Lost Ottawa Facebook 2018

My Dad's name is on that list. Don Reid, Vice President. He loved that club.

A man's club obviously. Believe it still is.

First I hear that we were one of the most dangerous cities then! Any idea where that bit comes from?

Ottawa was a rough lumber town on the edge of civilization back then.

It's strange to see all those buildings on that property that has been vacant for my whole life.

This is a crop from a larger 1855 Edwin Whitefield lithograph, Whitefield's Original Views of North American Cities No. 35, captioned "Ottawa City, Canada West (Lower Town)" LAC has the full image as MIKAN 2837427. It is available in high resolution from Heritage Passages www.passageshistoriques-heritagepassages.ca/ , but the site is down right now. (I hope it's only a temporary problem.)

This is so cool! Any info on who the artist is?

Omg....this is so amazing. Love these old photos. Shows us how a town grows...thanks

Lol. I was wondering why it was bilingual.

Dam, take a picture... when she comes back looking for cash, half the house, and your pension this little sign might just be the ticket.

Who writes a note to their spouse in both official languages? Too funny.

It is great to be able to see how it used to be. It seems so quiet and picturesque. We even see the "turning pond" just past the boat. It would be roughly where Confederation Park is now. Makes you want to go for a stroll allong it... wait a second. No easy public access! And in reality, imagine the bustling sounds of the industrial era. After all, this was a working warterway, with the steam locomotives on one side, and the busy warehouses on the other side. I like what Ottawa has done to the area: kept the majestic views, opened it up to locals and tourists from all over the world, allowing us to share it, yet preserve it. Something to be proud of, both past and present!

Sensational photo in every possible way. It feels so special because this is truly my backyard in a time I never knew. Went to Lisgar and lived just across the field. And my daughter married her Prince, a proud Highlander, and the reception was in the Drill Hall!

What an incredible picture...the colour and amazingly clear resolution makes you feel like you've transported yourself back there in time....! Notice the non-stop curvature of the Laurier Bridge. This 400 ft steel bridge was built in a parabolic curve, unique in all of Canada in that it was built without a level plane. Maybe the theory was to replicate the strength that nature gives an egg? At its opening the Citizen wrote that "should an elephant..come...to Ottawa it need have no fears about walking over the new...structure". The new bridge not only crossed the canal but spanned the railroad tracks too, linking the previously separated Theodore and Maria Streets, leading eventually to the decision to rename both in honour of Theodore Street's famous resident, Sir Wilfrid.

Growing up in New Edinburgh and Manor Park, we spent many winter days there. The 21 Bumps. What a great hill to slide down. Lots of fun.

My dad used to tell me about a giant ski jump that ran down from Rockliffe Park to the river. It would have been about this era.

Did a lot of that in the late 40s. Easy access with streetcars - which what we should still have instead of billion dollar train which will not solve any problem.

Looks beautiful...family time enjoying each other and the holidays...no phones...the good old days!!!

Christmas crackers still have paper hats, but they're a LOT less fancy than those . . .

You always put on the " good " Christmas tablecloth or else the freshly ironed double damask tablecloth, the Christmas china, the sterling silver flatware and either the Christmas glasses or the crystal ones. You always dressed in your " Best " clothes and a Family picture was taken for posterity. So glad that these pictures were done so that we can see how we all have grown through the years.

I think they misspelled *that fun forgot

Now the city with the walls with ears

Published in 1970 - never heard the term before then, and haven't heard it used anywhere else since.

My late grandfather worked there until he was forced to retire at age 70 with no pension in those days. He used to put the metal letters into the wooden frames for printing, particularly the Hansard and other formal government notices. I remember visiting him at work at least once when I was very young and being impressed by the "high technology" of all those different size letters all sorted out in wooden holders ready for him to pick and place in the frames one by one by hand to compose text.

Love the fire escapes.

Looks like Major's Hill Park!!! Not the Elgin Street location of the Gallery

I remember going to the Francais theatre. They built Ottawa's first Holiday Inn there after they tore it down and now I think it is a Marriott Hotel.

I often went to Le Français as a child with my cousin Constance Roy.. The movie I remember best was Aurore l'Enfant Martyre, a melodrama during which we would boo and hiss loudly at poor Aurore's wicked step-mother who tortured her. We'd then cheer loudly when her husband finally found her out at the end of the movie. Great fun!

I also remember Willie Lamothe, who rode a horse down the aisle to the front and sang western songs, and picking his guitar.

I have book written by Herbert Marshall called History of the Ottawa Ski Club. That picture appears in the book. Written under it it says "Skiers at the entrance to the Underground Station near the Chateau Laurier. They are on their way to board the street car which will take them to Wrightville the starting point for the cross country ski hike to Dome Hill at Ironsides. Early 1920's."

Wasn't there a large man-made built toboggan hill that was built between the Chateau Laurier and the locks back in the day that had sliders going out onto the Ottawa River?

I can remember my parents saying that they used to take the streetcar to Wrightville and ski up the Gatineau from there. They also skied at Dome Hill with the Cliffside Ski Club and at the original Keogan's Lodge.

