Lost Ottawa Facebook 2020

Here are all the Lost Ottawa posts that appeared on Facebook in 2020, 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.

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Tuesday December 29th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Kyle Simourd shares a great Lost Ottawa Christmas gift, writing:

"Found these in my parents’ basement Christmas Eve. I remember shopping at Beaver Lumber and Cashway with my father, a good 30 or so years ago. Not sure when Beaver Lumber closed for good?Maybe 25 years ago?

A great Christmas find!"
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Kyle Simourd shares a great Lost Ottawa Christmas gift, writing:

Found these in my parents’ basement Christmas Eve. I remember shopping at Beaver Lumber and Cashway with my father, a good 30 or so years ago. Not sure when Beaver Lumber closed for good?Maybe 25 years ago? 

A great Christmas find!Image attachment

42 CommentsComment on Facebook

It's probably a bad sign that I give directions based on places that haven't existed for 25 years. "Oh, it's just down from Beaver Lumber in Bell's Corners"

I loved Beaver Lumber such a fun place there was one in Bells Corners and I think a Lumber Shed you could Drive into was there too. Miss that fun store The Beaver Picture was cute too.

I grew up on Canter Blvd in the 50’s and 60’s and remember going to Beaver Lumber in Bells Corners and Cashway on Prince of Wales with my dad many times. The other lumber yard that was on Merivale behind what used to be the Red Barn was Minto Lumber.

I worked at the Merivale/Hunt Club location from ‘94 to ‘97 or so. Great times!

We were just talking about Beaver Lumber yesterday or the day before. My kids used to sing "I wanna go to Beaver Lumber..."

Beaver Lumber was owned by Molson’s. They closed up in the mid 90s to launch Aikenheads - their big box format. However, early in that process they sold out to The Home Depot and the rest is history.

My mom worked there in the mid 80s. Lots of memories of the bells corners location!!

Recently learned there was one standing where the Tim Hortons and Wendy's is on Hazeldean and Edgewater... the vacant lot next to the parking lot was the lumber yard.

I used to smack my older sister with the paint stir sticks. Good times.

My first job was in IT and the Compaq call centre back in 2000. It was the former Beaver Lumber in Bells Corners. So 25 years sounds about right. One of my first jobs out of high school was at Steenbakkers Lumber in BellsCorners.

Woot! I use to set a bunch of mouse traps in the bulk mousetrap bins when my dad was buing materials. One day somebody grabbed one when I was still in the store 🤪

I shopped there a lot, both when I was a kid and later in the 90s when we returned to Canada from Britain. We were sad to see it go.

I'd buy one. Those are fond childhood memories for sure

Cleaning out a neglected room in my basement this afternoon and found this and reminded of the post earlier this week. Baader-Meinhof phenomenon!

I think of Saturday morning with my Dad at Beaver lumber

I remember going there with my Dad when I was a kid. I think it was in the late 90s that the store closed.

Does anyone remember a place called Hodgin's (sp?) Lumber? I don't recall if I ever actually went there, but I remember their ads on TV (Channels 4 (CBOT) and 13 (CJOH)) in the mid/late 1960's -- it was a girl with a guitar singing a "folky" ballad, with the lyrics "They have the best selection, and the service is perfection. Let's go to Hodgin's Lumber for the greatest buys in building supplies...".

Still have stains from Beaver Lumber!

I worked at the east end location when I was 16! 1989/90

I remember going to the one in Bells Corners,when we bought our first house in’94.

My brother Guy bought a lot from them when he was building his cottage

I remember one in Edmonton about 1980.

Wonderful memory! Also there with my Dad. The lovely smell of fresh cut wood!

When I first to moved to Ottawa in ‘91, one of my first jobs was the overnight cleaner at the Beaver Lumber on Star Top.

Used to be one on Bank Street north of the Blue Heron center

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Tuesday December 29th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Victoria Edwards shares a post about Ottawa's Great Snow.

Writes Victoria:

"My sister Linda and I in 1970-1971, which broke records for snow accumulation. Tara Drive, Ottawa, Ontario."

Tara Drive is runs off Maitland in the McKellar Heights/Copeland Park neighbourhood.
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Victoria Edwards shares a post about Ottawas Great Snow.

Writes Victoria:

My sister Linda and I in 1970-1971, which broke records for snow accumulation.  Tara Drive, Ottawa, Ontario.

Tara Drive is runs off Maitland in the McKellar Heights/Copeland Park neighbourhood.

31 CommentsComment on Facebook

I could walk onto the roof of my house that year

That year I could step from the snow bank in our driveway, onto the roof of my parents house. I had a friend on Tara as well.

That was the winter I did Driver's Ed at school. It seemed like every in car session involved driving in a snow storm. Almost 50 years later, driving in a snow storm rarely causes me stress.

I remember it well. The year we moved from Fairmont Ave to the east end of town. The new house had 2(!) driveways to clear, plus the walkway. To this day, the sight of a snow shovel makes my left eye twitch.

The snow pile at our Nottinghill home. Yikes , it was a wild winter

177” I have a survival certificate from the Citizen newspaper.

Our street in Alta Vista during winter of 1970/71.

I remember it clearly. It was a hell of a snow year. At that time we all had to walk to school and the snowbanks were so high it took forever to walk to school because of course we had to walk over all the snowbanks and not on the road or sidewalk (its far more fun going up and down the snowbanks). We didnt live far from Tara Dr, we were on Henry Farm Drive at that time and went to Agincourt School, Im sure you probably went there as well.

Only a slight snowbank on the front lawn during winter of 1970/71. Good thing my dad had a big snowblower.

Our dog could get on the house roof from the snow bank.

I grew up on Tara Drive, I would have been around 4 years old.

The clothesline in my in-laws backyard was six inches above the snow. In summer, it was six feet above ground level.

We lived on Field Street. Lots of shovelling that year.

I lived on Greyrock Cres, just the other side of Maitland Ave. Thankfully I had an older brother who did the shovelling.

I shovelled off the roof of my parents bungalow.... then walked off of the roof to clear the front window so they could see the street....

I wasn’t born yet but, I grew up on Gage Cres. and I remember my Mom and Grandmother referring to that winter frequently hahah.

Victoria Edwards, this is our house on Erindale Dr. that same winter. You can see my late Mom standing on the top step outside our front door.

I had my leg in a cast most of that winter.

We lived at the corner of Maitland and Henry Farm. A 3 bdrm owned by Ottawa Gas .... $290 per month recalls Dad.

We didn't have a snowblower. We loved jumping from the roof into the pile of snow!

Went to school with your sister Linda 🙂

I remember the snow banks as high as our roof.

We tobogganed down our garage roof.

I remember that year in Montreal. Cops had to borrow snowmobiles to get around after a 33" fall on March 11. New York City sent snowplows to help dig us out.

I think I still judge every winter against that one.

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Tuesday December 29th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Susan Wasner makes an observation about Ottawa life, writing:

"Living in Ottawa, where you get a certificate just for surviving the winter."
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Susan Wasner makes an observation about Ottawa life, writing:

Living in Ottawa, where you get a certificate just for surviving the winter.Image attachment

44 CommentsComment on Facebook

Where's the one for surviving 2020? That's what I'd like to know....

I have both certificates! I remember the snow. I was in Grade 9 at Sir John A. HS. My mom was only 4'9" tall. She would stand in the laneway and we couldn't see her!

I don't remember the first certificate. Maybe it was because we were loyal Journal readers at the time. We were fortunate to have lived on a private lane, so no shovelling was involved on our part. The result is that I was completely unaware that we had had so much snow. The memorable day when the schools closed due to snow was the following year.

Happy to report that I still have mine! I was only one year old!

we have one of these...made out in the name of our cats at the time...we left the country for a planned vacation during the storm (on one of the last flights to get out of Ottawa), but they stayed behind at the house...

we had it easy up here in Arnprior... power off for all of 15 minutes or so.. but then a steady stream of my daughters friends from outlying areas stopping off at our place to shower before they went to the school next door... I had to be out of the house and off to work early as it was a little crazy for a while.. some of those farms were without power for weeks.

We got both certificates. Not sure what happened to the first one (I was 3 that winter. Don't recall seeing it but I remember my mother mentioning it a number of times), but I still have the second one.

Quite horrid times in Ottawa during the ice storm,not good memories.

I remember the ice storm and clearly remember strapping on skates and being outside and feeling an odd feeling of being unsure of what would happen next but at the same time was having fun .. ( I know it wasn’t fun for everyone but I was young )

I’ve got that 1971 certificate. I was in my 2nd year at Carleton. What a winter! Couldn’t see our house from the street behind the snowbanks!

We have both. Lots of stories still told at family gatherings.

For the ice storm of 1998, my mom lived off of Navaho Drive near Baseline and her street had no power for at least 5 days.

I did most of the shovelling that winter of 1970/71 and it was endless. I was 17 in grade 11 at Nepean HS. I remember running out of places to put the snow and the snowbanks were so high I couldn’t reach the tops anymore. I also remember I was a timid new driver. I was terrified at each intersection because one could not see if it was safe to proceed through due to the 12 foot high snowbanks! I don’t know when the City of Ottawa started regularly removing the snowbanks at intersections for safety, perhaps the next year after?

We deserved one for the ice storm as we were out 13 days without heat or water.....................ergo no plumbing .

I still have mine somewhere in a box of old clippings etc. I remember that year very well. My son was just over 2.

My grandparents had both of these! I don’t know what happened to them 😞 I think my mom threw them out.

I was away during the snow leaving the shovelling up to my wife but we shared the cold ice storm and watched the trees fall down around the house.

I remember both those winters and have the 1998 certificate. The snow in 71 was unbelievable.

My parents still have the ice storm of 98 one on their wall.

I have my 1971 certificate too. It was quite the winter for sure. The trek to Ridgemont High was brutal

I have the second certificate still hanging in my office🙂

I was here for both these winters; Ottawa U in '71, and living here in '98.

Got married that year! It was March, a terrible time for driving....

98 ice storm..pic in life mag is first line and century rd..south of ottawa..we lived on century

I have one of these "Survival Certificates" somewhere in my files.

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Monday December 28th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Now in Lost Ottawa ... this old motel, shared by andrew Parkes.

Writes Andrew:

"Perhaps a piece of Ottawa some won’t mind seeing on the ‘lost' list’?

It's the New Highway Inn on Prince of Wales, once called “(a) haven for heavy drug use, prostitution and other illicit activities.†by the City in court.

I recall driving past it in 2016 seeing flames pouring out of the second story, just before the fire department showed up!"
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Now in Lost Ottawa ... this old motel, shared by andrew Parkes.

