Lost Ottawa Facebook 2014
Here are all the Lost Ottawa posts that appeared on Facebook in 2014, starting with the most recent and going backwards.
You can view the posts in various ways. You can read the descriptions on this page and see the initial comments. You can click on the three dots at the bottom of a post to see more comments. You can click on the picture to see a “full screen” version of the picture with comments. You can view the original post on Facebook and leave more comments there.
At the bottom of the page there is a “Get More Posts” link that will load additional posts to the page. We are still working on a way to make the posts searchable.
Ottawa residence of W. Lamb located on Robert Street, built of concrete, and featured in a "souvenir| album of the International Portland Cement Company, published around 1910-15.
The cement company was located in Hull and, possibly as a result, Ottawa was in somewhat of forefront of new concrete construction after the run of the century. This house, for example, seems to have used immense cement blocks, imitating bricks.
Just around the corner from the Armenian Embassy, this house still exists, and the use of the blocks is worth checking out. Alas, the house has been horribly disfigured by the addition of a awful enclosed staircase on front.
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
Crazy Ottawa. We've had pictures of the SciTech Museum's Crazy Kitchen before ... but never one of the guys who built it!
Here they are. Apparently they thought is was best to wear safety helmets.
(CSTM NMST J-19714)
12 CommentsComment on Facebook
Ottawa Homes. Here is the residence of George.A. Crain at 285 Clemow, designed by prominent local architect C.P. Meredith, and published in Construction magazine for 1911.
What's interesting here is not just the style, but the absence of anything around it at the time.
The house is still there on the Northwest corner of Clemow and Percy.
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
You won't see this view of Ottawa too often -- looking up Metcalfe from Queen to see the Library of Parliament sitting there.
There's no Parliament Buildings in front because its Fall of 1916. Following the fire, Centre Block had been demolished. Seems that reconstruction hadn't quite started when this picture was taken.
Also featured on the right ... one of those new fangled electric light posts for which Ottawa was famous.
(LAC Mikan 3325989, shared by Victoria Edwards)
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Downtown Ottawa from the roof of Union Station, circa 1938.
A working boat passes under the Plaza, where there was a parking lot in front of the old Post Office. Below the wall is the track that took trains over the Alexandra Bridge to Hull.
There was also streetcar service to Hull at this time, and this picture makes me wonder if the car actually stopped on the other side of the bridge, where you would exit directly into the Chateau Laurier.
(CSTM CN-29470)
17 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lost Ottawa Evening Puzzler: While a young lad observes the photographer, the "Chez Buck" Restaurant and Grocery takes delivery from a Wrightville Beverages truck.
Chez Buck says "King Edward" on the top. So this is the corner Edward and ... ?
Shared by Gilles Pacquette.
24 CommentsComment on Facebook
Looking west over Lowertown towards Uppertown Ottawa in 1968, shared by Gilles Paquette.
The skyline is still dominated by the spires of churches and parliament in this amazing panorama.
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sunday Driver: Ottawa couple examine would could just be their very first car, on display at the Science and Tech Museum on St. Laurent, not long after it opened in 1967.
The car is a Ford Model T, from what they call the Brass Era, complete with acetylene gas-burning brass headlamps.
(CSTM NMST J-19549-2)
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Saturday Night. Ottawa House in Hull from way back in the day.
Not sure if it was as notorious then as it later became, but it sure has a huge Brading's sign on the top!
During Prohibition in Ontario (1919-1927), the Bradings Brewery on Wellington Street could not sell beer in Ottawa ... but they could sell in Quebec. I suspect the picture is from this era due, when many deliveries were still made by horse and wagon.
(No source)
31 CommentsComment on Facebook
Something you really wouldn't want to do in the Ottawa River in December -- go for a dip in the Ottawa River.
The occasion was test of of aircrew survival suits from a dinghy by the Test and Development Establishment of RCAF, Rockcliffe. The date is December 27, 1943.
I hop the suits worked ... Brrrr!
(LAC PA-064799)
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
A sort of before and after shared by My Old Ottawa. First and black and white picture of the Booth mills at Chaudière Falls. Then a colorized version of the same picture.
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Ottawa fleet of shiny Canadian National Express trucks, lined up on the lawn in front the Armouries on Laurier in 1935.
At the time, CN filled the role now played by Purolator, FedeX, and UPS. These chaps would have been really busy during the holidays, delivering all those presents!
