and comfort station, garage, information bureau and check-cashing agency", wrote the Citizen. "Ed reached in behind the counter and produced a little tin box. It was crammed with checks which he had accepted over the years - checks which had bounced. "Sometimes I figure I'm not as good a judge of human nature as I'd like to think I am", he grinned."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Unless a service station operator is careful he can become the Patsy for all kinds of smoothies", said the Citizen. "He's been given 'bargains' in everything from electric razors to signet rings by 'stranded' motorists who 'needed gas and a few bucks to get back home."</div><div><br /></div><div>"But a guy has to take a chance once in a while" Ed added. "In most cases the chap with the hard luck story is an honest Joe, and you're glad to help him out."</div><div><br /></div><div>The interview finishes with a great conclusion: "Ed likes to think that he's representative of service station operators as a whole - a guy who can always manage a grin even when there are more cranks around than there are crankcases."</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TNqtCCPsaWKAZkjZeixQhl6wCqbyOyFGdy3vg59UimiWE2TpDDg3coRIE_NSjJYT4_Og3IFrux-aDvu2BiNgoXXykrhNJ9m4iercsXswMwi7tEQDjSkd-QD5BMeM8zSm3LAx4DOaUi2PtcgFnYjqVWHMZbgeVILWGBJiSiHphfp9ACZZl-qCDCe1/s2694/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Apr_28__1958_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="2694" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TNqtCCPsaWKAZkjZeixQhl6wCqbyOyFGdy3vg59UimiWE2TpDDg3coRIE_NSjJYT4_Og3IFrux-aDvu2BiNgoXXykrhNJ9m4iercsXswMwi7tEQDjSkd-QD5BMeM8zSm3LAx4DOaUi2PtcgFnYjqVWHMZbgeVILWGBJiSiHphfp9ACZZl-qCDCe1/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Apr_28__1958_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, April 28, 1958</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In early 1960, the province announced it was going to begin enforcement of an old provincial law that forbid gas station operators from performing auto repairs. A mechanic's license was required to perform repairs. Long-time operators who had added repairs to the simpler tasks of gas sales and oil changes that they performed, suddenly found themselves without the ability to do a large part of their business. In an interview with the Journal, Joiner noted that he wasn't allowed to "fix so much as a tailpipe or replace a muffler", which was going to force him out of business. The move forced the closure of many gas stations in Ottawa, and created long waits at licensed mechanics. </div><div><br /></div><div>As a result of this, Joiner gave up his station at Wellington and Huron, and instead took his car knowledge to the car sales business at Guest Motors in Hull.</div><div><br /></div><div>In late 1960 or early 1961, the shop was taken over by Marty Quinn. Marty was 43 years old and a resident of Aylmer.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbB7BSU-ZaV-rsD5yljmRxBMeJTpFScsDd8yOYB-JY3hY58XdbcSGd7gY-wVyYlghXd3C4tv73AwriLwuHSLhOthqvhhZ2QGQ8vekOdq6vrVqy62jFYJA_zlzwqUXdAS3Dsub_CXpAWhqFxo2e-boQeWvFss7hwQ4aAlNEcU1LW3TnsWa0v9_1lVf/s4577/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Jan_22__1962_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4577" data-original-width="4494" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbB7BSU-ZaV-rsD5yljmRxBMeJTpFScsDd8yOYB-JY3hY58XdbcSGd7gY-wVyYlghXd3C4tv73AwriLwuHSLhOthqvhhZ2QGQ8vekOdq6vrVqy62jFYJA_zlzwqUXdAS3Dsub_CXpAWhqFxo2e-boQeWvFss7hwQ4aAlNEcU1LW3TnsWa0v9_1lVf/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Jan_22__1962_.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen. January 22, 1962</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The photo below was taken around this time (circa 1961), and shows Albert Legault of Albert's Flowers (1302 Wellington) standing next to one of the pumps. Amazing, he is holding a lit cigarette! His son Jeff Legault shared the photo with me, and shared my wonder as to why the photo was taken. "I'm guessing this was taken early 1960s sometime before he died in November 1965. I was only 7 when he passed away but I remember him wearing that flannel shirt all the time. I inherited the shirt a few years later." wrote Jeff. "He smoked Black Cat cigarettes and House of Lords panatellas." As the Victoria Tea Room across the street closed in 1961, it dates the photo to around then.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafdLx8nXReU6H7ZhLeBIeIDb9hjYXnru5zacX2-GfaRAYPfhIAFQd60WjdV3HOnAA3ZFvu_OUwfqQyIzNO0XkCYcRPbqKITdWYOep6lddTK3sHjvj4yr_jJ5Q5slUfa3gD4Gin37frndzrANr_brrupPoP81LPQ42AKHpjFby9fIu_KyLBSb9KpK4/s2016/albert2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafdLx8nXReU6H7ZhLeBIeIDb9hjYXnru5zacX2-GfaRAYPfhIAFQd60WjdV3HOnAA3ZFvu_OUwfqQyIzNO0XkCYcRPbqKITdWYOep6lddTK3sHjvj4yr_jJ5Q5slUfa3gD4Gin37frndzrANr_brrupPoP81LPQ42AKHpjFby9fIu_KyLBSb9KpK4/s320/albert2.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Albert Legault, circa 1961 at the Shell<br />station, Huron and Wellington.<br />(Courtesy of Jeff Legault)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Marty passed away suddenly at age 51 in April of 1969, and Ed Joiner took over running the shop for a few months for Shell, as did Gus Georgitsos and John (not sure of his last name) of "Gus and John's" (who had taken over the Piccadilly and Wellington shop in the late 1960s - and which remained open into the early 2000s). It became "Ron's Service Station" in 1970, around which time it ceased being a Shell station. </div><div><br /></div><div>It became Ottawa Transmission, a repair shop for a couple of years between 1972-1973. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykTlXkrjmGJb2bVaAhKLJHC4wcpKnD0QB5jNoRUuF5YRvnTux0dn4mxLkmzAJgQ7vFA4vbeOJjugBcbpCwH3RWLfWCoKUWrosJRfRojZ5t-zpcwXhEd5W0q-F6XnNA2WufpO_u7DVq0h342soppol_4n8FMvM-NtRmgApFmM-KRPiPV4l075DMvBx/s4496/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Mar_10__1972_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="4496" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykTlXkrjmGJb2bVaAhKLJHC4wcpKnD0QB5jNoRUuF5YRvnTux0dn4mxLkmzAJgQ7vFA4vbeOJjugBcbpCwH3RWLfWCoKUWrosJRfRojZ5t-zpcwXhEd5W0q-F6XnNA2WufpO_u7DVq0h342soppol_4n8FMvM-NtRmgApFmM-KRPiPV4l075DMvBx/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Mar_10__1972_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen. March 10, 1972.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>The parking lot era begins</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Shell sold the property in August 1971 to Palmer Kavanagh Inc., who sold in September 1973 to the Bank of Montreal, who I believe still own the property to date.</div><div><br /></div><div>The station was demolished soon after the Bank of Montreal acquired the lots. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, it is now fifty years later, and this space remains a parking lot, though one wonders for how much longer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq5lSIA7-yuDsZXmJEFPG1pTZVmDjGQkV2yhX1JBkCDELxS7Qk7wBmq0QpEd0Yfh4mYoA9592W4nAlECn2ne6qwFPC9WnBI6ttvuh93bXgSY2bst79bkX6AoRBa4odxHe2rFl5-CWYkxKbM4na535jadogbBXf56oWe7U-V_OFcQNEiYGNb3lytZk/s1288/Streetview2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1288" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYq5lSIA7-yuDsZXmJEFPG1pTZVmDjGQkV2yhX1JBkCDELxS7Qk7wBmq0QpEd0Yfh4mYoA9592W4nAlECn2ne6qwFPC9WnBI6ttvuh93bXgSY2bst79bkX6AoRBa4odxHe2rFl5-CWYkxKbM4na535jadogbBXf56oWe7U-V_OFcQNEiYGNb3lytZk/s320/Streetview2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-34401486632948718392023-02-20T12:00:00.001-05:002023-04-08T22:36:13.305-04:00Independent Coal and Lumber - so much history on the Metropole site<p>My February column in the Kitchissippi Times goes over the history of the Metropole site in Westboro, which has an amazing history, that I could only scratch the surface on in an article of limited size. Independent Coal and Lumber was a fixture in the neighbourhood for many years, not only employing a large number of local residents, but providing the materials to build and heat many Kitchissippi homes.</p><p>There is also a bit of the story of the short-lived Riverside Terrace housing subdivision that came and went in barely a decade, and the construction of the Metropole itself. </p><p>There is a lot more to the history of this site, and I hope to expand on this in the near future here in the Museum. For now, enjoy the article, and the bonus photos below!</p><p>To view the article, click on over to the Times website at: <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2023/02/20/early-days-from-klondike-to-westborohow-coal-and-lumber-shaped-western-ottawa/">https://kitchissippi.com/2023/02/20/early-days-from-klondike-to-westborohow-coal-and-lumber-shaped-western-ottawa/</a></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczfer6S5Cbf5ko6JbLn_PEoyUYFZSxi0szt7V_qnwweNkfWXJF_3XwdIQLitEhOvA5sfvPRg0Ymq_LYTGBcngB0e9rMYKKWgov6cuWsJZbNseafbl5yR4D5lGB8ECFJZfC9Moq4vQbM6AfdlUc5iqwRDsuFuqrd_kUEWyZ9Q3O4_hnFRYsiLMSGxI/s2191/75%20-%20CA-8225%20-%201961-04%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20crop.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="2191" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczfer6S5Cbf5ko6JbLn_PEoyUYFZSxi0szt7V_qnwweNkfWXJF_3XwdIQLitEhOvA5sfvPRg0Ymq_LYTGBcngB0e9rMYKKWgov6cuWsJZbNseafbl5yR4D5lGB8ECFJZfC9Moq4vQbM6AfdlUc5iqwRDsuFuqrd_kUEWyZ9Q3O4_hnFRYsiLMSGxI/s320/75%20-%20CA-8225%20-%201961-04%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20crop.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Independent Coal and Lumber - April 1961<br />(City of Ottawa Archives - CA-8225)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbs1IhFAW_hlodliXhGR3XXr2s8L4yCNpcyN3iLF13knxpWvzr-fFy1SjnGPGQPKQ4ZuIRcWO1Su7kyQ4D_5T_RkFBBrtcBqgwwCUhrfJpxXFeaORGztQv8xraUtCuDX5OmZfc7AcU-UNoCzV-PzMkChSVWONur3SIZDRit9k2R-cGclehxEwq8pEm/s1850/81%20-%20Scan1457%20-%201965-09-25%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20and%20Lumber%20-%208798%20pushing%20cars%20up%20the%20ramp%20to%20the%20plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="1850" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbs1IhFAW_hlodliXhGR3XXr2s8L4yCNpcyN3iLF13knxpWvzr-fFy1SjnGPGQPKQ4ZuIRcWO1Su7kyQ4D_5T_RkFBBrtcBqgwwCUhrfJpxXFeaORGztQv8xraUtCuDX5OmZfc7AcU-UNoCzV-PzMkChSVWONur3SIZDRit9k2R-cGclehxEwq8pEm/s320/81%20-%20Scan1457%20-%201965-09-25%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20and%20Lumber%20-%208798%20pushing%20cars%20up%20the%20ramp%20to%20the%20plant.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Independent Coal and Lumber yard - pushing cars up<br />the ramp to the plant. September 1965.<br />(Courtesy of Bruce Chapman)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Qdn_DOz6NmU8BAsEo0aGaIksHZhrPNtE-APXItWNJtB3gscYfC4T-fLlaKRVWNCdPmD-SpnZ3a8mOTeiqTBDxs4p5-OzgN_XJFbfIHWT9zQNugvEo3YCqc68VcySKySxPLEAeBeiEqCkcPKkBqsChE_VsNOBgg92YUGr1YHEob8igM9MZjCYCWu-/s1828/80-SCA~1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1828" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Qdn_DOz6NmU8BAsEo0aGaIksHZhrPNtE-APXItWNJtB3gscYfC4T-fLlaKRVWNCdPmD-SpnZ3a8mOTeiqTBDxs4p5-OzgN_XJFbfIHWT9zQNugvEo3YCqc68VcySKySxPLEAeBeiEqCkcPKkBqsChE_VsNOBgg92YUGr1YHEob8igM9MZjCYCWu-/s320/80-SCA~1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The CPR line, looking east down Scott Street. The train<br />is switching onto the siding to Independent Coal and Lumber.<br />September 1965. (Courtesy of Bruce Chapman)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-5281355773588521582023-01-26T00:00:00.000-05:002023-01-26T00:00:03.271-05:00The 1934 Hintonburg-Island Park Drive Teenaged Car Chase and Shootout<p>I recently came across a fantastic story. It was about an event I'd never heard about, and subsequent Googling/searching found no traces of it on the internet anywhere. An incredible story from 90 years ago? That took place largely within Kitchissippi? And had a ton of details? How could I not bring this back to life. </p><p>So my article today is a long one. But it's a good story. </p><p>In the early 1930s, automobiles were still a bit of a novelty. And they were easy to steal. For the most part, however, they weren't stolen to be stripped for valuable parts or sent internationally in a sea can for resale. They were largely stolen by bored teenagers for a joyride. In this story, two Lisgar kids, who had done their share of reading about true crime and idolized John Dillinger, decided to take a joyride a step further, and rob a store. However, when the police moved in on them, they ran - and an incredible chase took the youths all through Hintonburg and down Island Park Drive, with gunfire, commandeered taxis and a chase through the Champlain Park woods. There are many crazy pieces to this story, and some sad endings as well. </p><p>So set aside some time, and enjoy the story!</p><p>* * *</p><p>By all accounts, Daniel Nigra and Maynard Richardson were two normal teenagers who were enjoying their summer break off school in the summer of 1934. They both attended Lisgar Collegiate during the 1933-34 school year and had plans to go back in the fall. </p><p>Daniel was 16 years old, and he and his family lived at 376 Frank Street, between Bank and O'Connor. He was the son of immigrant parents, his father Dominique was born in Italy, and married Daniel's mother Mary in England in 1907, before the couple came to Canada in 1909. He had two older brothers, Dominique Jr and Peter. Dominique held various jobs during the depression, working occasionally as a clothing store clerk, and as a hotel keeper.</p><p>Daniel Nigra had been a cadet at Lisgar, and was also a member of the local No. 4 Machine Gun Battalion, and was considered an excellent marksman.</p><p>Maynard Richardson meanwhile was 15, and lived at 370 Chapel Street, the middle child of Gordon and Agnes Richardson. Gordon was employed as a grocer, and the family certainly had its challenges, appearing in newspapers throughout the years for various reasons (hosting an illegal gambling game, running a nursing home without a permit, assisting in an alleged abortion, and eventually, the divorce requested by Gordon, which, in 1945 was a rarity, requiring application to the Supreme Court). </p><p>Maynard and his Mom had actually avoided near death just four years prior in the fall of 1930 when they were the only survivors in their car of four people that crashed in Smiths Falls during a pleasure trip. The two had been unconscious and in critical condition following the single-vehicle crash, but recovered fully. </p><p>Their lives would forever change on a warm Saturday afternoon in August of 1934.</p><p>* * *</p><p>The Honourable Charles Murphy was a long-time Liberal MP, holding the post representing the electoral district of Russell from 1908 to 1925. During that time, he held several cabinet roles under Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mackenzie King such as Secretary of State for External Affairs, Secretary of State for Canada, and Postmaster General of Canada. Upon stepping down in 1925, he was appointed to the Senate by King, a role he filled until his death. He was a local boy, born in Ottawa during the city's infancy, in 1862. He became a lawyer, and soon emerged quickly through the ranks as a politician. He was the "anti-thesis of a yes man", a great organizer and intellectual, who preferred not to discuss politics when amongst friends and family. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5Qrn4uK-J9urrVHEH_NwneLaTBgb35-g5XTotuNDcKPbFIRyF5goV--rmN9amDU4aizv76t0zxEax9qPoxOc7GMMwVUzJ-YqfThPPcJK957U5IH4wV8_PotDolXvTPUZxBas4FJ6YpUaj6PtcVvn19K1qM6bXKVnvKmYTXJY04R7dKnHlk1pg3R4/s230/Murphy%20pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="142" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5Qrn4uK-J9urrVHEH_NwneLaTBgb35-g5XTotuNDcKPbFIRyF5goV--rmN9amDU4aizv76t0zxEax9qPoxOc7GMMwVUzJ-YqfThPPcJK957U5IH4wV8_PotDolXvTPUZxBas4FJ6YpUaj6PtcVvn19K1qM6bXKVnvKmYTXJY04R7dKnHlk1pg3R4/s1600/Murphy%20pic.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hon. Charles Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>By August of 1934, Murphy was 71 years old, and in failing health (he would pass away a year later). He needed assistance in his day-to-day life, and that included the services of a chauffeur, William Orr, who would drive him about town in Murphy's impressive, high-powered Packard Straight Eight, which was valued at $4,600 (almost $93,000 in present-day money).</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJI6s7vHB3x6-wUgZtEXZkz2UUVgomkZDFcTLXAy57_zfcjeyUL_ljSapi1RiwWMqQcxPZnu87LgL-gH8KIVb7_UJPfX6wSmudvbRL6n5tIa-8WWcXgCSbpXHK5Urd1yMijkkMqOvzjSBc6Nj-VgvGTt8C0EJW4bvVhhZ7U6-wCf_A2UJ_MDXg6QE/s940/1934_packard_1101-24-coupe_9bbf4e97-b7a7-4477-bc6e-14b213389128-93914.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="940" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJI6s7vHB3x6-wUgZtEXZkz2UUVgomkZDFcTLXAy57_zfcjeyUL_ljSapi1RiwWMqQcxPZnu87LgL-gH8KIVb7_UJPfX6wSmudvbRL6n5tIa-8WWcXgCSbpXHK5Urd1yMijkkMqOvzjSBc6Nj-VgvGTt8C0EJW4bvVhhZ7U6-wCf_A2UJ_MDXg6QE/s320/1934_packard_1101-24-coupe_9bbf4e97-b7a7-4477-bc6e-14b213389128-93914.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Example of a 1934 Packard Standard Eight car</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Saturday August 11th, 1934. 2:15 p.m.<br /></i></p><p>William Orr parked Senator Murphy's outside his own home on Lewis Street near Elgin. He left the keys in the ignition (which was commonly done back in the early days of cars), and went inside for only a short time. When he came back outside, the car was gone.</p><p>The police were informed and a bulletin sent out to all policemen to watch out for the stolen Packard.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Saturday evening, 9:15 p.m.</i></p><p>Daniel and Maynard parked the Packard on Findlay Avenue by the corner of Bronson Avenue in the Glebe, and walked around the corner to a small drug store. </p><p>The drug store was a small, nondescript little spot, in an old brick building on the south-east corner of Bronson and Findlay, which featured the Lakeside Grocery on one end, and William Blair's Drug Store at 1011 Bronson Avenue on the far end. It also had a handful of small apartments upstairs. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWsJlgP0KxWCZProLkm-abReFcFu02pGVmRInysYZN4cHNmkaJSzPC6_lUpW2rBpaUHfdZpFA89sjA2D8SBTJF9tVCWqD-IYfbpq1ZXLh7xFbXO5MICoMgBWAWyi2uHAybzQGITpFc1xk5MN26-m2CFvdgZthe-3fXJ6DBZcj91bmheOvnLwSYC3S/s1539/1005%20Bronson%20in%20August%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1539" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWsJlgP0KxWCZProLkm-abReFcFu02pGVmRInysYZN4cHNmkaJSzPC6_lUpW2rBpaUHfdZpFA89sjA2D8SBTJF9tVCWqD-IYfbpq1ZXLh7xFbXO5MICoMgBWAWyi2uHAybzQGITpFc1xk5MN26-m2CFvdgZthe-3fXJ6DBZcj91bmheOvnLwSYC3S/s320/1005%20Bronson%20in%20August%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">August 2022 Google Streetview of where 1011 Bronson<br />Avenue was once located - the treed lot on the southeast<br />corner of Findlay. The building was demolished in 1959.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYlsTUsZ0AuR-8Y6gN6a8oXfScxvF8h04AQ0o4jbxMhb6DDdjhGteKue70S0MXfzDG8Tg8qk4GN3hLLCcnCKQ0K5togh581_LTbzr_daASv_hRAPi0lS31JVvHOJdu8eSW_SEaHBqEA0wwg5cmdrg8icoMpj25LQDZy_tOxFqrCEJ_jeBB_TZJnBr/s1577/Findlay%20Ave%20looking%20west%202022%20August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1577" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYlsTUsZ0AuR-8Y6gN6a8oXfScxvF8h04AQ0o4jbxMhb6DDdjhGteKue70S0MXfzDG8Tg8qk4GN3hLLCcnCKQ0K5togh581_LTbzr_daASv_hRAPi0lS31JVvHOJdu8eSW_SEaHBqEA0wwg5cmdrg8icoMpj25LQDZy_tOxFqrCEJ_jeBB_TZJnBr/s320/Findlay%20Ave%20looking%20west%202022%20August.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">August 2022 Google Streetview looking west up Findlay<br />Avenue towards Bronson Avenue. The boys parked<br />Senator Murphy's Packard on this visible block.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tOxu_E2VkjhPZT5FsVT7YijzLkolN7A5mJZc-7po5bejpWOhbd2OCiT3b5aXFBeAkyNsvTsQQ7girV6TktZcoFFthYt5pq0DVDAApZIQQ14Tu1lw76lLPYzbsa4Z9vPxfv_7b_DeLgL6lQHxmQZCh4HwDuvMFMtZgmaD5-uuICoaZQGyPZOIPTiP/s1191/1948%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1191" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tOxu_E2VkjhPZT5FsVT7YijzLkolN7A5mJZc-7po5bejpWOhbd2OCiT3b5aXFBeAkyNsvTsQQ7girV6TktZcoFFthYt5pq0DVDAApZIQQ14Tu1lw76lLPYzbsa4Z9vPxfv_7b_DeLgL6lQHxmQZCh4HwDuvMFMtZgmaD5-uuICoaZQGyPZOIPTiP/s320/1948%20fire%20plan%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1948 fire insurance plan showing the building fronting<br />Bronson Avenue, at the corner of Findlay. (I could not<br />find a vintage photo of the building to include)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At this time of night, the grocery store was likely closed, and the drug store was nearing closing time.