Lost Ottawa Facebook 2017
Here are all the Lost Ottawa posts that appeared on Facebook in 2017, 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.
Lost Ottawa Home Edition, featuring the halfway house on the way to Pointe Gatineau, which would put this house ... right in the middle of the Ottawa River! Brrrr!
For many years, however, there was an ice road across the river. Mostly used to bring firewood to the big city from what I can tell.
You can see the "coast" of Pointe Gatineau to the left.
(LAC CA002188)
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Linda Seccaspina shares a story about what was once Ottawa's most popular hotel -- the Russell.
Writes Linda:The Russell House hotel was the most high-profile hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for many decades. It was located at the corner of Sparks Street and Elgin Street, where Confederation Square is located today. The original building was built in the 1840s. Additions were made in the 1870s and the original building replaced in 1880.
In 1901 there was a smallpox outbreak in Ottawa. Complaints were made on a daily basis to the Ottawa Journal of anyone that a local citizen deemed should be quarantined. Names and addresses were published in the newspaper, no matter the age of those who were inflicted. Vaccines were available at the Ottawa City Hall and doctors were kept busy.
In 1912, the Château Laurier succeeded the Russell as Ottawa's premier hotel. Money was spent on renovations in the 1920s, but the hotel had declined due to age and its closure was announced on September 1, 1925. Some of the reasons listed were the high cost of heating the structure, and the higher number of staff to operate the hotel, compared to a newer facility.The Russell House closed permanently on October 1, 1925. Ground-level shops remained open, but the hotel was emptied.
On April 14, 1928, a fire broke out in the hotel, and the hotel was mostly destroyed. The remains of the structure were demolished by November. The Government of Canada had been in the process of buying the property when the fire occurred, and the government used the land to expand Elgin Street to create Confederation Square. Various artifacts of the hotel are on display at the Bytown Museum.
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Terry Fraser shares a photo of another famous Ottawa department store -- Charles Ogilvy's on the northeast corner of Rideau and Nicholas.
Done up for Christmas in 1974. My Scottish Mom loved this place.Charles Ogilvy on Rideau St. about 1974.
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Terry Fraser shares a Christmas photo of Caplan's, one of Ottawa's famous home-grown department stores. Taken from Nicholas Street (when this block of Nicholas was still a street).
The Caplan's store on Rideau opened in 1916 and closed in 1984, shortly after the opening of the Rideau Centre.
Notes Terry:Caplan's on Rideau St. about 1974.
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Dining Out in Lost Ottawa, shared by Sheldon Leonard.
Writes Sheldon:As seen while enjoying a smoked meat on rye and pickle before going across the street to catch a matinee at the Nelson!
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Michael Perron shares some Ottawa artwork, along with an Ottawa sports story.
Writes Michael (who used to work for Kaufman Signs):
"After the Harry Koffman story last week, I thought about Marc Robert, one of my co-workers at Koffman Signs.
Marc entered a contest to design the new Ottawa Lynx logo -- and he won! The final logo was altered a bit at the end to make the Lynx look different. But most of the original work is his."
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Ry Crawford shares a second picture of the Ottawa Civic Centre in 1967.
Says Ry:
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Ry Crawford shares the first of two pictures of the Ottawa Civic Centre.
Writes Ry:
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Ottawa ... Winter Wonderland in Major's Hill Park, shared by Paul Couvrette.
Says Paul:
"Christmas Portrait, 1894. Restored by moi. (Hey ... My daughter gifted me your book...small world)
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Billy Boone shares this awesome photo of the opening of Ottawa's Carlingwood Mall.
Writes Billy:Carlingwood opened in 1957 and offered 40 stores and was at the time the largest shopping centres in Ottawa. One of the selling points of the mall was its extensive 24 acres (97,000 m2) of free parking. Besides, Sears, one of the early stores to move into the mall was the established shoe store Armstrong & Richardson. Armstrong & Richardson is still in operation in Carlingwood.[
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Shopping in Lost Ottawa, featuring the Freiman's store in the St. Laurent Shopping Mall in 1969.