Writes Andrew:

Perhaps a piece of Ottawa some won’t mind seeing on the ‘lost list’? 

Its the  New Highway Inn on Prince of Wales, once called “(a) haven for heavy drug use, prostitution and other illicit activities.†by the City in court.  

I recall driving past it in 2016 seeing flames pouring out of the second story, just before the fire department showed up!

52 CommentsComment on Facebook

Every post has dozens of people talking about their personal experiences at the location.... all of a sudden nobody has stories? I’m disappointed.

If hotels could talk.....this one would swear like a sailor.

This place was “lost” long before it closed.

I rented a room there for 10 minutes only used 2 of those minutes and they wouldn't refund me.

I filmed a movie in this hotel. It was not a porn even though this is the sort of setting that you'd expect from it.

The company that bought the motel also bought the land Tim Hortons is currently on. It will all be torn down and mid rise condos will be going in. Roughly 40 units from what I’ve been told.

Here is postcard showing the original King Slumber Motel in the 1960s. It was advertising rooms by the month in the newspaper by 1969 - not a good sign of things to come.

Places like this give motels abd name. There are a lot of really nice family run places like Rideau Heights Inn.

Buh Bye! I’m sure people living close by are more than happy to see this property gone.

Thank god. That place was run by a slum lord. The place was bad news since the 90's. No running water (water came from the lake), no heat (slumlord would give you a space heater) and your car would be tampered with if parked there. Thank god it's now "Lost"

Looks like it was a no-tell motel even when it was new!

I stupidly reserved a block of rooms there for out of town wedding guests back in 1999. My wedding was at Strathmere and this was the only place I could think of that was remotely close. It was known as the Monterey Inn back then. One of my guests was in a bottom floor unit and it got flooded by the toilet running above them. They had to relocate to another hotel and I never found out until years later. I felt so badly! This hotel was just doomed from the start.

should have been torn down in the 80's

A number of years ago, while I was driving by, I saw a group of police officers, with guns drawn, crouched outside one of the doors. It looked like they were about to burst into one of the rooms, like something you’d see on tv. I regret not pulling over to see how it turned out. 😂

I once heard this place referred to as The Sticky Sheet Motel. ðŸ˜

Watched it burn while having a coffee a few years ago

So glad this place is gone. Several times this summer I would see meth/coke/crack heads coming out of these rooms in bare feet, and wandering out into the parking lot. Such an eye sore for a really nice part of town along the water. I'm sure the local residents are beaming, even if it's a condo that will take it's place.

At least a million roaches and bedbugs about to be left homeless. Oh, the humanity! 😉

If I'm not mistaken, the Tim Horton's right beside that place is now a part of Lost Ottawa.

The property is worth a fortune. Look out for massive houses or uber-expensive condos

The Tim Hortons that was next to it is now closed down too

Im sure something will go up in its place

I remember this place, having seen it every time I went to the Tim Horton’s beside it. Sadly, the Timmy’s will also be gone.

Stayed here several times in the early ‘90’s, was clean, basic, close to family in the Glebe and had a nice view out the back.

I feel itchy just looking at this hotel

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Monday December 28th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Robin Chinkiwsky shares a little piece of Ottawa history with this photo of Carling Groceteria, 438 Preston Street, at the. corner of Pamilla and Preston in 1955.

Writes Robin:

"Here is my father Bill Chinkiwsky, myself Robin Chinkiwsky, and my brother Mark Chinkiwsky at what was a well- known butcher shop and grocery store back then."
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Robin Chinkiwsky shares a little piece of Ottawa history with this photo of Carling Groceteria, 438 Preston Street, at the. corner of Pamilla and Preston in 1955. 

Writes Robin:

Here is my father Bill Chinkiwsky, myself Robin Chinkiwsky, and my brother Mark Chinkiwsky at what was a well- known butcher shop and grocery store back then.

28 CommentsComment on Facebook

My father was Bill the Butcher for your grandfather Mike for many years.

I worked for Bill and his wife for a few years at Bill’s IGA.

Mi grandfather, Mike Kostenuk, owned the red brick apartment building directly across the street. I spent a lot of time in that store. The barrel of garlic dill pickles was wonderful.

BILL was a great man,we bougth all our meet there every friday in the 50s and 60s he new everybody.

My sisters kids all worked at Billy's IGA store later on! They speak very fondly of the family.

Bill was a person I admired so much growing up in the Village.

I went to Fisher Park with Bill Chinkiwisky in the '50s. I believe he had a sister but can't remember her name.

from Butch O.....Geez Robin you, had a great future ahead of you but you went over to the Dark Side with me and then fell into the abyss with the hockey team

I walked in front of that store again and again in the 1950s. Unless my memory is playing tricks on me, I recall seeing that bike at that location.

This is my wife's grandparent's IGA store. They lived in the attached building that you can just see on the left side if the picture. Her maiden name is Hrehoriak.

It's now part of pub italia

This might be the bike Donny rode when he did grocery deliveries, what a time he had, street car tracks, train tracks, OMG!🙂

I used to live in the west end and went to Bell HS with Marilyn and her brother Nick Chinkiwsky. Are you related to them by chance?

Wasn’t there a store also at Gladstone & Sherbrooke with this family????

style of the bicycle did not change all that much.

I knew Mr. Chinkiwsky and his wife late in their life 💕

45 years ago I worked on construction with a Nick Chinkiwsky. Are you related?

Chinkiwskis is now Pub Italia.

The Baby Boom appears to have been in full swing in 1955. Dreft baby detergent is the only product on sale.

OMG. Aunt Betty and Uncle Bill!! I remember my Grama (Helen, Betty's sister) and my Poppa Thomas Sewell. Taking us there every week!!!

Hey Robin, long time no see, good story of the past.

It also used to be a post office

Well there is some village history.....you would have been millionaires now if you still had the business going....lol

A good number of immigrants from the Bukovyna region of Ukraine used to live in this area. Many of them attended Holy Trinity Orthodox Church on Gladstone (razed in the 1960s to make room for the public housing). Families like Chinkiwsky, Hrehoriak, and Kostenuk (all mentioned by various contributors to this thread) were part of this community. (BTW, the church is now known as Christ the Saviour and is located at 721 Somerset St. W.)

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Sunday December 27th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

A favourite place in Ottawa you might had a few meals over the Holiday Season in times gone by - the Green Valley Restaurant.

Guessing by the car this is in the 1990s.

(Shared by Helen Souter)
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A favourite place in Ottawa you might had a few meals over the Holiday Season in times gone by - the Green Valley Restaurant.

Guessing by the car this is in the 1990s.

(Shared by Helen Souter)

139 CommentsComment on Facebook

They used to put up a massive beautifully lit Christmas tree. Gorgeous.

As a child in the 50s it was a very special occasion to go there. The reward was the Mickey Mouse dessert. Vanilla Ice cream with Chocolate waifer ears. They also had a gift shop with lots of things for a child to admire.

The Mickey Mouse dessert was always something to look forward to followed by a visit to the gift shop. Always enjoyed going there with my parents - got to dress up in my Sunday best.

My parents used to take us there in the 1960 for special days, birthdays and such. they used to serve a desert that looked like mickey mouse, cant remember the name but it was always a favourite treat to go there. Was very sad when it burned down.

Prettiest Christmas tree in Ottawa during holiday season!

Had lunches there with my Granny and her friends...very grownup place for a very young girl and I HAD to be on my very best behaviour!

I remember this place like it was yesterday! When I was young, I remember getting the Mickey Mouse sundae in a packed restaurant, and closer to the end with very few people, mostly blue-haired ladies, in the restaurant.

It was our place to go for special occasions in the 60's and 70's. Our highlights as children were the Mickey mouse sundaes and exploring the magical gift shop in the basement.

My parents used to take us there from time to time as it was a real favorite of my mom’s. They actually made a really good steak!

Their Cornish Hen was the best. The shrimp cocktail was mighty fine too

You knew it was a special occasion if we were dining at the Green Valley, that and when ever we had outbof town guests in town for a visit. We had quite the collection of their whimsical swizzle sticks in the various forms of wild life. My favorite where the giffraffes !

One of our favourite restaurants when my parents came to visit from Montreal! They had a fantastic seafood crepe and a Mickey Mouse ice cream dessert! Their gift shop was lovely too! Great memories!

My mother used to take all her grandkids for Mickey Mouse dessert at the end of each school year!!!!

My grandparents would take us there for a very special treat. I loved getting all dressed up. Wonderful memory.

I was never there, but we were at big Daddy's crab Shack on New year's Eve 2002 when it burnt down. We all stood outside looking at the smoke. I just read about the history of it in Ottawa rewind 2. I really wish I could have stayed in a cabin and seen it in its hay day

My sister or sisters (I don't remember if they were both there) and my mother and I had lunch there the day before it burnt down. We had a table near the north windows and had a lovely meal. They were preparing for their New Year's party and I remember commenting that their dance floor was really nice and low impact. Might have been a good party, but... We went the next day and saw the remains of the fire. Our table and chairs were still visible from the parking lot just where we left them, mostly due to there being no outside wall anymore. That was really sad.

We would have dinner there for special occasions birthdays, holidays. Always very good.

My family used to go there for special occasions each year - Mother's Day especially comes to mind. Loved their Mickey Mouse ice creams. I was so sad when it burned down.

As a child, I loved the Mickey Mouse sundaes for dessert! We dressed up and celebrated special occasions there. â¤ï¸

Had my wedding dinner here in 1998 and spent many special occasions here as a child.

I worked there one summer after college. Was a lovely place. Great raspberry pies. Loved the Chateaubriand

I loved going to this restaurant with my family as a kid! good times!

After our wedding ceremony, my husband and I took our small wedding party here for dinner. That would have been in the early 80's.

It use to be a great place to celebrate special occasions with the whole family in the 60's.

Married September 1956 .. reception held at the Green Valley Restaurant .. great memories!

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Sunday December 27th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Sunday Best, featuring the Ballantyne Boys of Ottawa East hamming it up for the camera on Christmas Day in 1891.

The picture is described as "dandys in the rain." The dandy's in question are named as Charles, Adam, Arthur and Harry Ballantyne.

Guess the guy at left is not one of the Ballantyes? More educated guess says this is just over the Pretoria Bridge along Hawthorne, where the Ballantyne's had their home and coal supply yard.

(LAC PA-130016)
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Sunday Best, featuring the Ballantyne Boys of Ottawa East hamming it up for the camera on Christmas Day in 1891.