(CSTM CN-38489)
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Student protesters in Ottawa mount a Christmas Day rally in 1960, to protest the presence of fifty-six nuclear weapons on Canadian soil.
The weapons in question were the Bomarc B missiles that John Diefenbaker's government (and later Pearson's Liberals) agreed to base at North Bay, Ontario, and La Macaza, Quebec.
The students came from 17 different universities and thought they would present their petition to Members of Parliament -- only to discover this was Ottawa and no one was working. They then marched to Rideau Hall, only to discover the Governor General was also absent.
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Many folks will be traveling today, by one means or another. Here's a look south over the train sheds of Ottawa's Union Station, circa 1928, as a loco builds up steam for departure.
Sandy Hill on the left, Laurier Street Bridge and the canal on the right.
As a matter of fact, Lost Ottawa is on its way to Washington right about now.
(CSTM CN-29480)
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lost Ottawa Xmas: Last stop for the Freiman's Santa Claus Mystery Special train. Namely, the Departure Hall of Union Station. There, the annual Freiman's event went into yet another gear.
The kids had already gone by rail to Vars, where Santa arrived by helicopter. Then they all got hysterical as Santa walked from car to car spreading Xmas cheer. But it wasn't over.
Back in the station the kids were met by a marching band, complete with Majorettes, and then greeted by Mayor Charlotte Whitton (on the podium with Santa there). And then there was Toyland!
(CSTM CN 52638)
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Lost Ottawa Xmas: On board the Freiman's Santa Claus train heading back to Ottawa from Vars in November of 1956. The kids are super-excited because Santa is walking from car to car -- and he's about to arrive!
Every year from at least 1956 to 1961, Freiman's put on this crazy event in which Santa flew into Vars by helicopter to meet a train full of kids departing from Union Station. Some years there as many as 20 coaches.
The kids look ridiculously happy.
(CSTM CN 52638)
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Lost Ottawa Xmas: A group of kids in Vars wave goodbye to Santa, as the Freiman's Santa Claus train heads back to Ottawa Union Station in November of 1956.
Part of a Christmas promotion put on by Freiman's every year from at least 1956 to 1961, in which Santa would fly into Vars by helicopter to meet a train full of kids from Ottawa.
One adult in the middle looks super sad!
(CSTM CN 52638)
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lost Ottawa Xmas Special: Santa waves to kids in Vars as the Frieman's Santa Claus Special prepares to head back Ottawa Union Station in November of 1956.
Part of a promotion put on by Freiman's every year from at least 1956 to 1961, as near as I can tell. Not sure what the "mystery" element of event was.
Part of a series were running today.
(CSTM CN 52638)
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lost Ottawa Xmas: Santa Claus with a group of kids in Vars, where Santa had just arrived by helicopter to meet the Frieman's Santa Claus Special train out of Ottawa's Union Station. Big day for the kids of Vars, too!
The event was part of a November promotion put on by Freiman's every year from at least 1956 to 1961, as near as I can tell.
Part of a series today.
(CSTM CN 52638)
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lost Ottawa Xmas: Santa Arrives by helicopter in Vars to meet the kids who had just arrived on Frieman's Santa Claus Special from Union Station. You can see the end of the train in the background. Date is 1956.
It seems Frieman's ran this train every November from at least 1956 to 1961. Frieman's famous Toyland would open the next day.
(CSTM CN 52638)
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lost Ottawa Xmas. Excited kids in Union Station get free tickets for the Freiman's Santa Claus Special in November of 1956.
First of a series. I'm taking it easy today!
(CSTM CN 52638)
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
I can't resist putting up this close-up of the enfants dreaming of space from our last post. Part of Christmas display in Ottawa's Union Station, December 1958.
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The Dream of Child at Christmas. A display over the telephone booths in Ottawa's Union Station in December of 1958.
By then Sputnik had happened and the race to put a man in space was on.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Christmas Tree at the Ottawa Orphans Home, located on the west side of Elgin between Lisgar and Cooper, 1895.
A little reminder that others don't have all that we have -- and a chance to say Merry Xmas to those who will be celebrating the ancient rituals tomorrow!
(LAC Mikan 3423063)
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Santa visits the Ottawa Day Nursery, circa 1920 -- and also seems to have brought his own tree to put the presents under (in the back of that fine-looking truck).
There's no date on this photo, but it would appear to be between 1916 and 1925, when the nursery was located at 87 Albert Street.
The Nursery moved to the Andrew Fleck Memorial building at 195 George in 1932, and the organization is now know as the Andrew Fleck Child Centre.