Good place for "Boxing Day" sales back then ... but I am trying to remember whether stores were actually allowed to be open on Boxing Day at the time?
I don't remember anything like the current frenzy ...
(LAC Mikan 3343393)
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Now that Xmas in Ottawa is done, there's nothing left to do but get the table cloth ready for next year ... so time to visit the Hintonburg Hand Laundry at 1017 Wellington?
Shown here on a snowy winter day in December of 1955.
The picture was part of a story about Chinese Laundries in the the Ottawa Citizen, but our pals at the Kitchissippi Museum have a story, too:
kitchissippimuseum.blogspot.ca/2016/01/the-chinese-laundry-long-lost.html
(City of Ottawa CA036115)
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Night out in Lost Ottawa, featuring a history of Club Zinc in Hull shared by Stephen Mooney.
Clicking the pic will take you to a playlist of industrial music played at Club Zinc from 1992. Clicking the link will take you to a typical song (by PiL) played at Club Zinc five years earlier.
Now for Stephen:
"Back in 1987 when the world was still fun, I used to go clubbing at Club Zinc in Hull. It was not so much a club as a cult: small, dark and seriously cool, it was the place to chill after midnight.
How I remember the glorious haze of cigarette smoke twisting in the laser spotlights that pointed directly at the crystal glass ashtrays on each and every table. It turned the ashtrays into bright lanterns, which was magical in the dimly lighted seating area next to the dance floor. Everything was painted black except for the bar's zinc countertop.
The rules of the club were simple: be yourself and don't mess with other people. Girls could come alone and hang out without being hit on. Guys could come alone and dance by themselves without embarrassment. No one got stupidly drunk. The mood was mildly subversive, attracting low-key goths, loners and small groups of friends. There was never any trouble (for that, one went to the Chaud, which I also enjoyed).
New Years Eve 1987 was a special treat. The club was at its zenith (before the letterman boys started showing up) and the mood was cozy and electric. PIL had just released Happy, which got a lot of airplay that night.
Club Zinc was iconic - a true landmark in the subterranean culture of Ottawa 30 years ago. It ranked with clubs in London and Berlin and is a stark reminder of what has been lost - not only in Ottawa, but the world at large."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzT5sBg79XQ
Club Zinc, by Phÿcus
11 track album
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Boxing Day at the movies, as we take the Elgin Line streetcar all the way from Ottawa East to Sparks Street in 1933.
The Elgin Line was opened to Catherine Street in 1891, and extended to Main Street and Clegg in 1925, but The entire line was abandoned in 1939 with the transformation of Elgin Street into a ceremonial approach to the War Memorial.
THanks to UofO Archives for the use of these air photos.
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Classic Ottawa scene here as Little League Hockey got started for another season on January 14 of 1956.
Referree Garry Hamilton watches the play, while coach Bob Labelle yells at his players. Plus ça change?
The game featured the boys from the St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's orphans homes at what is called "Tech Rink." Would that be Ottawa Tech?
(City of Ottawa Archives CA036328. Game ended in a 2-2 draw)
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Where Ottawa Xmas trees went to die in January of 1956.
Thousands and thousands of real trees created a big problem for the city -- what to do with them when they were thrown out?
The answer was a huge bonfire, usually at the city dump out Main street in East Ottawa. Quite a sight when they were set on fire.
(City of Ottawa Archives CA036264-W-Edit)
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Went looking for some Christmas music yesterday ... and found this old book from Domenic's Academy of Music.
They used to have several stores around Ottawa - and there's still one left in Orleans.
Those of you who take a close look will see that this is for organ -- and, yes, my pops used to play them on the organ and drive us crazy!
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Merry Christmas from the Green Valley Restaurant, featuring its famous Xmas tree -- an Ottawa landmark!
Originally shared in 2015 by John Myers, whose family owned the Green Valley into the mid-90s, when it was sold.
Alas, the restaurant burned down on New Years's Eve of 2003.
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Some pictures are universal ... like this one of my older siblings on first seeing the tree (and the presents thereunder) in 1956.