The picture is described as dandys in the rain. The dandys in question are named as Charles, Adam, Arthur and Harry Ballantyne. 

Guess the guy at left is not one of the Ballantyes? More educated guess says this is just over the Pretoria Bridge along Hawthorne, where the Ballantynes had their home and coal supply yard.

(LAC PA-130016)

12 CommentsComment on Facebook

The two up front are about to be pelted by snowballs from the two guys in the back.

One of the Ballantynes was an amateur photographer and took quite a few photos of Old Ottawa East. Looks like they had a mild Christmas that year too - and that the brothers were having fun.

Quite a remarkable photo. For most people in the 1890s, much of their life was work and toil, so photos don't show much frivolity or levity. This one is quite humorous.

This photo doesn’t seem like it’s from 1891. The picture seems unusually clear.

I remember several parties, with the Macli's, Meed's, and a few Walsh boys, in houses along Main, Hawthorne, Echoe...even in the '70's, most had dirt floor basements...and everybody had those 'mustard glasses' collections...

The more we change, the more we stay the same... That could be a pic from this year with joking around. However, not many families are that big anymore!

Must have taken forever to get dressed.

Nancy... add the word Brockville to the google search and this pic won’t come up. 😬

Lifestyles of the rich & pompous.

What an interesting picture Brian , !

I used to play in the coal sheds off Echo Drive in the mid 1950s scaring pigeons.

Harry Ballantyne (Henry Francis) was my great grandfather. He lived at 120 Hawthorne Ave. My great grandmother was the last Ballantyne to be living in Old Ottawa East when she died in 1968. Three of the "boys" are recognizable: front right - Charles, back right- Harry and middle back - Norman. Not sure which one is which of the remaining two: Adam and Arthur (known by my grandfather as “Uncle Joe” using his first name). The photo was likely taken at the back of James Ballantyne's house, part of what is now Ballantyne Park (the rest "consumed" by the Queensway). James' brother, Thomas (my great great grandfather) had a house on Echo Dr that is still there (145 Echo Dr - called the Milo Court).

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Sunday December 27th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Sunday Drive ... from Ottawa to the Gatineau for nice picnic in your nice car in 1963.

Looks like a Corvair, Chevy, Hillman(?) and, on the far right, one of those Buicks with the amazing fins from 1959 or 1960.

Not sure which lookout in Gatineau Park this is.

(BAnQ 06M_E6S7SS1_P631667-Edit.tif)
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Sunday Drive ... from Ottawa to the Gatineau for nice picnic in your nice car in 1963.

Looks like a Corvair, Chevy, Hillman(?) and, on the far right, one of those Buicks with the amazing fins from 1959 or 1960.

Not sure which lookout in Gatineau Park this is.

(BAnQ 06M_E6S7SS1_P631667-Edit.tif)

24 CommentsComment on Facebook

Looks like Pink Lake, with the curved parking lot/lookout that close to the water’s edge.

Gone are the days when you could a car's make from a distance!

Pretty sure it’s Pink’s Lake. We used to jump into it off a granite cliff on the far side.

Looks like one of those places couples would go parking at 😉

that chev looks like my 1963 belair...cant be me, its daylight in this picture ðŸ˜

The 3 rd car is a french Simca Aronde 5. I had a similar one in black.

Looks like the Pinks Lake parking area...

Pink Lake for sure. I would says second parking lot when driving from south (from Gamelin street) I used to go there when horse back riding. In those days (late 60's), they let us ride from the stable located on chemin de la Montagne.

Looks like Pink Lake.

Huron lookout

How did the camera get so high? There has to be a hill right beside the parking lot.

I miss going to the Gatineau valley

The days of the British cars, they didn’t like those cold winter mornings, as I recall there were many British car dealers in Ottawa,

Driving to another country for a picnic? Pretty adventurous. 😉ðŸ˜

Fortune Lake or Black Lake?

Corvair, Chev, Volvo, Buick? And if so, can anyone name the Chev and Buick - Impala and Skylark? And the Volvo?

Think Corvair,1963 Impala,Simca? 1960Buick forsure

Pink Lake?

I'd say 1960 Buick.

Lac Fortune perhaps...?

Pink's Lake.

Pink Lake?

Lac Philippe?

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Saturday December 26th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

It Boxing Day and we're still slacking ... so here's a shot of Santa returning home after a hard night of deliveries in Ottawa in 1976.

Pretty well 2500 miles from anywhere ... and 2580 miles from Ottawa.

Just for fun, I decided to check the distance in Google Maps, which replied: "Sorry, we could not calculate biking directions from "Ottawa, ON" to "Alert, Nunavut."

No cars, trains, planes, or even walking directions either. However, Rome2Rio offered an option which got you from Ottawa to Pangnirtung, north of Iqualit on Baffin Island, in only 26 hours.

That's about half-way to Alert and as far as they would go.

(LAC e999901566)
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It Boxing Day and were still slacking ... so heres a shot of Santa returning home after a hard night of deliveries in Ottawa in 1976.

Pretty well 2500 miles from anywhere ... and 2580 miles from Ottawa.

Just for fun, I decided to check the distance in Google Maps, which replied: Sorry, we could not calculate biking directions from Ottawa, ON to Alert, Nunavut.

No cars, trains, planes, or even walking directions either. However, Rome2Rio offered an option which got you from Ottawa to Pangnirtung, north of Iqualit on Baffin Island, in only 26 hours.

Thats about half-way to Alert and as far as they would go.
 
(LAC e999901566)

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

Here's what it looked like 2.5 years ago.

I was there to install network equipment many many years ago. I had only a few hours to install otherwise I was stuck until the next flight weeks later.

I was there in November several years ago. Perpetual night so I guess Santa came out of hiding for a summer photo session. A lot of people from Ottawa were stationed there over the years. 600 miles from the "Pole" and usually too high up in the Arctic to be seen on most maps.

That sign looks much different now.

I was there 40 years ago, designed a Crash/Fire truck for there

My niece is currently posted there

Cindy Shaw

I hope she is having a great time. I loved every time I’ve been there.

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Saturday December 26th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Some place you won't be able to stop for a coffee when exhausted Boxing Day ... this Tim's on Prince of Wales.

Shared by Andrew Parkes who writes:

"The Tim Horton’s on Prince of Wales near Hunt Club West is no more!"
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Some place you wont be able to stop for a coffee when exhausted Boxing Day ... this Tims on Prince of Wales.

Shared by Andrew Parkes who writes:

The Tim Horton’s on Prince of Wales near Hunt Club West is no more!

63 CommentsComment on Facebook

Drive 2 mins and you’ll find 6 more...

Surprising! It’s owned by the guy who owns the Ramada next door/behind. But the terrible motel on the other side that wasn’t even a legally operating business anymore is finally gone! I suspect he wants to expand his hotel and knew also owning the worst tim hortons in the city wasn’t doing him any favours 😂

Between the Ramada and that motel no-tell that recently closed. It was a difficult Tim's to get out of.

used to be a little restaurant there great food 15 years ago

No wonder it closed...The only customers that Timmies had were prostitutes and John’s coming in and out of that crack den of a motel next door!! 🤦ðŸ»‍♂ï¸

I think it closed at the same time as the murder Inn next door!

Not exactly a big loss

This location was very hard to exit at rush hour....in either direction.

The apartments to the right of the Tim’s are not vacant, too. assuming that lot is worth big bucks.

We used to walk our dogs there on Sundays. One of us would go in for coffee, while the other stayed with the dogs.

I remember the mom and pop restaurant (forget the name) that was there before the Tim's went up.

Around 20 yrs ago I used to make the cookies for this store.

If it was owned by the same owners as the hotel maybe they closed it to expand the hotel property

Glad its closed, I hated going north on POW and as you get closer to the timmies you wonder if the person coming from timmies is gonna stop or go comacozzi out in front of you, had many close calls..

There used to be a nice little greasy spoon there before Tim’s took the place over.

Site of the old clearview restaurant had great homemade soup.

The one at carling and woodroffe is gone too.

Canadian sweat shop. Its a start.

Lack of commuter traffic is closing some locations.

That's a rare sight, a closed Tim's!

Judging from the condos inthe background, I suspect that's what happened..

No great loss..havent bought Tims coffee in more than a year

I recall southboud traffic turning in there from POW... and then they had to get back out into traffic... That really won't be missed... I remember getting breakfast after work there in the early 90s, before 416 openened... much busier then.

Really weird seeing a closed Timmy's. Saw my first one at King Edward and St. Patrick.

That makes me wonder- What are some of the oldest ones in the city? I can think of the one in Bells corners across from the mobile home lot

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Saturday December 26th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Postcard from Ottawa, and a small Xmas present too, shared by Terry B Latham, who notes simply: "This was on a site."

The scene is a classic one with a lady crossing Sparks Street with two streetcars and the Russell Hotel in the background. Three characteristic features of Ottawa in one picture.

The Toronto Postcard Club dates this particular postcard to 1914.
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Postcard from Ottawa, and a small Xmas present too, shared by Terry B Latham, who notes simply: This was on a site.

The scene is a classic one with a lady crossing Sparks Street with two streetcars and the Russell Hotel in the background. Three characteristic features of Ottawa in one picture.

The Toronto Postcard Club dates this particular postcard to 1914.

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

I believe the globe street lights were installed in 1913 so the 1914 date seems very plausible.

Ottawa n'a pas eu d'élus municipaux intelligents comme ceux de Toronto, ville merveilleuse avec ses tramways ! XOX

Before Genital Motors coined the term “Jay Walking”. . . I’ll let “Damn You Apple Autocorrect” get away with that one. 😉

Very impressive.

Saturday December 26th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Boxing Day in Ottawa, and a puzzler, too.

This photo is found with a bunch of others for Ogilvy's. But is it Ogivly's? And if so, which one? Downtown? Billing Bridge?

The picture is so small, the slogan on the far wall is hard to make out. Seems to say "Fashion by the Yard." A clue!

(City of Ottawa Archives CA022608)
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Boxing Day in Ottawa, and a puzzler, too.

This photo is found with a bunch of others for Ogilvys. But is it Ogivlys? And if so, which one? Downtown? Billing Bridge?

The picture is so small, the slogan on the far wall is hard to make out. Seems to say Fashion by the Yard. A clue!

(City of Ottawa Archives CA022608)

24 CommentsComment on Facebook

In the "olden days" I think all the stores were closed on Boxing Day - and the big sales were actually on the 27th

That looks like the fabric and notions department at the downtown Ogilvy’s. I worked in the fashion Salon in the late 70s. Perhaps this is from the 50s/60s when the department might have been larger because before the 70s more women were responsible for sewing the family wardrobe.