One word just one word.. chesterfield.. zap. time warp... now I’m back in my old home, on the chesterfield watching my 12in? television.. haven’t heard that word in ages.. thanks for the memories

XC skiing was a fringe sport in the 1960s, when downhill (alpine) skiing was surging. In the mid-1970s, however, xc skiing started to make a big comeback, with very low-cost skis, poles and boots (packages) being sold at places like Canadian Tire. The NCC had gorgeous trails for Ottawans to enjoy, for free!

Lots of places to x-country ski in Ottawa.

Looks like our old house in Manor Park..

This is just shortly before we moved into Manor Park.

Think we just called them “row houses” and term “townhouse” came about in the 70s.

I remember Jay Fripp from Ridgemont High School. This brings back happy memories of skating at our local rink at the end of our street, Foxbar Ave, just south of Walkley road off Bank St.

I remember skating at the outdoor rink at Knightsbridge and Lockhart in the West End, behind Our Lady of Fatima school. Hockey rink with boards and skating rink along side it. The Shack had a wood burning stove. One night a week they played music and allowed public skating on the hockey rink. Spent many days and evenings playing “crack the whip.” Good memories

With wooden skis and leather straps to fasten them to ski boots of the day or even regular winter boots LOL

I can see me stepping off a streetcar and down those stairs and through the tunnel every Sunday to go swimming in the chateau pool. Great memories. Norm

This view, original lights, and tunnel to the Chateau, has been renewed in the recently renovated station, now renamed the Senate of Canada Building. It now looks pretty much the same!

Dave McGee: please include this post in your Lost Ottawa Book 3!!! This picture is beautiful!

Nothing has changed in 2018. Our street looks like that today.

I had one for Christmas so i did put a lot of nails in the tires as studs so i could use it right away!

This little kid may well have grown up to be one of those adults who rides their bike all year, in all manner of weather. Bravo kiddo! Lots of people are doing this these days. Saves on gas, and get exercise too... if you can bear all the weather!!

From a collection of Christmas postcards found at the family farmstead (in Grey County).

Thank you for posting, hanging on to it especially for today (if that’s what you did). This is truly a special find. What a gift! Hugs to you. OMG

Beautiful scene of Ottawa. It sure has changed...

The plane was indeed a C46, flying for Operation Toylift - a charitable initiative started by Julian Reiss, one of the founders of the very successful Sana Claus village at North Pole, NY. Reiss began with his own Stinson tail-dragger, but the popularity of the Toylift prompted Esso Oil to offer the use of one of its C-46 aircraft (hence the Esso logo on the plane.) A wonderful Christmas story! www.flyingadventures.com/images/Aviator-Profiles/Julian-Reiss-Operation-Toylift.pdf

I saw Santa arrive by plane at Uplands in 1957. Also visited Santa's Village at North Pole New York (a theme park). Here I am shaking his hand at Uplands with my mother, sister and brother.

Who remembers the TV station identified as "WPTZ Plattsburgh, Norh Pole, Burlington"? Until I looked at this post, it never occurred to me to wonder why there was a North Pole, New York. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHwHTVrJXC4

the guy in the bowler hat, talking on his cell.

I remember when we got the 3rd channel, CJOH in 1961.

I still have our 1st tv, an RCA Victor, not the original rabbit ears around 1950!!!

Still like sitting at the counter in any restaurant that has one!

Loved the fries!!

This one is a classic, organic. Look at the servers how neatly dressed they are in their uniforms, which made it appealing to go and buy your food. No sloppiness, it was perfect, as well as authentic. Miss the classics 💐🌼☕️🍵🍨🍔🌭🍽

Because of the railings on the left my first impression was "Why are there cars driving on the canal?". I need new glasses.

I would guess that the picture was taken from the bridge that used to go between Nepean Point and Major’s Hill Park

The fellow walking to work on the sidewalk has it made.

Neil Diamond next to Led Z, that’s unnatural...

Neil Diamond was a favorite back in the day. youtu.be/RQwqQwD6OOw

Nice to see Mainline on the charts. One of the best bands ever from Toronto.

You can still get a tree at the back near the library.

Yes, they actually had an old school tree lot set up by the library

Yup my dad picked up a few trees from there back in the day....70's

Fyi: In this photo , the Wendy's is to the left of the photo. The Wendy's is not even visable in this photo.

Did anyone else notice the skeleton on the chiropractors building next Fort is wearing a firemen’s uniform.

My husband was chatting with someone who had attended a meeting regarding future plans for Lincoln Fields. Sounds as if where the Wendy's was is going to be a new Metro building and the larger building itself is going to be turned into condos with stores on the lower level. I can remember when they used to have a disco on the top story of the building way back in the day.

Used to go to Archie's on Richmond Road near Woodroffe Ave. Drove Archie crazy because we took so long to make up our mind what candies we wanted. This was in the mid 50's on our way home from swimming in the Ottawa River at the end of Woodroffe.