I was not holding the camera. I was one year old.
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Your Christmas Commute ... in an Ottawa Electric Railway streetcar with Santa for a driver, and an Elf, Rudolf and a chimney on top!
This decorated streetcar, from a souvenir photo in the collection of the Bytown Museum, was apparently in the Ottawa Christmas Parade for 1896.
Hope Santa brings you something special today!
(Bytown Museum, P1737, but I cropped and cleaned it up.)
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Here's a little Ottawa Xmas memory for you.
Not only do we have carollers in the snow. Stamps for Christmas Cards cost only 3 cents!
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Here's Lost Ottawa wishing you Happy Holidays in our little town on the top of a hill ...
What better way to do it that a Christmas card from from the Canadian Artist Series, designed by A.Y. Jackson, ca.1925?
Jackson was a founding member of the Group of Seven, who moved to the Ottawa area in 1955 and settled in Manotick.
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I'm not sure if you would really want this Santa visiting your Ottawa home tonight ... he's looking a tad disreputable!
However, Santa here is actually a Dr. Hill, dressed up for a costume ball hosted by Lord and Lady Dufferin in 1876.
Here's the original description from the Ottawa Free Press:
"Loose dark brown blouse, a la Santa Claus, with capuchin trimmed with holly leaves and scarlet berries, flowing white beard; whiskers and moustache, heavy boots turned down showing pink lining, the whole snowed over, and bearing in his hand the time honoured Christmas tree."
(LAC PA-189666)
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What could be more Ottawa than trudging through the snow on Parliament Hill, arms filled with Christmas presents as more snow flakes fall ...
Looks like this family was going to have a Merry Xmas in 1958.
(LAC Mikan 4949755)
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Looking South down Bronson on December 30, 1942, after the Great Ottawa Ice Storm of of December 28-30.
Freezing rain left ice as thick as a person wrist on wires, tracks, and everything else, literally stopping all streetcars in their tracks.
It took five days to clean things up.
(Photo: Bruce McCallan, shared by Don McCallan.)
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Heading out for a Sunday Drive around Ottawa (or maybe to a hockey game) -- when you are Governor General Earl Grey and it is February of 1909.
The GG is shown here leaving the gates of Rideau Hall in his "four-in-hand" sleigh, along with two guards and several horsemen. Quite the production ... but classier than black Suburbans!
Of course, the Earl could have just taken that streetcar to the left ...
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When this Ottawa kid comes down -- that's gonna hurt!
No location given ... but I'm pretty sure from other photos in the collection that this that awesome tobogganing hill in the Arboretum. Date is 1952.
Saw some kids there the other day on those thin silicon sheets.
(CSTM CN X-36363)
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Here's Lost Ottawa bringing a little Xmas cheer ... to Texas!
Shared by John Ripley, who sent along this note:It arrived just in time for Christmas in Round Rock, TX. Great coffee table book. Nice work, David.
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Photo illustrating how narrow "suburban" roads could be outside of Ottawa in the 1950s.
Would hate to be be driving this at night ... in a snow storm. It's hardly wide enough for one car.
(Suburban Roads Commission, 1956)
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Ottawa kids ready for some tobogganing in front of 375 Second Avenue in the Glebe, looking east towards First Ave in the winter of 1927-28.
The youngsters are identified (left-to-right) as : Jean Fraser (standing); Jean, Shirley, Dodie and Harold Barnhart.
Sweet ride!
(Photo from Bruce McCallan, shared by Don McCallan.)
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Enjoying the slopes in Rockcliffe Park in 1916, where three Ottawa ladies wait for their turn on the toboggan run ... and one lady really doesn't all that certain about joys of skiing.
Looks like she had a tumble or two already. And no poles.
Since it was wartime, plenty of lads in uniform were also on hand.
(LAC PA-110906)
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Robert Batsch shares the Morning Puzzler, wondering about these stamps.
Writes Robert:Does anyone know what these are? I'm guessing food rationing stamps? My parents were both immigrants from Germany after the Second World War, so they may not be Canadian.