Looks like Billing’s Bridge location. My parents frequented that location when I was a kid. I wanted out of that store so fast because Ogilvy’s never had a toy department

When I worked at Ogilvy’s Rideau St in the late 70s and 80s, the Sewing Dept was big but not this big. I think this would have been Billing’s Bridge.

My mom would case the stores and then buy on Boxing Day. And Ogilvy’s had an excellent yard goods department. I still have my elna sewing machine from the 70s bought there.

The store has a bit of a mid century modern look which tells me it probably was Billings Bridge. I seem to recall walking through here...and seeing the rectangular on the wall....

Looks like Billing’s. I worked at Robinson’s (ogilveys having by that point been bought out by them) in the early 90s before college and the layout hasn’t changed. Looks like the picture was clicked in what was then accessories or the men’s department looking out over ladies wear (under the Fabric by the yard sign) into the housewares “wing” which leads to the cafeteria.

Yes, “Fashion by the Yard”. I was in that room with my mother many times, minus this hubbub.

I’m always so disappointed when I don’t see anyone I know.

I don’t think this photo was taken on Boxing Day. Some of the ladies are in short sleeves!

Since it's fabric, the sign probably says "Fashion By the Yard".

I think I can make out McCaul's on the back right? 👑

Looking at the hairdos I would say downtown

It's the downtown location

(Swoon) a sewing department that big!!

The name of the department is written on the back wall.

My mother was a seamstress at Ogilvy's in the `40s & `50s and I saw plenty of the Rideau St. store in the `60s to know this was probably Billings Bridge. At Rideau St., the yard goods section was on the left side of the ground floor as you entered the store, with the escalator rising up from the center hall to the back. But the big identifier of the downtown store was a giant tartan ribbon with an equally giant button and needle and thread being drawn through it mounted up top on the lefthand wall, as I remember it.

I do remember they had a fabric section.....

Billings Bridge I believe

Mom. Peg Johnson do u know which store is this. Billing’s or downtown

Perhaps you could look at your own post from 2018, which contains the answers you seek. www.facebook.com/LostOttawa/posts/1773295492769667?

Yes

Billing’s

Susan. Ogilvy’s was on Rideau street and Murphy Gamble’s and Morgan’s I believe on Sparks Street

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Saturday December 26th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Somehow this car never arrived at my house yesterday. Maybe today? After all, it is "Boxing Day" in Ottawa. Mrs. Lost?

The car, I think, is a Hillman Minx, circa 1958, and the picture is from vintage postcard from the era .

I haven't seen any of the million local delivery people driving one ... but I have seen some cars and vans pretty stuffed over the past week.
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Somehow this car never arrived at my house yesterday. Maybe today? After all, it is Boxing Day in Ottawa. Mrs. Lost?

The car, I think, is a Hillman Minx, circa 1958, and the picture is from vintage postcard from the era . 

I havent seen any of the million local delivery people driving one ... but I have seen some cars and vans pretty stuffed over the past week.

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

In 1958, we owned a Sunbeam Rapier, similar in size to the Hillman Minx. Somehow, we stuffed 2 adults, 3 sons, 2 cats, an outboard motor and luggage for all stuffed in the trunk and a car-top carrier to drive to the cottage.

Mine was yellow and white with leather interior. That little car could climb mountains!!

My Mom had a Minx in the 60s....

Christmas greetings to you and "Mrs. Lost" - always enjoy your posts, thanx

I remember Nash Metropolitan's but not the Hillman. Similar as I remember?

Fabulous! Happy Holidays - and keep the memories coming!

Yep it's a Hillman Minx....my brother had a green one

yes Green.it was🚗

I had a blue one.

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Friday December 25th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

At Lost Ottawa we come across some odd stuff while looking for historic images ... like this Christmas Issue of the Avro News, promoting the Avro Arrow.

Maybe as a replacement for Santa's sleigh?

I don't have the exact date of this cover. It's either 1957 or 1958, and I think the latter when Avro was pulling out all the stop in an effort to save the Arrow. This cover would have ended up on hundreds of Ottawa desks. Alas, the Grinch stole Christmas!

(From the collections of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum)
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At Lost Ottawa we come across some odd stuff while looking for historic images ... like this Christmas Issue of the Avro News, promoting the Avro Arrow.

Maybe as a replacement for Santas sleigh?

I dont have the exact date of this cover. Its either 1957 or 1958, and I think the latter when Avro was pulling out all the stop in an effort to save the Arrow. This cover would have ended up on hundreds of Ottawa desks. Alas, the Grinch stole Christmas!

(From the collections of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum)

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

My Dad worked for Pye Canada, a company which supplied component parts used in building the Arrow. When Diefenbaker cancelled the Arrow, nearly 50,000 people lost their jobs. My Dad was one of them. That’s when we moved from King City, a tiny village (at the time) outside of TO to Ottawa.

That illustration shows the UK A.V Roe "Avro 707A" from circa 1949.

Canada Post put out a stamp celebrating the Arrow (and 50 years of Canadian aviation) but has never admitted that the jet is the Arrow.

I have orrig pics of 202,203,@204..in flight..b/w of course

Friday December 25th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

It Christmas Day and we are still slacking here at Lost Ottawa, so here is a little Xmas message from a group of Ottawa skiers, taken to celebrate the fresh blanket of snow that arrived December 24, 1954.

I fiddled the picture in photoshop because the original picture was so small you couldn't really see anyone anyway. Nevertheless the Citizen says the people in the picture are, left to right:

Robert Pilon, Henry Staubitz, Andre Hupe, Tony Gusseus, Wilfrid Lalonde, Douglas Ralston, James Fordyce, Graham Fraser, Suzanne Richard, Diana Kingston, Joanne Ralston, Ken Evans, Peter Richard and Maurice Carey.

And now they are sending you best wishes all over again!
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It Christmas Day and we are still slacking here at Lost Ottawa, so here is a little Xmas message from a group of Ottawa skiers, taken to celebrate the fresh blanket of snow that arrived December 24, 1954.

I fiddled the picture in photoshop because the original picture was so small you couldnt really see anyone anyway. Nevertheless the Citizen says the people in the picture are, left to right:

Robert Pilon, Henry Staubitz, Andre Hupe, Tony Gusseus, Wilfrid Lalonde, Douglas Ralston, James Fordyce, Graham Fraser, Suzanne Richard, Diana Kingston, Joanne Ralston, Ken Evans, Peter Richard and Maurice Carey.

And now they are sending you best wishes all over again!

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Any Idea what hill they are on, IE Fortune or other Gatineau hill

Friday December 25th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

We've got a little Lost Ottawa Christmas present for you this morning -- a video featuring photos from the fifty most popular posts on Lost Ottawa in 2020.

What's most popular depends on the Facebook stat you count. Likes, comments, shares, or reach? We start off with the most popular picture in each category, then show the rest in random order.

I made the video as a relaxing retrospective on what interested people this year. There's no talking. Just pictures and little music. Enjoy!

(P.S. Some of you might notice there are more than 50 pictures. That's because the list of posts with the most comments and the list with the most likes are not exactly the same. I included all the extras. After all, it's Christmas!
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27 CommentsComment on Facebook

What a trip down memory lane. Let's all hope that today's pictures of people wearing masks and hand sanitizer stands everywhere will soon become not only a part of Lost Ottawa but a part of Lost Planet, never to be seen again.

Thank you for posting this - Santa Claus brought me Lost Ottawa 3 for Christmas 🙂

Wow, that felt good. All those great memories. Made me feel young again. Thank you for putting this together!

Wonderful compilation of photos! And totally enhanced by the original musical score. 🙂

These are certainly golden memories... mind blown to think future generations may actually compile images from our present era as their perspective good old days. 🤯

I remember lots. I think the Royal Burger was the first drive in for food in the west end. I went often. And I am not sure but we must have eaten in the car as I don't think there was anywhere else to eat. Super video-many thanks

I can’t believe how many of these I missed....especially the one of Ottawa Tech H.S.

Really Nice Video. The only thing I would change is the music which is very repetitive and monotonous : )

Merry Christmas to you and your team! Thank you for putting this together all year round! It has been and continues to be a fascinating trip back in time. 💕☃ï¸ðŸŽ„🎉🥂

Thank you for your Facebook postings and for this special series. You make me appreciate more and more the city!

That was an awesome collection from 'All'...ty 4 the memories...🌹

Terrific video. Would be nice if I could slow it down to savour the images.

Very cool. Thanks for putting that together!

Wow! Incredible photos â¤ï¸ thank you so much for sharing these ðŸ™

So many familiar places... thanks!

Wow, fabulous. I missed a few; glad you made this...

I still have the CFRA key chain

I remember Sol Max!

We thank you for keeping the memories â¤ï¸ alive

Wonderful. Thank you. ðŸ™ðŸ™ðŸ™. Next time pls give each picture a couple more seconds. 🙂🙂🙂

Priceless!!

Wonderful! Merry Christmas 🎄

That was just great👠thank you so much. Merry Christmas and hopefully a better 2021.

This is great, thank you!

Wonderful video. Thank you!

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Thursday December 24th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Best Wishes for the Season from Lost Ottawa! ... See MoreSee Less

Best Wishes for the Season from Lost Ottawa!

16 CommentsComment on Facebook

Merry Christmas from Melbourne Australia!

That Santa looks rather sinister. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. Thanks for all the hard work;; it has enhanced my knowledge of the history of my hometown in a very fun way. Good jokes too.

Merry Christmas from Bonnie Gordon Ellis

Merry Christmas from Eau Claire, Wisconsin! ♥ï¸

And to all of you too ! 😀

Merry Christmas to you too!

Except, there no snow bahaha

Merry Christmas 🎄

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you and to you also

Merry Christmas to you!

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Thursday December 24th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Three Ottawa Kings rehearse with Mary and Joseph for the Christmas Play at St. James's Church in the Glebe on December 12, 1955.

I was one of those kings in Grade Three. I remember being so nervous up there on the stage, getting ready to sing my part of "We Three Kings."

I think I was Melchior, who brought the frankincense. I hope I wasn't Balthazar, with the myrrh, who sang the part about:

Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb ...

Not so cheerful!
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Three Ottawa Kings rehearse with Mary and Joseph for the Christmas Play at St. Jamess Church in the Glebe on December 12, 1955.

I was one of those kings in Grade Three. I remember being so nervous up there on the stage, getting ready to sing my part of We Three Kings.