(LAC Mikan 105578)
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Miniature steam engine fired up and ready to take children around the inside of Ottawa's Science and Tech Museum.
There's no date on this picture, but I've been told that running the steam engine was part of the Museum's Christmas-time programming for several years in the 70s and possibly the 1980s.
I bet some of those involved are still around.
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Inside Ottawa ... It's the day before Christmas, so quite a few of us will be visiting the Boozeterium.
Here's the 66 Sussex Street wine shop of wine merchant D. McDonnell.
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Ottawa high school students help out with the Christmas rush at the Post Office in 1943.
(LAC Mikan 3228593)
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Soon it really will be the last minute, and some brave men will finally have to face the perfume counter. Here, a picture of Ottawa retail shopping circa 1955 ... and a puzzler, too.
What store is this?
(Photo: Malak, LAC MIkan 3237872)
81 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lost Christmas ... as the Saint Charles church in Vanier is sold to developers. Story from the Ottawa Citizen shared by Paul Normand.
We had a post about this piece of heritage not long ago, so here is the follow-up.
Historic Saint-Charles church sold to developer for $4M
ottawacitizen.com
A church that was at one time the heart of Centretown’s francophone community has been sold for development.7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Some sweet-looking Ottawa vehicles in this view, looking south-west along Albert from Metcalfe Street in 1938.
I can't determine the makes, but the car on the right appears to have the most amazing hood ornament, as well as suicide doors. The jaunty beige car behind (with the curved grill) is what they often called a "businessman's coupe." Sporty!
Double parked down the street is a earlier car that helps to illustrate the big styling changes that took place in the Thirties, from square to rounded. They would have said "aerodynamic" or "streamlined."
(LAC Mikan 4125064)
17 CommentsComment on Facebook
Architect's beautiful rendering of a Ottawa "villa" for a Mrs. Caroline Gibbs. Located on the north or southwest corner of Cartier and McLaren in the Golden Triangle (both corners now occupied by apartment buildings).
I've included the description of the west side of Cartier from the city directory for 1891-92. You can see for yourself how empty the area still was at the time. Mrs. Gibbs was a pioneer!
(LAC Mikan 203330)
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Woodrooffe High ... from high above Ottawa.
Shared by Edward King, who writes:
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The Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge under construction across the Ottawa River in 1900. Waiting for one more span ...
Looking down from Nepean Point.
(Engineering and Contract Record, July 9, 1915)
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Tugs tow one of the spans of the Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge into place in 1900. Best copy I could make from the original.
As seen here, the spans were constructed on top of wooden falsework on top of huge rafts. But there's also a puzzler here ...
I always assumed the spans were towed up-river, which would mean we are on the Ontario side. So what appears here to be the anchor span for the Quebec side seems to be facing the wrong way. Possibly they had to float it up and turn it around?
(From the Engineering and Contract Record for July 9, 1915)
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Peaceful ending to our series taken from the "Souvenir of Ottawa" album, showing what were thought to be classic aspects of city in the 1910's.
Here a gentleman enjoys a moment alone on the Ottawa River, far from the bustle of the everyday, his view filled with the beautiful greenery of the city's parks.
We still have the parks, if not so many quiet moments.
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Second last picture in our series taken from the "Souvenir of Ottawa" album, published around 1920, showing what were thought to be classic features of the city in the 1910's.
Here we have the view from Rockcliffe Park over the confluence of the Ottawa and Gatineau Rivers as a steamer makes its way to wharves at Nepean Point.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
It's the holiday season in Ottawa and we will soon be eating all the foods the doctor told us not to, with all the results the doctor foretold, while the kids run around until they inevitably hurt themselves ... But Victoria Edwards has put together a small series of Lost remedies.
I really like the first one. It actually says on it: "Formerly known as Snake Oil."
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The Howick Pavilion at Lansdowne Park, circa 1906. Probably better known to most citizens of Ottawa as the Coliseum.
The original Coliseum was built in 1903 to show "fat stock" and poultry. In 1906 it was expanded to include an auditorium and show ring and this part was called Howick Hall after Howick Castle, which was the English home of Governor General Earl Grey (GG 1904-1911).
The International Portland Cement Company was located in Hull and extremely proud of the number of buildings in which its cement was used around the region. This is one built of cement bricks. Many of the Ottawa buildings can be seen in their "Souvenir" album which seems to have been published around 1910-15.
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