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Preparing for winter at the Equipment and Supply Branch of the Post Office, Ottawa, 1939. The hats were for letter carriers.
My dad had a similar one (although he was not a postie). It sure was warm! I wish I still had it (except for the real fur part).
I believe the Supply Branch was located in the (then) brand new postal station on Besserer, near the train station. Now Lost.
(LAC PA-061834)
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Your Morning Commute though downtown Ottawa, featuring what is now the Queensway in the late '50s/early '60s.
You can see how Elgin used to bend around to meet the Driveway, the narrow swing bridge trains used to cross the Rideau Canal, and many other features of the city as it used to be.
From the Bruce Chapman Collection, put online by Colin Churcher at: tinyurl.com/ycnwcq7n
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Workmen from the E. Leblanc company do their best to haul a giant crown up the Peace Tower, getting ready for the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Mum) to Ottawa in 1939.
They all look like they are holding on for dear life, but I love the guys standing on the roof of the truck.
(Toronto Public Library TSP_0107440)
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Kids hauling a Christmas tree in this holiday season photo, taken by famous Ottawa photographer Malak Karsh in 1957 for an NFB photo story.
The location is a bit of a puzzler, though. I'm thinking Rideau River ... ?
Shared Cindy Lu from a recent post by Library and Archives Canada.
(LAC Mikan 4949130)
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Christopher Ryan wrote this story about Ottawa's Belle Claire Hotel in 2014. This is a companion to our earlier post this morning.
It's also part two of the story, which you can use to get back to part one.
Christopher Ryan: CD Howe books a permanent suite at the Belle Claire (Part 2)
ottawastart.com
Christopher Ryan: CD Howe books a permanent suite at the Belle Claire (Part 2) by Christopher Ryan · January 24, 2014 SHARE THIS ADVERTISEMENTS A weekly feature by Christopher Ryan, a local photograp...3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Chris Tyler shares a post about the Kaufman brothers, owners of the Belle Claire Hotel on Queen Street, and Ottawa entrepreneurs extraordinaire.
For more on the Belle Claire, see our next post.
Meanwhile, writes Chris:My boss and mentor, Harry Koffman. Harry and his brother, Sammy, owned the Belle Claire Hotel on Queen Street, a piece of Ottawa history in itself. From politicians to street punks, everyone in Centre Town knew the Belle Clair. Harry also ran a sign shop. After leaving Frieman's Department Store on Rideau in 1938, he went to work for himself. His first shop was somewhere on Sparks Street, close to Elgin. From there, he went to the south west corner of Bank and Gilmour, where Bridgehead Coffee House is now. In 1963, he bought 146-148 Nepean Street. I used to watch him hand letter paper banners and show cards for all the Bank Street merchants while he was watching Barney Miller on TV. He didn't even need to watch what he was doing, he was that good. The Koffman family was well known back then, Ottawa was still small. Koffman's Ladies Wear on Slater, Koffman Waste Management..., Harry's brother Frank who wrote the sports column for the Ottawa Journal, the list goes on. I'm proud to have worked with him for so many years, he taught me so much. Here's a picture of Harry with Doug Bernhardt in front of the shop. Taken in 2003.
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Winter on Wellington Street in this downtown Ottawa street scene, featuring cars of the Depression Era parked along Wellington in 1935.
The building in the middle was the Union Bank Building, completed in 1888, and part of what was once known as “Bankers’ Row.” Royal Trust moved in later.
Building on the left was the Quebec Bank, I believe, but no longer exists. I thought that was the "Norlite" National Press building on the right, but it's actually the Victoria Building, as several people noted ...
(Toronto Public Library tspa_0107344f)
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Your Evening Commute, featuring some excellent Ottawa automobiles in the shade, out front of the Chateau Laurier in the later 1950s.
Daly Building on the left. Across the street is the Honey Dew, but the Bowles Lunch seems to have changed into a Scott's Coffee Shop.
Shared by James Guthrie.Rideau St. circa 1950's
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