I think I was Melchior, who brought the frankincense. I hope I wasnt Balthazar, with the myrrh, who sang the part about:

            Sorrowing, sighing,
               Bleeding, dying,
    Sealed in the stone-cold tomb ...

Not so cheerful!

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

I attended that church back then but was probably too young (7) to partake in this event.

I had to sing the myrrh part...

Thursday December 24th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

When you are an Ottawa Valley Santa, you don't always need a sleigh. You can use the fire pole!

This particular Santa arrives at the Leduc Street fire station in Hull on December 18, 1955, to the delight of the firemen's kids.

Not sure why one chap is holding on to Santa's feet!

(CA035967)
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When you are an Ottawa Valley Santa, you dont always need a sleigh. You can use the fire pole!

This particular Santa arrives at the Leduc Street fire station in Hull on December 18, 1955, to the delight of the firemens kids.

Not sure why one chap is holding on to Santas feet!

(CA035967)

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

i think he may be helping hold Santa in place. firepoles are designed and polished to be slippery....too bad these poles arent used anymore, but i can understand why.

Does anyone have photos of Santa from the OTC Christmas parties held in the 50s? My Dad was filling in for Santa but we have no pics. Thanks.

Wednesday December 23rd, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Farrell McGovern shares a link to some fine music by Ottawa author Charles de Lint about driving Highway 105.

You could be driving it on your way home for Xmas.

Says Farrell:

"Best selling local author Charles de Lint is also a musician. He used to play a number of the folk and celtic music venues around Ottawa where some of his stories were set.

He wrote a wonderful little tune that memorializes Highway 105 over on the Quebec side. It is a route many travelled to reach The Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, and points north.

Here is a link to the song where he is accompanied by his wife MaryAnn Harris. Both are very lovely and talented people!"

Highway 105, by Charles de Lint
from the album Old Blue Truck
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7 CommentsComment on Facebook

Think it was highway 11 before it was 105.

I recently did the 105 all the way to 117 several times this summer. This song brings it all back.

Up 105 to Gracefield and Maniwaki! Great memories!!

Kaarin Hill. I didn’t know he was a musician as well as an author. Talent!

And it's his birthday this week too!

Love de Lint’s stories.

Janet Aldridge

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Wednesday December 23rd, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Here's an Ottawa song I would like to hear.

It's "Thanks to Santa," written by none other than local jeweler, businessman and promoter Jack Snow. It seems to have been released in December of 1955, with the idea that sales would go to charity. The song seems to have been performed (possibly as a polka) by Cliff McKay and his wife Patricia.

I was thinking someone must still have the 45 ... but Ive found out it was a 78! I know people are into vinyl once again, but do people still know what a 78 or a 45 might be?
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Heres an Ottawa song I would like to hear. 

Its Thanks to Santa, written by none other than local jeweler, businessman and promoter Jack Snow. It seems to have been released in December of 1955, with the idea that sales would go to charity. The song seems to have been performed (possibly as a polka) by Cliff McKay and his wife Patricia.

I was thinking someone must still have the 45 ... but Ive found out it was a 78! I know people are into vinyl once again, but do people still know what a 78 or a 45 might be?

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

Yeah, hubby and I were explaining RPM records to our young adult children the other day ... what it's like to carefully place the record needle down ... turning the record over. Watching the needle bob up and down... 😲 lol

Interesting factoid I came across - the term “album” started in the 78 era. Due to limited recording time on 78 records, longer pieces like classical concerts were released on collections of multiple records called “albums” (since they resembled photo albums). So technically, your favourite vinyl LP record isn’t an “album” after all.

45 revolutions per minute (RPM) (7 inch vinyl record) and 78 RPM (was a 10 inch record was usually made of acetate)

Only if you’re older than 33 1/3.... like twice that old!!!

I do but I’m older than dirt 😳😬 I still have a large collection of 78’s, 45’s and LP’s.

"Thanks to Santa" was not recorded as a polka; "Holiday Ranch Polka" was the B side of the single, recorded by Cliff McKay's Holiday Ranch (with Patricia McKay, on the A side only.) It was released on both 10" 78 and 7" 45. www.discogs.com/Cliff-McKays-Holiday-Ranch-Thanks-To-Santa-Holiday-Ranch-Polka/release/12437502

One problem these days is finding a needle...

Jack Snow jewelry on Sparks Street!

Well im 67 and yep

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Wednesday December 23rd, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Had a request for a photo of Ottawa's favourite December destination back in the day, namely Santa's Toyland in Freiman's Department store on Rideau Street (now the Bay). Favoured by kids, at least ...

Searching my database, I found this great photo originally shared by Patti Jo in 2015.

Said Patti: "Riding the Train in Freiman's Toyland, circa 1963!"
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Had a request for a photo of Ottawas favourite December destination back in the day, namely Santas Toyland in Freimans Department store on Rideau Street (now the Bay). Favoured by kids, at least ... 

Searching my database, I found this great photo originally shared by Patti Jo in 2015.

Said Patti: Riding the Train in Freimans Toyland, circa 1963!

57 CommentsComment on Facebook

Freiman’s = BEST malts anywhere!!

Freiman's on Rideau Street was the place to be at Christmas! You could stare at their front window display and dream, until your mom pulled you into the store!

We lost a bit of Ottawa when we lost Freiman's. It truly was a family store. As kids, we loved it. And I remember riding that train. and visiting Santa. The Christmas window displays were glorious. The whole family could shop together and enjoy.

Great memories. The malted milks were my favourite. Haven’t found any to match.

Yes Michelle, it was a sad day they closed the malt department down....and what about the windows during Christmas.I sometimes wonder where all the moving animals and dolls disappeared too...we would walk from the Glebe down Bank then over to Rideau just to see all the stores decorated... Then over to watch the trains come in at Union Station . I do remember the Santa train...I was always frighted my mother would be lost...Great picture above, Thanks for sharing. We had it the best of times.

What wonderful comments! Thanks, everyone, for the memories. I’d forgotten about the warm freshly washed glasses for the malts AND about the fabulous magical windows! The closest I ever got to a 5th Avenue experience!

LOVE seeing this photo! Such happy memories of our annual visits to Freiman’s magical Christmas place. For me, it was late 40s...way before any other make believe places like Disney or even television! Special indeed. Thanks! (And then there were the malted milks sold at that little bar tucked under the stairs in the basement...a whole other kind of magic!)...

I remember my parents took us through the Freimans Christmas wonderland. Still makes me smile. It is great to see others have the same memories of Freiman’s Christmas instore toy wonderland and window displays.

I love reading the comments about the window displays. My grandfather Napoleon Patry was a window dresser for a long time at Freiman's.

I worked at Freiman's during the mid 60s as part time staff and worked at one of the window displays with Santa and also worked the Santa train. Lots of fun and the malted milk was out of this world but I think the hot glasses had something to do with the whole experience. Merry Christmas.

Freiman's and a ride on the street car are some of my fondest memories of Christmas. I grew up in a small town and every year, I got to see Santa at Freiman's and the fabulous decorations.

My best memory of Frieman's was the malted milk you could get from the little kiosk at the bottom of the escalator. Yummy.

Wow that is a great childhood memory for me. Also loved the Malted Milks any time of the year.

At the age of 12 I would walk from Bronson and Somerset to Freiman's just to get a malted milk beverage. Especially delicious when the glass was still hot coming out of the automatic dishwasher on site!

I remember sitting on the sidewalk outside the store for the Santa Claus parade on Rideau! It was a great street back then in the 60's.

I remember one year, my dad knew Santa, we the family get up to Santa...Santa goes "Well hello Bud." Hold on???? Only my dad's best friends knew him as "BUD".... That was so weird that time. Santa Claus was friends with my dad.

Love this! I hadn’t thought of this train in years yet it is one of those things I looked forward to every year!

Love it any pictures of Freeman’s department store at Christmas at the St Laurent shopping centre? It was a wonderful “castle “that was built over the fountain in the centre of the store if I remember correctly.

Rode this when I was little and we always stopped in the basement for a Malted Milk before leaving . MMMMMMmmmmmm !!!

We loved going to Friemans with my Mom and Dad. My dad always took us to the basement to the malt shop!

Can't say I remember the train but I certainly do remember Freiman's malted milk counter downstairs. A very rare and welcome treat.

Memories of malted milks and the Christmas toy department. I moved to Montreal in 1966 but remember Freiman's well. I also remember when a Freiman child was abducted but it ended safely.

I remember the windows and the malted milk stand down in the basement. Also the window displays at ogilvys store across the street. Still went to malt stop coming home from Lisgar high.

I worked at FREIMAN’S parttime while going to school. It was my first job. I loved working there. Malted milk every shift!

One of my favourite memories too, Michael....sucked down a lot of malted milk in those days!!

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Tuesday December 22nd, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Santa visits Ottawa Uplands Airport on December 1, 1956.

This was part of a special 34-city pre-Xmas tour by Santa, who was delivering some 18 tons of toys to under-privileged kids around North America.

These kids are from the St. Patrick's Home and St. Joseph's Oprhanage, according to the story in the paper. I believe Santa's "toy lift" was sponsored by Esso.

(City of Ottawa Archives CA042077)
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Santa visits Ottawa Uplands Airport on December 1, 1956.

This was part of a special 34-city pre-Xmas tour by Santa, who was delivering some 18 tons of toys to under-privileged kids around North America.

These kids are from the St. Patricks Home and St. Josephs Oprhanage, according to the story in the paper. I believe Santas toy lift was sponsored by Esso.

(City of Ottawa Archives CA042077)

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

St Patrick's Orphanage had a summer cottage near Hog's Back. When my family lived on Riverside Drive, I spent my summers playing with the kids there. It was like a summer camp for me.

Operation Toylift was started by Julian Reiss, who founded Santa's Workshop near Lake Placid in 1949. Initially Reiss delivered toys in norhtern New York State and Vermont flying his own plane. Later, Esso provided a C-46 cargo aircraft for an expanded program, which brought the Toylift to Ottawa. Here's some information about Reiss. www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/opinion/columns/read-in-the-blue-line/2019/12/the-man-who-dared...

The Governor General's Foot Guards used to invite children from the orphanage to participate in the regimental children's Christmas party, and each child got a gift and treats to take back.

I met Santa at Uplands Aiport when he flew in in 1957. Here he is shaking hands with me (on the left), while my sister, mother and brother look on.

Tuesday December 22nd, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Ben Weiss shares a Lost Ottawa kind of present, writing:

"An early Christmas gift from an out-of-town friend ...
in the form of an 1874 Ottawa Citizen calendar."