</p><p>One of the teenagers, Richardson, wearing a brown suit walked in through the front door. He approached a customer at the front cash and asked where Sidney Street was. The customer told him that it's just around the corner. The teen thanked him, and quickly left the shop. </p><p><i>Saturday evening, 9:25 p.m.</i></p><p>A few minutes later, Richardson returned to the drug store, accompanied by Nigra, who was also dressed exceptionally well, and inside they immediately meet the owner William Morrow Blair, and his 14-year old delivery boy Norman Smith.</p><p>"I happened to be in the store on Saturday night" explained Blair later, "because my manager Albert Barnes was taking the evening off. With me was young Norman Smith, our delivery boy, whom we usually refer to as 'Smitty' and who is known to most of his friends by that name. I had just finished telephoning and was reaching up for a bottle of medicine when in came the two men walking abreast of each other. At first I did not notice that they had guns in their hands.</p><p>Half-turning his head, Blair said to the boys "Well, what can I do for you?"</p><p>"Put up your hands! Put up your hands!" one of the two commanded.</p><p>"I thought it was a joke at first" Blair later said. Blair took a closer look and saw that they were standing side by side, with revolvers in their hands. "One of them had his gun resting in the crook of his left arm, which he had folded over his right arm."</p><p>"They were mighty ugly looking weapons too", noted Blair.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr76vSPNvyNe13LE3Ys-vp0BoJkmm9AwPFoe5t_c-TtxoboW2RlL5l1vkzq7Wd54Z93HMtMHfuW8XmfNX3kQC8YA-d4WllmXsk60GxkkY2uzqzJnaRI2UsQvD2KMok_Y1atKuyz80-GyfPxH5tLEWRQXi2-cOD3fOIMjIOCaT0a9Dr70ElMlmEVydy/s1217/William%20Blair%20photo%20Ancestry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="821" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr76vSPNvyNe13LE3Ys-vp0BoJkmm9AwPFoe5t_c-TtxoboW2RlL5l1vkzq7Wd54Z93HMtMHfuW8XmfNX3kQC8YA-d4WllmXsk60GxkkY2uzqzJnaRI2UsQvD2KMok_Y1atKuyz80-GyfPxH5tLEWRQXi2-cOD3fOIMjIOCaT0a9Dr70ElMlmEVydy/s320/William%20Blair%20photo%20Ancestry.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Druggist William Blair<br />undated photo (source: Ancestry)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Blair was still reaching for the bottle on the shelf, and was told "Don't reach for that bottle or I'll plug you!" by one of the boys, living their gangster dream.</p><p>Daniel and Maynard ordered Blair to stay just where he was, which was tricky as he still had his back to them. Young Smitty was facing the hold-up men, and surely nervous at the escalating situation. "Don't mind, Smitty, it will be all over in a few minutes", said Blair to comfort Smith.</p><p>"The two men then backed us into the dispensary to the rear of the store proper and started to look around. One of them picked up about $10 worth of cigarettes. One of the men appeared to be about 24 years of age and had a sallow complexion, dark hair and was of slim build. He wore a brown suit and a light grey hat or a cap. The other fellow appeared to be about the same age, perhaps a little older, was dark-complexioned and had dark hair, and wore a blue coat. He was also a slimly built man. Both of them spoke English without a trace of any foreign accent", reported Blair.</p><p>It was at this point, that the robbery takes an interesting twist.</p><p>While all this was going on, Stewart H. McKay of Carleton Motor Sales was walking along Bronson Avenue. He stopped suddenly as he recognized the parked Packard. He recognized it since he was the one who had sold it to Senator Murphy! McKay had a hunch something was wrong, as he knew Murphy lived uptown on MacLaren Street and was not likely to be in the Glebe, especially at that late hour.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL4XSl76-yu6bJjGD2Cya8iCgjjsyWWknIFBZGvOXPP35s2lEYSZEM6AWnmCTJJh9W4Y9Jaz5CQE1CmKLM6o6G5UrqIjK2ZY1q-PWnw6cPo15YNib238t-QWQ1_fiOPbwngn5It_M4u-X5hPlkuSemxKEXYXo4CXoEe-YbyK8tI75utJa0Uq7-YQw/s576/CA018249-W%20-%20Carleton%20Motor%20Sales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="576" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL4XSl76-yu6bJjGD2Cya8iCgjjsyWWknIFBZGvOXPP35s2lEYSZEM6AWnmCTJJh9W4Y9Jaz5CQE1CmKLM6o6G5UrqIjK2ZY1q-PWnw6cPo15YNib238t-QWQ1_fiOPbwngn5It_M4u-X5hPlkuSemxKEXYXo4CXoEe-YbyK8tI75utJa0Uq7-YQw/s320/CA018249-W%20-%20Carleton%20Motor%20Sales.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carleton Motor Sales - at the northeast corner of Bank<br />and Glebe (now La Strada restaurant). There was a showroom<br />in the lower corner, and a large garage adjoining at back.<br />1934 photo (Source: City of Ottawa Archives CA-018249)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>McKay looked inside the car and was astounded to see a heavy, leather-covered billy club or blackjack sitting on the front seat. "I knew at once the car had been stolen and I reached in and pulled out the ignition key, put it into my pocket and walked around the corner to Mr. Blair's drug store to telephone the police" said McKay stated.</p><p>He didn't think anything was amiss when he first entered, as he saw the four people standing at the back, seemingly just talking.</p><p>"I've just found a stolen car. I want to phone the police station. Can I use your phone?" asked McKay, still ignorant of the fact that a hold-up was in progress. One of the robbers answered "yes", and McKay picked up a telephone directory to look for the police number (this was of course the days before 911, when a local police station had to be called directly). </p><p>After McKay had entered the store, one of the robbers told Blair in a low voice to lower his hands, but kept his gun on him all the while.</p><p>McKay somehow struggled with finding the number, then dropped the book, and turned to the silent group and asked one of the group if they knew the police department number. With that, Richardson, who had been concealing the weapon, turned it on McKay and ordered him to be quiet and waved Blair and Smith to the back door.</p><p>"Don't try to touch any bottles" one of the boys warned Smith on the way, "because my fingers are a little nervous."</p><p>"The one in the light brown suit then motioned me to go out the rear door where there is a narrow step and then he pushed Smitty out after me keeping us covered all the while and cautioning us not to make any suspicious move", recounted Blair. "From his position in the back of the store he could thus keep all three of us covered with his gun. The man in the blue suit now opened the cash register and took out the money which amounted to about $40."</p><p>With the money and cigarettes in hand, the two thieves told the group to stay where they were, and took off out the store and ran around to their car, dropping packages of cigarettes along the way. Of course when they got back to the Packard, the keys were no longer inside! </p><p>In brazen fashion, they ran back into the Blair Drug Store, and caught McKay with the phone in hand trying to get the police station once again. </p><p>They asked where the keys were and McKay responded that he had them. One of the boys came over, thrust a revolver in McKay's face and said "That's fine, Buddy. You can just hand 'em over again.". </p><p>McKay later commented to police that he'd had $200 in cash on him, but the thugs did not go through his pockets, focused only on getting the keys back.</p><p>"As soon as they snatched the keys from Mr. McKay's hand they dashed out of the store and very soon we heard their car start up. They turned the corner at a fair speed and went south along Bronson Avenue crossing Bronson Avenue bridge and heading into Ottawa South", said Blair.</p><p>The car was last seen turning east from Bronson on to Sunnyside Avenue. </p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Saturday evening, 10 p.m.</i></p><p>With the robbers gone, the trio left behind in the store attempted to call the police again. I can't understand how they had such trouble finding the number for the police station (could they not have dialed the operator direct?), especially as a quick search through newspapers prior to 1934 show Blair had been the target of robberies of the past and should have at least had the number handy. Whatever the case, Stewart McKay eventually had to drive to the police station to report the robbery. This delay gave the thieves a huge head start. A squad of detectives: Robert Hobbs, Leonard Green, Roy O'Neil and Michael McKinnirey rushed to the Bronson Avenue drug store to take statements and look for evidence.</p><p>"When the detectives came, said Smith "one of them picked up a bottle which one of the hold-up men had handled, and said that he would get finger-prints taken from it."</p><p>Meanwhile police squads led by Detective Green and Acting Detective Hobbs searched Ottawa South for the car and the wanted men without success.</p><p>The local newspapers, the Journal and Citizen, would also have been tipped off somehow, and descended in to the drug store as well to get interviews with McKay, Blair and Smith. </p><p>The drug store owner William Blair appeared calm through the whole thing. "I was expecting something like this," explained Blair late that night, "and quite recently cautioned my manager, Albert Barnes, not to carry too much money in the till. The district around here is very poorly policed and we seldom see an officer. A rather amusing thing happened some weeks ago. I had been asking our delivery boy, Smitty, what he would do if somebody attempted to hold-up the store. I had previously told him that he should make no attempt to offer any resistance."</p><p>""I would sock them with a bottle" Smitty had declared to me on this occasion, "Just like this!". And with that Smitty had jumped up on the counter, picked up a ginger-ale bottle and raised it over his head as if going to throw it at some hypothetical gangster. But as he raised it over his shoulder, it crashed into the electric light shade smashing it into a thousand pieces."</p><p>The Journal also reported that "Mr. Blair paid a tribute to his 14-year-old employee Norman Smith, for his pluck during the nerve-racking period when they stood at the menacing point of the two revolvers".</p><p>"As soon as they were out of the place I jumped over the fence that runs around the back yard and looked up and down the street, but they had disappeared. I don't know which way they went", reported Smitty. </p><p>He described the boys as "very decently dressed and did not appear tough".</p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Saturday evening, 11 p.m. onwards</i></p><p>Evidence later showed that the boys drove out of the city and went to the notorious Avalon Hotel on the Chelsea Road north of Hull, where they "squandered" a large amount of their stolen money. </p><p>At some point during that day or overnight, the thieves partially painted the tail lights of the car, such that no light would show up on the license plate. However they left enough uncovered so that the red glow could still be seen from behind, so they wouldn't have been pulled over for not having lights. </p><p>After their visit to the tavern, they returned to the city, and parked the car in a vacant lot behind 88 and 90 Queen Street, an old wood-frame house just east of the intersection of Metcalfe towards Elgin. (Now the site of the big glass office building 55 Metcalfe). It was the home of a friend of theirs, James Crawford Jr., who lived with his parents. The yard behind the house was an ideal hiding spot, as it was accessed by a lane leading off Albert Street, and when the car was parked inside it could not be seen from the street.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Q0QqRSCU_WYUSh8_O1mmL4i98kryV3WUQzzremw2cGknJNBRagCx-Nh3GaKjGVNu1Py41bYDYxJ0oAWPhNqPa9pgGPRhY2cKYDEaXeiOVJBrd4LfhfkN_-PGgzu_Zt_I-ZcyKYuj6kaCrUVdQpXOEWJHSH2gK8PyokrkTU_J8zy6lQpUh7RT5hy/s1000/e010934937-v8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1000" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Q0QqRSCU_WYUSh8_O1mmL4i98kryV3WUQzzremw2cGknJNBRagCx-Nh3GaKjGVNu1Py41bYDYxJ0oAWPhNqPa9pgGPRhY2cKYDEaXeiOVJBrd4LfhfkN_-PGgzu_Zt_I-ZcyKYuj6kaCrUVdQpXOEWJHSH2gK8PyokrkTU_J8zy6lQpUh7RT5hy/s320/e010934937-v8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking east down Queen Street at Metcalfe.<br />88-90 Queen is the short, 2-storey building on the<br />right side. (Source: LAC, e010934937)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The boys slept at Nigra's home on Frank Street overnight Saturday and into Sunday.</p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><i>Sunday morning, 9 a.m.</i></p><p>The city was abuzz with the news of the stolen car and the robbery at Blair's Drug Store. </p><p>Early that morning, a description of the pair, as supplied by Blair, was circulated to all police in the Ottawa area, as well as the license plate number for the car (JF174). </p><p>Meanwhile, Senator Murphy's chauffeur William Orr had three different people tell him that the Senator's well-known car was spotted on the city streets Saturday night. But it remained missing throughout the day.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Sunday afternoon, 4:30 p.m.</i></p><p>Edgar "Joe" Kedey was 36 years old, and a six-year veteran of the Ottawa Police force in 1934. He was from Fitzroy Harbor and had been one of Carleton County's top athletes in his youth. He had been a well-known hockey player, a hard-hitting defenceman with a blazing shot, and also won many awards in track and field events in the Ottawa area. He joined the force in 1928 and immediately carved a reputation for himself as a dedicated and alert officer on the beat. He was known and respected as an officer who never drew his gun, not even when under fire. Two years into his police career he became the first cop to work in a "prowler car", driving around town looking for trouble, a role he loved and excelled at, and maintained for most of his career. </p><p>"We didn't have radios in those days", Joe later recalled "We had to phone the station to see if there were any calls for us." </p><p>He saw a lot of car theft cases. "We didn't have a night when there weren't a half dozen cars stolen...there weren't 200 men on the force then", he said years later.</p><p>Joe had just recently been promoted from Constable to Detective, and surely was seen as the best cop to handle a high-profile car theft and drug store robbery case. This was his first case in his new branch, and it was one he would never forget. </p><p>On his way back to the station after dinner, he met a man at the corner of Metcalfe and Albert Street.</p><p>"The fellow asked me how we were getting along on the hold-up. Somehow from the way he asked, I knew he knew something about it. I said 'what do you know about it?'. He pointed to a white house nearby and a car behind it."</p><p>Kedey went to the house, and discovered that the car in behind indeed was the stolen car. He knocked on the door and questioned the occupant, James Crawford Sr. Crawford initially denied any knowledge of the car or its occupants.</p><p>Kedey left the house, but knew he was hot on the trail of the perpetrators.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Sunday afternoon, 5:00 p.m.</i></p><p>Kedey left 90 Queen Street and walked to a nearby telephone to call his police station and asked for additional officers to patrol the immediate vicinity. Sergt. Robert Fox was the first to come back up Kedey, driving from police HQ on Elgin Street (now the site of the NAC), down Albert and Metcalfe to Queen where he met Kedey and the pair returned to 90 Queen Street.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrED23cVMExkVheS2Fsmi54pbxlBxN72g6mxhTd_CzsQXKa9Ct-vD3nAwOu4apdppkzz48gY6ovyqriazY4WpjetoDUDTgxuyeBXvGSC9JxsYZsY3lRC8EP2j6KicU5eiQ_x6Dbfm3IccLy9J1awCVFe61BwSsBIf8EJjKilhUeOH88O5qzBHO_tQw/s1000/a046849-v8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1000" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrED23cVMExkVheS2Fsmi54pbxlBxN72g6mxhTd_CzsQXKa9Ct-vD3nAwOu4apdppkzz48gY6ovyqriazY4WpjetoDUDTgxuyeBXvGSC9JxsYZsY3lRC8EP2j6KicU5eiQ_x6Dbfm3IccLy9J1awCVFe61BwSsBIf8EJjKilhUeOH88O5qzBHO_tQw/s320/a046849-v8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Police HQ (now the site of the NAC)<br />Queen at Elgin Street (photo from 1938) (LAC a046849)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Crawford answered the door once again, but at the same time Kedey and Fox were coming in the front door, Daniel and Maynard were racing out the back door and jumping in the car. Crawford shouted to the police that two men were getting in the car and driving away. </p><p>Kedey ran to the yard, saw it was empty and dashed around the corner towards a taxi office. He was then told by attendants at a nearby gas station, and by employees at a taxi stand that the Senator's big car had travelled slowly north on Metcalfe and then west on Wellington. </p><p>With no time to waste, Kedey commandeered cab driver William Short and his taxi (from what I believe was the Checker Taxi stand at 64 Metcalfe, corner of Albert), and started in pursuit. </p><p>"When I reached Albert Street", explained Kedey, "they were already speeding in a westerly direction. William Short just happened to be passing and not taking any time to go back to Queen Street to get my own car I jumped in with him and we took after the fleeing automobile." </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgyLtmx_ds5fiOChw2XbG0xr3DQs2TQ7xtG_zWajY0F0AJEUGjPdP6yQH_bdOoxWYLzcb13ixO8j782EMW0xvXFPkCN_lSWq9D-AlDaHpbYqQhgQN3QPw-oNFlFC8hvLWZvM5DvlwMIATu8tYtdXyc-eKdD-oqRQxc1zfSNIMbiIO_DJQ0PArsRtw/s527/Edgar%20Kedey%20-%20Ancestry%20tree%20rlougheed_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="337" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgyLtmx_ds5fiOChw2XbG0xr3DQs2TQ7xtG_zWajY0F0AJEUGjPdP6yQH_bdOoxWYLzcb13ixO8j782EMW0xvXFPkCN_lSWq9D-AlDaHpbYqQhgQN3QPw-oNFlFC8hvLWZvM5DvlwMIATu8tYtdXyc-eKdD-oqRQxc1zfSNIMbiIO_DJQ0PArsRtw/s320/Edgar%20Kedey%20-%20Ancestry%20tree%20rlougheed_1.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Edgar "Joe" Kedey<br />(source: rlougheed, Ancestry)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Travelling at high speed, they drove west along Wellington Street until near Preston, when they finally spotted the stolen car ahead, also headed west. </p><p>"We drove fairly easily hoping the pair would not suspect that they were being followed as I had telephoned to No. 2 station the West End for offices to head them off there."</p><p>Kedey decided his best strategy was to attempt to pass the car, and get to No. 2 station on Fairmont Avenue in Hintonburg to get help. He hoped to get by the big sedan without attracting attention. </p><p>At the crest of the Wellington Street viaduct (the old bridge that travelled overtop the rail yards in over what today would be between the City Centre building and the bridge at Bayview station), Short drove next to the stolen car. Kedey later wondered how the boys knew that Kedey was a policeman, but surely they must have assumed the taxi after them was in pursuit. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnPBbeKBGKiSLDf3KlIDGu4Ts6zi6mmTdpughB2oYpadW4He9jljcekxUYxM94kWp7jSll6BzBnnwKRJfJrMZ7vCFR8dBf9QQRaz87Xm4uiqYFDRXR_HtftxS1ByrvPA511QPeFWdXLDkXqN8DNZTORN3tupPc_T4zapl-ANITSiDT8qKWxu7zUT8/s732/viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="642" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnPBbeKBGKiSLDf3KlIDGu4Ts6zi6mmTdpughB2oYpadW4He9jljcekxUYxM94kWp7jSll6BzBnnwKRJfJrMZ7vCFR8dBf9QQRaz87Xm4uiqYFDRXR_HtftxS1ByrvPA511QPeFWdXLDkXqN8DNZTORN3tupPc_T4zapl-ANITSiDT8qKWxu7zUT8/s320/viaduct.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Wellington Street Viaduct looking<br />west towards Hintonburg</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>"Apparently they recognized me, as the trail led out Albert Street to Wellington and over the viaduct to the West End. On the Wellington street viaduct one of them apparently riding in the rear seat lowered a rear side window and fired three shots at us from a heavy caliber revolver. He did not show himself and was apparently not taking particular aim at us. None of the slugs struck our car but they sure did scream past our heads. I was afraid to take a chance at firing at them on account of there being so many people about on the street."</p><p>Nigra had slipped from the passenger seat to the back seat, and just as the cars came down the bridge toward Somerset (on what is today the east end of Wellington Street, just before Somerset Square), Nigra coolly leaned out from the rear seat and opened fire on the cab.</p><p>"He aimed directly at me. He wasn't trying for the tires" said Kedey.