We got a nickel allowance and would get 5 cent mixed candy. I remember it was 3 for a penny, so that was 15 candies. It was so exciting!

How about Yaghi’s in the Glebe. 25 cents went a long way back then.

The vehicle is an Super Snow Bird conversion of a 1929 Ford Model A. They sold hundreds of them. Bombardier's "invention" happened six years later. Snow Birds, which were only two axles in back had been developed in 1921 and used Model T for the conversion. There were also Super Snow Bird Model Bs which came along in 1932 when the Model A was discontinued.

While Bombardier's first effort involved 4 skis on a frame with a rear mounted engine and an aircraft propeller in 1924... like many things "he invented", he just copied others who'd done it already. His first "snowmobile", the B7 was basically half-track like the Snow Bird and Super SnowBird but came 15 years after their original development and marketing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NExMmSz7n1o

Very important vehicle in its time. My Dad drove one of these to transport food and vital supplies between Ruyon Noranda and the gold mine in Belle-Terre PQ. (1930's) He was the lifeline thruout the long and difficult winter in challenging terrain.. He drove alone !!

Would leave with a friend or two, bring a lunch, hop onto the streetcar and spend the day, coming home for supper time. Wonderful memories.. ......C

Thomas Ahearn did not invent the electric oven, and never claimed to have. It is often stated the Ahearn obtained an 1892 patent for "an electric oven." But in that Canadian Patent, 39916, Ahearn claims only to have "invented certain new and useful improvements in electric ovens" - implicitly acknowledging that electric ovens were known devices. Among the improvements patented were electric lighting inside the oven, and a glass window into it. From page 1 of Ahearn's patent 39916 (red underline is mine)

Cigar box phones? The claim that Thomas Ahearn made Ottawa's first long distance telephone call, using equipment of his own construction in 1878, is surely apocryphal. Most biographies of Ahearn do not mention it. Newspapers of the day avidly followed the developments in telephony, but I can find no contemporaneous mention of an Ottawa demonstration by Ahearn. In early February of 1878, the Montreal Telegraph Company demonstrated long distance telephony from its Ottawa office using both Bell equipment and equipment patented by Cyrille Duquet of Quebec City. These demonstrations were reported in the Ottawa Citizen. Ahearn had been employed in Ottawa as a telegraph operator for Montreal Telegraph, and the Bell telephone office Ahearn later managed originally belonged to the Montreal company, but I'm not sure he was with that company in 1878. From the Ottawa Citizen Feb. 1, 1878

When I was a little kid, early 80s, my mom brought me to Westgate and when you went down the escalator there was a little Santa workshop. Kids could go in and get help from elves to pick out Christmas gifts for their parents. They would wrap them for you too. I thought it was the coolest thing.

Going to miss Westgate when it's gone.

Julie VW, Wow, we were just here the other day, exactly behind this spot at Rock n' Johnny's, about 63 years after this was taken!

Never heard of any of them.

Another great photo of times past.

They look cold

Murphy Gamble's on Sparks put on a very nice one too.

I remember the train you could ride in that went around the toy department.

Loved the malt shop in the basement and the windows

Wood and coal burning caused a lot of the black deposits on the buildings. I watched the replacement of several stones in the parliament hill fence wall in the 70's - the last steps included a black stain to make the very light stone match

If you look at the bus and follow its intended path you’ll see it’s going to go clockwise around the square, against the flow of a traffic circle ... Confusion!

Thankfully it's not with today's drivers...that would be a car wreck roundabout!

In 1941, Plante's Dairy ads gave the location as Billings Bridge. Talbot 2, introduced ca. 1960, was listed as being associated with the Metcalfe Highway (31) which would go along with the Billings Bridge description. From the Journal, Mar. 10, 1941

Today, the 613-822-0337 number points to the Anderson Links golf course in Carlsbad Springs. Might the Plante Dairy have been on that property?

Grew up in Alta Vista - our phone number started with RE-3 - no idea what the RE stood for, but it eventually became 733.

Felt sad when they stopped doing this. Loved our Christmas visit to AJ Freiman Window, Santa, Elevator Operator with white gloves, to the basement for a Malted Milk in a great glass ❤ wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing this pic! 🎄🎄🎄

Frieman’s always had the best Christmas windows ! Going downtown to see the Christmas windows was a big event when I was a kid !

If I am not mistaken that looks like a Lionel Train set. I still have my dads from the 1940's. I still have a lot of track, too.

Our driveway that winter. I was the only kid still at home so guess who did most of the shovelling.

Climbed from the snow bank onto the roof at one point.

Me and two of my brothers went out and dug a deep hole in a very tall snowbank we then laid a few sheets across the top of the hole and sprinkled a little snow on top to hide the hole and the reason we did this was because a few of the children from St Laurent School ( which was later getting out of school than we were ) always walked on top of the snowbanks on their way home and so...it didn’t take long for one of them ( a young boy with a back pack ) came walking towards our booby trap and next thing you know he disappears into the abyss, poor kid couldn’t get out on his own and we ended up having to help him out.