Still good until the end of the year!

And good once again in 2048 according to TimeandDate.com
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Ben Weiss shares a Lost Ottawa kind of present, writing:

An early Christmas gift from an out-of-town friend ... 
in the form of an 1874 Ottawa Citizen calendar.

Still good until the end of the year! 

And good once again in 2048 according to TimeandDate.com

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

This was last good in 2015, next time will be 2026

Hmmm. . . 2048 will be a Leap Year. . . 1874 was not. . .

Tuesday December 22nd, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Your Morning Commute, over the Ottawa River, or maybe in the Aylmer Road, and along Rue Principale in Hull in what appears to be the 1940s.

(BAnQ P547S1SS1SSS1D172P04R)
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Your Morning Commute, over the Ottawa River, or maybe in the Aylmer Road, and along Rue Principale in Hull in what appears to be the 1940s.

(BAnQ P547S1SS1SSS1D172P04R)

16 CommentsComment on Facebook

Ken Sudhues, What happened was urban "renewal" with high-rises & office buildings replacing heritage buildings with no protection. Such a shame. Downtown Hull was beautiful before the Great Hull fire in 1900, and even after re-building, it was "fine looking" as you wrote.

David Jeanes, yes, and here is the original postcard with the same view identifying it as Hull.

Another one, showing the location, at Bridge (Dupont) and Main streets right near the Ottawa House.

Yes it is Hull...

I remember this area of Hull because my God-mother ,Margaret Ralph, who was brought up in Quebec City and was bilingual, did her Saturday shopping there. There were a lot of small shops and cafes, in the French style. It was a very pleasant area to visit. There were also two movie theatres, but they didn't admit children because of fire regulations.

One last bit of history: the Scott building occupied the property on which Philemon Wright built his Columbia Hotel in 1819 - the "best hotel west of Montreal", wrote John Mactaggart, Clerk of the Works for the construction of the Rideau Canal. The hotel had beautiful gardens and a large stable in the rear, and a large front porch where guests could have tea in the afternoon. Inside was a large dining room with vaulted ceiling.

To put this photo in context, here is map showing the extent of the city of Hull in 1940.

That was a fine looking street. What on earth happened? I see no vehicles later than 1936/37, so it's pre-WW2.

Today

I notice most of the buildings are three storeys here, but in Ottawa four storeys seemed to have been the norm in the earliest buildings.

Are you sure this is Hull? The large building on the left doesn't look like anything that would have existed in Hull in that period.

When I was a kid, downtown Hull was vibrant and interesting, even if was a bit industrial. It had soul. It was ruined by those ugly federal government abominations. Tear those ugly buildings down and put in something worthy of being next to the river.

They built Place du Portage in the wrong location.

Here is the history of the building: On the north side of Promenade du Portage, between Eddy and St-Jacques streets, is an old two-story brick building, dominated by a pediment, on which are written the following words: "A.D. Scott Block 1900". The Scott family was one of the most important families in Hull. In the middle of the Last century, Nancy Louisa Wright, granddaughter of the founder of Hull, married John Scott, first mayor of Bytown. Their business was prosperous and the Scotts acquired many properties in Hull, among which was the Scott Block. Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1900, on the ruins of a fortified building the Scott Block had, from the beginning, a commercial vocation. The first floor housed a shoe merchant, a tailor, a watchmaker, a haberdashery and "Fortin Gravelle", where Saturday night partyers came to have ice cream after a movie at the Laurier cinema. The second floor was rented to professionals, lawyers, the district coroner, a photographer, etc ... At the reopening of their businesses and their offices, the day after the Great Fire of 1900, the occupants of the new building were proud, especially since they could offer their customers a six-foot cement sidewalk front in width, the first in the City of Hull.

Corner of Eddy and Portage.in Hull...the scott building (the one on the left, with its name at the top) burned down and reconstruction of its facade was part of the building of the office tower at 22 Eddy....

More new info. Thanks!

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Monday December 21st, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Victoria Edward shares a post about an Ottawa Institution that's for sale.

Notes Victoria:
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Victoria Edward shares a post about an Ottawa Institution thats for sale.

Notes Victoria:Image attachmentImage attachment+6Image attachment

69 CommentsComment on Facebook

I first camped there in the late forties -- my mum was a guider and the Rangers looked after us. I spent many years there as a Guide later. So sad to see it disappear, so many memories.

This was my first brownie camp. We went fishing on shore using popcorn. Fast forward many years and I’m still a Guider in my third province.

Very sad to see that it is being sold. So many girls had the opportunity to experience camp here. I remember going as a Brownie as well as one of my daughters going as a Brownie and a Guide for several summers.

spent much time up at Woolsey when I was a kid - both at camps with my Guide Leader mum and sisters... And when we'd rent Centennial Lodge for summer holidays on the Ottawa River. I am so glad that my own daughters got to share in the magic of Woolsey when they were in Girl Guides!

I went to Girl Guide camp here in 1960. It's where I learned how to swim. Great memories.

So many great stories about Camp Woolsey in my family. What a loss.

Wow. I’m happy I got to experience Winter camp and Summer camp there as a Brownie in the ‘70’s. Learned so much!

A significant part of my childhood and teen years were spent at Woolsey.

My daughter had Girl Guides there in February and loved it! This is sooooo sad

My daughter went there for several years and I did a few times as a leader. We all now live in Vancouver so the price is like a semi detached here. 😉

Oh how sad...I suppose when I noticed troops "camping" in shopping malls it marked the end. Many good memories!

Too bad...I had a great time at Camp Woolsey. Went there as a child, and later as a leader.

my mom, who would have been 101 this year, was a guide leader/commisioner there for a few summers.

My sisters and my best friend camped there during Guiding. Going to miss it!

I remember going up there with my mother, who was a Girl Guide leader, back in the late '70s and early '80s. Compared to what boys learned in Scouts, I think I learned more woodcraft and camping tricks from the girls.

I remember camping there with my daughter when I was a leader. Such a shame.

Tamarak. The climbing tree. The group tenting site just beyond Tamarak. Smaller sites for pathfinder camps.

My childhood summers are for sale for $2.3 million. Wow. Sad that they are selling it after all this time.

I think the reason for the sale is poor management from Girl Guides of Toronto, I call them GG of T because ever since Toronto took over everything about Girl Guides has gone down hill in Ontario.

My son camped there, eons ago..Scout camp

Only went there once back in the 70's, it was a good time.

Such a shame, but I presume the young n's are move interested in electronics.

Hello condos! Or a big box store most likely

so sad... spent many, many summers there as a guide and later as a leader for my daughter!

Brings back a lot of memories.

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Monday December 21st, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Patrick Hoffman shares some old prescriptions from Ottawa "chemists" (as they were known back then).

Writes Patrick:

"Here's a collection of early 20th century Ottawa prescriptions I found in an Edwardian copy of 'Pocket Book of Treatment and Formulary'â€
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Patrick Hoffman shares some old prescriptions from Ottawa chemists (as they were known back then).

Writes Patrick: 

Heres a collection of early 20th century Ottawa prescriptions I found in an Edwardian copy of Pocket Book of Treatment and Formularyâ€

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

A guide for pharmacists (or chemists) to read prescriptions.

(as *pharmacists were known back then).

Very interesting the prescription is written on the pharmacist's (chemist's) pad in a few cases. The 4 digit phone numbers are cool. And the handwriting too!

Weldon J. Graham was my grandfather

Monday December 21st, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Ottawa shopping "in the modern manner" in October of 1955.

Now it "modern" means online. Then it meant a gigantic parking lot like this one at Westgate.

(Ottawa Citizen)
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Ottawa shopping in the modern manner in October of 1955.

Now it modern means online. Then it meant a gigantic parking lot like this one at Westgate.

(Ottawa Citizen)

28 CommentsComment on Facebook

At the risk of showing just how old I am, I miss the milk bar, and the best milkshakes in the city!

I remember our mom getting us on the old green diesel buses to Wesgate, going to Freimans to see Santa, and Miss Westgate for fries and gravy and Kresges and the Royal Bank where we belonged to the “Leo the Lion” club and they handed out B&W 8x10’s of Ottawa 67 players.

We grew up around there in the late sixties to early seventies. We used to go to Freiman's department store to pick up the latest 45 record of the song released on the radio!

My family misses Leishman’s an independent bookstore that we went to all the time when our kids were young. My childhood memories are the mov theatre and Toy City.

Judging by the number of cars in their parking lots, it appears the multitudes at the Costco and Walmart still shop in this “modern manner”.

I practically grew up there: shopping with my mom for clothes at Freimans, groceries at Steinbergs, then to Miss Westgate for a muffin and glass of milk for me and a bran muffin for her. Sweet memories.

My Uncle owned the leather store there for years - my first paid job!

The movie theatre upstairs where I had my first date... The Harvey's downstairs for a shake and an onion ring.... And Consumers Distributing where I used to buy all my GI Joe and He-Man Figures!

Ahh, such idealistic advertising in the 50's .....mom and dad Lunchbucket of to the mall with Thermos and Baggie skipping off ahead of them. The dawning of the consumer era.

Westgate was Ottawa's first shopping centre, opening in May 1955. I "almost" went to the Westgate movie theatre, just once, in 1982, to see E.T., but unfortunately it was sold out. I never saw a movie there.

First shopping mall in Ottawa, during high school l worked there on weekends

Early pictures of the malls seemed to like to show a young family with two kids, big brother and little sister. . There is a picture somewhere of the early Carlingwood mall with a young family walking home. The little girl in that picture is a good friend of mine.

It used to be such a great mall. Even had a hardware store. Used to bike with my girls to pick up birthday gifts for their friends, buy pastry, great coffee, etc.

My uncle Bernard was the manage at Freiman's Westgate in the early 60's.

Don’t forget Toy World! That was such an amazing store at Westgate. Bought a puppet (I still have ) and all my Barbie dolls. Oh yes and my Nancy Drew books.

Loved the Mall, it was my Mom's favorite place to take us kiddies!!

Look at the phone number. I remember mine from back then. They used to be just numbers, then they added a prefix, then more numbers and finally we have to use the area code too!

My aunt and uncle had a flower shop there for yrs

what was a pink ticket? parking voolation?

Was there every Saturday morning with my cousin while our mothers had their hair done at Freimans.

Stopped in the Milk Bar at least once a week, walking home from Fisher Park HS, for a milkshake.

And the family is walking to Steinbergs grocery store

I shopped there with my family all the time.

We were just there on the weekend. It’s looking really sad. 😢 I miss the movie theatre too.