</p><p>The speeds of the vehicles picked up and while the gunman fired three shots at the taxi, while both cars were travelling at 60-70 mph entering Hintonburg. One bullet struck the upright post supporting the windshield at the right side of the taxi.</p><p>Then, as the taxi dropped behind, Nigra nonchalantly fired point-blank through the plate glass of the rear window of the car, shattering the rear window. (Glass sprayed in all directions, and was later found throughout the interior of the car, indicating it flew inwards after the shot was fired. Incredibly, Nigra escaped any facial injury.) </p><p>The first bullet Nigra fired through the now open rare window struck the right front tire of the pursuing cab, putting it out of action. The taxi skidded, but was kept in control by Short, who brought it to a safe halt on Wellington between Garland and Irving. </p><p>"We kept up the chase, and then almost out on Wellington street, almost in front of St. Francis church, the one in the back of the car framed himself in the rear window, took steady aim and fired two shots through the glass which found a mark in one of the front tires of our car. There we had to give up the chase. With Constable Earl Connolly from No. 2 station located almost opposite where we had to stop" reported Kedey.</p><p>While Kedey quickly conferred with Connolly, William Short, obtained another car from a Hintonburg taxi stand, likely the Capital Taxi at 1005 Wellington Street West (now an empty lot in between Ministry of Coffee and TacoLot), and the group headed west to try to catch up to the stolen car.</p><p>"I secured another car and started on again but the fugitives' car had disappeared. We drove as far west as Britannia where we met two provincial traffic officers who had not seen the car pass there", stated Kedey later that afternoon.</p><p>The trail was cold for Kedey and Connolly, who checked in a garage in Britannia where police headquarters had already called ahead to let him know that the chase had taken a different direction...</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Sunday afternoon, 5:40 p.m.</i></p><p>Constable Edwin "Ted" Tutin was no ordinary member of the RCMP in 1934. He was just 34 years old at the time, but had lived an incredible life to that point. He enlisted as a teenager for WWI and won the Military Medal for gallantry at Passchendaele while serving with the 2nd Battalion. He joined the RCMP upon returning to Canada as an 18-year old, and spent his twenties working for the RCMP all over Canada, including in the Eastern Arctic. In 1928, he nearly qualified for the Olympics, losing to Canadian boxing legend Honore Chevrier in the semi-finals of the welterweight championships.</p><p>On that summer day in 1934, Tutin was a traffic officer with the RCMP "A" division, and on duty on his motorcycle that afternoon.</p><p>He was riding south on Island Park Drive towards Richmond Road when he noticed a speeding car.</p><p>"I first noticed the car as it swung off the Richmond Road onto the Island Park Driveway and while I was going the opposite way. I cut over to the middle of the road and signalled them in to the curb but the driver swung away from me and stepped hard on the gas. He put on speed and passed me like the wind", detailed Tutin to the press.</p><p>"As soon as I could turn my machine I took after the car and owing to the turns in the road caught up to them just at the CPR tracks (today's Transitway). It was here that the one in the back seat fired the first two shots at me and it was probably due to the fact that the car was going over the tracks that his shots missed."</p><p>"I was trying to cut the men off and had not even thought of using my revolver but that showed that they meant business and after that I had no hesitation in using my gun. I was travelling alongside the left rear wheel of their car and the one in the back had calmly lowered the left back window, aimed the revolver on top of the glass and fired."</p><p>"He fired three shots, at least. One bullet passed through my tunic, as you can see", said Tutin.</p><p>Nigra was firing bullets at Tutin just as he had Kedey. All while travelling down Island Park Drive at 60 to 70 miles per hour.</p><p>"Before I could get my gun in action he fired twice more at me but both shots evidently went wide as I did not even hear them. We were travelling about 60 to 70 miles per hour and as the gasoline control is on the right handlebar I was forced to let go of this to get my revolver. My only thought was to stop the car and I could not do this by firing back at the man in the rear seat so I fired one shot at the left tire which all this time was just a few feet in front of me and to my right. My shot hit the (left rear) mudguard and I slowed down to be out of the road in case the car swerved into a skid."</p><p>"The car kept on going and as I started to draw up with it again the driver then turned at high speed to the east into Pontiac Street where it kicked up such a cloud of dust I could not see it", described Tutin.</p><p>In desperation, Maynard Richardson had made a desperate turn off Island Park onto Pontiac Street, which at the time was not a paved street but just a thin dusty lane into the sparse cottage community of Champlain Park (then known as Riverside Park). </p><p>"I could not slow up in time and went past them and cut up over the curb and grass to get to this road. They stopped the car and took to the bush fringing the road and as I skidded in behind them they disappeared. I stayed with the car only long enough to get the keys so that they couldn't double back and take it again and then plunged in to the bush after them but they had about 300 yards start and I couldn't see them through the foliage" said Tutin.</p><p>"In the dust the men made their getaway. I found the car abandoned near Cowley Avenue, Ottawa West. I thought the men had fled into the bush there, and I went to a house nearby and telephoned to city police to send out a posse."</p><p>The police station had already begun to receive a flood of phone calls from excited Island Park Drive and Champlain Park residents relaying information about the chase and shooting.</p><p>Sergeant Fox (the same officer who had backed up Kedey when he returned to the house on Queen Street that kicked off the whole chase) arrived in Champlain Park and led a massive search through the trees and bush of Champlain Park and Tunney's Pasture from the CPR tracks (Transitway) north to the River, and as far east as Parkdale Avenue. </p><p>"Spreading out in a line, the police covered the section thoroughly, keeping up the search until they were satisfied no one was in hiding", reported the Citizen.</p><p>The culprits had gotten away once again.</p><p>"After I had called the police station for additional men to search the bush I drove the car down to the police station and then went back out with some of the prowler men but the men had not been found and it was decided that they had made good their escape for the time being", reported Tutin at the time.</p><p>Tutin then spent quite some time that evening recounting the chase and his miraculous escape.</p><p>"Well, you know the old saying: 'A miss is as good as mile'", was the "smiling way" that Constable Tutin described his escape. "One of the three shots that they fired at me cut across my left tunic pocked and through the sleeve of my coat just burning the skin of my upper arm."</p><p>In fact the Constable was saved by his pocket-book. Tutin carried a small book in the left breast pocket of his tunic, which was believed to have saved his life. </p><p>"One bullet fired through the glass of the rear window of the car struck the Constable's pocket-book and grazed between his side and his arm as it was directed away from his heart by the pocket-book", reported the Journal.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHxqEbXFIbn0AC2ab07jj0Ie--VTjRYN3UN3eYH001dC1n5t78VW4pDt3BGiuEHOz9Sjn_-pHdDDHMhzylUKkt9-8bC0mvOoYxAIl2NjgRAMV9p0d3vp5twLEyAwzTUp3cJu0EIiNYtuEJB9POJ3GJ7Y8E5fNvYx4v2LQYZKSGvfDGfP_E69o33ug/s6967/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_13__1934_%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6967" data-original-width="2907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHxqEbXFIbn0AC2ab07jj0Ie--VTjRYN3UN3eYH001dC1n5t78VW4pDt3BGiuEHOz9Sjn_-pHdDDHMhzylUKkt9-8bC0mvOoYxAIl2NjgRAMV9p0d3vp5twLEyAwzTUp3cJu0EIiNYtuEJB9POJ3GJ7Y8E5fNvYx4v2LQYZKSGvfDGfP_E69o33ug/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_13__1934_%20(2).jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photograph of Tutin<br />Ottawa Citizen, August 13, 1934.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Making the story all the more incredible, Tutin also told the Journal that he will forever believe in the luck of the four-leaf clover. Just before his chase of the boys, a woman in a car with U.S. plates had stopped and given him a four-leaf clover which she had picked a short time earlier. Tutin accepted the clover, thanked her, and placed it inside the notebook in his breast pocket. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k3fTNC8Oibk01TCIdXoO-zQywKwx_VMcyogitQ8YMV0qwaxgbHX8dBS0oAh_zevaA4OfD2DX6AoDaGWm3oZUdf8tUiEl3zEyFJw88F3C1gnfN8guaEOsY0pQM_Q5O6Fe56Ef3cEFp1AU-pw0U-U5psPBtb1AtgBIPhTPnbuYb8YL7EL3DAstufQg/s5044/The_Ottawa_Journal_Thu__Aug_16__1934_%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5044" data-original-width="3977" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k3fTNC8Oibk01TCIdXoO-zQywKwx_VMcyogitQ8YMV0qwaxgbHX8dBS0oAh_zevaA4OfD2DX6AoDaGWm3oZUdf8tUiEl3zEyFJw88F3C1gnfN8guaEOsY0pQM_Q5O6Fe56Ef3cEFp1AU-pw0U-U5psPBtb1AtgBIPhTPnbuYb8YL7EL3DAstufQg/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Thu__Aug_16__1934_%20(1).jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal. August 16, 1934</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Tutin was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal shortly after the Island Park Drive shootout. He would later go on to fight for Canada in WWII as well, attaining the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Provost Company of the RCMP. He was on duty in Great Britain from December 1939 until September 1942, helping police the suburbs of London. He later lived in California in the 1950s, and died in Ottawa in 1976.<br /><div><br /><p><i>Sunday evening</i></p><p>After the chase, Detective Kedey returned to 90 Queen Street, the rooming house where the race with the teens began, and took James Crawford Jr. into custody as a material witness. </p><p>Overnight, city, county, provincial and RCMP forces united in the massive local manhunt to find the two teens on the run.</p><p>The Packard was thoroughly investigated at the city police station. Inspector Culver called in the RCMP finger print bureau to pull prints from the car doors. Sergt. H.R. Butchers and Cpl. R.L. Giroulx of the RCMP came and took photographs of the finger prints on the car in several places. These were to be compared to the thousands the RCMP had on file to show whether they had ever been fingerprinted before. One of the empty shells from the revolver was also found in the car and was looked at for clues.</p><p>Detectives also looked at prints taken from the drug store - from a bottle, and from porcelain slabs used by chemists, on which one of the men may have left a print.</p><p>The police also spoke again with William Orr, Senator Murphy's chauffeur, who had a look at the Packard following the chase, and stated that whoever was driving the car knew something about it, as the ride control, which when pushed in keeps the car from swaying on the turns at high speeds was pushed in all the way. Orr claimed that when he left it outside his house Saturday afternoon, it was half out, as he did not use that feature within the City. Orr also added that Saturday was the first time he ever remembered leaving the keys in the car. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Monday morning, August 14, 4 a.m.</i></p><p>After being held all night for questioning, James A. Crawford Jr. was released at 4 a.m., as police were apparently satisfied he did not know how the car had been parked in his yard. His wife Jeannette was questioned at some point also, though it is unclear if she was brought to the station as well, or just questioned at home. It seems unlikely that the Crawfords had no involvement in helping the boys, or at least weren't covering for them in some small way, but no charges were ever brought up against them.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Monday morning, August 14, 6 a.m.</i></p>Just before dawn on Monday morning, Daniel Nigra and Maynard Richardson were arrested and taken into custody from their homes. <div><br /></div><div>None of the press stories unfortunately reveal how the police discovered the identities of the culprits. Perhaps Crawford gave them up in return for his release? That's one possible explanation at least. Whatever the case, officers Leonard S. Green, Jean Tissot and Borden Hobbs made the arrests at the youth's homes.</div><div><br /></div><div>They arrived on Frank Street and arrested Nigra first. But it was not without incident.</div><div><p>When the police entered the bedroom of Daniel Nigra, they found him holding a fully loaded .38 Ivor Johnson revolver in his hand, underneath his chin, apparently ready to commit suicide. One of the officers shouted at him "Don't do that!", urging him not to pull the trigger. While Nigra was temporarily distracted, the other officers rushed to the side of the bed, disarmed him and overpowered him. </p><p>They searched his room and found additional ammunition for the revolver. They also found a "considerable number of magazines and papers dealing with crime." In particular, they found a series of magazines and books glorifying John Dillinger.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOYE8rLbv0mT4OQX-SmPshGey5iMUm_lAg4SZ32uc2YWkch1OrrXv2eBXNoLioATD1_i8P6uMtlaxJ0MQ1cSFtBi0M0RZbTWS1NmxEK0zAjQKlw0dSZBZGM6XaBvptiW_kvmGE9E7IwUYnLYAxyO_AOsYESo1RlP-gXq4KEjOAf0U3OQYQN-SCwai/s2560/dillinger-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="2280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOYE8rLbv0mT4OQX-SmPshGey5iMUm_lAg4SZ32uc2YWkch1OrrXv2eBXNoLioATD1_i8P6uMtlaxJ0MQ1cSFtBi0M0RZbTWS1NmxEK0zAjQKlw0dSZBZGM6XaBvptiW_kvmGE9E7IwUYnLYAxyO_AOsYESo1RlP-gXq4KEjOAf0U3OQYQN-SCwai/s320/dillinger-scaled.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magazine of the era immortalizing the<br />exploits of John Dillinger</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The police then headed to Chapel Street to Richardson's family home, and when they arrested Richardson, they discovered that he too had been sleeping with a pistol under his pillow.</p><p>They found him in possession of a long-barreled .455 Smith and Wesson revolver and a .303 magazine Lee Enfield rifle, the property of the Department of National Defence, also fully loaded. </p><p>Richardson claimed the rifle belonged to Nigra, who had obtained it on loan from No. 4 Machine Gun Battalion of which he was a member. The .Smith and Wesson revolver was believed to the gun that was fired at police and RCMP. In the gun were three cartridges and in the boy's possession was another three.</p><p>Police also found a total of $10.30 in coins on the two kids (believed to be part of the money stolen from the cash register at Blair's Drug Store). </p><p>Upon being taken into custody, both kids admitted to their roles in the stolen car, robbery and shooting spree. </p><p>Since everything occurred starting Saturday afternoon, it was not until Monday morning that the news could break across the city, as there were no Sunday newspapers at the time. Naturally it was front page, lead headline news, and remained so for several days, and remained as a top news story as the case went through the court.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeR6-qGSRxOwFLyHJGaVTsMIXNpIDgB0rvjNnXx6NvvDtpPWOcxaMJEmTRDj1QTjcHbBFAiL3tBs8KxxSr8RBxjX46GR3C9trWlimiA5vtTTB-B0Y7hiKiV-gCZ5sgwe1engTFscE6n5tWeNoy8tRrCpH68o5reXtdfguR51sIeHuH4Jg2HiKUkGY/s4617/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_13__1934_%20Cover%20headline%20crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2347" data-original-width="4617" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeR6-qGSRxOwFLyHJGaVTsMIXNpIDgB0rvjNnXx6NvvDtpPWOcxaMJEmTRDj1QTjcHbBFAiL3tBs8KxxSr8RBxjX46GR3C9trWlimiA5vtTTB-B0Y7hiKiV-gCZ5sgwe1engTFscE6n5tWeNoy8tRrCpH68o5reXtdfguR51sIeHuH4Jg2HiKUkGY/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_13__1934_%20Cover%20headline%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen, August 13, 1934</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><i>Monday afternoon, August 14</i></p><p>The evening editions of the newspaper of course were able to run all the updates from Monday morning, and included details about the boys, and brief interview bits with their families and other witnesses.</p><div>The parents of both boys stated they were unaware of any of their actions and were stunned when the boys were arrested. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dominique Nigra, Daniel's father, in an interview with the Citizen blamed the supplier of the guns. He said the "whole trouble was that his son had got in with a tough crowd."</div><div><br /></div><div>"The man who supplies guns to young buys like that ought to be in jail", said Dominique. "We have a fairly good idea who supplied the guns to the boys but we cannot say anything definite just now. Naturally we didn't expect our boy to get into any trouble like this." </div><div><br /></div><div>Only a few paragraphs of interview was published (perhaps it was only a short interview that was allowed), and the only other point covered was that Mr. Nigra explained that his son had been going to school regularly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Richardson family did not provide any specific quotes, or at least none were published.</div><p>The Crawford family meanwhile had a lot more to say to the media, and gave them plenty to write about. </p><p>James Crawford Jr. loudly criticized the police to the press. He alleged that tactics were used to try to gather information from his pregnant wife Jeannette, which caused her great stress. She then apparently spent Monday confined to bed in a highly nervous condition, due to the "severe cross-examination of the police". Crawford said that even though the officers knew of her condition, they "nevertheless insisted on questioning her at length, one officer in particular showing no attempt to make allowances for his wife's state of health." </p><p>James Jr. admitted he knew one of the boys, but claimed he knew nothing of their activities prior to or following the hold-up. Completely contradicting his previous statements to police, he in fact told the media he had seen a car in their possession but had told them he wanted nothing to do with them or their car and had told them that they had better take it out of the yard. Otherwise, he admitted he had gone to school with one of them, but was not able to give police any more information.</p><div><div>Rose Crawford, James Jr.'s mom who also resided at 90 Queen Street, told the press it was "not an unusual thing" for her to wake up in the morning and find a strange car parked at the rear of the house. </div><div><br /></div><div>"My boy has always been a good boy", declared Mrs. Crawford, "giving her son a proud glance" (wrote the Citizen) as she spoke to the reporter, "and has never been connected with anything like this. He is the baby of the family and has never given us the least bit of trouble."</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Inspector Culver of the police had spent the day closely looking at the evidence of the case, and told the newspaper that when Nigra took the initial shots so close to the glass of the rear window of the car that when it was discharged it became bulged. "It is a wonder that the gun did not explode in his hand", said Culver.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Tuesday morning, August 15, 10 a.m.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The two teens, described as appearing "nervous, pale and shaky" rose in court on Tuesday morning, hearing charges normally reserved for career criminals, not Lisgar Collegiate students.</div><div><p>Richardson's hearing was first up, and was conducted in private by Judge McKinley in the juvenile branch of family court. Richardson was charged only with the theft of the car and the robbery from the drug store, as he was only driving the car, not doing any of the shooting. Of course they could have charged him with speeding, dangerous driving, evading police, etc. but oddly they did not! </p><p>His case was remanded until the following Monday afternoon (Aug 20) without a plea, and without representation by counsel. The Judge was to consult with the crown attorney J.A. Ritchie, KC, whether to transfer him to magistrate's court. The holdup was over apparent uncertainty about his age. Richardson claimed he was 15 years old (and he was), but there was a lot of doubt over that at the time. Court officials wanted time to investigate, and thus it would have affected whether he would be considered as a juvenile under 16, or tried in adult court. If it was true he was 15, publication of his name would ordinarily be banned, but the Judge allowed it, not only because there was (incorrect) belief he was older than that, but since his name had already been well publicized, they might as well let it go.</p><p>Richardson was ordered to be held in Carleton County jail with Nigra, rather than the Detention Home where a youth normally would be held, owing to the seriousness of his charges.</p></div><div>Nigra's hearing came a little later that morning, in City Magistrate's (adult) Court, before Magistrate Glenn E. Strike. Nigra was charged with the theft of the car, the armed robbery, and firing at police with intent to do grievous bodily harm.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAujmKrbYGX9ZCiAtAu7ttxuP_psPIGk8kLuSMnyyX0NoNidAkz9xy76eQ-1JMpTRGuY0bCOCfoMdzY2W3FIDU5d-Vyg1S1ZSE8QvwuHNDziPTOUe3zTiTrfPyTWWhY5yykjTTiuoaUSorR3YklvDYAYPIzwxCjA8sbvev8IieGOGaAdRff2A_wOr5/s576/CA026103-W%201946-03-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAujmKrbYGX9ZCiAtAu7ttxuP_psPIGk8kLuSMnyyX0NoNidAkz9xy76eQ-1JMpTRGuY0bCOCfoMdzY2W3FIDU5d-Vyg1S1ZSE8QvwuHNDziPTOUe3zTiTrfPyTWWhY5yykjTTiuoaUSorR3YklvDYAYPIzwxCjA8sbvev8IieGOGaAdRff2A_wOr5/s320/CA026103-W%201946-03-08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carleton County courthouse - view from 1946<br />(though it likely hadn't changed much from 1934)<br />(City of Ottawa Archives - CA-026103)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Nigra was represented by his lawyer Clarence Gibson, and wore the same blue suit he wore during the robbery of the drug store, with a green sweater. </div><div><br /></div><div>The courtroom was packed with the general public, with great interest in the case. Long before 10 a.m., all the benches were filled and no one else was admitted. Many stood in the corridors outside in the hope of catching a glimpse of the boys. Even afterwards, groups of curious onlookers stood near police headquarters in Confederation Park for over an hour. </div><div><br /></div><div>"He (Nigra) shifted uneasily, fingered the front railing of the prisoners' dock, and glanced nervously at Mr. Gibson when he was asked to elect on the first charge, that of theft of the automobile", reported the Citizen.</div><div><br /></div><div>At first, Nigra pleaded guilty and asked for trial by judge on the theft of the car. </div><div><br /></div><div>When the second charge of robbery was read, his lawyer interrupted his response and stated "We would like to defer our plea on this charge, and we would like to withdraw that plea of guilty to the first charge, with your permission, and not offer any pleas today." Judge Strike allowed it. </div><div><p>Nigra had a fourth charge against him in Carleton County court, as shooting at the RCMP officer took place outside the city limits (at the time Island Park Drive was in Nepean Township, as the City of Ottawa ended at Western Avenue). Nigra was charged with "shooting with intent to prevent lawful apprehension". His first appearance was scheduled in county court on Thursday afternoon (August 16th), but just like for his first three charges, there would be multiple delays and postponements.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Monday August 27th</i></p><p>By August 20th, court officials were still looking for proof of Maynard Richardson's age, and his case was put off another week. </p><p>Finally on Monday August 27, the 15-year old Richardson quietly pleaded guilty at Juvenile court and was sentenced to attend the Industrial School at Mimico, Quebec by Judge McKinley, where he would be required to stay until he was 21 years old. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Wednesday August 29th</i></p><p>On August 29th, two other Ottawa youths were sentenced for car thefts, bringing the total number of cars stolen by teens in Ottawa in 1934 to well over 200 already. The police told the press that the cars were being stole largely taken joyrides, "taking girl companions with them in many instances", wrote the Journal. </p><p>The Judge in the case of the two youths sentenced this day stated that many warnings have been given about leaving keys in the ignition, but the warnings have been largely ignored. The subject was enough to be one of the top front page headlines of the Journal that day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVki75ZglF-oX7IHljZBBZ7wIUCHjZ7a-zKlrn-VAKKnGEW1TealCkQ25vQfR7jN3TWH8km01ycBDBGk49kUD10eBM-Fjkw96ehc5bOI96VIEEBvt7fnkVJYtPklBPnQbiv2gJv2Ih24a9pr9FzjvPleLYICwPWNLPhWUQCeT9jk7MZxuCBbcDEHv/s3968/The_Ottawa_Journal_Wed__Aug_29__1934_%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="3968" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVki75ZglF-oX7IHljZBBZ7wIUCHjZ7a-zKlrn-VAKKnGEW1TealCkQ25vQfR7jN3TWH8km01ycBDBGk49kUD10eBM-Fjkw96ehc5bOI96VIEEBvt7fnkVJYtPklBPnQbiv2gJv2Ih24a9pr9FzjvPleLYICwPWNLPhWUQCeT9jk7MZxuCBbcDEHv/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Wed__Aug_29__1934_%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Front page headline about the problem of youths stealing<br />cars. Ottawa Journal, August 29, 1934</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><i>Thursday August 30th, afternoon</i></p><p>Daniel Nigra finally had his first day in court, after nearly a dozen delays and postponements. The case nearly went ahead the day prior, but at the last minute, the prosecution requested another day's delay owing to the absence of a key witness. Nigra's mother was in the courtroom, along with a large number of witnesses ready for the case to go ahead, but it was pushed the extra day.</p><p>On Thursday afternoon, Nigra sat in front of Magistrate Strike, as many witnesses such as William Blair, Norman Smith, Stewart McKay, Detective Joe Kedey, Constable Tutin, and arresting officer Leonard Green gave their testimony.</p><p>Following this, Magistrate Strike formally committed Nigra for trial. Nigra's lawyer requested a change to their original choice to have a judge trial, and instead to have a trial by jury, but the request must not have been accepted. </p><p>Nigra had no comment when asked by the magistrate for comment. "He made an attempt to appear unconcerned when the formal committal was being read to him", wrote the Citizen, "but his hands twitched nervously and he shifted from one foot to the other."</p><p>By this time, it was also revealed that investigators had discovered that the two revolvers used by the boys were stolen from the house of a friend, Alexis Pearson, whom the boys visited. Pearson had a large collection of revolvers and pistols, and the guns weren't missed until the police made an enquiry. At the time, permits were not required to keep the revolver in a home, but it was illegal to sell, receive or give away a revolver without a permit. They believed Nigra had obtained the ammunition from his Battalion. The police decided they would not lay charges for the theft of the weapons, in light of the more serious charges facing the kids.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Friday September 21st, 1934</i></p><p>Daniel Nigra appeared before Judge E. J. Daly in County Judges' Criminal Court. </p><p>Nigra's lawyer Clarence Gibson spoke on behalf of Nigra, and stated his client was but a mere youth, but he did not intend to present the usual plea for leniency. He mentioned that Nigra had attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute until last June, when he had joined a machine gun unit of the Canadian militia. </p><p>He made summary explanations of how it all happened. "The escapade was the result of a lot of loose talk", said Gibson, "and had most likely been caused by reading 'trash' literature." </p><p>He stated that on the night of the robbery, Nigra had no definite plan of action. It had been a wild adventure and now his client found himself in a serious predicament. It had been too easy to gain access to firearms and this, together with the bad literature, had caused his downfall. He added that Nigra wanted to express his appreciation of the fine treatment accorded him by authorities since his arrest. </p><p>The session was brief. Nigra pled guilty to all four of his charges, and was remanded until September 27th for sentencing.</p><p>"This is the most important case I have had to deal with in the past six years and I will have to give the matter very serious consideration. I am not prepared to impose sentence today", the Judge declared. He also noted that he had no power to change the minimum sentence for auto theft, which was one year, and that the maximum penalties for the other three charges were life imprisonment. His was a serious responsibility and he wanted time to consider the case.</p><p>The Judge also commented that it was altogether too easy for people to obtain firearms, and it was also unfortunate that drivers left keys in motorcars even for short periods. </p><p>It was also surprising to him to learn that literature such as the life story of the desperado John Dillinger should be printed in Canadian magazines. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Thursday September 27th, 1934, afternoon</i></p><p>A crowd gathered in Judge Daly's courtroom to hear Daniel Nigra's sentencing. </p><p>Nigra was given a one-year sentence for the theft of Senator Murphy's car, and then 10 years each for the other three charges (the robbery, and firing at city police and the RCMP to avoid apprehension). The sentences were all to be served concurrently, meaning Nigra was to spend ten years in jail, at Kingston Penitentiary. </p><p>Judge Daly's full statement was as follows:</p><p>"For stealing an automobile the minimum penalty is one year's imprisonment. For each of the other offences you are liable to imprisonment for life. If you were an older man it is quite possible that you would receive the latter penalty. You are very lucky that you are not being tried for murder, in which case the penalty would be hanging. Had you shot and killed either of the officers named, you would have had no defence to a murder charge and you would have ended your career on the gallows. You came within an ace of killing Officer Tutin. The bullet which you fired passed through the left breast of his tunic and his coat sleeve, indicating that if this bullet had passed an inch or two to the right, it would very likely have pierced his heart."</p><p>"You are a dangerous criminal, too dangerous to be at large. People's lives are not safe while you have your freedom, and consequently as a punishment for yourself, as a warning to others who may think of entering on a life of crime as you have done, and as a protection to citizens generally, you must receive a severe sentence. You have a good education, having up to June last been a student at the Collegiate Institute here, and some time ago having been a student at a high school in Montreal. But you evidently intended to embark on a life of crime. You devoted a great deal of your time to reading and studying the lives of desperate criminals. Among the latest books you have been reading is a magazine describing the life and many crimes committed by the American desperado John Dillinger, who recently in the United States was shot to death by officers, after a life during which he committed a great many crimes including murders."</p><p>"You evidently thought this man a hero, and started out to mould your career after his. Well, I may tell you, and all others who may be similarly inclined, that this country has no room for desperadoes of the type of Dillinger and the courts here must, and will, deal most severely with criminals of his type, in order that the lives of its citizens will not be in danger."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC3oNg5XctHqjaXFi8Nm7slVCzUCF-ubqEkMFmvh2G77g7Z8OaIczmlPKNcGwSx79bwC6Z2QdqjmKry4M8Z80d8vHu46Fc9a-wOGDGYDQsEB8N36kc5Us5xo_r3EuQtje-OovajRog3D4E5oOiOl-u6fB3OO_TOI5pX3cHRvikF9vVH6FgAMbkIXs/s8278/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Oct_31__1940_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8278" data-original-width="5477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC3oNg5XctHqjaXFi8Nm7slVCzUCF-ubqEkMFmvh2G77g7Z8OaIczmlPKNcGwSx79bwC6Z2QdqjmKry4M8Z80d8vHu46Fc9a-wOGDGYDQsEB8N36kc5Us5xo_r3EuQtje-OovajRog3D4E5oOiOl-u6fB3OO_TOI5pX3cHRvikF9vVH6FgAMbkIXs/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Thu__Oct_31__1940_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p>"I am going to impose a severe sentence on you in the hope that during your incarceration you will see the error of your ways and change your method of living, that you may learn a trade which may be useful to you in after life, and that when you are liberated you will return to society and endeavour to lead an honest and upright life. If your conduct is exemplary during your confinement it is quite possible that on representations to the proper authorities, the length of your sentence may be reduced, but that depends entirely on yourself."</p><p>"My hope is that you will show by your conduct that you seriously desire to change your life and that when you do get your freedom you will be a real man and a good member of society." The judge also noted if he were an adult, he would likely have imposed the full penalty, which was life imprisonment. </p><p>Crown Attorney J.A. Ritchie made a statement as well: "His acts were extremely foolish and we know that at this moment he might easily be on trial for murder. If later on the authorities are satisfied, and he gives some evidence that he may be safely set at large, the clemency of the crown may be extended at any time. I can only say that unpleasant as it is, your Honour is only doing his unpleasant duty and I have had to do mine."</p><p></p><p>Nigra showed little emotion while listening to the words of the court, and when asked if he had anything to say simply stated "No, thank you, Your Honour". After sentencing, Nigra was taken from the courtroom handcuffed to a guard. He stopped briefly to shake hands with his lawyer, remaining unemotional except for a constant biting of his lips. </p><p>The Citizen reported that it appeared the public was unaware that sentencing would be occurring that day, as the usual crowd of spectators was small, and the few that were in attendance apparently expressed surprise at the severity of the sentence.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8ymdyohTFc_kCILVt0rJCe_h3GxW61_sWRZ-jIOZvzDejkHtog8DYDXq5eyHrymx0kLrQ-fG9WfydQdz2QWk1kBpXQvnbr-YzAvwTi_13IuXSkPYu1f53-Q78mn0dxUJdZuL9z36RnZg2N8xG72qfFKycv3kjdhMltbIAYZQ9mStz_Uxb9jc1MR0/s3945/The_Ottawa_Journal_Thu__Sep_27__1934_cover%20crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="3945" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8ymdyohTFc_kCILVt0rJCe_h3GxW61_sWRZ-jIOZvzDejkHtog8DYDXq5eyHrymx0kLrQ-fG9WfydQdz2QWk1kBpXQvnbr-YzAvwTi_13IuXSkPYu1f53-Q78mn0dxUJdZuL9z36RnZg2N8xG72qfFKycv3kjdhMltbIAYZQ9mStz_Uxb9jc1MR0/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Thu__Sep_27__1934_cover%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Front page lead headline of the Ottawa Journal<br />September 27, 1934</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><i>Thursday September 27th, 1934, 7 p.m.</i></p><p>Later that evening, at 7:00 p.m. 20-year old Alexis Pearson of 185 Bell Street was arrested based on the statements made by Nigra and Richardson in court about Pearson's involvement. </p><p>Pearson was a platoon-mate of Nigra in No. 2 Company, 4th Machine Gun Battalion of the Non-Permanent Active Militia in the Ottawa Garrison, where he held the rank of Corporal.</p><p>Apparently Pearson was to be a third party in the robbery of the drug store, but after the other two had stolen Senator Murphy's car, he got cold feet and backed out of the robbery.</p><p>Federal police at the time of arrest also conducted a raid on his home at 185 Bell Street, which led to the charges of Pearson unlawfully possessing 270 rounds of cartridge small arms ball, .303 mark V11, 96 chargers and 7 cotton bandoliers to a total value of $22.20. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Friday September 28th</i></p><p>Pearson appeared in court, charged with providing the revolvers used by Richardson and Nigra in the robbery and car chase. Pearson asked for a week's adjournment, which was granted, with bail set at $25. </p><p>Meanwhile, that same morning, the Nigra family was reeling, apparently shocked at the sentence handed down to their son. Mrs. Mary Nigra, Daniel's mother, made a short statement, asking the public if it considered the sentence a fair one to pass on a boy 16 years of age and if it thinks it will make a man of the boy. She said she was afraid her boy will come out of the penitentiary on the completion of his sentence with vengeance in his heart.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Wednesday October 24th</i></p><p>Finally, the final piece of the case came to an end when Alexis Pearson was fined $10 plus $2 costs for possessing ammunition, all taken from his platoon, and thus the property of the federal government. "Some people have a curious conception that it is not stealing to take goods belonging to the government, either the municipal or federal" said Judge Strike.</p><p>Pearson explained that the cartridges were taken for extra practice at the ranges as target shooting was his hobby.</p><p>Capt. Eric Marsden of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion spoke on Pearson's behalf, and called Pearson the "best shot that ever was in the battalion and one of the best boys in the company". The judge also acknowledged that Pearson's clear record and good character were to his credit. </p><p>Pearson certainly made one of the best decisions in his life when he stayed out of Nigra and Richardson's plan. Later that year, Pearson was awarded a silver spoon for shooting at the Machine Gunner's annual dinner. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Epilogue</i></p><p>On August 3rd, 1940, there was a knock at the door of 376 Frank Street, the home of Dominique and Mary Nigra. Every parent's worst nightmare, particularly during war time, came true. Their son Daniel was dead at the age of 20. His parents were given no cause of death at the time, only that he had passed a week earlier, on July 27th. A copy of that sad letter can be found as part of the WWII archives held at LAC.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoG3dATS5BSl8QSCSu3QLw8X6r66k1DUgLqesmydtsIGAv9gRR_fg7Dx4Hh_yis68BPfsWtsa3z77n1tnLf5qc5w8XBeu4ztyMt83OmQTypy5A4-cfyjSkxab1K9lrXTzrhZJ2iA_sWgmA6PG7ngVWaOR2VOm5dZB8m5m80o470g6yz5CjO4d_17q/s3456/44485_273022002859_0123-00365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="2840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoG3dATS5BSl8QSCSu3QLw8X6r66k1DUgLqesmydtsIGAv9gRR_fg7Dx4Hh_yis68BPfsWtsa3z77n1tnLf5qc5w8XBeu4ztyMt83OmQTypy5A4-cfyjSkxab1K9lrXTzrhZJ2iA_sWgmA6PG7ngVWaOR2VOm5dZB8m5m80o470g6yz5CjO4d_17q/s320/44485_273022002859_0123-00365.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Letter to Daniel Nigra's parents (source: LAC)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Though the media had not covered it at the time, Daniel Nigra had been released from his ten year prison term significantly early, having served less than half of his sentence. He may have been released in order to enter WWII, which he did, enlisting with the Royal Canadian Engineers on September 8th, 1939. He became a member of the 3rd Field Company. His enlistment papers listed him as being 5' 6 1/2", 131 1/2 pounds, with a ruddy complexion, a tattoo on his wrist and a few teeth missing. </p><p>Nigra went to England from Halifax in December of 1939, and was in training in Surrey when he died. Sadly, the Court of Inquiry report in Nigra's war file indicate his death was likely suicide, though some uncertainty as to whether the self-inflicted wound was intentional or not, left open the possibility that it may have been an accident. Thus National Defence officially would call his death "accidental". Daniel's parents finally obtained this information three weeks after receiving the initial word of his death.</p><p>A tragic ending to a promising life that went sideways fast.</p><p>A photograph of Nigra's fresh grave at a Cemetery in England can be found in his war file:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTal_2IIMgznpIC1bh3gP8YSzyAxbxRYP5-0BqpotdQCJeqre7teWa2LwB2gX1kjcCiEM4PI-KFTNER8XKJuycFgQTxbQuPDkBe4tLEeMbAk0h6AnTmTfrHxJa9_TD9e4LuxgPTty1bAGcFtSX5KgPHfYgmscM7_QoAga07lsgjpOTw84WBsumSEuQ/s1924/44485_273022002859_0123-00378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1924" data-original-width="1343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTal_2IIMgznpIC1bh3gP8YSzyAxbxRYP5-0BqpotdQCJeqre7teWa2LwB2gX1kjcCiEM4PI-KFTNER8XKJuycFgQTxbQuPDkBe4tLEeMbAk0h6AnTmTfrHxJa9_TD9e4LuxgPTty1bAGcFtSX5KgPHfYgmscM7_QoAga07lsgjpOTw84WBsumSEuQ/s320/44485_273022002859_0123-00378.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: LAC</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Oddly, the only photo of Nigra that I could find in any newspaper, either through the 1934 crime spree, or regarding his death in 1940, was published in the Toronto Star. He is shown in the middle below:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8pEhXCmfofRCN-O9fgztp5zrb4Ue5UzuNxbHObeOVPjyecOozejfHUT5L4Rrh_XmlviKjduQUwwbol8jTNbwig-Mwznz1PlE7pyESi7z6b35qhyh4eHCRymbBzunbnVr8U5_nJsF9PGo6sIhQBku_tFOQEo-mJJZ7wKRpsZeubEyGKCby5MCAGuz/s646/Toronto%20Star%20August%201940.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="646" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8pEhXCmfofRCN-O9fgztp5zrb4Ue5UzuNxbHObeOVPjyecOozejfHUT5L4Rrh_XmlviKjduQUwwbol8jTNbwig-Mwznz1PlE7pyESi7z6b35qhyh4eHCRymbBzunbnVr8U5_nJsF9PGo6sIhQBku_tFOQEo-mJJZ7wKRpsZeubEyGKCby5MCAGuz/s320/Toronto%20Star%20August%201940.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Toronto Star - August 1940</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sadly, Alexis Pearson lost his life during WWII as well, killed on active service fighting for the RCAF in August of 1942. He had attained the rank of Sgt. Air Gunner when he died shot down over the London area while engaging the enemy. </p><p>Maynard Richardson meanwhile fought in WWII also, as a member of the RCAF, but returned home and lived a full life here in Ottawa. He married in November of 1940, and went on to have four children, and a long career with the Department of Public Works. He passed away in 1988 at the age of 69. </p><p>William Blair the druggist passed away in 1950, and the building at the corner of Bronson and Findlay which housed his drug store in the 1930s was torn down in 1959 to make way for the expansion of Bronson Avenue south, and the construction of the new $1.9M bridge over the Canal. I could not find any photo of the building during its existence for this story.</p></div></div></div></div></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-56979535106722419582023-01-06T11:00:00.001-05:002023-01-07T22:49:11.502-05:00Mayfair Theatre: A landmark for 90 Years and Counting<p> Not quite Kitchissippi, but still worth sharing! </p><p>In December I was asked to write a column for the Glebe Report newspaper on the 90th Anniversary of the Mayfair Theatre. I love the Mayfair, and have been attending regularly since I was a kid. Of course I love the vintage theatre experience; supporting a local business, the prices, and the best-in-the-city popcorn make it my favourite movie house too. So I was excited to be given this opportunity. I tried to dig up a few unknown historical facts on the theatre, and had a fun interview with co-owner Josh Stafford. I'm really happy that it ended up being the cover story for December's Glebe Report.</p><p>Just as cool is that I was contacted shortly after by the OSCAR, the newspaper for Old Ottawa South, who wanted to re-run the column. I said of course, and it too ended up on the cover! </p><p>You can check out the article at: <a href="https://www.glebereport.ca/mayfair-theatre-a-landmark-for-90-years-and-counting/">https://www.glebereport.ca/mayfair-theatre-a-landmark-for-90-years-and-counting/</a></p><p>Or read the full issues at: <a href="https://oldottawasouth.ca/oscar-current-issue/3890-2023-01-january/file">https://oldottawasouth.ca/oscar-current-issue/3890-2023-01-january/file</a> and <a href="https://issuu.com/glebereport/docs/glebe_report_dec_2022">https://issuu.com/glebereport/docs/glebe_report_dec_2022</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oDEfsjJFK6GLpdlAQB1GaeQbuetXfGx7M6v68mhV9d9vjxFzGSwBmR-qJPke8LUL8TQJMXxsQEE0C8Z4OZg0GMO_WYrEp6KBkFZOKtQM9P0gBl4hFXg0NN9ukeFVKPIO10Ld5ptsYyf70enymMilvTMqmkKQgDw0VwGhwK_Epujyktl2OsNDtMI-/s915/Glebe%20Report%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="823" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oDEfsjJFK6GLpdlAQB1GaeQbuetXfGx7M6v68mhV9d9vjxFzGSwBmR-qJPke8LUL8TQJMXxsQEE0C8Z4OZg0GMO_WYrEp6KBkFZOKtQM9P0gBl4hFXg0NN9ukeFVKPIO10Ld5ptsYyf70enymMilvTMqmkKQgDw0VwGhwK_Epujyktl2OsNDtMI-/s320/Glebe%20Report%20cover.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRWGprF-CWF-xX2XhP790uVD7o9TMA5cHC0cWH_gatMkMMO-9zEDbmEpwWplkDzwczxuWvyK_rmP8mY2UErRdHiDKyAF_3dtRJiDMjb_9gQFpUY3PMAWLVDR8lUYc_l9W-DxxwMOybwmMvKMY9Bfda814pDTJAm2CJmvqP6sViJFI1HPps8btDWrZ/s965/OSCAR%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="965" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRWGprF-CWF-xX2XhP790uVD7o9TMA5cHC0cWH_gatMkMMO-9zEDbmEpwWplkDzwczxuWvyK_rmP8mY2UErRdHiDKyAF_3dtRJiDMjb_9gQFpUY3PMAWLVDR8lUYc_l9W-DxxwMOybwmMvKMY9Bfda814pDTJAm2CJmvqP6sViJFI1HPps8btDWrZ/s320/OSCAR%20cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-76296998093362612292023-01-05T14:22:00.002-05:002023-01-05T14:22:23.566-05:00The Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Platinum Jubilee emblemAt a ceremony just before Christmas, I was very honoured to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Platinum Jubilee emblem from our MP Yasir Naqvi.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZLkNI42upodxvDIzveXANORcc5hZ9uBQO6APj1o-nMMbE0NTqoYPzexjI588jGGkJekzzQ8f3BEZo0KU-c_yTkjjHnJS20gXn53fPqax3l-jLNb3royTazL17pc5vWLVr-jnOeX3WvjLSj1evMTfwpvoEOG5-L9tl3RHEiHBVLZAzs0IJuJvhlKk/s4032/IMG_2338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZLkNI42upodxvDIzveXANORcc5hZ9uBQO6APj1o-nMMbE0NTqoYPzexjI588jGGkJekzzQ8f3BEZo0KU-c_yTkjjHnJS20gXn53fPqax3l-jLNb3royTazL17pc5vWLVr-jnOeX3WvjLSj1evMTfwpvoEOG5-L9tl3RHEiHBVLZAzs0IJuJvhlKk/s320/IMG_2338.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>The letter I received stated: "As Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, I would like to thank you on your extensive community service as a volunteer, and honour you with the Canadian Platinum Jubilee emblem that was created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne. Please, find more details on the emblem through this link: www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/platinum-jubilee/emblem.html. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Her Majesty will be remembered for her dedication to public service and strong support for charitable organizations. She had an admiration for community volunteers, such as yourself. Thank you for your compassion, dedication, and commitment to serve our community. You have demonstrated how our community is there for one another, and Ottawa is a better place because of it."</div></div><div><br /></div><div>What an incredible honour to have been considered for this Emblem, and I considered myself extremely fortunate to share in receiving this along with a who's-who of community leaders within Ottawa Centre. I am very appreciative for this recognition, and will continue to strive to do this local history work that I love, in the hope that it continues to be of some benefit to others, and keep alive the stories and legacies of so many important people and events in our community's past. I do this out of a natural love for my neighbourhood, but also to honour the love of home and community that my parents and grandparents instilled in me, and which I hopefully instill in my children too. </div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-83591562178734230112023-01-05T14:14:00.002-05:002023-01-05T14:14:17.343-05:00Kitchissippi Museum wins the FCA Award for Excellence in Community Media!<p>In 2022, I was extremely proud and honoured to have won the FCA's annual Excellence in Community Media award for my work in Kitchissippi and particularly this Kitchissippi Museum webpage!</p><p><a href="http://fca-fac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/220615AW.pdf">http://fca-fac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/220615AW.pdf</a></p><p>The FCA is the Federation of Citizens Associations in Ottawa, which is the board on which almost all community associations in Ottawa have a representative, to discuss CA matters across Ottawa. This is a real honour for me, and I'm really happy that my work on the Museum and the Kitchissippi Times was acknowledged this way. </p><p>Here I am receiving the award from Sheila Perry of the FCA (the presentation was made at the FCA AGM, which was virtual, so a porch presentation followed). Thanks again to the FCA!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibM_Cz7t8mcokTM-Sdvfa1fpX7vnLj99LKuaHbeT4dwPDGznzDDhdEOn6A0GinAK42R7yGLVHM2iJsx-472g24CNnkAoEDNpp_nB2nz3wAyw5caa-MSj7o1z9EIu5TCkxyCowD2cmvWquQsgFL_qk2Y0rqFaNrVD5Llpt5_gHSAlq25ZvkWxSBNZkP/s4608/20220623_122409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibM_Cz7t8mcokTM-Sdvfa1fpX7vnLj99LKuaHbeT4dwPDGznzDDhdEOn6A0GinAK42R7yGLVHM2iJsx-472g24CNnkAoEDNpp_nB2nz3wAyw5caa-MSj7o1z9EIu5TCkxyCowD2cmvWquQsgFL_qk2Y0rqFaNrVD5Llpt5_gHSAlq25ZvkWxSBNZkP/s320/20220623_122409.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-56791791908242438362023-01-03T11:33:00.001-05:002023-01-03T11:35:30.587-05:00The 1920s Champlain Bridge construction in photosOne of the most significant developments in the history of the west end occurred throughout the 1920s with the construction of Island Park Drive and the Champlain Bridge by the Ottawa Improvement Commission (now known as the NCC). <div><br /></div><div>As you can imagine, this was not an easy project to undertake, was hugely political, came at a great expense, and was fraught with many delays. Ultimately, the arrival of the automobile, the push for the "beautification" of Ottawa, and the optimism of the roaring twenties led to this incredible project which transformed the west end. </div><div><br /></div><div>I recently discovered a series of incredible, newly-shared photos on the Library and Archives Canada website (which is a rarity to find new content of any kind) showing the Champlain Bridge under construction. But not just aerial photos or boring bridge photos, but actually showing the men and machinery at work. It's an amazing glimpse into early 20th century engineering works, and helps bring to life the difficulties of building a bridge of that magnitude through the middle of the Ottawa River. I'm excited to share these photos today. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've also mixed in other photos I've found over the years showing the Bridge in various stages of completion. It took a long time for Island Park Drive and the Bridge to be built, all in small phases. I've done my best to create a bit of a timeline as well, to chronicle the development. In all honesty, a book could be written about the challenges that came about at each phase. No decisions were easy (where the driveway was to be located? Through which farms and properties would it go? To which islands would it go? Would it link to Quebec? Who would pay for it?). And on and on it went. </div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a timeline on the history of the Bridge, along with applicable photos over time:</div><div><br /></div><div>July 1896: Robert H. Cowley acquires all of the land north of the CP Railway tracks (now Scott Street/Transitway) between Patricia and Carleton Avenue, right to the water (Nepean Township Lot 33, Concession A). </div><div><br /></div><div>March 1899: Cowley hires John Bower Lewis, Ontario Land Surveyor, to take a survey of the three islands in the Ottawa River.</div><div><br /></div><div>April 1900: Cowley purchases the adjoining land to the west (the east half of Nepean Township lot 32), expanding his holdings to approximately present day Remic Avenue. </div><div><br /></div><div>September 1902: Cowley wrote to the Ontario Commissioner of Crown Lands to confirm his prioritized claim to the three islands off the shore of his lot 32 property. He also wrote to the Ottawa Improvement Commission (OIC) offering to waive his claim, and encouraging the OIC to acquire the islands, and build a connecting driveway through his (Cowley's) land. Word had obviously begun to spread in Ottawa about the OIC's interest in extending their Driveway (which at the time ended at the Experimental Farm) to the northwest. This was obviously a savvy move by Cowley, as the OIC driveway running through his property would drastically increase its value.</div><div><br /></div><div>August 1903: Cowley lays out the subdivision plan for the Champlain Park neighbourhood (originally known as Riverside Park). The subdivision likely would have occurred soon anyways, but was likely fast-tracked to further appeal to the OIC as a popular summer resort location in the west end (which it soon became). You can read more about Cowley and the early days of Champlain Park in an article I wrote last year at <a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2021/10/12/robert-h-cowleys-vision-and-the-birth-of-champlain-park/">https://kitchissippi.com/2021/10/12/robert-h-cowleys-vision-and-the-birth-of-champlain-park/</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Early 1907: The OIC acquires the three islands from the government of Ontario.</div><div><br /></div><div>July 1907: Commissioners of the Ottawa Improvement Commission visited the area and held a small ceremony to announce that the islands had been given names (after members of the Commission themselves!) and that these islands would be the terminus of the proposed new western driveway.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KRCxdVwqt-TBwv3Jz_nwVIU9MmPsGpkMuCB16KN7hiFsoNWlflJr3_pom_XeQ8Sx6DmR5kHYeYQJX0AESG-CKaVl14LLun6CklAkZ6r5ucLuGCCtDCS0ZFtynDtI3zmAasq2vKTPmBFKxGKbs9UT_MN9mamhfhgczivNRQf6TK0kpHCwZO_bkdSE/s1236/1907-07-06%20p1%20Journal%20-%20Islands%20given%20names%20Bate.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KRCxdVwqt-TBwv3Jz_nwVIU9MmPsGpkMuCB16KN7hiFsoNWlflJr3_pom_XeQ8Sx6DmR5kHYeYQJX0AESG-CKaVl14LLun6CklAkZ6r5ucLuGCCtDCS0ZFtynDtI3zmAasq2vKTPmBFKxGKbs9UT_MN9mamhfhgczivNRQf6TK0kpHCwZO_bkdSE/s320/1907-07-06%20p1%20Journal%20-%20Islands%20given%20names%20Bate.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Ottawa Journal - July 6, 1907</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>1907-1920: Nothing happens. No official project is announced, no work is done. Cowley, believing that the driveway is coming soon, begins using the coming driveway in promotion for Riverside Park lots, but anyone buying a lot in anticipation would require a lot of patience. Eventually the OIC discovers that the area flooded heavily each year, and that portions of the planned roadway would spend the spring months under as much as 15 feet of water. By 1911 the driveway plan was considered a "mistake" and cancelled. Once WWI hits, any hope of revisiting the concept stalls completely. Some of Cowley's lot buyers/investors were not happy.</div><div><br /></div><div>December 24, 1920: On Christmas Eve, it is front page news in Ottawa that as part of their spending plan for 1921, the OIC will build the driveway extension to Riverside Park. Though since all the land required for the project had not been acquired yet, they could not announce the official route yet. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJrN9cP3LSBnB8kGfejcTY79o4PzqAXsnpxEM5AHMyPlO6nloEi4PiE12n661fJXUTU00eurol_sSpw1_xIxcbL3C1UAy3bwU1XK_N07KTqibioEF8ufaQ44T1eLwH98bWdzr5T_H6abOBbpfZoNTva2wm2_srRSvR1bUFNSAvMOyYl6EGJ1a8_70/s6298/1920-XX-XX%20-%20H1-039%20-%20IPDcrop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4174" data-original-width="6298" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJrN9cP3LSBnB8kGfejcTY79o4PzqAXsnpxEM5AHMyPlO6nloEi4PiE12n661fJXUTU00eurol_sSpw1_xIxcbL3C1UAy3bwU1XK_N07KTqibioEF8ufaQ44T1eLwH98bWdzr5T_H6abOBbpfZoNTva2wm2_srRSvR1bUFNSAvMOyYl6EGJ1a8_70/s320/1920-XX-XX%20-%20H1-039%20-%20IPDcrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aerial photo from 1920 showing the three islands<br />and a bit of Champlain Park at bottom left. You can<br />also see the accumulation of stray logs along the shore.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>July 11, 1921: Work finally begins on construction of the West End Driveway! Phase one includes just the area from Richmond Road to the water's edge (Cowley's property), with some work to occur on Bate Island. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5vusT9zcAqXjRhOyN2-62pL_IZfmtRdCrNCpSYIdwGGJWmeY63l4AIlF8-IViou3BTVs-CNUX1Yc1RKWrgJrqKxnRIAPCa55YA0NeydansHPYa1NvtjArRTJdrwF4_dx1lB7urPB91IKb6HPZNu-W-bifh_QZOctzu9gMy9n1Ng9eKm56H28Olvu/s5681/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Jul_12__1921_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5681" data-original-width="3753" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5vusT9zcAqXjRhOyN2-62pL_IZfmtRdCrNCpSYIdwGGJWmeY63l4AIlF8-IViou3BTVs-CNUX1Yc1RKWrgJrqKxnRIAPCa55YA0NeydansHPYa1NvtjArRTJdrwF4_dx1lB7urPB91IKb6HPZNu-W-bifh_QZOctzu9gMy9n1Ng9eKm56H28Olvu/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Jul_12__1921_.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><div>1922: The stretch to the River from Richmond Road was completed sometime in 1922. These photos below are from LAC and are undated, but are likely from 1922 or 1923. You can see the Driveway suddenly and quietly ends at the River, where you could drive your Model T right up to the water! </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IPF-eD0ka9Epc-fCJa6FM4FkhvOgIgNzpn4OC1G2awAGC7_gmlLa9szx4e12cgtKjyDqxACkDxZ3b__n8aehqwIFLVPOWXxe5x13XUvAha7yW7Dx2kEtq8NEfBdWdGnNZGTpiZy1713PLy-wjCzUWIT0gjfYQlQcw59jAgbn08x6PgVfKm6FNtJg/s760/PA-034414%20-%20MIKAN%203319040%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20looking%20towards%20Hull%20-%201920s.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="760" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IPF-eD0ka9Epc-fCJa6FM4FkhvOgIgNzpn4OC1G2awAGC7_gmlLa9szx4e12cgtKjyDqxACkDxZ3b__n8aehqwIFLVPOWXxe5x13XUvAha7yW7Dx2kEtq8NEfBdWdGnNZGTpiZy1713PLy-wjCzUWIT0gjfYQlQcw59jAgbn08x6PgVfKm6FNtJg/s320/PA-034414%20-%20MIKAN%203319040%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20looking%20towards%20Hull%20-%201920s.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa River looking north to the islands and<br />Gatineau in the distance (LAC, PA-034414)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K2tFSKu56LvwK2-V7FIhV43kZTR2zkZH9-TzDd5dl1B_bRepguqxkMSB09xXwW_D3765lXfxVf5jRAyd0w-EGnNkJ5lOY6l7I1JKpX1hAQ8-zGBeHyiiHgebVeMj3Ot84oMMKaHzn-8-ocy7ltXqvd98VoUWvs2C9L5L0QZeqtMlb7ZaOd7Q0Joz/s760/PA-034415%20-%20MIKAN%203319041%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20near%20Island%20-%201920s.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="760" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K2tFSKu56LvwK2-V7FIhV43kZTR2zkZH9-TzDd5dl1B_bRepguqxkMSB09xXwW_D3765lXfxVf5jRAyd0w-EGnNkJ5lOY6l7I1JKpX1hAQ8-zGBeHyiiHgebVeMj3Ot84oMMKaHzn-8-ocy7ltXqvd98VoUWvs2C9L5L0QZeqtMlb7ZaOd7Q0Joz/s320/PA-034415%20-%20MIKAN%203319041%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20near%20Island%20-%201920s.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC, PA-034415)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5ivjnNrvhoKofgOCGtDmWcfX6-M3CM2uo7M1XMXMORERlFyzYJGP3_788X7T4jjq7v5Sk53LlyGBffZ-2Kxm_c6mZpEx7K1wyNA09peEImAF-PB4DUiZefg7_crC4B1xIKTTXWiFHgeimPPFn1MRKLWEYJ68IPrsVWXPCUFOgOZKUAdSGZ67GC1P/s760/PA-034416%20-%20MIKAN%203318888%20-%20Abutment%20at%20end%20of%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201920s.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="760" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5ivjnNrvhoKofgOCGtDmWcfX6-M3CM2uo7M1XMXMORERlFyzYJGP3_788X7T4jjq7v5Sk53LlyGBffZ-2Kxm_c6mZpEx7K1wyNA09peEImAF-PB4DUiZefg7_crC4B1xIKTTXWiFHgeimPPFn1MRKLWEYJ68IPrsVWXPCUFOgOZKUAdSGZ67GC1P/s320/PA-034416%20-%20MIKAN%203318888%20-%20Abutment%20at%20end%20of%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201920s.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Abutment where Island Park Drive ended at the water<br />(LAC, PA-034416)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6J8qOFNc8SHItNHMvkgcuzxcYHEVQeeGGsAEUXsXp8WsCgeFkEy_cksCfosVq9BhZh3DxIfBtEdkIPIckuwThvHNHIKshCDqtRlZk-psHfPT4Mi9k2tas9SALn9TrTJjxzFhAsLj-ByiMQSyRbfRdopdnFiA64_XyME_4TyAQ1AAOshjvfOINR1_/s760/PA-034413%20-%20MIKAN%203326030%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive,%20Foot%20path%20and%20bridle%20path%20-%201920s.bmp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="760" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6J8qOFNc8SHItNHMvkgcuzxcYHEVQeeGGsAEUXsXp8WsCgeFkEy_cksCfosVq9BhZh3DxIfBtEdkIPIckuwThvHNHIKshCDqtRlZk-psHfPT4Mi9k2tas9SALn9TrTJjxzFhAsLj-ByiMQSyRbfRdopdnFiA64_XyME_4TyAQ1AAOshjvfOINR1_/s320/PA-034413%20-%20MIKAN%203326030%20-%20Island%20Park%20Drive,%20Foot%20path%20and%20bridle%20path%20-%201920s.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a view down Island Park Drive which also shows<br />its footpath and bridle path. Photographer is standing just <br />a little south of where Sunnymede intersects today.<br />(LAC, PA-034413)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VuZE1MOHStfhQm9XI7kPFzUIi3vW2IXQjYnCu0xSgLtDlWLp1TjXjAC1XG_Eqxyk10dZJXgvcvN5s-Pma-MnwdIaO3Xh7T5b4rjzJzJIns6ba7v9XOiZTqlxDw3N0GTCGE7CUW2Q_uIbiDUre5A7Vzx-XjPnF7gL_JFo5dBpDlOATIOMkkUX5HFZ/s3329/1922-XX-XX%20-%20HA5-021%20-%20IPDcrop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="3329" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VuZE1MOHStfhQm9XI7kPFzUIi3vW2IXQjYnCu0xSgLtDlWLp1TjXjAC1XG_Eqxyk10dZJXgvcvN5s-Pma-MnwdIaO3Xh7T5b4rjzJzJIns6ba7v9XOiZTqlxDw3N0GTCGE7CUW2Q_uIbiDUre5A7Vzx-XjPnF7gL_JFo5dBpDlOATIOMkkUX5HFZ/s320/1922-XX-XX%20-%20HA5-021%20-%20IPDcrop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1922 oblique aerial view looking north showing the new West<br />End Driveway cutting through the wilderness. Other than the <br />cottages near Westboro Beach and in Champlain Park, <br />north of Scott at this time is largely just trees and bush.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Late fall 1922: The West End Driveway segment from Richmond Road to the Grand Trunk Railway tracks (where the Queensway runs today) was completed. Efforts to extend south of the GTR in 1922 was delayed due to political reasons (at one point, 100 workers were laid off over an argument between the OIC and city council over the $1,400 cost of a new survey that was required for the area around Ruskin Street). </div><div><br /></div><div>Spring-Summer 1923: The Driveway segment from the GTR to Carling Avenue was completed. Meanwhile debate raged about whether a link to Quebec should be made by connecting the bridge from Bate Island or constructing a bridge from Lemieux Island. City Council was pushing Lemieux Island, which made a lot more sense (it was 600 feet from Lemieux to the Quebec side, versus 2,000 from Bate Island), Lemieux Island was seen as a larger and more picturesque potential park space (at 17 acres, versus 11 acres combined for the three small islands), and it was to alleviate congestion at the Chaudiere far more than would a bridge at Bate Island. Ultimately, the OIC was committed to their plan to go to Bate Island, and wasn't worrying in the short term about the Quebec connection. </div><div><br /></div><div>September 1924: Work finally began on the Champlain Bridge.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_etfiYeOYIV5Hkqqf1CfwAkZmCVJBPoLLKepDmequlcjpAXPlTftby8xEYVHiGL70-vJahy7N0qXpfqMOaJPfK-RL0KStPY8pBNNXN7vzJsGt4Ggh0ce6a1zxqcwr0QPRdLf_49Bxsc9AAH2-xc1I6icpxuCufkYAI4vpf3fGirgxr6mvmpw7E_-8/s6487/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Sep_12__1924_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6487" data-original-width="4187" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_etfiYeOYIV5Hkqqf1CfwAkZmCVJBPoLLKepDmequlcjpAXPlTftby8xEYVHiGL70-vJahy7N0qXpfqMOaJPfK-RL0KStPY8pBNNXN7vzJsGt4Ggh0ce6a1zxqcwr0QPRdLf_49Bxsc9AAH2-xc1I6icpxuCufkYAI4vpf3fGirgxr6mvmpw7E_-8/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Fri__Sep_12__1924_.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - September 12, 1924</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>October 14, 1923: The full length of the new West End Drive (aka Island Park Drive) opened for traffic for the first time. There was no ceremony, simply early that Sunday morning, the barricades were removed by the OIC at Carling Avenue, allowing vehicles to travel the entire length from Carling to the River.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fall 1924: By year end, all of the piers and abutments were in place for the first segment of the bridge to the first island, and it was ready to go for the installation of the iron portion in the spring.</div><div><br /></div><div>In total there would be 420 feet to the first island (Riopelle). Then 70 feet to the next island (Cunningham), and finally 320 feet to the third (Bate). The bridges were to be built to handle a load of 20 tons, 24 feet wide, with a 5-foot sidewalk on either side. Five piers and six spans in the first bridge, four piers and five spans in the other. Making construction easier was the hard, rocky bottom and shallow water from the shore to the first island.</div><div><br /></div><div>December 24, 1924: The contract for the iron work of the Champlain Bridge was awarded to Dominion Bridge Company. Their bid was the lowest in the tenders process, and they were to start in the spring of 1925.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcuiL0LW6vpYLi7qVmTpd7GakDSjTtJn0a8ofH3dN91DDPI2WTD7XvBLbQujRhGYeaiWZ1qMdj8A2jXkXkcGIggkh_dZlKD4XZ9glH50z95n64uyaGYStFOSpZ2ZAw56ffpYcNS3H9Qks4uhA0AzuB9GNq5pKd-Oy5bXzj_uwfHTpc-5rM6EsAOYH/s3562/Dominion%20Bridge%20ad.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3562" data-original-width="2498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcuiL0LW6vpYLi7qVmTpd7GakDSjTtJn0a8ofH3dN91DDPI2WTD7XvBLbQujRhGYeaiWZ1qMdj8A2jXkXkcGIggkh_dZlKD4XZ9glH50z95n64uyaGYStFOSpZ2ZAw56ffpYcNS3H9Qks4uhA0AzuB9GNq5pKd-Oy5bXzj_uwfHTpc-5rM6EsAOYH/s320/Dominion%20Bridge%20ad.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dominion Bridge Company ad, 1919</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Spring 1925: The first bridge segments are in place! And thanks to some photos taken by Pittaway Photos of Ottawa, the moment is captured in time:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyc0922nHUdYS16CTAwsbxwyDVQHukjq7LYv877ERmFGCIA8CjVAr3d30b6dl9OoBGJNJ8BdDOf1Ps5r9CA6iVFiA78JuaQ9ZapGLaho2y1wR98xa6VyaiLC0kOaswZ1h82xXjmN2Wmg_ir8-99fts0AkXpP3mi0mqKvhDM2CoFkWwBNkkx39y5CE/s2958/LAC%20-%20e999908998-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20side%20angle%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2337" data-original-width="2958" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyc0922nHUdYS16CTAwsbxwyDVQHukjq7LYv877ERmFGCIA8CjVAr3d30b6dl9OoBGJNJ8BdDOf1Ps5r9CA6iVFiA78JuaQ9ZapGLaho2y1wR98xa6VyaiLC0kOaswZ1h82xXjmN2Wmg_ir8-99fts0AkXpP3mi0mqKvhDM2CoFkWwBNkkx39y5CE/s320/LAC%20-%20e999908998-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20side%20angle%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC: e999908998-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMJGVyTKaH-FzYp_VbUHZFhUaLF_Z-TUlEZHQJm1xDraSViWs8ZA-Tn8vGFLiS8eC2rSi9DymrI_QvBjoA0FZj7a44Iu2jjcJGdRyoiOG4qcN7R-kPvMYQlHrRGCnOufUgNe9QeKgraYCtUSnDQpu-Nm-zBr4vYgaDpea1fn7V0NiLU6bCz0kGXwJ/s2994/LAC%20-%20e999908999-u%20-%20Full%20view%20of%20Champlain%20bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20tower%20on%20far%20end%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="2994" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMJGVyTKaH-FzYp_VbUHZFhUaLF_Z-TUlEZHQJm1xDraSViWs8ZA-Tn8vGFLiS8eC2rSi9DymrI_QvBjoA0FZj7a44Iu2jjcJGdRyoiOG4qcN7R-kPvMYQlHrRGCnOufUgNe9QeKgraYCtUSnDQpu-Nm-zBr4vYgaDpea1fn7V0NiLU6bCz0kGXwJ/s320/LAC%20-%20e999908999-u%20-%20Full%20view%20of%20Champlain%20bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20tower%20on%20far%20end%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC: e999908999-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzUkhOnj8iwyreM1MfQj7kDIaDsswiLDMr3NSIDeQpnP4o3UeZH60F-cy6uGBvLiU5eOgll5qqGsOgAWul4o4PScEDaB82msmI_1XyIhPWLYN1g8hqJp80qzbqx5uBRip2nek8Ue-V40ntleCH9LgG1sq2GRJAUkbums4-zmtDw-C8qyH_2eoVBWL/s2994/LAC%20-%20e999909000-u%20-%20Full%20view%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20tower%20on%20far%20end%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="2994" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzUkhOnj8iwyreM1MfQj7kDIaDsswiLDMr3NSIDeQpnP4o3UeZH60F-cy6uGBvLiU5eOgll5qqGsOgAWul4o4PScEDaB82msmI_1XyIhPWLYN1g8hqJp80qzbqx5uBRip2nek8Ue-V40ntleCH9LgG1sq2GRJAUkbums4-zmtDw-C8qyH_2eoVBWL/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909000-u%20-%20Full%20view%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20tower%20on%20far%20end%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC: e999909000-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPGZ8LjMwfiDlDUdZZ01MR0YURHOHknHwlberYeoB0lrjVCKFKVLORvc3zRVOnytY2Q7eTRAE498iWOlAnrW7G5ICDH4znQlGlBc2Q644XIuJWoSfQ1-hHHdZVWYpFeFLYDPNKetJdZOeArpPxnW7q9LrLNKfRLSdWW-ARfGEV4fqd6MqyZocK9ka/s5881/1925-08-12%20-%20HA41-014%20-%20IPDclip.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="5881" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPGZ8LjMwfiDlDUdZZ01MR0YURHOHknHwlberYeoB0lrjVCKFKVLORvc3zRVOnytY2Q7eTRAE498iWOlAnrW7G5ICDH4znQlGlBc2Q644XIuJWoSfQ1-hHHdZVWYpFeFLYDPNKetJdZOeArpPxnW7q9LrLNKfRLSdWW-ARfGEV4fqd6MqyZocK9ka/s320/1925-08-12%20-%20HA41-014%20-%20IPDclip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aerial photo showing the bridge in place to the Island.<br />August 12, 1925</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Spring 1926: The flooring for the third bridge (from Cunningham Island to Bate Island) was completed, officially bringing the route to Bate Island to a finish. However, the roadway would not be opened for either pedestrian or vehicular traffic for another year.</div><div><br /></div><div>May 1927: The Federal District Commission (the new name for the OIC, before it would later become NCC) made an announcement that the islands would be finally soon be opened up, and that all three would be transformed into small natural parks. Cunningham and Riopelle Islands were to be reserved for pedestrians, accessible by a staircase down from the bridge, while Bate would be encircled by a driveway for cars, so that they could park and enjoy the views from all angles. The opening of the bridges was delayed until the islands were ready for the public.</div><div><br /></div><div>June 20, 1927: Thomas Ahearn, chairman of the FDC, announced that within thirty days, a start would be made on the construction of the "Islands Park" bridge from Bate Island to the Quebec shore, and opened by fall 1928. The start was delayed due to high water, with the concrete work beginning first. </div><div><br /></div><div>September 13, 1927: At noon on a warm Tuesday in September, Governor-General Lord Willingdon cut the ribbon for the opening of the bridge to the islands at a ceremony attended by 200 people. The G-G was the first car to cross the bridge. The final price tag on the bridge to Bate Island was approximately $180,000 including the approaches, viaducts and clearing on the island.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooBgBQ6dGqQmWqlPlbLuHhoFaVNQCzbWzEmJu0_XJ0c_zDTJH-WMs765hzPBHVlp3gjDckP0kjIFrR2rNidJ0M-VukvKKHisHLuf3ctV6G6ZC3-074Efvlr-ZrO6fMFOE_qQKT9W8nNtA57NGwU0NxCtZLgpU2PIsiohnnmgP-C_1Sn4P2CRTxNEr/s1288/Journal%20-%201927-09-13%20p1%20-%20Opening%20Gov%20Gen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooBgBQ6dGqQmWqlPlbLuHhoFaVNQCzbWzEmJu0_XJ0c_zDTJH-WMs765hzPBHVlp3gjDckP0kjIFrR2rNidJ0M-VukvKKHisHLuf3ctV6G6ZC3-074Efvlr-ZrO6fMFOE_qQKT9W8nNtA57NGwU0NxCtZLgpU2PIsiohnnmgP-C_1Sn4P2CRTxNEr/s320/Journal%20-%201927-09-13%20p1%20-%20Opening%20Gov%20Gen.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Journal - September 13, 1927</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlkgUL3amCAMxOptb0OlEKKfgC5Ab6lOJb0S1ivl3sVsX4bw_v7p1xzf51S3mz22tz0FTTWBTBwRCUl4g6uyp9utBPm4Mp7IxV5MhOzmaiE8gQvT3dR7bPbFaYzi8FCDyASyW8BfwFdlGKso-GqmhZyI5aKG4C-bpsRypEPIdCID7T31QiRDyJ5lM/s600/Lord%20Willingdon.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlkgUL3amCAMxOptb0OlEKKfgC5Ab6lOJb0S1ivl3sVsX4bw_v7p1xzf51S3mz22tz0FTTWBTBwRCUl4g6uyp9utBPm4Mp7IxV5MhOzmaiE8gQvT3dR7bPbFaYzi8FCDyASyW8BfwFdlGKso-GqmhZyI5aKG4C-bpsRypEPIdCID7T31QiRDyJ5lM/s320/Lord%20Willingdon.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lady and Lord Willingdon (Governor-General<br />from 1926-1931) pictured in 1927, though not at<br />the opening of the Champlain Bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yex-CbQDvCzWnirxupZA7KPP22ZjcH84x4PlSsyoEI41gnmP8NJBWgJvNZ0V7R_u72pGaE3gHRLGMde95_D8fEq4tAxEml4hQgFR1XZ-XG38xAYIKJ0BYWI1hX-y4R321mQr2YlKn_AKO97MTMT4yDpAAuTMuxcL6TxKBy2Yemntut9krYGm7yGI/s4867/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_29__1927_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2602" data-original-width="4867" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yex-CbQDvCzWnirxupZA7KPP22ZjcH84x4PlSsyoEI41gnmP8NJBWgJvNZ0V7R_u72pGaE3gHRLGMde95_D8fEq4tAxEml4hQgFR1XZ-XG38xAYIKJ0BYWI1hX-y4R321mQr2YlKn_AKO97MTMT4yDpAAuTMuxcL6TxKBy2Yemntut9krYGm7yGI/s320/The_Ottawa_Citizen_Mon__Aug_29__1927_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ottawa Citizen - August 29, 1927</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>October 7, 1927: The Montreal firm of Quinlan, Robertson and Janin was awarded the $147,000 contract for construction of the sub-structure and flooring for the Bate Island-to-Quebec segment of the Champlain Bridge. The FDC supplied all the stone required (purchased locally) and the cement was supplied by the Canada Cement Company. There was some contentiousness around the selection of the Montreal firm, when most of the eight bidders for the contract were from Ottawa.</div><div><br /></div><div>October 14, 1927: Construction began right away on the new segment. Careful planning was required, as the construction of a 1,900 foot bridge in rapid-running water was no easy task. All work was done starting on the Quebec side, nothing was brought in from the Ontario or Bate Island side. Before any work could be started, a 25-foot wide trestle bridge had to be built in order to accommodate the equipment needed in construction, including a gasoline-powered locomotive. It was constructed using 10x10 timbers, that would hold the 56 pound rails laid over it. A few photos from LAC capture the earliest days of construction, which ran right through the chilly winter of 1927-28. (I've done my best to try to put them in a chronological order):</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqv7cDEFhhBrYUbuC8TezQhtHKm5mW1cpQw1mZI_0T38iAR6kl4nfpPY84e-zgmsEu-rQ3v7mRO6cgDyX3wSIHiENNMGgdDoJigwUlQCu-OKKyZHRDIo5IaWRqFJNsKVPFj2KZLdw9vXSOOnbhqzjLlaaxEV-BIo-UbGLDEPAJC3aRUvGQixOfPbD3/s2715/LAC%20-%20e999909060-u%20-%20Floating%20barge%20on%20river%20with%20workers%20in%20foreground%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2715" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqv7cDEFhhBrYUbuC8TezQhtHKm5mW1cpQw1mZI_0T38iAR6kl4nfpPY84e-zgmsEu-rQ3v7mRO6cgDyX3wSIHiENNMGgdDoJigwUlQCu-OKKyZHRDIo5IaWRqFJNsKVPFj2KZLdw9vXSOOnbhqzjLlaaxEV-BIo-UbGLDEPAJC3aRUvGQixOfPbD3/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909060-u%20-%20Floating%20barge%20on%20river%20with%20workers%20in%20foreground%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Preliminary work in the water. A floating barge can<br />be seen in the background, with Bate Island in the<br />distance. (LAC - e999909060-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0dHZbzlhouWFnie6wNBgizR_csek2MVDRXPfrbi6sSkcDyi0KmBfJk8guNTlgA4ZuFxRZRWsxtgdL1LajnG9PNtLOPSejm_uFBhX-ATPkbORcytr93_uJEYCiWMQxe3Ji9G6JmDvufFZaQl5Bcu-BqvTJ8LK9OlnmbvFdONgzof1bidsi83RQ76i/s2715/LAC%20-%20e999909061-u%20-%20Group%20of%20workers%20holding%20tools%20at%20waters%20edge%20with%20floating%20barge%20in%20background%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="2715" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0dHZbzlhouWFnie6wNBgizR_csek2MVDRXPfrbi6sSkcDyi0KmBfJk8guNTlgA4ZuFxRZRWsxtgdL1LajnG9PNtLOPSejm_uFBhX-ATPkbORcytr93_uJEYCiWMQxe3Ji9G6JmDvufFZaQl5Bcu-BqvTJ8LK9OlnmbvFdONgzof1bidsi83RQ76i/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909061-u%20-%20Group%20of%20workers%20holding%20tools%20at%20waters%20edge%20with%20floating%20barge%20in%20background%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Group of workers holding their tools in the water,<br />with the barge still in behind. (LAC - e999909061-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nQQscSF00d-u9xMvik-7xxdIBqMY263NLAEV9jd0JCHVGr39AJ1xkbFJcSSzmSApjU-YT8gMUwW3w9msiHCEC7oLwYBX0GY2OrdeUZQ4n-y7WID2zl8MGT0a8nMH6T6uT43TxIAg8WdrLmkds5wNNmq1OhRcYZl2EocyMiSpQiSJkvEwWK_ryAER/s2715/LAC%20-%20e999909062-u%20-%20View%20of%20work%20shanties%20and%20Champlain%20Bridge%20construction%20site%20on%20river%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2715" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nQQscSF00d-u9xMvik-7xxdIBqMY263NLAEV9jd0JCHVGr39AJ1xkbFJcSSzmSApjU-YT8gMUwW3w9msiHCEC7oLwYBX0GY2OrdeUZQ4n-y7WID2zl8MGT0a8nMH6T6uT43TxIAg8WdrLmkds5wNNmq1OhRcYZl2EocyMiSpQiSJkvEwWK_ryAER/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909062-u%20-%20View%20of%20work%20shanties%20and%20Champlain%20Bridge%20construction%20site%20on%20river%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Construction site and shanties on the river's edge.<br />(LAC - e999909062-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0ptxwPYdqql9TOcide-uMNvIFk9iRFH2qp6dqDcNPOewZFVRMNoIUvdlZOKwEgSPXb0WcLUPsohszlRS-5OFNJFryi8eetuOZ-X6zqDLpyV1TyBZZCpVT5HaLazQ9i9-5Dw-QIxRC4Bte-kNjMJpWDm45r-eS7AnF0fC68gWcjfWaesz68bcNxIB/s2715/LAC%20-%20e999909063-u%20-%20Construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201st%20section%20by%20A%20Stuart%20Early%201920s%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2715" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0ptxwPYdqql9TOcide-uMNvIFk9iRFH2qp6dqDcNPOewZFVRMNoIUvdlZOKwEgSPXb0WcLUPsohszlRS-5OFNJFryi8eetuOZ-X6zqDLpyV1TyBZZCpVT5HaLazQ9i9-5Dw-QIxRC4Bte-kNjMJpWDm45r-eS7AnF0fC68gWcjfWaesz68bcNxIB/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909063-u%20-%20Construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201st%20section%20by%20A%20Stuart%20Early%201920s%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trestle bridge under construction. <br />(LAC - e999909063-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMv7M5gmIadjvsxkD1vRs0R6a_qbcrQBsnzftpok_ixZgulUUjHwiZeerw-B1mgMyMCqiIk8RzjJZhAKY3VvCM_jx-RLpLhrJhIbsDWINOQDGVFFDBPaHjQtshnOrdcqcNfRVmt3su4lEFR1FhNncAwSj1l8C8Mx1WxdvOs6Bb4t2S_j5czbYAe0j/s2744/LAC%20-%20e999909048-u%20-%20Worker%20working%20with%20machinery%20as%20several%20men%20look%20onward%20at%20construction%20site%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2115" data-original-width="2744" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMv7M5gmIadjvsxkD1vRs0R6a_qbcrQBsnzftpok_ixZgulUUjHwiZeerw-B1mgMyMCqiIk8RzjJZhAKY3VvCM_jx-RLpLhrJhIbsDWINOQDGVFFDBPaHjQtshnOrdcqcNfRVmt3su4lEFR1FhNncAwSj1l8C8Mx1WxdvOs6Bb4t2S_j5czbYAe0j/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909048-u%20-%20Worker%20working%20with%20machinery%20as%20several%20men%20look%20onward%20at%20construction%20site%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Machinery used in early construction.<br />(LAC e999909048-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF3TG5N5HjmnY0mWI4sFf_Fy0XBMZekPlmK4NnvL9xuPNykJiBVcEwfnxrR3zX0yvCaK2vI5lazYDt2LHXQ5eODxMv9HfxXCbkByJWbc3wrcKBZXKZzR2M1sm-Rgpj-fdqnST01r2uIa3dwRducykQ1rMlROylA5Vh7sKTWvzscG1gN3L3jZr5BZu/s2730/LAC%20-%20e999909059-u%20-%20Wood%20shanties%20and%20materials%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2730" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF3TG5N5HjmnY0mWI4sFf_Fy0XBMZekPlmK4NnvL9xuPNykJiBVcEwfnxrR3zX0yvCaK2vI5lazYDt2LHXQ5eODxMv9HfxXCbkByJWbc3wrcKBZXKZzR2M1sm-Rgpj-fdqnST01r2uIa3dwRducykQ1rMlROylA5Vh7sKTWvzscG1gN3L3jZr5BZu/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909059-u%20-%20Wood%20shanties%20and%20materials%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wood shanties and materials for construction<br />(LAC - e999909059-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PZYm6kgyVxEkuPCi9zCb1wl6wToTdinFCU9It9bnBDfKvyK-CG2aUxxYDJYICD6rbkUeBPVY1zA476dyg9jTXkNOSiuUCsoLPupy9Sd-d6V0bp0IaPqD4YD-6Ac7PXql3YYcUsyGjSbXK9MWRddrWmjS_WE2eeXr0AaOToiDosQ1Nio-o-nXSmZ4/s2773/LAC%20-%20e999909049-u%20-%20Logs%20being%20hauled%20from%20river%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2773" data-original-width="2129" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PZYm6kgyVxEkuPCi9zCb1wl6wToTdinFCU9It9bnBDfKvyK-CG2aUxxYDJYICD6rbkUeBPVY1zA476dyg9jTXkNOSiuUCsoLPupy9Sd-d6V0bp0IaPqD4YD-6Ac7PXql3YYcUsyGjSbXK9MWRddrWmjS_WE2eeXr0AaOToiDosQ1Nio-o-nXSmZ4/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909049-u%20-%20Logs%20being%20hauled%20from%20river%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Logs beind hauled from river during construction.<br />(LAC - e999909049-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS2OLlEZVzMO_VFvcjWpacjKRbkSmrg_FdXh8yZQExbPD7Qn6J--aJrD0gTQpZIU1YWZTcOfZE0DTBE2_cZ0231b_ooJK8D9ILw4kp6K8JTQqt13dTHyzIZRr-L3ByHLYtnkCWuGJDH4M0210YQZp6o7E8nv9MaBYTgGhX-FVEwsLK0U7lD0jRn4L/s2703/LAC%20-%20e999909046-u%20-%20Logs%20being%20hauled%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2055" data-original-width="2703" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS2OLlEZVzMO_VFvcjWpacjKRbkSmrg_FdXh8yZQExbPD7Qn6J--aJrD0gTQpZIU1YWZTcOfZE0DTBE2_cZ0231b_ooJK8D9ILw4kp6K8JTQqt13dTHyzIZRr-L3ByHLYtnkCWuGJDH4M0210YQZp6o7E8nv9MaBYTgGhX-FVEwsLK0U7lD0jRn4L/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909046-u%20-%20Logs%20being%20hauled%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Logs being hauled from the River<br />(LAC - e999909046-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKwCQh_muo3jeev97hQMmygRoi4I2rfwvEJbuN-6V2EMETCYbdPztcXdlj2R6LILm7frqE-NibxQ78HNl86n2WbfeSzEnfjE530wCzyzIOPE9yuI74uYcnhPs654DS53jwuSrSbX3fojxq1CfeUTD_Z4p8SZ_DDubtUiw0Zovk2hpViX6QWIikehu/s2744/LAC%20-%20e999909050-u%20-%20Man%20in%20divers%20suit%20doing%20underwater%20work%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2744" data-original-width="2101" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKwCQh_muo3jeev97hQMmygRoi4I2rfwvEJbuN-6V2EMETCYbdPztcXdlj2R6LILm7frqE-NibxQ78HNl86n2WbfeSzEnfjE530wCzyzIOPE9yuI74uYcnhPs654DS53jwuSrSbX3fojxq1CfeUTD_Z4p8SZ_DDubtUiw0Zovk2hpViX6QWIikehu/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909050-u%20-%20Man%20in%20divers%20suit%20doing%20underwater%20work%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Worker in diver suit doing underwater work.<br />(LAC - e999909050-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe4FpF55FpPeO-hhHo5FMHnKuJj7dnRaWT_A96kD_tu9qfcdfPKwDAlA9yfFKNsF52NQB236m0FJIX99SfFEY3S_uptEXMHvWUo6MalGMLZRGma8jCasOfRIuusD653tnNrEsN2F5cLw6Qd4i1TmZ5u9j6gvxqKTI36jngpODc99-JEVTByDX-Yet/s2573/LAC%20-%20e999909056-u%20-%20Man%20in%20Divers%20Suit%20doing%20underground%20work%20for%20Champlain%20Bridge%20construction%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2573" data-original-width="2086" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe4FpF55FpPeO-hhHo5FMHnKuJj7dnRaWT_A96kD_tu9qfcdfPKwDAlA9yfFKNsF52NQB236m0FJIX99SfFEY3S_uptEXMHvWUo6MalGMLZRGma8jCasOfRIuusD653tnNrEsN2F5cLw6Qd4i1TmZ5u9j6gvxqKTI36jngpODc99-JEVTByDX-Yet/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909056-u%20-%20Man%20in%20Divers%20Suit%20doing%20underground%20work%20for%20Champlain%20Bridge%20construction%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Underwater work (LAC - e99909056-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUB437rs5AgR4maC93_KZ4uLXaBrIGXbyoH_bJCHZA0Z4nrS0h3QTjHl2zKNsb9r-GJMmpZYvBCYOES6qnXBiwBzohRpbdYS3vp6rtIzUR7wCYBMVO1hWxtBY8bKWN86VmKH01WSdFZoV99fC0l-QYi9zSewTorHu77oo-mcjTI1kpdkQNAeEYxtg/s2744/LAC%20-%20e999909051-u%20-%20Three%20men%20working%20on%20Champlain%20Bridge%20infrastructure%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2744" data-original-width="2101" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUB437rs5AgR4maC93_KZ4uLXaBrIGXbyoH_bJCHZA0Z4nrS0h3QTjHl2zKNsb9r-GJMmpZYvBCYOES6qnXBiwBzohRpbdYS3vp6rtIzUR7wCYBMVO1hWxtBY8bKWN86VmKH01WSdFZoV99fC0l-QYi9zSewTorHu77oo-mcjTI1kpdkQNAeEYxtg/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909051-u%20-%20Three%20men%20working%20on%20Champlain%20Bridge%20infrastructure%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trestle work on the shore <br />(LAC - e999909051-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTb-6WvCCJ4X_SVpEHyKTGno-nLGRhIShrn6lgrC19BwxM6tkU3Ic3smJtpA-nbtPjv3ZqbeGU44OogAEhX3kfG_Lw0UsKmhAlPO8Ri4l03gfmTJmMPsAlOfW0Zng_l12pxheN85yBHOmkDIzKv_FfJ-aIG-z_Nm4VUCJ0puA8bnRNES4L3IhdC7k/s2730/LAC%20-%20e999909058-u%20-%20Wooden%20bridge%20across%20Ottawa%20river%20part%20of%20construction%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="2730" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTb-6WvCCJ4X_SVpEHyKTGno-nLGRhIShrn6lgrC19BwxM6tkU3Ic3smJtpA-nbtPjv3ZqbeGU44OogAEhX3kfG_Lw0UsKmhAlPO8Ri4l03gfmTJmMPsAlOfW0Zng_l12pxheN85yBHOmkDIzKv_FfJ-aIG-z_Nm4VUCJ0puA8bnRNES4L3IhdC7k/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909058-u%20-%20Wooden%20bridge%20across%20Ottawa%20river%20part%20of%20construction%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trestle bridge (LAC - e999909058-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Winter 1927-1928: Work continued on the bridge throughout the winter, as the FDC wanted the bridge opened by the fall of 1928.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcs5aGqLMVmi7d_hyHhYnYgBcUGlacfqzPBdCDXRbyWtRM7huCUmRQhFRiEuxYA2uXIyMZm0IXzei9Aol-MV4qiawpwWhhENf-ecSTYmgueMKRrNuXl__ubsfc-xJyYu6a23EMW7XX4JdLny6KQvBDEp72LOP_ZxmoIhkXE5_C2uXIed8mqX4MsBu/s2730/LAC%20-%20e999909052-u%20-%20Icicles%20formed%20on%20the%20beams%20of%20the%20Champlain%20bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20river%20below%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="2730" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcs5aGqLMVmi7d_hyHhYnYgBcUGlacfqzPBdCDXRbyWtRM7huCUmRQhFRiEuxYA2uXIyMZm0IXzei9Aol-MV4qiawpwWhhENf-ecSTYmgueMKRrNuXl__ubsfc-xJyYu6a23EMW7XX4JdLny6KQvBDEp72LOP_ZxmoIhkXE5_C2uXIed8mqX4MsBu/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909052-u%20-%20Icicles%20formed%20on%20the%20beams%20of%20the%20Champlain%20bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20river%20below%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Icicles form on the beams of the trestle during<br />the cold winter (LAC - e999909052-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYPK-ZyuxcWwrNi4XPpaxpqNqtAtAVwVeYkZzTlDT8FVdov26_IZB3cbIv-SENkCUXi9oMeO27LVnDM3Ed2CxwKtYJfJLJTGH-GWVMyLzdKTdlXPB-gjoB44KMnZA-oV-B7ypioTeadXMqK1B_tNe57RJIe9voWHWH-De-3vHlZIrqNzvFHgiRvs_/s2730/LAC%20-%20e999909053-u%20-%20Several%20men%20at%20worksite%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="2730" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYPK-ZyuxcWwrNi4XPpaxpqNqtAtAVwVeYkZzTlDT8FVdov26_IZB3cbIv-SENkCUXi9oMeO27LVnDM3Ed2CxwKtYJfJLJTGH-GWVMyLzdKTdlXPB-gjoB44KMnZA-oV-B7ypioTeadXMqK1B_tNe57RJIe9voWHWH-De-3vHlZIrqNzvFHgiRvs_/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909053-u%20-%20Several%20men%20at%20worksite%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Work during winter (LAC - e999909053-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnnzwUxxkVlZQeAcPwhUeMLGddJthwOgm6jTyjB7vrdIBTI8sDMujR9gEQl4YeVaCeJZ_g9-LCc1tbMatY2rPdEDQrxah2luuuHE6gYWVLGv84dBboiqn3QqtWnfC8dnqsKZFLp-TdrOR5AruFffhx9XQjuq7zxxNcD4MvG7JbNaTQtZOKWX0Ju68/s2730/LAC%20-%20e999909054-u%20-%20Two%20men%20working%20on%20machinery%20at%20construction%20site%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="2730" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnnzwUxxkVlZQeAcPwhUeMLGddJthwOgm6jTyjB7vrdIBTI8sDMujR9gEQl4YeVaCeJZ_g9-LCc1tbMatY2rPdEDQrxah2luuuHE6gYWVLGv84dBboiqn3QqtWnfC8dnqsKZFLp-TdrOR5AruFffhx9XQjuq7zxxNcD4MvG7JbNaTQtZOKWX0Ju68/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909054-u%20-%20Two%20men%20working%20on%20machinery%20at%20construction%20site%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Machinery at the Bridge worksite <br />(LAC - e999909054-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Late Spring 1928: the Substructure was in place by May.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLiTTOT10LWZ7zWJgknZsA_q-qQ69MSRMMKOyFIvjIw4TsHlpvDcV_8kzDU_UbRzp6YYHYDnA8A1f6RJvFYGOd5I_OwiqBOyUgBBafjXVvQ5oBEOq5dHug7_D5Te6R2od9dNttC1fvyS6Qv3rKbwXJ8xuZSrKu4iwiFQLtLUvixeVBhpZpMSD-qYd/s2724/LAC-%20%20e999909047-u%20-%20Construction%20of%20the%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2064" data-original-width="2724" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLiTTOT10LWZ7zWJgknZsA_q-qQ69MSRMMKOyFIvjIw4TsHlpvDcV_8kzDU_UbRzp6YYHYDnA8A1f6RJvFYGOd5I_OwiqBOyUgBBafjXVvQ5oBEOq5dHug7_D5Te6R2od9dNttC1fvyS6Qv3rKbwXJ8xuZSrKu4iwiFQLtLUvixeVBhpZpMSD-qYd/s320/LAC-%20%20e999909047-u%20-%20Construction%20of%20the%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909047-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rDj06c9jpHWDCH0GTF6JQu1OQkjlbf6DsTsJkDuY1YcSJ7odGoS4OqTr9kudZlHIpsRRhfhr_oudLYiZSk2N-Vtwt6zkeIcUshFFsM3gL_mC0HJUqpuP9KB-6Lu5zPxReJWO58Ry2C7KCZIY5G_X6h1rSUR_efm7iqlih7uHTWoiY6xeD7OTFw6F/s2730/LAC%20-%20e999909055-u%20-%20Three%20men%20working%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2087" data-original-width="2730" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rDj06c9jpHWDCH0GTF6JQu1OQkjlbf6DsTsJkDuY1YcSJ7odGoS4OqTr9kudZlHIpsRRhfhr_oudLYiZSk2N-Vtwt6zkeIcUshFFsM3gL_mC0HJUqpuP9KB-6Lu5zPxReJWO58Ry2C7KCZIY5G_X6h1rSUR_efm7iqlih7uHTWoiY6xeD7OTFw6F/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909055-u%20-%20Three%20men%20working%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909055-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif15nxfUX_CgF4HWLYM_f8fLNI_x_-jIpBVzkpztle8eWMOjbIkEfSGml3Fq1eSJv_Ltjm22bv6i3jgvBk4D2Vm1yYcaPc-2h78mh_lJS5UP3bBIEEQgiBQk9pPkuz479TUbjhKzaK3oGplOnCRd0GvdkNKXZNpfQxc27GI7kbmgbdish8ii7NLbV5/s2730/LAC%20-%20e999909057-u%20-%20Work%20sheds%20and%20workers%20handling%20materials%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2058" data-original-width="2730" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif15nxfUX_CgF4HWLYM_f8fLNI_x_-jIpBVzkpztle8eWMOjbIkEfSGml3Fq1eSJv_Ltjm22bv6i3jgvBk4D2Vm1yYcaPc-2h78mh_lJS5UP3bBIEEQgiBQk9pPkuz479TUbjhKzaK3oGplOnCRd0GvdkNKXZNpfQxc27GI7kbmgbdish8ii7NLbV5/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909057-u%20-%20Work%20sheds%20and%20workers%20handling%20materials%20for%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909057-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDXKx3YcZzrv9JFRQyi713H1VEkNm9mcybIKNkvZTSSwWtqj_MTCnjT2VwXxDUJiu2ER36h5-lVYjyFqnckY8Am95jXMuRlvwg0pdCSt4XRIXWVmtBUgHxCWmsTA0LippwO21UD-2Hlv1ND8iX5S_TLcXCCPUYAl1b0JEtrsS0_YbBNKKfYaksnC3/s2715/LAC%20-%20e999909064-u%20-%20Group%20of%20workers%20moving%20large%20log%20to%20Champlain%20Bridge%20construction%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2715" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDXKx3YcZzrv9JFRQyi713H1VEkNm9mcybIKNkvZTSSwWtqj_MTCnjT2VwXxDUJiu2ER36h5-lVYjyFqnckY8Am95jXMuRlvwg0pdCSt4XRIXWVmtBUgHxCWmsTA0LippwO21UD-2Hlv1ND8iX5S_TLcXCCPUYAl1b0JEtrsS0_YbBNKKfYaksnC3/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909064-u%20-%20Group%20of%20workers%20moving%20large%20log%20to%20Champlain%20Bridge%20construction%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909064-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu8gpWjXduy6UumAoRxCr9u-mGelmySI5nPtxz7CHyk71Eaur_4MF0ScDP0MXhpe5Ylot2e1dwR_nvWB352ii3rW5p48MtnPMcev6mRfGF0j4rDE0pE1f30BTAdExgV-l9Hx1StYHcQQqKFdPcn9Wx3yji89fg-g2uv66eSBfPDVJ3BlC8cJhHmRC/s2672/LAC%20-%20e999909065-u%20-%20Men%20walking%20across%20wooden%20bridge%20located%20on%20the%20Ottawa%20River%20part%20of%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2044" data-original-width="2672" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu8gpWjXduy6UumAoRxCr9u-mGelmySI5nPtxz7CHyk71Eaur_4MF0ScDP0MXhpe5Ylot2e1dwR_nvWB352ii3rW5p48MtnPMcev6mRfGF0j4rDE0pE1f30BTAdExgV-l9Hx1StYHcQQqKFdPcn9Wx3yji89fg-g2uv66eSBfPDVJ3BlC8cJhHmRC/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909065-u%20-%20Men%20walking%20across%20wooden%20bridge%20located%20on%20the%20Ottawa%20River%20part%20of%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201924-1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC e-999909065-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>May 23, 1928: The steel work for the Bate Island-to-Quebec segment of the bridge began on this date. It was delayed due to the high water throughout the spring.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bkp5xrWDS5KofP9g8y_fg3n_vv1BZjxzqXW7U0kzZ2JnHiftFcPGHJOGEK2K2M9twgDfiMtrSEbSjGIXkGzUPkfHThdbIFUZo3ZBDkfUBrZuUd0R7ZTJ7wo2NbcQlxBpoSu2sSRcaPkwKGYDhF2uBylIdbYc3niyhKB6cw6hx-RyQbhyj7mrAqJF/s2101/LAC%20-%20e999909002-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20crane%20moving%20gurters%20off-side%20angle%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2101" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bkp5xrWDS5KofP9g8y_fg3n_vv1BZjxzqXW7U0kzZ2JnHiftFcPGHJOGEK2K2M9twgDfiMtrSEbSjGIXkGzUPkfHThdbIFUZo3ZBDkfUBrZuUd0R7ZTJ7wo2NbcQlxBpoSu2sSRcaPkwKGYDhF2uBylIdbYc3niyhKB6cw6hx-RyQbhyj7mrAqJF/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909002-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20crane%20moving%20gurters%20off-side%20angle%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Crane moving girders off side-angle<br />(LAC - e999909002-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A7rDpuyGXugSaLWkkhEfPkkSXgGGoa5teq5JCkNziQ7u0lp9NX39vXMgZhhZ30UTS4kKsOE0ebYbPgpt93W431Y7_7azP25K1U5__6jbGYY0IoHNKSjddqnHLU3MKhesiz_rH9yARjbOa6qpMTe_OToDMa_gGdu1PNrGTrSXyP4wwu49GFzcHD0_/s2129/LAC%20-%20e999909005-u%20-%20View%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20crane%20on%20right%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2129" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A7rDpuyGXugSaLWkkhEfPkkSXgGGoa5teq5JCkNziQ7u0lp9NX39vXMgZhhZ30UTS4kKsOE0ebYbPgpt93W431Y7_7azP25K1U5__6jbGYY0IoHNKSjddqnHLU3MKhesiz_rH9yARjbOa6qpMTe_OToDMa_gGdu1PNrGTrSXyP4wwu49GFzcHD0_/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909005-u%20-%20View%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20crane%20on%20right%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909005-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNtQ9XzNVSua5nImZRYtGt3al-lv-dEtlg7y9jD91KAxB1IXv8fJHMIUdhKfN5AmwKIQqs2QnLPhmsalCAHg5lPWtql1J4QrQZhPMKuFZ-_ZF21b_M6wBliInljotEm95beQvKEanRfPsVBd3o5FmFE01oSR8_16HlEHxXdgg1DEuwigjtT_8Jyto/s2108/LAC%20-%20e999909007-u%20-%20Construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="2108" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNtQ9XzNVSua5nImZRYtGt3al-lv-dEtlg7y9jD91KAxB1IXv8fJHMIUdhKfN5AmwKIQqs2QnLPhmsalCAHg5lPWtql1J4QrQZhPMKuFZ-_ZF21b_M6wBliInljotEm95beQvKEanRfPsVBd3o5FmFE01oSR8_16HlEHxXdgg1DEuwigjtT_8Jyto/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909007-u%20-%20Construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909007-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVpmeHjsbfHgGY3CAODDSI0NsPWFdy6ZScEg3cdGpLkFVrkTeo72WI_YXz6sg5CqWEjqN3vpFiGuRt-4IIzWReqyYOBWluhDbF_T3zpOf4geeR-Fh0Bzyve8kunct-ApdhAmNzU7C3cIAqKZ0j7mHGBuPjjW7HYw8I9mHpXMm7nxG2tMGl5b-wHZx/s2086/LAC%20-%20e999909008-u%20-%20Building%20materials%20being%20used%20in%20the%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2086" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVpmeHjsbfHgGY3CAODDSI0NsPWFdy6ZScEg3cdGpLkFVrkTeo72WI_YXz6sg5CqWEjqN3vpFiGuRt-4IIzWReqyYOBWluhDbF_T3zpOf4geeR-Fh0Bzyve8kunct-ApdhAmNzU7C3cIAqKZ0j7mHGBuPjjW7HYw8I9mHpXMm7nxG2tMGl5b-wHZx/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909008-u%20-%20Building%20materials%20being%20used%20in%20the%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909008-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdTCbMEyUbOxMm2YKtSpmDhGBllFE_1_BwfWa5kepVPaT4bXquW6vDqAdnHx0FoPLwuSU5d2BGn55YCmtY4fEsRIT7JqrnVEAGVYaraRQVia3OjZ54HNvND05maM9ZyjQOK4mrmZSNwHmGNTRg8eVrkF3mHPbQxPF6hsLLw6y6Ta8Qr7j8awIyhi_/s2101/LAC%20-%20e999909003-u%20-%20Construction%20being%20done%20on%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2101" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdTCbMEyUbOxMm2YKtSpmDhGBllFE_1_BwfWa5kepVPaT4bXquW6vDqAdnHx0FoPLwuSU5d2BGn55YCmtY4fEsRIT7JqrnVEAGVYaraRQVia3OjZ54HNvND05maM9ZyjQOK4mrmZSNwHmGNTRg8eVrkF3mHPbQxPF6hsLLw6y6Ta8Qr7j8awIyhi_/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909003-u%20-%20Construction%20being%20done%20on%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909003-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1Tm0OgC81K_IzllfwFJvfvqVbL4DmQs8VgDEOBbUP-accjifyQmLjxMTuhyjtUneppzbWYIbN8AZtljDriMAu2CN1KPPdRynoapbQW0iBrCFkOW6yGf8tfZP-55CRKsF7n8z6Q2vu_sBB3a8nIAcYEQUTccSZHTCE6lDDZQk_kJptCv9UE98a2pZ/s2101/LAC%20-%20e999909004-u%20-%20Tracks%20being%20laid%20in%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2101" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1Tm0OgC81K_IzllfwFJvfvqVbL4DmQs8VgDEOBbUP-accjifyQmLjxMTuhyjtUneppzbWYIbN8AZtljDriMAu2CN1KPPdRynoapbQW0iBrCFkOW6yGf8tfZP-55CRKsF7n8z6Q2vu_sBB3a8nIAcYEQUTccSZHTCE6lDDZQk_kJptCv9UE98a2pZ/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909004-u%20-%20Tracks%20being%20laid%20in%20construction%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tracks used during construction<br />(LAC - e999909004-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2a8BL-_ci8VeSASni51o3zBCk_ihu7JKdAbNb4ICWK1gVbL_KudmW_YKg5SA3jvzkIjKbNepiiMjmRDFKaZhc4p8lJEvgvIOOhCvfCDv05UEVNdnRkMVrYtIE5Y4XLpiWNc5uiGbNu2jbt0dz-Dr_y2HZ10mv_BNiadwphRB5I2N2_O8myIig3YD/s2108/LAC%20-%20e999909006-u%20-%20View%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20crane%20on%20far%20left%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="2108" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2a8BL-_ci8VeSASni51o3zBCk_ihu7JKdAbNb4ICWK1gVbL_KudmW_YKg5SA3jvzkIjKbNepiiMjmRDFKaZhc4p8lJEvgvIOOhCvfCDv05UEVNdnRkMVrYtIE5Y4XLpiWNc5uiGbNu2jbt0dz-Dr_y2HZ10mv_BNiadwphRB5I2N2_O8myIig3YD/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909006-u%20-%20View%20of%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20with%20crane%20on%20far%20left%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The bridge nearing completion<br />(LAC - e999909006-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYzrRweOP7l2mHIvYHQA-AX5lUgZJ2m-IM6MEY0N7Yu97hkx-huHVSbOvlck14eTe_egudlBr5c5mJ1pcoHLzNSzc8lobAPx-FU2NJwK5z-fA5CB0z06XSk5ju5zJPrTKvyADE5g0u4j3OJNJcMqlaZuQd2VFR14PMmvglHDPAv8c-vsLj1-uJjlU/s2115/LAC%20-%20e999909001-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20off-side%20angle%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2115" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYzrRweOP7l2mHIvYHQA-AX5lUgZJ2m-IM6MEY0N7Yu97hkx-huHVSbOvlck14eTe_egudlBr5c5mJ1pcoHLzNSzc8lobAPx-FU2NJwK5z-fA5CB0z06XSk5ju5zJPrTKvyADE5g0u4j3OJNJcMqlaZuQd2VFR14PMmvglHDPAv8c-vsLj1-uJjlU/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909001-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20under%20construction%20off-side%20angle%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(LAC - e999909001-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Spring 1928: Just as was warned to the FDC years prior, the area close to the Ottawa River was prone to flooding in the spring, and 1928 was a record-setting year for flooding. While construction work was held up on the north end of the bridge, the south end of the bridge found itself submerged under high water for much of the spring! The RCAF sent a plane overtop to capture the flooding from Woodroffe all the way to Champlain Park, and the photos capture the Champlain Bridge in mid-construction, but also significant submersion:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TaHTSNJP2gXQ3YPWIwvetPmFI6CkyDwhSAKLHC8u7jQkRmC5sK7lRrhtxWFNVXa1RT56TpQaoe8awahx9X1Fdv_xDPI-KMz_nKpXPEgHSGnbr0r_jQSo6LOgkP083iIJ2-rQeyoo9AqrjIQBUQoPtVBesQmr4Tx3QXMJEkte7LAiloSX-MVkOxXe/s9857/A29-06%20-%20flooding.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4063" data-original-width="9857" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TaHTSNJP2gXQ3YPWIwvetPmFI6CkyDwhSAKLHC8u7jQkRmC5sK7lRrhtxWFNVXa1RT56TpQaoe8awahx9X1Fdv_xDPI-KMz_nKpXPEgHSGnbr0r_jQSo6LOgkP083iIJ2-rQeyoo9AqrjIQBUQoPtVBesQmr4Tx3QXMJEkte7LAiloSX-MVkOxXe/s320/A29-06%20-%20flooding.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spring 1928 view from overtop Westboro Beach</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJsWCGQ5IGFq1IS9JwQlbRB8-4gRY7fKBrJ3jQvnXrYrciVsOFNkLB4pNGsSQHsaKVibqr53YuaVxTuTx_zFgvocA46HtuUeTlWZ_riIRBvbjC1HU2u2W7PbygAMea5TfuVpW4h6PdNUDIqncD5CgYc5k1sumfPZaCp6fE8z_3mvkw_6XGwVq2Q0N/s10763/A29-11%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7298" data-original-width="10763" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJsWCGQ5IGFq1IS9JwQlbRB8-4gRY7fKBrJ3jQvnXrYrciVsOFNkLB4pNGsSQHsaKVibqr53YuaVxTuTx_zFgvocA46HtuUeTlWZ_riIRBvbjC1HU2u2W7PbygAMea5TfuVpW4h6PdNUDIqncD5CgYc5k1sumfPZaCp6fE8z_3mvkw_6XGwVq2Q0N/s320/A29-11%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View looking northeast, with the approach to the<br />Champlain Bridge underwater in 1928.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5su3Rq2w05cLKP_Zdx3e6ybofIpi3wYcpnKXCs6pwv9zA8B2tQdRV9ncT5aGXpKJ55YsRctoxzQM4QxZPSQ7BOeoKc6E_77QtM6imRLar__QcVKPNK8Igdn3oBQ2D_ztr-0MXsr_2CAlGWvbblf7Vw9YscDCeErOOwdbDwvPBT_LdL4-99-d2PSM/s10824/A29-021%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7586" data-original-width="10824" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5su3Rq2w05cLKP_Zdx3e6ybofIpi3wYcpnKXCs6pwv9zA8B2tQdRV9ncT5aGXpKJ55YsRctoxzQM4QxZPSQ7BOeoKc6E_77QtM6imRLar__QcVKPNK8Igdn3oBQ2D_ztr-0MXsr_2CAlGWvbblf7Vw9YscDCeErOOwdbDwvPBT_LdL4-99-d2PSM/s320/A29-021%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View looking south towards Island Park Drive<br />and Champlain Park. The approach and much of <br />Island Park Drive are under water. 1928.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBgiC7zjqI8JTGBaOkONIXZHAk6t0TJMnzhb1HNIe4AMtQM5FG01kg3TevjaEVXt1X2A0osOHS4tmgw172N4MAeR9HOds2ndjJcjZTR9QMIaE3-FpMKzt7kPaMLaPxwA2ugpyRrQ90AelfKxEeU0av9ysPD_X5_2oEYC2AVzCb7eFGB1yEMLSupsZ/s11142/A29-72%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6753" data-original-width="11142" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBgiC7zjqI8JTGBaOkONIXZHAk6t0TJMnzhb1HNIe4AMtQM5FG01kg3TevjaEVXt1X2A0osOHS4tmgw172N4MAeR9HOds2ndjJcjZTR9QMIaE3-FpMKzt7kPaMLaPxwA2ugpyRrQ90AelfKxEeU0av9ysPD_X5_2oEYC2AVzCb7eFGB1yEMLSupsZ/s320/A29-72%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Overhead view of Bate Island looking west. The piers<br />for the new north section are in the water. 1928.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw0RuqUMa5JgfDOWG9km2qKHSW_n8zj3OahkcwnbQokajuCcftOHP1gKPwdB6Zw2xufMyKr2ND0zkbb6k8FHXZcBzSMVlIVhm9LYYX5J3GoZ5WSxrsSw5qesLM8R9WM_sKiiztD1JPLSx9WE2GpxzpCXObZJKALsfhhspVOZ4zZ4ITckRRAcGItPs/s11127/A29-74%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6632" data-original-width="11127" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkw0RuqUMa5JgfDOWG9km2qKHSW_n8zj3OahkcwnbQokajuCcftOHP1gKPwdB6Zw2xufMyKr2ND0zkbb6k8FHXZcBzSMVlIVhm9LYYX5J3GoZ5WSxrsSw5qesLM8R9WM_sKiiztD1JPLSx9WE2GpxzpCXObZJKALsfhhspVOZ4zZ4ITckRRAcGItPs/s320/A29-74%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One last view looking southwest, again overtop<br />of Bate Island. Spring 1928.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Some of the damage done from ground level:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRDPB7s2oDhwmnI4IceyLivLjiBy3VRLhnl6zSPiAWt2qbbcasGNhEQb_-grZ3S7uLEp0OnG0s1Y6joz-sI6MG9HMDOv16SeMxM6vDd8y2lFUS0LpSX_ektHlw79rZhNBQqCNdc23wsm6o27XjgaDw0C9tlAN8RG4iUZo_aA8lMOzZkQD4mzu9M-Y/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909024-u%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20Co%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201929.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2407" data-original-width="3000" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRDPB7s2oDhwmnI4IceyLivLjiBy3VRLhnl6zSPiAWt2qbbcasGNhEQb_-grZ3S7uLEp0OnG0s1Y6joz-sI6MG9HMDOv16SeMxM6vDd8y2lFUS0LpSX_ektHlw79rZhNBQqCNdc23wsm6o27XjgaDw0C9tlAN8RG4iUZo_aA8lMOzZkQD4mzu9M-Y/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909024-u%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20Co%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201929.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking south from the bridge that was washed out<br />(LAC - e999909024-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2HXS9XinhKzb3ttHgrjwBfgRykBubbInRvirC53JVpdi4wY6rGhfcA1I-J6fIU78UbdRNaJrzN0EdxZs3tcq-WjNBdjrVPMYAkbE3JYIyWAjyocc0DWSI9jT_wh2YxilhTf2KUuLLGyzlRxUhl0HGNCBC5kjU0H2M9uaPwsnUjQtBPyfxc79bdn5/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909027-u%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20Co%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2409" data-original-width="3000" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2HXS9XinhKzb3ttHgrjwBfgRykBubbInRvirC53JVpdi4wY6rGhfcA1I-J6fIU78UbdRNaJrzN0EdxZs3tcq-WjNBdjrVPMYAkbE3JYIyWAjyocc0DWSI9jT_wh2YxilhTf2KUuLLGyzlRxUhl0HGNCBC5kjU0H2M9uaPwsnUjQtBPyfxc79bdn5/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909027-u%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20Co%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Island Park Drive under water<br />(LAC - e999909027-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXwRGHjxy1zl9mSWUzNiqZRifMgDi2DObrzF_xtqw5fwQCB-ErPDvFjveOQPOkf_7BQ-AoisI2ABQ0eR-bjNWbm2v7z9b5gx4to-fEgflSl6I-Pf0I_6WMSRui_0lUEjKEleW1jloBlzaJ7KVcfh-8MaXMAAQWYnsLfrldWF-rvn5CJJvkZAQjHry/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909028-u%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20Co%20property%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2385" data-original-width="3000" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXwRGHjxy1zl9mSWUzNiqZRifMgDi2DObrzF_xtqw5fwQCB-ErPDvFjveOQPOkf_7BQ-AoisI2ABQ0eR-bjNWbm2v7z9b5gx4to-fEgflSl6I-Pf0I_6WMSRui_0lUEjKEleW1jloBlzaJ7KVcfh-8MaXMAAQWYnsLfrldWF-rvn5CJJvkZAQjHry/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909028-u%20-%20Independent%20Coal%20Co%20property%20Island%20Park%20Drive%20-%201928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Everything in the area under water. The bridge<br />and Island Park Drive are in the background.<br />(LAC - e999909028-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>May 1928: It was only in May of 1928 that the name Champlain was given to the bridge, and it happened without any fanfare that I can find in any of the local newspapers! It appears the decision was made and the name adopted, but without any coverage. It was selected by the FDC because of the local significance of Champlain stopping in the area of the Remic Rapids to take notes and elevations. FDC Chair Thomas Ahearn later stated in a request to have a plaque added to commemorate Champlain that "the very best monument to the great discoverer is the bridge itself". </div><div><br /></div><div>July 6, 1928: The last span on the Bridge was completed.</div><div><br /></div><div>July-August 1928: Because of the annual flooding, and what was considered a dangerous hard turn from the approach to the bridge, the FDC decided to build a new straightaway entrance to the bridge, which is the route that exists today (where Island Park Drive essentially becomes the Bridge in a relatively straight line). The original approach actually was kept by the FDC/NCC and became a parking lot just beside the bridge, though it was covered over a couple of years ago and is now just grassy parkspace.</div><div><br /></div><div>October 22, 1928: In a grand ceremony held at 3:30 p.m., the Governor-General Lord Willingdon was once again called to cut the ribbon and open the full Bridge to vehicles. He cut the ribbon in the centre of the bridge on the exact boundary line between Ontario and Quebec. At the conclusion of the ceremony, more than 600 cars and hundreds of pedestrians crossed the bridge. Local media reported there were photographers and "motion picture men" on hand to record the event. I wonder where that footage ended up?</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxt_nLl55Mq_3lT1uAyCWnc7FUA24fTYFwa7GkuyjDlRI3B9KaU4VK9fpxUTKmNYixr8uL0upAq6Eu9jD9vkkewaFIL5H1X81aBnOUJQ4xPwIBPmERAok4CloHU_Dnu_SgJUdZj01-Vk51_fLCG7OLj2rTtc_hYIcRJ5pOnInSjC1IcpWFSwmiBeLf/s1917/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Oct_23__1928_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1917" data-original-width="1449" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxt_nLl55Mq_3lT1uAyCWnc7FUA24fTYFwa7GkuyjDlRI3B9KaU4VK9fpxUTKmNYixr8uL0upAq6Eu9jD9vkkewaFIL5H1X81aBnOUJQ4xPwIBPmERAok4CloHU_Dnu_SgJUdZj01-Vk51_fLCG7OLj2rTtc_hYIcRJ5pOnInSjC1IcpWFSwmiBeLf/s320/The_Ottawa_Journal_Tue__Oct_23__1928_crop.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Part of front page story<br />Ottawa Journal - October 23, 1928</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>On its opening, the engineers were commended for their work in building the entire span from Bate Island to Quebec in less than a year. The opening of the Champlain Bridge was considered a major triumph for the FDC as well, and its chairman Thomas Ahearn. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some photos from after completion:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqmimNdprafY9tACEerz9eC34PrACewqvJLu2YpUBqHTuNxLFODbAt5IzzBQiZWRFiFJZomPj4B3PHqtCzUPjLw9NSYwdz3qd3B-Y1cU_scfNKtD23niRr46KEPiqglXjMVkVrjXotUKlxuiQIeLGSGE0o-zI4BktwWVpJM9cp2PKy7fMQYgF1btq/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909033-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20Ontario%20Approach%20-%201928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2423" data-original-width="3000" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqmimNdprafY9tACEerz9eC34PrACewqvJLu2YpUBqHTuNxLFODbAt5IzzBQiZWRFiFJZomPj4B3PHqtCzUPjLw9NSYwdz3qd3B-Y1cU_scfNKtD23niRr46KEPiqglXjMVkVrjXotUKlxuiQIeLGSGE0o-zI4BktwWVpJM9cp2PKy7fMQYgF1btq/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909033-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20Ontario%20Approach%20-%201928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The original approach to the bridge from the Ottawa<br />side, where it came in at almost a 90-degree angle.<br />(LAC - e999909033-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIU-gtOSSV-lh4tt-ntchCz7CBBzMbrJvXyTgmGNkdVNNfchNxnW5JjKEd5x8-udG2_5I2rrCVztpswJ2dQiGUaIOulcwEF46jIz9tURW5vqMyeUXSaq4TX3gX6vx7ykG6HjIQ0tWxws-tAOlfVSeI7gvx9F4lSQxXWtWosqswR20lzTaelP04WtFI/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909035-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20North%20from%20Bate%20Island%20-%201928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2377" data-original-width="3000" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIU-gtOSSV-lh4tt-ntchCz7CBBzMbrJvXyTgmGNkdVNNfchNxnW5JjKEd5x8-udG2_5I2rrCVztpswJ2dQiGUaIOulcwEF46jIz9tURW5vqMyeUXSaq4TX3gX6vx7ykG6HjIQ0tWxws-tAOlfVSeI7gvx9F4lSQxXWtWosqswR20lzTaelP04WtFI/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909035-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20North%20from%20Bate%20Island%20-%201928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking north from the west side of Bate Island<br />(LAC - e999909035-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXATEDsQGz07_G4QNUoRAaD9O_tlWm4nErB8ZQ6QLRC_7jOZF09AeTvjVYYZ1VZAdi6YqAsdQqWS-61v7L0oZZoFuiwRxBiQ_yrR1mtOiZsJRN9gSYCjV832YOPci_rEgX1aPnhR6F29AzD0T-rN1_-QA8_-eKm5Mw1fdOwv_xUaQoaB5K135EHRh/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909034-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20South%20from%20Bate%20Island%20-%201928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2370" data-original-width="3000" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXATEDsQGz07_G4QNUoRAaD9O_tlWm4nErB8ZQ6QLRC_7jOZF09AeTvjVYYZ1VZAdi6YqAsdQqWS-61v7L0oZZoFuiwRxBiQ_yrR1mtOiZsJRN9gSYCjV832YOPci_rEgX1aPnhR6F29AzD0T-rN1_-QA8_-eKm5Mw1fdOwv_xUaQoaB5K135EHRh/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909034-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20South%20from%20Bate%20Island%20-%201928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking south towards Bate Island and beyond<br />(LAC - e999909034-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVRg_K4DD-u78Lt3vVmtUG6g-VBQSNWhe_fF1tPYEM52VhsKd3IiLCWbfIRqb-a9H6_FXCQREBCatuqYwYWd8nQfeDrDp0WaUj9h8SC8KpbJeJTlMke824L4K4RABLZx8jfdn_hV4JC51m2HKODLAPnQwAlhQr3Rpx6NFNo5cu4umPOBhegICID-B/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909036-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20looking%20north%20from%20Bate%20Island%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2363" data-original-width="3000" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVRg_K4DD-u78Lt3vVmtUG6g-VBQSNWhe_fF1tPYEM52VhsKd3IiLCWbfIRqb-a9H6_FXCQREBCatuqYwYWd8nQfeDrDp0WaUj9h8SC8KpbJeJTlMke824L4K4RABLZx8jfdn_hV4JC51m2HKODLAPnQwAlhQr3Rpx6NFNo5cu4umPOBhegICID-B/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909036-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20looking%20north%20from%20Bate%20Island%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking north from the Bate Island turnoff.<br />(LAC - e999909036-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedruFIGH07rVnwONXKigPm7pXlRFZNA9FmXxQMGKjx8FhSls3xW6vpkVNadLoLX_6nd2SRWxLsQ-xucWcMro1-1S0_aoMZSJo-3AEXhOZZW2KMGuOckvkopXMiLPM08zLh02TSBo44xYfWLy_-yIJ7KoHpZdSiDBZioBX8s9km9VvRcHPAr3Qbk78/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909037-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20from%20North%20approach%20looking%20South%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3000" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedruFIGH07rVnwONXKigPm7pXlRFZNA9FmXxQMGKjx8FhSls3xW6vpkVNadLoLX_6nd2SRWxLsQ-xucWcMro1-1S0_aoMZSJo-3AEXhOZZW2KMGuOckvkopXMiLPM08zLh02TSBo44xYfWLy_-yIJ7KoHpZdSiDBZioBX8s9km9VvRcHPAr3Qbk78/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909037-u%20-%20Champlain%20Bridge%20from%20North%20approach%20looking%20South%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking south from the north approach on Quebec<br />side (LAC - e999909037-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSbq2D6sTp1L-JRSeaPWEMTcsNBFkjIdtT_ZEA2j2xAXnz_hcSfI7pQDmxj2S1OPLX4xHj4psxxzTx9K2cH5EZeTqMAGoXEZw4ySxjWWnXX1X5iClJbk2Uu9dIdyxzmL84J1-6qiBXZkvG-g54pUhhi5fby8O1QzcMrVS8ZL9GKuF74ZichNwBBEb/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909038-u%20-%20Railway%20crossing%20signs%20with%20Champlain%20Bridge%20in%20background%20-%201927-1932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="3000" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSbq2D6sTp1L-JRSeaPWEMTcsNBFkjIdtT_ZEA2j2xAXnz_hcSfI7pQDmxj2S1OPLX4xHj4psxxzTx9K2cH5EZeTqMAGoXEZw4ySxjWWnXX1X5iClJbk2Uu9dIdyxzmL84J1-6qiBXZkvG-g54pUhhi5fby8O1QzcMrVS8ZL9GKuF74ZichNwBBEb/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909038-u%20-%20Railway%20crossing%20signs%20with%20Champlain%20Bridge%20in%20background%20-%201927-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entrance to bridge from Quebec<br />(LAC - e999909038-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEwMiciTBx0XiBsJwM7dkANBgNFvT93uhHKjyw3ItjMZsl-IuRl4dxY2CVJxqlIXOYxZ9aCDznUIYynlrjUox7EmLXtGjXFO4CXJxYjrfAK3K2k2ouRIXY3FLt9aZASjlBdqMFNb8BXh6b1vlApqLGHDoYcpJYkdXgqQT-ovyxQjhZhxsCtimfEwV/s1641/LAC%20-%20e999909067-u%20-%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1641" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEwMiciTBx0XiBsJwM7dkANBgNFvT93uhHKjyw3ItjMZsl-IuRl4dxY2CVJxqlIXOYxZ9aCDznUIYynlrjUox7EmLXtGjXFO4CXJxYjrfAK3K2k2ouRIXY3FLt9aZASjlBdqMFNb8BXh6b1vlApqLGHDoYcpJYkdXgqQT-ovyxQjhZhxsCtimfEwV/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909067-u%20-%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entrance to bridge on Quebec side<br />(LAC - e999909067-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNRFW-_ypv--4uzOUntuOdBFUYAUnAS1E6mlWahRiv3Xs9bDqeqk0Fu8KNsiVbfR9Z7PpnW-ltnbf-DG5UrJlOMqEM1btA9aN8NGITLL8XvGPrnabkRKC_DGaKCp90Xk2ENaBA8mwt32RQ_NwFjYi2c1fXS0lSRkVFJPrSiuWYlJ0_KR49ub8cpnG/s3000/LAC%20-%20e999909039-u%20-%20Welcome%20to%20Province%20of%20Quebec%20road%20signs%20at%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="3000" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNRFW-_ypv--4uzOUntuOdBFUYAUnAS1E6mlWahRiv3Xs9bDqeqk0Fu8KNsiVbfR9Z7PpnW-ltnbf-DG5UrJlOMqEM1btA9aN8NGITLL8XvGPrnabkRKC_DGaKCp90Xk2ENaBA8mwt32RQ_NwFjYi2c1fXS0lSRkVFJPrSiuWYlJ0_KR49ub8cpnG/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909039-u%20-%20Welcome%20to%20Province%20of%20Quebec%20road%20signs%20at%20Champlain%20Bridge%20-%201928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Welcome to Quebec road signs at bridge exit.<br />(LAC - e999909039-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-7sM3s32us01CL5tXZDHF_cNMEHkpJtykTmGdTVqNtlUxLVSuyhkU6PuLxLVzn-Ayo4ts3zI95PgCev85FX6m10gYc-fiCZg4HIKCCGAqR_DtcsuUoKlMENgVZFj--j549AFrK2N8R1bmz-7aLrvBjgIVloEWba734e4P8s5hZoXxZpuzi7uq7vL/s2204/LAC%20-%20e999909040-u%20-%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2204" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-7sM3s32us01CL5tXZDHF_cNMEHkpJtykTmGdTVqNtlUxLVSuyhkU6PuLxLVzn-Ayo4ts3zI95PgCev85FX6m10gYc-fiCZg4HIKCCGAqR_DtcsuUoKlMENgVZFj--j549AFrK2N8R1bmz-7aLrvBjgIVloEWba734e4P8s5hZoXxZpuzi7uq7vL/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909040-u%20-%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aerial view from above Quebec side<br />(LAC - e999909040-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfVXh_OrIRHrIWhy2xFlefyurzM7d9Z8k_fQRbrOYSkeamkNaebFqdtOnljmagnX4FHf0LvTpUtL4MSfE3u7iTR6pJ5Hjs4dQg4n5zrIOwCcgPzOj24PwHbDDPQqgbwHgcc4AemIpn2T4Z1twRTl_ot1JUkzRIjTSrK2NHNLJVPbBCUs-beIXPvmW/s1935/LAC%20-%20e999909042-u%20-%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1935" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfVXh_OrIRHrIWhy2xFlefyurzM7d9Z8k_fQRbrOYSkeamkNaebFqdtOnljmagnX4FHf0LvTpUtL4MSfE3u7iTR6pJ5Hjs4dQg4n5zrIOwCcgPzOj24PwHbDDPQqgbwHgcc4AemIpn2T4Z1twRTl_ot1JUkzRIjTSrK2NHNLJVPbBCUs-beIXPvmW/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909042-u%20-%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aerial view from above Champlain Park, which<br />shows both the old and new approach<br />(LAC - e999909042-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFYyjCIzrgvHWIad3_IwZPQyYKqaXiKcIXhbCSY648UGVSmjoJF7HQYjGvvSHSj8EyWt-R32wMOxg2mNJcZIIqFVj7ZnwVULvAdGXQ4SMO4kTw-MphTzH1yklnUBylrdkq4QK0bkBCdrQrh0DzyPmSYYfZHUyjSEHZdJy18H88PgSOcAIzh4Mt6FS/s2425/LAC%20-%20e999909043-u%20-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1941" data-original-width="2425" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFYyjCIzrgvHWIad3_IwZPQyYKqaXiKcIXhbCSY648UGVSmjoJF7HQYjGvvSHSj8EyWt-R32wMOxg2mNJcZIIqFVj7ZnwVULvAdGXQ4SMO4kTw-MphTzH1yklnUBylrdkq4QK0bkBCdrQrh0DzyPmSYYfZHUyjSEHZdJy18H88PgSOcAIzh4Mt6FS/s320/LAC%20-%20e999909043-u%20-crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aerial view above the islands looking north to<br />Quebec side. (LAC - e999909043-u)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I hope you enjoyed this photographic journey through the construction of the Champlain Bridge! </div></div>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3014517712539920451.post-81767652890495702762022-12-10T12:00:00.001-05:002023-01-07T22:51:22.934-05:00Goodbye Ottawa Neighbourhood Services<p> For the Kitchissippi Times' December issue, I wanted to write something in the vibe of the Christmas season - a time of year of charity and giving. And there is no organization more tied in to charity and giving in the history of Kitchissippi than Ottawa Neighbourhood Services. </p><p>Sadly, many people reading this won't even recognize that name. Many others will remember it of course but will have thought the organization closed years ago. In fact, it was just during Covid that the last traces of ONS disappeared. It's a tragic and unfortunate ending to an organization that was so integral to Ottawa, and especially to the Hintonburg neigbourhood. </p><p>And perhaps even more troubling is the fading memory of it's founder and long-time operator Harold Mayfield, who basically dedicated his life to the organization. </p><p>You can read the full article here:</p><p><a href="https://kitchissippi.com/2022/12/11/early-days-the-forgotten-legacy-of-hintonburgs-first-thrift-store/">https://kitchissippi.com/2022/12/11/early-days-the-forgotten-legacy-of-hintonburgs-first-thrift-store/</a></p><p>Somehow, the concluding paragraph of the column I submitted got cut off in the final edition, perhaps due to length. But I wanted to re-add it here, as it expresses the disappointment I have at the loss of Mayfield's name in the community:</p><p>"It’s a veritable tragedy that the ONS is gone, and just as sadly the Mayfield name is nowhere to be found, including no longer even on his building. A man and an organization that did so much through the many decades of Kitchissippi’s history when the area was working class, and not yet gentrified, the imprint Ottawa Neighbourhood Services had on our community cannot be measured."</p><p>It's true... I still remember seeing the "Mayfield Building" name emblazoned on the building at Wellington and Garland as a kid. This would have been in the 90s, so not that long ago. I can't remember if it was on the side or front of the building, or how it was (I feel like it was overtop an entranceway), but regardless, the name is now gone and can't be seen anywhere. If you Google "Mayfield Building" in Ottawa, pretty much it is just my article that comes up. That's really too bad that we don't have anything permanent to honour the contributions of Harold and Marjorie Mayfield. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rnh7pmtTdcp-tk4dLAfWTq8lMIiauN29k9h41kdnF9p_JBNx6YviMuLP6RkR_innw2ieQt-19V_4IIrONACAN0pKKb8xn3pGuwAnL4PiboKkEBFQHfxnXxjF9eSWtgRPe2R3JGBrzq0ltfMLhlQTCBhaKWLuoxxYRT-UiTwGfAcJBTWPxF_-0V_i/s1797/Building%201985.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1797" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rnh7pmtTdcp-tk4dLAfWTq8lMIiauN29k9h41kdnF9p_JBNx6YviMuLP6RkR_innw2ieQt-19V_4IIrONACAN0pKKb8xn3pGuwAnL4PiboKkEBFQHfxnXxjF9eSWtgRPe2R3JGBrzq0ltfMLhlQTCBhaKWLuoxxYRT-UiTwGfAcJBTWPxF_-0V_i/s320/Building%201985.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The ONS building in 1985</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Dave Allstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569018402822889167noreply@blogger.com0