I used to work at the pharmacy there!!

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Sunday December 20th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Classic picture of driving in Ottawa and Hull, back in the days of rear-wheel drive.

Shared by Donald Legault, who writes:

"Here is what the streets could like on Christmas morning if the predicted storm pans out.

I took this photo at the corner of St-Joseph and Graham in December of 1970 at the start of the infamous 1970-71 winter. By the end of winter the hedges would be completely buried.

The bulldozer is in the field behind the Hull Armory, which used as a snow dump back them, and would be very busy that winter!"
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Classic picture of driving in Ottawa and Hull, back in the days of rear-wheel drive.

Shared by Donald Legault, who writes:

Here is what the streets could like on Christmas morning if the predicted storm pans out. 

I took this photo at the corner of St-Joseph and Graham in December of 1970 at the start of the infamous 1970-71 winter. By the end of winter the hedges would be completely buried. 

The bulldozer is in the field behind the Hull Armory, which used as a snow dump back them, and would be very busy that winter!

14 CommentsComment on Facebook

Remember it well went into the hospital Dec 1st to give birth with very little if any snow. Came home 5 days later to snow banks almost at my shoulders. Then as the weeks went on it got worse.

My daughter was born early in January that year. It was quite a winter!

Ford LTD? And a Maverick at left and looks like Pontiac headlights.

Oh I remember that winter! It was a real bear. I still have photos from then

Are you sure that is the armoury? From that angle it is more likely the fonderie.

That's an AMC for sure

Also it looks like the photo was taken out the window of 1 Graham. Also yes that is the lot behind the armoury, it was empty back in 65. There was no fenced in paved lot behind the building back then.

the problem wasn't RWD, it was open differentials. RWD works just fine with limited-slip differentials

Read the street sign ... St Joseph

I did my road test December 27, 1970. The rear of Walkley Road test centre was not plowed, no parallel parking. The streets around the area were not plowed, no parallel parking there either. Passed the test and even though it was 50 years ago, seems like the day before yesterday...

Our street in Alta Vista - 1970/71.

My car is RWD and bought snow tires for the first time in 14 Years thanks 2020 (Tim)

Sandra Devine Heath Devine .... 🙂

And we did it

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Sunday December 20th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Deborah Robitaille shares an Ottawa Hostelry where you might have hoisted a few pints of Christmas cheer over the years.

Writes Deborah:My Great Uncle Albert Robitaille owned the Albion Hotel.

My Great Grandfather owned the Sirdar Hotel (no longer in existence) on Rideau Street and my Great Great Grandmother owned a popular boarding house across from the Parliament Buildings.

I am looking for any information on both the Sirdar Hotel and the boarding house.

Thanks, Deborah
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Deborah Robitaille shares an Ottawa Hostelry where you might have hoisted a few pints of Christmas cheer over the years.

Writes Deborah:

18 CommentsComment on Facebook

I worked at the Albion from March 20 1979 to the day they closed the door on July 13 1984 loved the place great team of workers more like a family .

My Dad hung out their. He said on Saturday a guy came in with a flat of eggs. People would dare others in the bar to put an egg in their beer and drink it. The poor guy went home to get in trouble with his wife.

I have drank beer at the Albion Hotel

Close to the courthouse. — handy to nip over for a beer after phoning in the story to rewrite — back in the day before we reporters had cellphones & computers. The beer was cheap then too !

1890 City Directory lists a boarding house run by Miss Sarah Richardson at 180 Wellington (between Bank and O’Connor). Neither the 1900 nor 1914 City Ottawa Directories list a boarding house on Wellington Street near Parliament Hill.

Hoisted quite a few "grosses bleus" in the tavern of the Albion.

My Dad’s hangout in the 1960’s .

My Grandpa used to frequent the Albion.

Sirdar Hotel, 191 Rideau. 1900-1920 at least. Various other hotels before and after.

191 Rideau, late 60s, early 70s

The same corner today. Good to see that some old buildings still remain despite all the condos popping up these days

A note on the history of the hotel, also known as Foresters' Hotel under Robitaille in 1897, and renamed The Sirdar in 1900. From the Journal, June 29, 1910:

a bit more about Emile Robitaille 1881-86 grocery 192 Cumberland 1887-89 grocery 121/123 Cumberland 1891-93 grocery/liquor 74/76 Cumberland / 88 Redpath 1894-96 Ontario Hotel 191 Rideau 1897-99 Forester's Hotel 191 Rideau 1900-16 Sirdar Hotel 191 Rideau

I have a poured stained glass and lead chandelier in my kitchen which my grandfather gave to me. He said it was from an old hotel on Rideau Street. The hotel was being renovated. He was a young man then and and asked if he could have it. He retrieved it from the rubble and fixed it up. He kept it all those years and when I was married he gave it to me. It has been hanging in our kitchen wherever we lived for over 50 years. I wonder if it was from the Sirdar. We will never know.

Frequented by many U of O students

great place for a beer, good times

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Sunday December 20th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Waiting for Winter ... at what I believe is Ottawa Ski Club's chairlift at Camp-Fortune. The description just indicates the "County of Gatineau" in 1964.

Okay, so they are really taking the chair lift to get a great view ... but what interests me is that most of the cars are "compacts" like the Valiant, Acadian(?), and Corvair.

Looks like a Volkswagen bus in the back, but what is that in the front? A 1964 Rambler wagon? We boys always ended up in the rear-facing back seat of our family wagon.

I spent so many thousands of miles going backwards ... hey, maybe that's why I became a historian!

(BAnQ 06M_E6S7SS1_P64234)
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Waiting for Winter ... at what I believe is Ottawa Ski Clubs chairlift at Camp-Fortune. The description just indicates the County of Gatineau  in 1964. 

Okay, so they are really taking the chair lift to get a great view ... but what interests me is that most of the cars are compacts like the Valiant, Acadian(?), and Corvair. 

Looks like a Volkswagen bus in the back, but what is that in the front? A 1964 Rambler wagon? We boys always ended up in the rear-facing back seat of our family wagon.

I spent so many thousands of miles going backwards ... hey, maybe thats why I became a historian! 

(BAnQ 06M_E6S7SS1_P64234)

27 CommentsComment on Facebook

Best part of skiing Camp Fortune was learning to ski on PeeWee and using the rope tow. But the absolute BEST PART of skiing at Camp Fortune was meeting the tow operator who “uplifted me” and took my breath away and became my husband 40 years ago.

remember the guy running the pomalift that used to stack them up so when you got on you flew for the first 20 feet? is that Canadian hill in the background? the best part of sking at Fortune was Skyline and the bus going back and forth from Billings plaza and Hillcrest High

I can see the POMA lift, that was better than going down the hill

This is Skyline side. Base. Heggtiveit had so many mogul. Fun times with high school friends.

Cars and ski lifts, what a great concept and an odd pairing for a Museum exhibit! The double chair was still in use until the early 2000s. The poma was fast enough to get great 'air time' - one could do as much skiing going up on this thing as going down. The gag was to hold the poma without your buddy knowing about it. It would extend the spring which then shot him off the ground about 20 feet. What fun!

to Joe Kilburn,Phil Gaulin,the Fournier brothers,Rick Hunter,let’s meet at the bottom of skyline for a toke.

this is skyline as I remember it in the 80s. so I guess not much changed in those decades

I have some not so fond memories of using the rope tow without the proper ski gloves. Oweee oweee.

Oddly there are no full sized cars in this Camp Fortune shot. A Plymouth Valiant, Mercury Comet, Rambler American, a Chevy II and Corvair back there...all compacts.

The skiing wasn't bad. Especially Heggtveit Hill to the left of the chairlift. PM (Pierre Elliot) Trudeau was reportedly seen on the chairlift a few times.

Ah yes the compact cars! Back then smaller cars were the in thing

one of my night time ski hills back then !

Pee Wee rope tow tearing my gloves apart.

I think this is the backside along Meech Lake road. In the summer you can obviously ride the lift for sight seeing. But also from the top down the right side, there is a mountain bike trail - really rough - and there are bicycle races from top to this lot. I could be wrong re location - But sure resembles the area I am thinking about.

I like the clarity and focus of this photograph.

Peter tosh concert. Remember it well! So much for pot loosing memory huh!

62-63 Comet behind the Rambler.

Hey, can I come, I dated Louise Fournier. What were the names of the 3 hills at Skyline, Canadian, ? and ?.

Definitely Fortune!! Skyline!!

Also a Corvair far right

Yep, that's Skyline alright!

The roads from Ottawa to there still probably have not been improved...

And that's a 'ski' hill ???? Wow!!! Frankly, embarassing.

So many fond memories skiing here. The most fun was driving there after school for night skiing and returning home about 10pm, to finish homework! 😂

Luis Castillo

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Sunday December 20th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Sunday Drivers from Gordon Johnson Motor Sales located at 1159 Banks Street (and Glenn) in Old Ottawa South and featuring a Lincoln, and Mercury and a what looks like a tri-tone Meteor for 1957.

The Meteor was a Canada-only car for most of its life (1949-1976), except for two years when they sold a Mercury Meteor in the U.S. The idea was to provide Mercury dealers with a low-price car they could sell in competition with the Pontiac. It was based on the Ford at first, but with special trim and fittings -- and that wild colour scheme!

By this time the Meteor line also had special "Canada-only" names like Niagara, Rideau, and Rideau Crown Victoria. These cars would now be 53 years old. Farther from us than the Model T was from them!

(City of Ottawa Archives CA044061)
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Sunday Drivers from Gordon Johnson Motor Sales located at 1159 Banks Street (and Glenn) in Old Ottawa South and featuring a Lincoln, and Mercury and a what looks like a tri-tone Meteor for 1957.

The Meteor was a Canada-only car for most of its life (1949-1976), except for two years when they sold a Mercury Meteor in the U.S. The idea was to provide Mercury dealers with a low-price car they could sell in competition with the Pontiac. It was based on the Ford at first, but with special trim and fittings -- and that wild colour scheme!

By this time the Meteor line also had special Canada-only names like Niagara, Rideau, and Rideau Crown Victoria. These cars would now be 53 years old. Farther from us than the Model T was from them!

(City of Ottawa Archives CA044061)

27 CommentsComment on Facebook

Back when it was Belmont Garage. A few years ago, you had posted a couple of brochures from Gordon Johnson.

The building started its life as the “picturesque” Belmont Garage in 1928.

building is still there, buried within the Senate pub

Hi we still have our 78 Chrysler New Yorker with Landau roof in storage bought new! We are Chrysler Dodge only folks! I have a Chrysler 300, Lisa a Jeep Wrangler, Jeff a Ram Truck hemi and a show car hemi Challenger! Jeff attends all Chrysler Dodge car shows in Canada and the USA. Jeffs daughter and her husband has a Challenger and a Journey. Just a little history! Wishing younand Illy a Merry Christmas and a great 2021. I am a positive thinker for 2021. Love and hugs, Lynnie ps the 50 and 60 cars are awesome. At 16 I got my licence in mercury cruiser with push button in steering wheel. Then I had a buick cinvertible 225. My Dad loved neat cars. He then went to Caddies. â¤ï¸ cars are fun!

My parents bought their first new car from there. It was a '56 Meteor, Rideau, Victoria two door hardtop, with a 4 tone paint job. It was quite a car, and only available in Canada. It had a Carousel Red top, with Colonial White body, a Raven Black lightening flash, and a Platinum Grey bottom. Four tone cars were not popular choices, but my Mom nailed it with this unusual 4 tone scheme ! ðŸ‘

This is where the Senate is now. Bank and Belmont. At 1 point St. Hubert Chicken was here.

Our first family car was a '49 Meteor, to be followed by a '51 Monarch.

I think my Dad bought Studebakers from Gordie. I expect they were trade-ins as Dad never could afford a new vehicle.

Cool photo. But at the risk of being pedantic, I think these cars would actually be 63 years old today, not 53. 🙂

Chrysler’s also had a similar « Canada only » line-up with the Dodge Régent and Chrysler Windsor.

My uncle was a painter there Gordie Cooke bacon the fifties early sixties

We had a 57 Meteor Niagara, bought new, until 1965, when it was traded in on - get this - a 65 Austin 1100! But I swear there was more room inside that Austin than in the Meteor. The one feature I remember most about those late 50s cars is the knee-bashing dog-leg front doors that accommodated the wrap-around windshields. If you weren't careful, you could give yourself a serious whack!

Love the tri colour. My mom had a Buick that was black , white and salmon colour. Don’t remember which colour went where

Did that become Lewis Mercury?

Became Lewis Mercury. I sold Mercury/Lincoln models there from '73-'79

Gloria Bowie Sobb is that the old oak tree from 44 Willard behind the building?

dad used to call it "the poor man's Lincoln" or "the poor man's Caddy"...I'll never forget those roomy bench seats

This would be my Grandfather’s ( Belmont Garage) Karl D Waffle

Doug Stickley Prepare to zoom in on the leftmost side of this photo!

Interesting! That is so close to where Lewis Mercury emerged!

Thought the Monarch was was marketed the same way in Canada ????

I think Gordon Johnson went on to own a Chrysler Products Franchise.

REMEMBER IT

Just Perfect.

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Saturday December 19th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Saturday Night at the (making of) Movies here in Ottawa.

Shared by Joe Macnab who says:

Yasmine Bleeth (of Baywatch fame) filming a movie on the Rideau Canal in the summer of 1998.

I did a little research and the movie appears to have been "Undercover Angel." The plot synopsis reads: "A writer with no focus in his work, becomes the unwilling babysitter of a precocious little girl who turns his life around. As you might have guessed, it was a feel-good Hallmark movie.

They seem to shoot at least one feel-good movie a year in Ottawa because ... we're all so sweet!
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Saturday Night at the (making of) Movies here in Ottawa.

Shared by Joe Macnab who says:

Yasmine Bleeth (of Baywatch fame) filming a movie on the Rideau Canal in the summer of 1998.

I did a little research and the movie appears to have been Undercover Angel. The plot synopsis reads: A writer with no focus in his work, becomes the unwilling babysitter of a precocious little girl who turns his life around. As you might have guessed, it was a feel-good Hallmark movie. 

They seem to shoot at least one feel-good movie a year in Ottawa because ... were all so sweet!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

12 CommentsComment on Facebook

They also filmed scenes at another part of lost Ottawa, Thunderbird Go-Carts on Conroy rd.

They also shot scenes at a friends house in Kanata. Two of the kids at Chapters are family friends. Went to college with Bryan Stollers sister.

I own that movie (Undercover Angel) on VHS and I have watched it a few times! I had no idea it was filmed in Ottawa (even though last time I watched it was after I moved here lol)

Saw Ottawa City Hall masquerading as New York on a Hallmark movie last night, Christmas Unwrapped. Lame as all the others, but fun to see the skating rink in front of city hall. heavy.com/entertainment/where-was-lifetime-christmas-unwrapped-filmed/

This is cool to see so many years later. Actually, this was an independent film and did not have anything to do with Hallmark. Hallmark wasn't interested in even screening it for consideration. Apparently it has ten million views via streaming now.

Here are some shots from the film.

One of many movies by our local film maker. Bryan Michael Stoller, this just showed up on my newsfeed.

Part of The Devil at Your Heels was filmed in Ottawa, specifically the canal, in 1979. Skip to 1:06:50 to see the Ottawa segment: youtu.be/RA5WCpFY0PE

30% cheaper and the write offs

Here is the full movie for those who want to check out the scenes of the canal...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H4c21XAgO0

Director wasl Bryan Michael Stoller.

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Saturday December 19th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Donald Legault shares the Morning Puzzler with a photo of this well dressed-lady posing for the camera on a trip to Ottawa from Hull.

Asks Donald:

"I wonder if a Lost Ottawa follower can identify where this photo was taken. It looks like one of the parliament buildings but I cannot quite place it. It is from my brother-in-law's collection whose family lived in Hull. Part of a group of photos from the late 1940s."

There's two lost and one found item related to this photo. Answer later, if nobody gets it ...
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Donald Legault shares the Morning Puzzler with a photo of this well dressed-lady posing for the camera on a trip to Ottawa from Hull.

Asks Donald: 

I wonder if a Lost Ottawa follower can identify where this photo was taken. It looks like one of the parliament buildings but I cannot quite place it. It is from my brother-in-laws collection whose family lived in Hull. Part of a group of photos from the late 1940s.

Theres two lost and one found item related to this photo. Answer later, if nobody gets it ...

13 CommentsComment on Facebook

So the two lost items in the photo are the old Supreme Court Building on Banks Street below West Block, and entrance to Lovers Walk to the left of that building. The "found" item actually isn't in the picture, but is the statue of justice in Glen Cochrane's pic, which was found in 1969 after being lost in storage for more than 50 years Thus, it doesn't show in Donald's original picture because it wasn't there yet. Nerd stuff!

That is a light standard on the steps of the Supreme Court. (The statue would be added later)

My first thought too that it was the Supreme Court building as my Mum worked there for a period of time as a court stenographer and I have some photos showing the column.

And another

The view from Google maps, a bit out of date now, but approximately from the same viewpoint. The tower in the back of your photo is the West Block.

Sister photo.

CFL on the building Chateau fairmont Laurier?

Does anyone know who this lady actually is? She looks very much like my mother in law did back then.

Hey Don Legault, any relation to the Don Legault of Legault Electric on Arthur street?

chateau laurier?

I enjoy helping out. But it's not a game for me.

I agree

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Saturday December 19th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

When you were a Saturday Vendor, rather than a shopper in the "Ottawa Market."

Shared by Michael Davidson, who notes:

"Found in my files ..."
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When you were a Saturday Vendor, rather than a shopper in the Ottawa Market.

Shared by Michael Davidson, who notes: 

Found in my files ...

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Would this have been used to allow cabbies to use the horse-drawn cab stand on York Street?

Oh I wished I had lived in Ottawa in those days

So neat! That’s a keeper

Friday December 18th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Home from work in Lost Ottawa, where maybe you were employed by the government in the data processing office? Creating punch cards and tape for giant IBM computer?

I found these clips in the archives of the National Film Board. I bet some of you worked in this very room processing data for the census in 1967.

The clips were silent, so I added all the sounds. Possibly not the most authentic, but does give some ambience. I notice, for example, that practically no one is actually talking in the video, but they sure are typing a lot ...

I'm not sure I recognize everything the people are doing, but check out the hair and clothing styles. Plus, keep your eye out for it, you gotta love the good old days when people could smoke in the office!

Not!
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17 CommentsComment on Facebook

I remember when smoking was banned in offices, sometime in the 1980s, a few weeks later my office co-worker remarked she had not had a headache in 2 weeks. Cannot believe the years of crappy we endured.

remember the late night shifts doing key punch for Revenue Canada from 67 to 71 , started at Tunneys Pasture and finished at Heron Road, long rows of us smoking like chimneys creating a haze you could hardly see through

One of those clips looked like my first job in the government in 1972. You got to work and started working, you could chat on your 15 minute break at 10, on your lunch break or your 15 minute break at 3:00. There was no standing at someone’s desk and idling away the time. There 1 phone in the office space which was at the supervisors desk and could only be used to make a call in an emergency.

Replace those machines with computers and that brings back too many flashbacks.

worked in 'keypunch' for 25 years in National Defence, worked through all the changes in technology

Weird to see people smoking at their desks..... that was another world

I still have some of those cards. We used to make Christmas wreaths and spray them gold or silver.

OMG ! So many summer jobs while going to Carleton.

I took Informatics in CEGEP and we programmed using punch cards.... Big hulk machines eh?

I couldn't imagine working in that milieu.

love the sights, most folks actually got 'dressed up' for work, and smoking at desks, and those 'key punch' machines and cards, oh WOW, you HAD to proof read those JCL cards, otherwise, ya got called in to the 'main' DBS building to 'explain' the 4 foot 'paper dump' you caused...happened too often, you went on 'JCL training' or they put you filling in '80 column sheets' and proof reading publications, maybe forever, or you took a 'competition' to move up, or sideways...and dont' get me started on 'red circling' of some jobs...

A trip down memory lane

Now people are afraid of a little flu virus and don’t mind having the government control their life with lockdowns and restrictions. 😒🙄😡

Wonder if anyone will recognize themselves if this video.

Brings back lots of memories...I used some of the machines...

MERCI beaucoup David ! Je ne suis pas nostalgique mais j'apprécie cette remontée de souvenirs pleins de tendresse et de beauté ... THANK YOU, very much and big kisses of admiration and gratitude ! XOX

I’m sure my mom is in that huge room, but the video goes by too quick.

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Friday December 18th, 2020
Lost Ottawa

Deitra Kimpton shares a Souvenir of Ottawa, as it was circa 1920. A little pre-Xmas present!

Writes Deitra:
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Deitra Kimpton shares a Souvenir of Ottawa, as it was circa 1920. A little pre-Xmas present!

Writes Deitra:Image attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment