Lost Ottawa Facebook 2021

Here are all the Lost Ottawa posts that appeared on Facebook in 2021, 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 ways to make the posts more searchable.

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Sunday September 26th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Here's a Sunday Drive waiting to happen ... well a Sunday Ride, anyway. It's a Supercycle of ancient vintage spotted downtown recently.

It's also a convertible. The crossbar at the top is made out of tin. You could remove it to turn this into a "girl's bike," as we use to say.

Good for the day when your sister "grows into it," although I should say the whole bike is about 30 inches high.
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Heres a Sunday Drive waiting to happen ... well a Sunday Ride, anyway. Its a Supercycle of ancient vintage spotted downtown recently.

Its also a convertible. The crossbar at the top is made out of tin. You could remove it to turn this into a girls bike, as we use to say.

Good for the day when your sister grows into it, although I should say the whole bike is about 30 inches high.Image attachment

18 CommentsComment on Facebook

I had a the green one. My Dad took me to CTC, let me pick it out, then took me to my Grandfather's place on Gilmour street to learn how to ride it. Instead of, lets say, a school parking lot or something more safe.. I'm pretty sure it was around $35 in 1966.

I had a blue one and it lasted for years.

1970 Supercycle THE WEDGE

looking for A MENU from old Sherry’s resTarantino sparks st.

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I had a Supercycle -- put a lot of mileage on that thing!

Anyone know why they stopped updating this page?

Sorry to see this great page is defunct. 

Well this page needs more updates for my grandma 😃

Mine was blue

Needs a playing card clothes-pinned to the frame flapping on the spokes for that motorcycle effect 🙂

My guess, with the head tube decal, this would be from ‘76 - since it mimics the Olympic cycling logo.

These were all sweetness and light until you got to the first big hill in the neighbourhood and had to pedal up it without gears.

Its just a scam to make money for physical books. It was a great page but at some point they decided to make money and use people's comments and pictures in the books.. So basically using your info and pictures to make money. I would be careful what you post on Facebook. 🙁

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Very cool.

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Friday September 17th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Here's the last of our pedestrian bridge time-lapse videos. We've gone east to west, so this time it's the Terry Fox pedestrian bridge in Kanata.

I know I say you never see anyone in them when you are driving underneath ... which was exactly the case when I drove under four of them today (I checked as I went by). But in fact, each time I went to make a video, wouldn't you know it, there was always somebody on each bridge. Kanata was probably the busiest, followed by the Jackie Holzman/Harmer Avenue bridge.

I'm using the series to draw attention to the Lost Ottawa YouTube channel where we've got many videos already and will be posting more every week. If you subscribe, you'll be notified when a new video is posted.
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8 CommentsComment on Facebook

What I assume was the original bridge here.

Isn't this the Marianne Wilkinson Pedestrian Bridge? Named after the first Mayor of Kanata who fought for the bridge after the 417 was extended past March Road, so the high school students could get to Earl or March SS safely.

I have a picture of the original bridge on my Kanata Timeline History website (in Flickr) The picture was taken on October 29, 2000, by Kanata resident Richard Woodley for the website. The website has photos and news stories from 1977 through 2000. (See the link to the website below the photo.) www.flickr.com/photos/ianhun/48422678587/in/album-72157640596833125/

I never knew this existed.

Did I miss your Airport Parkway post?

Peter Stockdale

I lived in Kanata for 30 years and used this bridge frequently on bike rides between north and south Kanata. I believe the previous post is correct that Marianne Wilkinson fought to have this bridge built mainly for high school students to walk to Earl of March high school.

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Thursday September 16th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Here we go with a fourth walk over an Ottawa pedestrian bridge -- this time the Jackie Holzman pedestrian bridge you see over the Queensway near the Parkdale exit.

It connects the two halves of Harmer Avenue, right beside right beside the old Fisher Park High School (which is now a community centre and middle school, I believe).

View the video on our YouTube channel and subscribe or give the movie a like there. Any or all of those things will help us out.

Thanks to all the people who have subscribed so far!
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21 CommentsComment on Facebook

You never see anyone on them because travellers are never stuck in traffic jams. A convenient, quick, safe crossing.

Can you stop with the whole “pedestrian bridges that never seem to have anyone in them” spiel at the beginning of each of these videos?

I grew up corner of Harmer South and Kenilworth...great memories of the old bridge and the floods of kids from Fisher Park every day...

Lots of memories of the old bridge. It just had chain link between you and the cars. The new one is much wider and quieter and keeps you dry on rainy days. Love Fisher Park next door. I’ve been doing TaeKwon-Do there for 28 years now!

Just drove by this area a few weeks ago, on my first visit to Ottawa in 2 years. I learned to skate on the rinks at Fisher Park, lived for a while on Kenora, and went to kindergarten at Elmdale.

Its beautiful i used it the other day its all landscaped with trees and plants what a wonderful suprise

I've always wondered why this wasn't an underpass. Island Park goes under and Holland Ave goes under.

I use to walk over the old bridge at least 5 days a week. My friend lived on one side and me on the other.

I walked, ran and cycled over the old bridge many times. Now making regular use of the new one, a big improvement.

I took the predecessor of this bridge many times on my way to work at the Civic Hospital in the early 70s. Back then it had concrete sides half way up and the top and the remainder of the sides were fenced in with school yard fencing (likely to stop the kids from throwing snow and stuff off onto the cars rushing below).

This bridge looks a lot safer than the old one

The drop-ceiling tells me the architect just gave up.

Waste of money does nothing to people anywhere else in the city

What a superb bridge. I never knew it existed

I’m going right there now! Have a good one!

Akhil Garg you seeing this series?

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As a student at Fisher Park High School, I remember when the Queensway was under construction between Holland Avenue and Island Park Drive in the early 1960s. The sounds of the pneumatic equipment used to drown out the teachers' voices on that side of the building and we young men were more interested in the heavy equipment than learning the 25 principles of geometry and algebra. After the Queensway in that area was developed, construction began on the first overpass which was without chain link fence but had sturdy steel guardrails both sides. I lived on Huron Avenue South and crossed the old bridge many times in my youth.

I had no idea this existed.

I wish the city would stop naming places after people. Eventually the cancel generation will want names changed.

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Wednesday September 15th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

For those of you who didn't see it already, here's a walk over another Ottawa pedestrian bridge -- this time the Max Keeping Pedestrian Bridge over the Queensway, just east of the Vanier Parkway.

This bridge connects the parking lot of the baseball stadium on Coventry to the transit and train stations on Tremblay Road.

I guess it could get a lot of use if the stadium held more events, but the stadium is about as empty as the bridge most of the time. Seems like it would be a good place for small outdoor concerts and such?

You can see this video and more on the Lost Ottawa YouTube channel. Give it a like on YouTube. Subscribe! Once it reaches a certain threshold, good things will happen -- like I can actually give my channel a real name instead of a number!
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19 CommentsComment on Facebook

There was a concert / festival there last weekend or the weekend before. And a baseball team is coming for the 2022 season.

No doubt many teen age boys in Ottawa not comfortable crossing the Max Creeping bridge. If Sir John A statues are removed then Max's name should be removed from this bridge. Ottawa's dirty little secret.

This would have been useful back when I worked at the stadium. My understanding of why it wasn’t used for concerts more often was that it damages the infield… and people always complained about the noise. In case you thought Vanier and the Glebe had nothing in common.

This pedestrian bridge has many amazing uses - it connects communities together, links the LRT/train service to baseball and hotels for tourism in a fairly central location and if the City does expand their vision for the space and divests the parking lot for underground parking (like TD Place), a new mixed use development with affordable housing can go in. Plus shrink the ballpark seat capacity. We are not a 10k seat city anymore. It should be 4-5k and professional affiliation baseball short season (June - Labour Day). These concepts reinvent the space and bridge

Build an arena with public money and give it to a private company. Yeah, that's gonna go good.

It is a handy bridge for bikes that don't need to ride on the Vanier Parkway when they go to St. Laurent Shopping Centre for example.

Used to take my niece and nephew to the games when they first started out. We had a great time. Loved the Lynx. Miss those days.

Liked and subscribed hope that helps man

Nice to hear your voice in the video ... thanks for a really excellent community group.

That was definitely a rough investment

That stadium in the wrong location.

Most pointless bridge in the entire city. It should not have been kept.

Peter Stockdale

@ottbikesocial biked this bridge a while a go. ( twitter.com/udeek/status/1159655336514596869) It's wonderful that these bridges exist.

Why call the bridge Max Keeping? Yuck, could come up with something better than that name!

I really enjoy these, thank you !

Get your 1000 subscribers 👌took me 7 months to become monitized come check my channel Ottawa's Freelance Photography on YouTube

What the hell is wrong with this city to put that man’s name on anything are you telling me you condone what that diddler did just go and ask the young boys from the Chez Henri who are now men what they think take that name off of this bridge it is a disgrace yes Ottawa’s DIRTY LITTLE SECRET

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Tuesday September 14th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

We're back with a new video in which we walk the Blair Road Pedestrian Bridge ... now there's excitement for you!

This is the second of five bridge videos we'll be posting this week. Goofy stuff, but I've learned a lot that I'll be using in upcoing historical videos.

You can see these movies and more on the Lost Ottawa YouTube channel where I'll be adding more movies as fast as I can. Don't forget to subscribe!
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6 CommentsComment on Facebook

I lived in Pineview (the neighbourhood it connects to) for many years and used this bridge a LOT. It was a vital link for many people, to get them to the transit station and the mall (which is, of course, precisely why it was built in the first place).

I took that bridge every day for years, as did a lot of other people, back when there were still people working at Telesat and the other buildings around there. Can’t say I miss it.

Yep. Never seems to have anyone on them 🙄

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It's great for people that live in the area. Otherwise, pedestrian access to transit and the mall would be almost non-existent. I used it every day when I lived there.

Anna Herma

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Tuesday September 14th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

This morning I'm trying to repost the video that didn't appear in last night's post ... in which we walk the Orleans Pedestrian Bridge.

An experiment to see why things aren't working.

This is the first of five bridge videos we'll be posting in the evenings this week. You can see these movies and more on the Lost Ottawa YouTube channel as I post them. Don't forget to subscribe!

www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb_glIK66SHpokNwBKar6g
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7 CommentsComment on Facebook

Oh that bridge. I couldn’t count on how many times my friends and I use to run away from the mall security when it was Intelegard there. Lol. Skipped classes to go to the arcade in the mall.

soon to be lost is the pedestrian bridge from Carling to Lincoln Fields Transit Station for the continuing LRT Stage 2 construction…it closes permanently on Sept. 20 I think.

I wonder how one will get to either side when the train stops below… Anyone has an idea?

Isn’t this bridge unsafe by City Ottawa engineers👍

When did they repaint the interior from red to blue?!

Oh and the local MP was proposing to build a bridge like this over the Queensway.. Strange.

I'll have to take a stroll with my camera one day!

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Friday August 27th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

This is our last day of daily posts to Lost Ottawa so we wanted to let you know about another resource available to you — the Lost Ottawa Channel on YouTube.

That’s right! We’re putting our old as well as our new videos on YouTube. Here’s the link to the page:

www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb_glIK66SHpokNwBKar6g

Meanwhile, here’s a sample featuring CP 1201 on its way to Wakefield ... as reflected in the Gatineau River. We'll be adding more and more videos in the coming days, so be sure to subscribe! You be notified each time anew video goes up.
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21 CommentsComment on Facebook

Hope this doesn't mean you're shutting down the page entirely as I have found it an absolute well of information about this city.

Hi Mr. Lost, may I suggest pinning the Gone Fishing post to the top of the posts? It’ll save having to explain exactly what’s going on with the page, and would clarify it for all of us who care. For everyone else, the daily posts are stopping, the page isn’t dead, they’re writing more books, and go subscribe to the Youtube channel.

Moved back here after 50 years in the U.S. and it sure was a pleasure living through the memories again. Thank you.

Will Lost Ottawa be lost ?? What's going on with the page??

Thanks for all the great stories and insight ! Hope you enjoy your leisure time with long life, good health, happiness and stay safe !

Sure will miss your posts. Thanks for the great job.

Sorry to hear that you are giving up the Lost Ottawa FB page. We've enjoyed it!

Thanks for the lost memories! Hope the odd post will continue.

Thank you for everything, you will be missed. 🙏

Will miss your daily posts thank you for your posts

Whew! I can still get my fix on YouTube.

Have subscribed to the Ytube channel,thanks for the posts.

thanks

Thank you for all the wonderful memories. Looking forward to the next phase.

Thank you 🙂

So long 🎶 fair well 🎶 and thank you 😊

I agree 😞

You will be missed .. very much

Thank you for all the posts !

Thank you! 🙏

Awesome!

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Friday August 27th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

One last photo Lost Ottawa photo from the Glebe.

Shared by Elizabeth Smith, who writes:

"My great grandfather, Alexander William Newlands, owned capital hardware on Fifth Avenue. He was from Scotland. I just found this ad in my granny’s belongings. They were very proud of their Scottish heritage."
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One last photo Lost Ottawa photo from the Glebe.

Shared by Elizabeth Smith, who writes:

My great grandfather, Alexander William Newlands, owned capital hardware on Fifth Avenue. He was from Scotland. I just found this ad in my granny’s belongings. They were very proud of their Scottish heritage.

21 CommentsComment on Facebook

Wow, this is nice to see. My father bought the business in 1970 and operated it in that same location at Bank and Fifth until he moved to Bank and Second. Great memories in that store.

Friend and I dropped in the Hardware store in the 60's to see if they might have any old car parts forgotten in the basement. They had 5 Monitor heat meters for a rad cap tucked up in a corner in the very damp basement we could have. Unfortunately the dampness played havoc on the pot metal and this is the only one I took, the others destroyed by the dampness. This is is also damaged and a bit twisted. Odd it says Celsius for a late 20 / early 30 car. Boyce MotoMeters just say Steam if the red goes beyond the circle.

Going to miss Lost Ottawa I worked there in 1982 loved that store

I would love to see a picture of the store front as I deliver to the score pizza in the area almost everyday! Would be a little treat to see that history

I recall seeing a building sign (at Bank & 5th.) that said, "NEWLANDS"!

Great to see these memorabilia of years long past and the good old days

Lost Ottawa is . . . . lost. Thanks for the memories <3

THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES. 👍

complete with a quote from Robbie Burns!

Golly, I remember this store! though i was very young, I do recall barrels of nails and corn brooms and chicken wire..and a creaky wooden floor, as it should be.

“C” for Central

That's great. Looks like they had 5 digit telephone numbers!

Thanks! I’ll miss you 😢

I will miss your posts thanks for the wonderful Lost page

Awesome job thank you

Love it

Right next to Brittons Smoke Shop.. if I remember correctly

Here's a clip from the Ottawa Citizen announcing the opening. www.newspapers.com/clip/84233541/capital-hardware-opens-in-the-glebe-192/

How delightful!

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Friday August 27th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

This is the last day of daily posts from Lost Ottawa and I wanted to start off with some pictures of a place that was very important to us and to you -- the Green Valley Restaurant on Prince of Wales.

Way back in 2013, a postcard of the Green Valley was the first Lost Ottawa post that really got people talking to each other. The picture racked up hundreds of likes and more than 16,000 views at a time when LO itself had only 250 members. Showed we were onto something!

As for the pics, first we have the "blue rinse" ladies, as so many people called them, posing with the owner and staff. Next we have the kitchen where all the food was made. Finally we have the three dining rooms: the Pine Room, the Walnut Room and the Guards Room.

The Green Valley Restaurant -- definitely in the top five of Ottawa's Most Lost!

(Photos shared by Helen Souter)
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This is the last day of daily posts from Lost Ottawa and I wanted to start off with some pictures of a place that was very important to us and to you -- the Green Valley Restaurant on Prince of Wales.

Way back in 2013, a postcard of the Green Valley was the first Lost Ottawa post that really got people talking to each other. The picture racked up hundreds of likes and more than 16,000 views at a time when LO itself had only 250 members. Showed we were onto something!

As for the pics, first we have the blue rinse ladies, as so many people called them, posing with the owner and staff. Next we have the kitchen where all the food was made. Finally we have the three dining rooms: the Pine Room, the Walnut Room and the Guards Room.

The Green Valley Restaurant -- definitely in the top five of Ottawas Most Lost! 

(Photos shared by Helen Souter)Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

222 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thanks so much for all the memories. You and all the contributors have put smiles on a lot of faces and made us think and remember, which is wonderful. Thanks again.

April 1957, my future husband took me there for our first date, it was a blind date for me because I had not seen or met him yet, even tho' he knew what I looked like. Along sweet story and almost 60 years together. By the way it was a wonderful lunch.

Thank you so much for all the Lost Ottawa postings, they were always a treat to see when they dropped into my FB feed (and you can't say that about a lot of the stuff that drops in !! ) It was also one where I enjoyed reading everyone's comments too. Thanks to everyone for all the research, photos and write-ups !

In the early 1980s, a beloved family member of mine once had to really go to the bathroom, while driving home from Montreal. But she had an accident a few minutes from home. We stopped at the Green Valley restaurant and she tossed her soiled underwear in the Green Valley bathroom. To this day “Green Valley emergency” is a special code used by my family. True story.

For all of us "of a certain age" - this was a place our parents loved ! And remember the huge Christmas tree ?

Thank you, Lost Ottawa! You have brought nostalgic smiles to many of our faces. I will miss your daily posts!

I am very sorry to see that this wonderful history of our community is ending. But I sincerely thank you for all your work in giving us flashbacks that certainly put smiles in our day. Best wishes.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful posts, including the one of my Dad delivering mail in rural Ottawa. I have your books & they are great. You sure got people talking & sharing memories of Ottawa in a gentler time. Great job, well done - enjoy some free time maybe.

Thank you for bringing back so many memories of Ottawa!

I really appreciate your hard work in making Lost Ottawa a well-loved place to meet. Best wishes in your new ventures!

Had our wedding reception there 58 years ago. It was the place for a special occasion Fond memories for sure

We went to the Green Valley for family celebrations. Lots of good memories. Thanks for posting Lost Ottawa for as long as you have. Your finds were our education.

It would be a very special occasion when we would go there, Mother’s Day, mom or grandmas birthday. And no one ever misbehaved. Special memories for sure.

My mom always spoke so fondly of this restaurant, and I finally got to experience it for myself when my then-college held our graduation dinner there. I swear I could feel all the glorious history as we sat there, in the Pine room I believe. Thank you for all the deep dives into some very specific and very special places. My mom is long gone, but your posts always brought her back to me as I'd remember stories she would share, or memories of experiences we had together. It means the world to me. 💜

So sorry to lose Lost Ottawa☹️. Thank you for all the memories

Thank you for all your hard work. Really enjoyed all the old pictures. I will miss it.

Hey Steve thanks for that. I worked there as well as my older sister. My Mom was also there. She is the shortish one in that picture. Thanks for the throw back. Just sent it to all my family.

Growing up, this and Fine's Flowers were Prescott Highway landmarks.

For a girl who grew up in Ottawa’s east end and married and moved to Alberta Lost Ottawa was a wonderful way to connect with home. Thanks so much for all the work and time it took to pull all these posts together.

I loved Green Valley restaurant. My parents used to take us there and after lunch we would check out the gift shop. Great memories.

Thank you for all the memories and for providing this space for sharing stories. It has been a wonderful ride. Enjoy whatever adventures you and Mrs. Lost have in store. You will be missed.

Lost Ottawa has been a wonderful blast from the past. Thank you!

Thank you for helping jog my memories Loved seeing some of the stores and restaurants in Ottawa. I have especially warm memories of the Green Valley Restaurant, getting dressed up and going there with my parents.

I worked there from 1977-1985. Great memories!

Fond memories of the Green Valley. As for Lost Ottawa … I am very sorry to see you go. Thank you for the many years of photos, information and most importantly memories. I continue to enjoy your books. 👍😊💕

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Thursday August 26th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Here's our last CFRA Top 40, featuring the top hits in Ottawa for this very day in 1966, when "Yellow Submarine" was at Number One.

The great thing about this Swing Set is the "all that's left" section on the front and back sides. It's about the CFRA contest that saw 36 lucky fans go to Toronto to see John Paul George and Ringo and Maple Leaf Gardens -- courtesy of Sherman's Music Land and Royal Burger!

I wonder if any of the survivors are on Lost Ottawa? Trip must have been a riot!

(Shared by Ken Clavette)
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Heres our last CFRA Top 40, featuring the top hits in Ottawa for this very day in 1966, when Yellow Submarine was at Number One.

The great thing about this Swing Set is the  all thats left section on the front and back sides. Its about the CFRA contest that saw 36 lucky fans go to Toronto to see John Paul George and Ringo and Maple Leaf Gardens -- courtesy of Shermans Music Land and Royal Burger!

I wonder if any of the survivors are on Lost Ottawa? Trip must have been a riot!

(Shared by Ken Clavette)Image attachment

6 CommentsComment on Facebook

Listened to Al Pascal every night while doing homework. ‘Picked up’ the Swing Set list of weekly songs in the newspaper. I recognize most songs on this list 👍. My husband worked at the Bank St Royal Burger - he is a great cook to this day 🤗. Thanks for the memories!!

Lost Ottawa, thank you for posting this.!! I was one of the lucky 36 on that bus!! And you are right, the concert at Maple Leaf Gardens sure was a blast for a kid from Ottawa who loved the Beatles. I'll never forget it!!

Thanks Lost Ottawa for all your remember whens --- I remember the Royal Burger - as a Teenager after the dance at the Y on Gladstone we used to go out there on Richmond Road and drive thru - sometimes more than once for the extra hungry guys ...

Thanks for posting these.i was always surprised at how many titles I recgnized

Take care Lost Ottawa!

I think I may still have my Pascalport around somewhere - not many places recognize it these days... wait - I don't think any do... or know what it was.

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Thursday August 26th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

"A 1846 write up of Bytown!" shared by Jennifer Fenwick Irwin.

It's a description of our fair city in the Canadian Gazetteer from back in the day when "Principal Taverns" was something to be stressed, as you see on page 3.

There were four of them, apparently. The Dalhousie Hotel and the Exchange for Upper Town drinkers, and the British Hotel and Ottawa House in Lower Town.
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A 1846 write up of Bytown! shared by Jennifer Fenwick Irwin. 

Its a description of our fair city in the Canadian Gazetteer from back in the day when Principal Taverns was something to be stressed, as you see on page 3. 

There were four of them, apparently. The Dalhousie Hotel and the Exchange for Upper Town drinkers, and the British Hotel and Ottawa House in Lower Town.Image attachmentImage attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

At that time, there were the legal taverns, the other taverns or alehouses operated in homes, and shebeens: illegal gin joints that mainly served poitin or potcheen (homebrewed raw whisky made from potato or any number of vegetables or fruit). For more about the Hooch in the valley: www.capitalchronicles.ca/post/what-s-yer-poison-the-hooch-in-the-valley

Coles reprinted this in the late 1960s or 1970s. I have a copy that I used to keep in the car while diving around Ontario. Fascinating reading.

Is this the same WH Smith from the bookstore chain?!

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing.

Thursday August 26th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Hey it's that time again. Time for the Ottawa Historical Society to start its annual speaker series.

Up first is a great talk about the Ottawa music scene of the 1960s by Jim Hurcomb who recently published a book on the topic.

The date is Wednesday, September 15 at 7 pm. It's gonna be good and it's going to be virtual, so check out the poster for how to attend via Zoom.Three weeks from tonight, we launch our Fall HSO Speaker Series with Jim Hurcomb reliving Ottawa's "Golden Age of Rock and Roll" of the 1950s and 1960s.

Visit our website for full details and the link to pre-register:

www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/activities/events/eventdetail/43/16,17/rockin-on-the-rideau-ottawa...
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Hey its that time again. Time for the Ottawa Historical Society to start its annual speaker series. 

Up first is a great talk about the Ottawa music scene of the 1960s by Jim Hurcomb who recently published a book on the topic. 

The date is Wednesday, September 15 at 7 pm. Its gonna be good and its going to be virtual, so check out the poster for how to attend via Zoom.
Thursday August 26th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Sue Hodgkinson poses the question:

"Who remembers this album?"

The pic is very small, but the name of the song appears to be "Feel Like a Target."
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Sue Hodgkinson poses the question:

Who remembers this album?

The pic is very small, but the name of the song appears to be Feel Like a Target.

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

Anyone remember the group called "8 Seconds". They were a group of Carleton University students who formed the group in the 80s. They only had one really big hit, "Kiss You When Its Dangerous".

“Feel like a Target” got a lot of airplay. Great band 👍🏻

The Darts were a superb band!!!

Um omg YES!!! I used to see them downstairs from The Penguin on Elgin St - The Roxy? I remember hanging out with a guy from the band - Ron something...

The Silver Darts – Feel Like A Target (1981) Bass – Ron Sures Drums – Miche Pouliot Guitar, Vocals – John McReynolds Keyboards, Vocals – Matt Horner Produced and engineered by Quentin Meek Vocals – Alan Van Wart, Charles Sauve

our brother Miche!

Ottawa had some great talent in the '80's...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uXIU6bn8Hk

Al Van Wart what a voice!

Just wondering if Sue Hodgkinson went to Fisher Park High.

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Thursday August 26th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Ed Macies shares a follow-up to a post we had about an Ottawa landmark near somerset.

Writes Ed:

"A few days ago there was a post about a "castle" on the tracks near Somerset Bridge. Here are two photos I took about 1970 or so. It was a coal shed originally used by Bruce Coal Ltd. Perhaps one of the railroad guys can tell us what it did and how it worked... (Colin Churcher?)."
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Ed Macies shares a follow-up to a post we had about an Ottawa landmark near somerset.

Writes Ed: 

A few days ago there was a post about a castle on the tracks near Somerset Bridge.  Here are two photos I took about 1970 or so. It was a coal shed originally used by Bruce Coal Ltd. Perhaps one of the railroad guys can tell us what it did and how it worked... (Colin Churcher?).Image attachment

5 CommentsComment on Facebook

I gather this is the structure along the rail line in Bayswater that people were recalling in comments on a recent post?

Is it still there?

I think these are called "coal silos". They kept the coal cars (and delivery trucks ?) filled, that's what the chutes are for. I wonder how they loaded these ?

Before natural gas and electric heat, many houses had coal furnaces. My thoughts are that the chutes at the bottom would be used to fill trucks, while the chute at the top would have had a conveyor belt to fill the silo from a coal car.

These were coal silos operated by Bruce Coal, who once-upon-a-time supplied coal retail to satisfied customers. Coal would have come in by rail car, off-loaded using an adjacent siding, and then stored in the silos until delivered by trucks. Here is photo of the coal hopper at the nearby Ottawa West railway yard used to fill train coal tenders.

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Thursday August 26th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Among the best posts we've ever had on Lost Ottawa were pictures of the chick hatchery at the Science and Tech Museum on St. Laurent.

Thousands of (former) kids remember climbing up on the fried egg-shaped hatchery to watch the eggs crack and the chicks peep out.

The hatchery disappeared in the 1990s. Definitely among Ottawa Most Lost.
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Among the best posts weve ever had on Lost Ottawa were pictures of the chick hatchery at the Science and Tech Museum on St. Laurent.

Thousands of (former) kids remember  climbing up on the fried egg-shaped hatchery to watch the eggs crack and the chicks peep out.

The hatchery disappeared in the 1990s. Definitely among Ottawa Most Lost.

62 CommentsComment on Facebook

Ok it totally looks like a fried egg in this pic, but I remember it being more like a flying saucer. 🤣🤣

I remember this! Highlight of the museum...wait... aside from the trains...and the crazy kitchen...hard to pick a favourite!

It was my favourite place as a kid. They used to have so many more interactive displays. I also remember when they had the Hologram exhibit.

Loved watching this! I thought it was in the shape of a flying saucer. Thanks for letting me know it was supposed to represent a fried egg.

The hatchery and the crooked kitchen were my favourite parts of that museum.

We had an incubator/hatchery in our classroom at Manor Park public school 1969.Each child had an assigned egg with a number on it.Very fun for the kids to see how things grow and progress.

K, I was today years old when I found out it was supposed to be a fried egg! I also thought it was a flying saucer!😂

Apparently, although it's not on functioning display at the moment, it's been relocated to Ottawa's Food and Agricultural Museum (formerly the Experimental Farm). So it might yet again see the light in all its hatching glory.

I remember in the early '90s we had a hatchery in one of our classes. Was when I went to St-Genevieve on Arch St.

Greatest thing ever, so many memories, when we went with school you had to take turns so couldn’t stay long enough to always see one hatch.

We took our kids there in the 80’s, they were fascinated by the hatchery. It was fun to watch the expressions on children’s faces.

I contacted the Museum a couple of years ago to inquire about renting or borrowing it for a fall Fair in the Outaouais. Was told it was ‘in storage’ so my request was turned down flat. A shame that it can’t still have a life beyond the Science Centre. I managed to pull together 2 small incubators - one for the eggs; and a second one for the pipping/hatching chicks. Although not as exciting as the flying egg saucer, it nevertheless did the trick! I believe seeing that as a child triggered my desire to have my own poultry. Still love firing up the incubator each Spring and setting eggs to hatch.

I loved this as a kid. Although one has to admit, the design was kind of ghoulish...

Loved the thing and the Crazy kitchen it’s literally all I would do just sit there for hours hoping to see one hatch.

How did I never catch the fried egg shape??! And I first saw it as a young adult. 😳

I sure do Remember this at the Science and Technology museum in the 80's to mid 90's and I was lucky to see a Chick and I Remember seeing one just hatch out of the entire egg. Sad to see that go last time I took my mom Visiting Ottawa as I moved to Another City. Used to be fun a long time ago

Spent so many days there waiting for the chicks to hatch - kids are missing out on this today

My favourite place at the museum. Great memories going with school.

Yes it was one of the best for kids to learn about how chickens are born.

Loved it- so suited for kids to climb up on

Loved going there. I can still remember how it smells in there. The train was my favourite.

There were never any eggs close to hatching when I went. 🐣 😭

I remember this very well! As kids we used to love this!

Used to bike down to that museum weekly back in the 80's when it was free to get in. Fooling around in the crooked kitchen and playing with the computers.

Wait, we were allowed to climb on it? That explains why it was so hard to see.

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Wednesday August 25th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

We had a couple of great posts over the years about the knife sharpening guys, going all the way back to the guys who walked the street with the green carts and sharpening stones, ringing that lonesome bell.

Yesterday I heard that bell on Clemow Street and barely had time to grab my phone ...

You probably can't see it, but Carlo gave me a big wave that made me laugh. And then a lady flagged him down ... so there's business yet!
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And the bell from the knife sharpening cart and the one on the Dickie Dee ice cream had different rings so you knew whether to run out with a couple bucks, or walk out with your Mother’s dull knives.

we've had him around here and he works hours at the Home Hardware store so it's easy to get the knives sharpened with both options.

I remember the gentleman pushing his cart to sharpen knives and scissors around 1956 coming down Kilbarry ? to Dunvegan where we lived.

Just saw him at the Heron and Walkley McDonald’s today!

I remember the guy sharpening some of our kitchenware, probably in the 1980s. He spoke some English, and I seem to recall that he said he lived in the Azores, but flew to Canada every year to do this, and enjoy his winters back home. Smart guy...

I haven't heard him yet this year in Sandy Hill, but I'm so pleased to see him out and about

He was on Pleasant Park last week. I always stop him when I see him go by. He does a great job.

I remember them coming around in their trucks in the Glebe in the 1970's and my grandfather getting them to sharpen his push lawn mower.

I am so glad to see the little blue truck go by my building regularly…I hear the bell, but need more time to run down ten floors with my knives!

He came around often during the summer when I was growing up (Whitehill and Norice area). It wasn’t summer until you heard his truck 🙂

it does a body good to see the good old days are still here on Clemow 🙂

I remember a guy walking around with a cart to sharpen stuff

When I was a kid in Manor Park in the 60's the guy walked around with a cart and bell.

Remember on Holmwood Avenue back in late 50s,every year dad got all the scissors and knives ready for the sharpening guy to come around. Dad always likd his carving knives sharp.

I wish we had one here in Orleans. I remember these when I was a kid, we always had scissors or knives that needed sharpening.

I’ve heard his bell every summer around Alta Vista for as long as I can remember. Actually got my axe sharpened last year!

And once this summer, an ice cream truck came down our street.

When my brother and I would visited our grandparents on Albert Street, the man would come by and my grandmother would get her knives sharpened and also when the veggie cart came around she would get her veggies. This was in the 50' s, early.

I have some blades that need sharpening Carlo!!! Been waiting for you all summer in Old Barrhaven. Hope I didn’t miss you!! Love that there’s a tiny bit of the “good old days” still around.😊

I just had my knives done by Carlo this summer. I was so happy to catch him! Sometimes it feels like he’s the Snuffaloufagus - everyone else can see him except me.

In Eastview (now Vanier) I used to ride on the horse drawn wagon with the farmer who went around selling fruits and vegies. Good memories.

I remember someone with a push cart and bell....every summer everyone on our street would bring out our knives...and cold drinks...and sandwiches...LOVELY summer memories.

He used to do power lawn mower blades too , probably still does. He would take the blade off, sharpen it, and put it back on. Pretty quick! 🙂

The first time we heard him was @ 10 years ago. My son and friend came running in asking for cash and quickly ran out to catch up...they came back extremely disappointed - they thought he was an ice cream truck!

When I was living in Australia I heard a familiar bell and said, Oh, there's the knife sharpener. My friends all laughed... it was the ice cream truck.

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Wednesday August 25th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

We're in our last days of daily posts on Lost Ottawa and getting some last shares. Here's one from Kelly Lynn.

Writes Kelly:

"I'd like to share a novel i read a few years ago by Darren Jarome of Ottawa. Its called "Lower Town". It is a fictional novel of Bytown in the very early years. Some of our ancestors would have experienced these same things. The research that went and the detail, well i couldn't put it down. Darren said a second may come out."

Only a few bucks to buy online!
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Were in our last days of daily posts on Lost Ottawa and getting some last shares. Heres one from Kelly Lynn.

Writes Kelly: 

Id like to share a novel i read a few years ago by Darren Jarome of Ottawa.  Its called Lower Town.  It is a fictional novel of Bytown in the very early years.  Some of our ancestors would have experienced these same things.  The research that went and the detail, well i couldnt put it down.  Darren said a second may come out.

Only a few bucks to buy online!

8 CommentsComment on Facebook

Did I miss something? last days of daily posts on Lost Ottawa??

Yeah - me too? What's up????

I read this book earlier this year and enjoyed it as well.

Will miss the daily posts. Could someone else share the moderating and so we can keep sending things in? (No - not me)

well I'm sad to hear that you will no longer post I will miss these very interesting posts

Where can I buy this book?

Great book...

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Wednesday August 25th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

A cool Shelby Ford Mustang on Preston Street in Ottawa. Hey, and another classic right behind it, going the other way.

Volkswagen vans, I've driven. Still time for the Mustang!

Our intrepid Ottawa detectives worked hard to figure out where on Preston Street this might be -- not easy given so many changes in the neighborhood. Lucio D'Orazio pegged the location 262-268 Preston, just south of Gladstone. Buildings are still there, but they don't look like this anymore.

Picture taken by Valdine Dewan in 1971 and shared by Laurel Dewan in 2013.
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A cool Shelby Ford Mustang on Preston Street in Ottawa. Hey, and another classic right behind it, going the other way. 

Volkswagen vans, Ive driven. Still time for the Mustang!

Our intrepid Ottawa detectives worked hard to figure out where on Preston Street this might be -- not easy given so many changes in the neighborhood. Lucio DOrazio pegged the location 262-268 Preston, just south of  Gladstone. Buildings are still there, but they dont look like this anymore.

Picture taken by Valdine Dewan in 1971 and shared by Laurel Dewan in 2013.

16 CommentsComment on Facebook

Based on the Mustang's front-high stance, I suspect it was in the midst of a hard acceleration when the picture was taken. That happened a lot with the Shelbys. 😊

I know where that is, I lived on Preston and Aberdeen across from the Shell garage, next to the spic and span dry cleaners.

No, they do not. (Google Streetview Nov 2020)

The 70’s were the absolute best.

Yep recognize those buildings, I lived right around the corner.

Looks like close to Louisa Street.

the shelby mustang was my longed for car!

The ‘70s weren’t kind to ‘60s muscle cars. Kids would pick them up dirt cheap, drive the crap out of them, smash them, then scrap them.

Could be Steve McQueen in that car !? Haha

Hans Craft

David Gilbert

Lol

Jim Harris 268!!!

Chad Bradley two six ate second house from the left 👌🏻

Pete 😃

This Shelby would be a 1968, same year as that Chevelle parked at left...

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Tuesday August 24th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

You've seen it in the sky over Ottawa. A red Waco biplane. The Red Baron everbody calls it. Everybody I know anyway.

We decided to take a ride. Eighty-five bucks a person for 15 minutes, although our video is closer to five. Enough time to take you over downtown and back to Rockcliffe. Mrs. Lost and I thought it was well-worth it.

The flight is most fun and you get the best view when the plane banks into a turn, but not scary at all. With a smooth ride and the drone of the engine, it's actually kind of peaceful.

www.ottawaaviationadventures.com/
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27 CommentsComment on Facebook

Just for the record, we live right under the flight path it always takes (Beacon Hill) and the sound is such that conversation has to stop or everyone raises their voice. Every 15 minutes. The whole summer. So...I ( and most residents of the area) do not share your love for this flying antique...

Surprisingly it is easy to spot when you are flying in the same airspace. We shared the runway with it and its predecessor, a Boeing Steerman biplane, when I flew my 172 at Rockliffe. Have to take that ride myself some day.

Sweet! We think we saw you over the Queensway at about 11:20, Monday, as you were eastbound. Pretty difficult to miss a biplane, the approach and landing at Rockliffe brought back many happy memories.

There is a red one that flies over Aylmer pretty much every day, but I think it is based at the Carp airport.

Local pilot Greg Reynolds owns two of them which he operates out of Rockcliffe at the Air Museum. Well worth the price!!

Greg Reynolds…..I remember when he brought that plane home on a trailer from I think Ohio….back in the mid-80’s. He was about 20 and sooooo excited.

My late husband took that flight, a gift from our daughter. He loved it.

We moved to North Gower to get away from that thing. LOL

You have excellent taste in footwear! I wear those two, only mine are bigger.

I recorded that plane getting ready to leave once. I would love to go in it sometime. www.facebook.com/1151635414/posts/10226031019779339/?d=n

With a aa, banner & donate it to the onyx community centre anonymously

Need to know if ucould fly by on May 38th, 22

But the red baron was in a triplane wasn't he?

How much for tours now?

That was cool, would love to go up sometime

The Red Barron had a tri-plane. Not a bi-plane.

When I opened the video, I thought that I had opened my camera app for a second and was staring at my feet. Photo for reference.

My hometown

That was great ! Thank you !

Thanks for sharing!

Wow

Marc Caron .

I would LOVE that.

My grandson and I see it every time we are out in our rooftop deck. He loves it! We wave every time.

My son and I bought a ride for my son‘s dad on Father’s Day almost 15 years ago. Every time it passed overhead he would look up and say “one day I’m going to ride in my plane”. So we surprise him for Father’s Day and made it happen. He absolutely loved it. 

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Tuesday August 24th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Here's a classic old Chinese Restaurant that's about to go -- the Dragon on Montreal Road past the Aviation Parkway near Bathgate.

Shared by Eileen Whyte who writes:

"It will be torn down soon. My parents went there on a date in 1967. We always got meals from The Dragon on special occasions over the last 50 years."
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Heres a classic old Chinese Restaurant thats about to go -- the Dragon on Montreal Road past the Aviation Parkway near Bathgate.

Shared by Eileen Whyte who writes:

It will be torn down soon. My parents went there on a date in 1967. We always got meals from The Dragon on special occasions over the last 50 years.Image attachmentImage attachment

174 CommentsComment on Facebook

Wow.. I enjoyed their buffet.. I remember having food challenges with my friends as a youth there. It was a complete ordeal. We would make sure we had comfortable clothing to wear and our routines in place.. we made sure to drink only water so we wouldn't fill up on soda that would interfere with our meal.. started off with the won ton soup, then the main course (a few times) and finally dessert.. it was an event for us, we had it down to a science, those were great times. Might have to go now to soak in the nostalgia before it gets demolished.

This restaurant was special to my family. We got dinner almost every Saturday for years.

Grew up in the west end. Was always good eating at the Sun Luck or Lucky Key

I worked at NRC on Montreal Road and the Dragon was a popular place at lunch.

So many NRC employees would go for the lunch buffet.

Stopped going there years ago when I witnessed kids going up alone, picking at the food with their hands, putting it on their plates & then putting it back. Advised the waitress & she just laughed & many times the buffet trays were empty or not even a spoonful in it

In Chinese culture, you celebrate a baby’s first 100 days. I had my son’s celebration here in 2012, the year of the dragon!

Our meeting place after seeing the RoughRiders's game at Lansdowne very good memory

So sorry to hear this. This was my parents’ go to restaurant for years. Best egg rolls on the planet.

The Dragon was the first stop in the city the day our family moved to Ottawa back in the spring of 1970. We didn’t eat out at restaurants a lot cause Mom was a great cook but this celebratory dinner upon arriving at what we would come to consider our home town,kicked off my life long love of Chinese food.

Went there so many times took Dawn and Mike there when they came to visit . So sad it’s going to be gone

Good food went there when we lived in Beacon Hill, had date nights there in the 70s.

Oh my Eillleen! First Chinese food I ever ate was there. My parents got married in 1966 and started to go there the same year I was born in 67 and mom and dad brought me over at the age of 2 months! We went through the years even! We lived out of town! Sad!

Oh no! That is the very first Chinese Restaurant I ever ate at! It is also where I took my husband on his surprise 50th birthday dinner......It was one of his favourite places....... I ha not realised it had not survived the lockdowns......:(

I used to go there often with my parents when I was a kid and we lived in Beacon Hill North. That was in the early to middle 1970’s. The place was always busy and the food was good. I stopped by in late 2019 - more for nostalgia’s sake than anything else - and I was sorely disappointed. There weren’t many customers, the place desperately needed a facelift, the buffet was disappointing, and the food wasn’t very good. Its closing was a foregone conclusion. I knew it the minute I walked out. If it had any potential life left at all, the pandemic killed it.

We used to go there in the 80s before going to the family shows at NAC. Loved their Shirley Temples.

I have fond memories of the Dragon. My in-laws lived in Rothwell Heights not far from there, and would sometimes invite us to dinner at the Dragon. It was always good.

My parents favorite Chinese Restaurant! We went there regularly, great egg rolls! We lived close too so we went often for family celebrations. ❤

It is very 😔 but hopefully a new restaurant, hopefully Chinese, will re-open

Single living in barracks on the Rockcliffe (1981j base, a bunch of us used to walk there for dinner! Friends got posted to Kingston and would drive back there just for Chinese food!!

Great memories of birthday dinner with youngest son. Noticed the city zoning sign yesterday. Guess it is a victim of intensification with yet another “boutique condo”. Hoping it is an affordable apartment project…..maybe?

Buffet was big enough to keep food fresh, urinal in men’s room “out of order” for about 10 years lol

That's where my mom took me in '63 for a special lunch on my 16th birthday! I ordered shrimp salad not realizing they'd use monstrous shrimps, I'd only ever eaten tiny canned ones. Couldn't eat it Lol. Sad to see it go😓

Wasn't a fan of their buffet selection, there wasn't a lot to chose from. Must have been about 10 years ago. Was my only time going there

Our family had many an egg roll there growing up👍

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Tuesday August 24th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Barb Hughes shares a memory of Ottawa's Rockcliffe Airbase, which is still in the process of redevelopment.

Writes Barb:

"I use to have a friend (Paula or Pamela), a little blonde-headed girl, growing up in the 1970s and she lived in one of these houses on CFB Rockcliffe. I remember going down there and hanging out with her and her family. I also had a friend named Kenny Sam (his name I remember) who lived in the same housing complex as me on Carson's Road and his parents were in the military. He always entered those car derbies on base and I would go and watch him. There was always a lot to do as a kid on base back then, military or not. Sad the base was abandoned."
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Barb Hughes shares a memory of Ottawas Rockcliffe Airbase, which is still in the process of redevelopment.

Writes Barb:

I use to have a friend (Paula or Pamela), a little blonde-headed girl, growing up in the 1970s and she lived in one of these houses on CFB Rockcliffe.  I remember going down there and hanging out with her and her family. I also had a friend named Kenny Sam (his name I remember) who lived in the same housing complex as me on Carsons Road and his parents were in the military. He always entered those car derbies on base and I would go and watch him.  There was always a lot to do as a kid on base back then, military or not.  Sad the base was abandoned.

62 CommentsComment on Facebook

I used to work in Gloucester and once, to cut trafic, I unknowingly ended up on the base. It was mostly abandoned by then, just a few families still lived there. It was so eery! It felt like I stumbled upon one of "Dharma's Initiatives" by mistake...

the whole area is nearly unrecognizable now. entire streets were moved/removed. of course, different buildings with the new residential, but what used to exist only does so in our memories now.

“Happy Memories of Rockcliffe Military Base” is a great site to remember Rockcliffe as it was 😊. I spent 10 happy childhood years there…dad was in RCAF Central band

it is sad with all the homeless in the city, they could have instant housing, however after all these years of neglect they probably need a lot of work. 🙁

my 2nd daughter Tracey was born, while we lived at Rockliffe remember the armitages, and pauline......? have picture of my oldest holding dandelion in her teeth taken front lawn....military days was in nice shape back then not like this pic

I lived at 2 Mars St. CFB Rockliffe in the 60s and have fond memories of playing football and baseball, and swimming on the Rockliffe Greenfins Swim Team under Coach Jim Bay. Left during Grade 8 for CFB Borden. Lost track of good friends Bob R., Gary B., Steve C., and especially Patty D. 👩‍❤️‍👨

We lived at 20 Bishop Blvd. I went to Codds school just off the base. We left in 1970 just before the FLQ stuff happened and War Measures Act was declared. Many great memories there - swimming, baseball, hockey and picking wild raspberries and crab apples. Brothers and sister went to school on the base.

My family lived on Dube drive in the late 50s. Attended Viscount Alexander school. I was in my first fashion show with my mother and sister in dresses my mom made! Have many fond memories of Rochcliffe and the fabulous corner store just off the base that sold the wax 👄!

I remember it well! I used to live at 23 Altair Avenue and went to Viscount Alexander School. My father was RCAF🙂

I lived on the base in the early 70s. 20 barker boulevard. Great park in behind and a huge willow tree. Many good memories.

We lived in Manor Park in the 60s and often walked over to CFB Rockliffe. We picked berries. Explored the fledgling airplane museum. Just explored. It was a fun and fascinating place for wee kids to spend a morning on a summer day.

I remember playing hockey at the old arena on the base.

My dad used to work for DND as a civilian and his office was there until they closed it, then his office moved on Laurier Ave.

In the summer of 1979, I worked as a term civilian clerk in Bldg 134 (I think it was). Enjoyed the small, inexpensive beers on Fridays! Worked with really fine people. Ended up at the Canadian Building on Laurier later on with the same directorate.

DND used to have their summer BBQ for staff and family there in late 80/early 90s I have photos from this time.

I grew up in Manor Park and went to school with some kids from Rockliffe airbase. I used to visit a friend who lived there.

Worked in both the Mess Halls there around 1980. Worked with great people!!

I lived on 25 Rigel Road I think it was in the far back corner from 1998 till 2001. I loved going to the pool, riding my bike to the now gone DQ that was on St. Laurent.

We lived on Bishop Blvd, don't remember the house number, but only for 1 year before buying a house in Orleans. My husband worked on the base and I worked downtown.

Back in the 50's we lived at 33 Dubhe Dr. Awesome memories!

I remember going swimming there and visiting friends whose parents were military.

I lived on a retired and repurposed Air Base in Saskatoon late 70-early80's. Too bad they had not done that for Rockcliffe.

It is sad to know that the Base is now gone. We used to live on Mynarski Cres. in the early 50's but I can't remember the house number. And you are right, there was always something to do and mischief to get into LOL

I would bring my son to Rockcliffe base in 2008 to learn how to drive. He didn’t even have his learners permit yet but it was a great place to learn. No traffic or pedestrians.

I lived on McLeod in a PMQ. Worked in building 155. My Dad also lived on the base in the 40’s, long before my time.

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Tuesday August 24th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Welcome to Ottawa! Here's two pictures we published way back in 2013, having to do with my own early memories of life on Queensline Drive in Graham Park, then in Nepean.

Barely removed from Victoria, BC, we arrived just in time for the Great Snow of 1971-71. Guess who got the job of shoveling?

Over the years we've had some fantastic tales of surviving the Great Snow. I would say it's one Ottawa's 50 most lost subjects. Many people would like it to stay lost!
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Welcome to Ottawa! Heres two pictures we published way back in 2013, having to do with my own early memories of life on Queensline Drive in Graham Park, then in Nepean.

Barely removed from Victoria, BC, we arrived just in time for the Great Snow of 1971-71. Guess who got the job of shoveling?

Over the years weve had some fantastic tales of surviving the Great Snow. I would say its one Ottawas 50 most lost subjects. Many people would like it to stay lost!Image attachment

45 CommentsComment on Facebook

I did my driver's ed at school that winter and literally learned to drive in a snow storm. To this day driving in snow has never caused me an issue. I also recall 3 snow days that winter and spending each of them at Camp Fortune. As an avid skier I remember this winter fondly and know I was still skiing at Fortune on the 3rd weekend in April.

I grew up in Bells Corners and remember this well. The snow was up to the roof of our bungalow and we were able to easily climb onto it. We didn’t own a snowblower so shovelling was the order of the day. The snowbanks were so high you couldn’t see if anyone was walking by in the street.

We came back home in March, 1971 after a government posting to Kingston, Jamaica. After 2 years of no snow, we were so excited to see snowbanks as high as our carport roof. It was a great winter to be a kid in Ottawa. ⛄️

My older brother had gone off to university that year and I was happy to inherit his lucrative show shoveling contracts. But it also meant there was no longer anyone to share the work on our own large family driveway. Every day, when I wasn't at school, I was shoveling snow.

I remember seeing a certificate indicating that we survived the great snow fall. My father had it up at the cottage.

I was 4 years old and there are pictures of me in my snowsuit on these huge mountains of snow after the plows came by our street in the west end. Maybe I'll dig them up and post them someday.

I was working for Canadian Wildlife Service, and had just taken a break to go birding in south Texas. Came back, and staying with my parents at 22 Apache Crescent in Skyline. Well remember having to reach up above my head to take shovel loads of snow. All by hand.

I think it was the only “snow day” we ever had from school in the 70’s… all the other times we had to walk 3 miles uphill both ways in it… 😁

We moved here around the same time and lived in Old Ottawa South. I was going into grade 1, had been in Alabama for 4 years and could not comprehend this amount of snow!

In those days, I refereed hockey for the ODHA and traveled throughout Eastern Ontario and Western Québec from Pembroke to Maniwaki, to Hawkesbury, to Cornwall, to Smiths Falls and everywhere in between. I will always remember the detour through a farmer's field near Luskville when the higway was closed and the huge snowbanks as you drove into Alexandria. There was a night when it took almost two hours to drive to Osgoode through many inches of snow on the roads. Would never try any of that today.

I remember that winter very well! My brother got rich shovelling for neighbors that winter and I got sore helping him!

I remember the city snowblowers filling dump trucks so that they could widen the street, from my window (our house was on Winnington Ave), you couldn't see the tops of the trucks.

I was in Montréal at the time,, same snow!

Didn’t we get snow like that roughly 5-6 years ago. It was higher then our bungalow

We lived on Ashgrove crescent in Briargreen at the time, my Dad didn’t know where to put that snow and, we didn’t have a snowblower then. Think dad got one after that big snow.

That winter remains a vivid memory of my childhood living in Manor Park.

Our family had just moved in as well, to the other side of the same neighbourhood on Sioux Crescent. That winter, I walked to Graham Park Public School (long gone) on Esquimalt - the snow banks were so high and I was small enough that I couldn’t see the houses from the street as I walked by. It was like being in a huge snow tunnel. Vivid memories. Thanks for posting.

I killed my family lilac bush because my friends and I were playing in the top of it that winter. We broke so many branches that it had a hard time surviving.

Great picture. Looks just like the neighbourhood where I grew up and typical of so many others. The snow drifts were so high that year they nearly touched the eves.

My family moved from Ottawa to North Gower in 1970 on 1 1/2 acres. I remember my Dad saying that winter that he didn't know where he would have put all that snow if we were still in the city. It was a crazy winter.

Yup, me too. Old enough to play outside, but too young to do the shoveling work - Ha, Ha! I remember my brother jumped off the roof of the garage into the snow...and got into big trouble for being on the roof in the first place!

My first winter in Ottawa. Quite an intro for sure!

Farmers fences disappeared under the snow. Haven’t seen that since

I thought there was a rule regarding snow pictures in the summer. Inderdit

Did anyone own a snowblower or did you all clear the driveways by hand?

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Monday August 23rd, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Actually, I don't fish, but I wanted to give you all a wee heads-up. As of this Friday, the daily posts of Lost Ottawa pictures will come to an end.

That’s right. The daily posts, every morning and every night, will be a thing of the past.

Don't worry, Lost Ottawa won’t be “lost!” We’ve got more books to write. Plus, we’ll keep posting, but on an occasional basis and mostly about new videos.

I want to thank all the people of the community who’ve contributed their pictures, likes, and comments over the years. Together we’ve built up an incredible -- I would even say unprecedented -- repository of information about living, working and growing up in Ottawa in the second half of the 2Oth Century. That knowledge won’t disappear and it won’t be wasted.

Why are we changing things? One reason is that after eight years and more than 16,000 posts I’ve run out of steam. A second reason is that no great new sources of images are emerging so we are beginning to repeat ourselves, which tells me we’ve completed the task of documenting our era.

The third reason is the most important. I’ve got at least five other projects on the go. At my age (and maybe as the lessons of the past few years have shown us), it’s time to get on with them.
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Actually, I dont fish, but I wanted to give you all a wee heads-up. As of this Friday, the daily posts of Lost Ottawa pictures will come to an end.

That’s right. The daily posts, every morning and every night, will be a thing of the past. 

Dont worry, Lost Ottawa won’t be “lost!” We’ve got more books to write. Plus, we’ll keep posting, but on an occasional basis and mostly about new videos. 

I want to thank all the people of the community who’ve contributed their pictures, likes, and  comments over the years. Together we’ve built up an incredible -- I would even say unprecedented -- repository of information about living, working and growing up in Ottawa in the second half of the 2Oth Century. That knowledge won’t disappear and it won’t be wasted.

Why are we changing things? One reason is that after eight years and more than 16,000 posts I’ve run out of steam. A second reason is that no great new sources of images are emerging so we are beginning to repeat ourselves, which tells me we’ve completed the task of documenting our era. 

The third reason is the most important. I’ve got at least five other projects on the go. At my age (and maybe as the lessons of the past few years have shown us), it’s time to get on with them.

162 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thanks to everyone for their kind words. I really appreciate it. It just goes to show the kind of community we were able to build. I'm so proud of that.❤️ 🇨🇦

The dedication of Mr, and yes Mrs, Lost Ottawa has been amazing. You have posted twice a day even when out of the country. You have helped so many find the lost history of the community and exposed us to an Ottawa beyond the Capital City which is what is too often all that is seen. Looking forward to your videos, and of course those surprises that you will share. Particularly when you get bored, see a classic car when out and about, or you desperately want us to see something we should. 😉 ❤ (Can you hit a repeat button on fB and just start us back at the beginning and we'll do it all over again? 😆)

Your contribution to promoting awareness of Ottawa’s fascinating past has been immense David. Thank you so much!

An amazing run, Dave. Thanks for all you've done for me & other Lost Ottawa fans. Wet your line, grab a beer, put yer feet up. Such an amazing contribution to our history. Looking forward to what's next.

Aww, that's sad news. I truly enjoy what you post. Thanks for the time traveling opportunities into the history of where I grew up! Looking forward to the occasional posts. Thanks for your dedication!

8 year's? Wow. Just wow! Can I please extend a very sincere and humble thank you. I have enjoyed, explored, and discovered so much about my home town. Thank you you for your commitment to 8 year's. All the best in your future endeavors.

I hate to see the end of your daily posts. I really enjoyed them. They brought back some old memories. Good luck with your new projects.

Good luck with your new projects and Thank you!!! It was so great to see positive info on social medial. You did a great job! Congratulations and best wishes for your future endeavours!

Very grateful for your letting us time travel the history of Ottawa through photographs and postcards. It's been a fun and educational journey. Good luck with your future projects. P.S. Big thanks also for all the comments giving interesting additional information.

So sad to see this page go ..... but when it starts to become repetitive it's totally understandable to "move on". I have truly enjoyed being in this community and loved seeing old images of places that don't exist anymore, and trying to figure out some of the old places that no one seemed able to name. Thank you for all your hard work & effort over the past 8 years. I look forward to your next project. Thank you!!

You'll be a missed part of my day. Thanks for the awareness and the knowledge (the knowledge I've gained) and for your tolerance. Good Luck in Your Future Endeavors sounds way too much like good-bye; which I know it isn't, just a well deserved slowdown. Stay Safe, and Thanks

Thanks for what you've done. I got sucked in by the first book and it's been a very interesting ride.

Thanks for all the lost Ottawa , I’ve really enjoyed what you’ve done.

Oh, I’m very sad to hear that Lost Ottawa is about to become another part of Lost Ottawa. You’ve created an informative page, and a nice community. Hopefully there’ll still be posts - just less often. Although I can see how 16,000 posts would leave you rather exhausted! I wish you much success with your future projects - and hope that this page just becomes a bit less frequently updated rather than dorment. (I saw some lovely vintage cars this weekend, Including a Morgan and a TR-A, and thought of Mrs Lost. Sadly, I was driving so wasn’t able to capture photos to share).

Well thank you for all you have shared, and posted over the last 8 years on the history and how Ottawa has changed over the years. Wishing all the best in your next projects.

Thank you so much. I enjoy the posts very much. Even sharing posts from the past would be enjoyable, to read the original comments and the new. Best of luck with your other projects.

Thank you for the walks down memory lane and more. Good luck on your new adventures! Keep us posted!

it was always a pleasure to read all the post and discover the city as it was before I moved here some 30 years ago. ❤️

Will miss the posts but understand completely. Thanks for the years you’ve put into this. I learned a lot about Ottawa past. Much appreciated.

Thank you for all your hard work. I have enjoyed looking at the photos even though I left Ottawa 46 years ago. Good luck with your new endeavours.

Thank you for the dedication you have shown over those eight years. You can now say: "been there, done that!". I am glad I was one of your followers during a chunk of that time. You have shown good things do come out of social media. Best of luck crossing a few more of those things off your bucket list!

Thank you for this - it’s an incredible effort and gift to us all

Thank you so much for this wonderful resource. I have enjoyed it thoroughly and learned so much about Ottawa’s history.

Thanks for doing this. It was great for both those of us who grew up here and newcomers to see how things have changed over the years, and to learn more about our home, however it became so. Well done on an important job!

Thank you for sharing all these photos and memories. I’ve enjoyed them and the books.

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Monday August 23rd, 2021
Lost Ottawa

We're going back to our roots this week, posting pictures from our early years when Lost Ottawa was very small and you might not have seen them.

One fabulous source of pictures for us in the beginning was Laurel Dewan, who shared many street photography pictures taken by Norm McLeod. Here's one taken on Sparks Street in the early 1970s.

Wrote Laurel:

"Sparks Street Mall. The yo-yo busker guy amusing an audience of little kids. Don't think he was going to get much pay for his act but look at their faces ..."

(Lost Ottawa December 19, 2013)
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Were going back to our roots this week, posting pictures from our early years when Lost Ottawa was very small and you might not have seen them.

One fabulous source of pictures for us in the beginning was Laurel Dewan, who shared many street photography pictures taken by Norm McLeod. Heres one taken on Sparks Street in the early 1970s.

Wrote Laurel: 

Sparks Street Mall. The yo-yo busker guy amusing an audience of little kids. Dont think he was going to get much pay for his act but look at their faces ... 

(Lost Ottawa December 19, 2013)

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

They look delighted! Great memories of the city. Keep up the sharing. It almost always puts a smile on my face.

When I was in grade 5 or 6 1960 a guy selling YOYOs would come to school and do tricks even a "hair cut" of some kid that would stand very still as a YOYO wizzed by both sides of his head getting closer and closer after the show we would buy YOYOs and string off him. String you say nothing worse than your YOYO flying off as the string broke in the middle of "around the world". I had great fun and still have a YOYO today.

and look at the children....different 'fashions'...not the abandoned, refugee look....

These kids sure are enjoying it. Lots of Yo-yo memories in THIS brain... lol

Sleeper. Walk the Dog. Round the World.

Kid on right looks like Jim Carey.

Fantastic shot ❤️

I also remember yo-yo guys coming to the schoolyards. Don’t recall them selling to us there as we wouldn’t have had money but we went to the local store Snd bought them! No way they could do that today

Children on their own hacking around without an adult in sight. WTF!!

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Sunday August 22nd, 2021
Lost Ottawa

If you live in downtown Ottawa you might have heard the rumblings of fireworks over the past week or so. Here's how they had fun in September of 1901.

First, a big illuminated arch over the entrance to Parliament Hill because, hey, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York were in town.

Next, Centre Block all lit up with, yes, light bulbs!

Electric lights were official turned on in Centre Block on the 17th of January 1884.

(LAC C009634 and C002180)
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If you live in downtown Ottawa you might have heard the rumblings of fireworks over the past week or so. Heres how they had fun in September of 1901.

First, a big illuminated arch over the entrance to Parliament Hill because, hey, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York were in town. 

Next, Centre Block all lit up with, yes, light bulbs!

Electric lights were official turned on in Centre Block on the 17th of January 1884. 

(LAC C009634 and C002180)Image attachment

6 CommentsComment on Facebook

Here is a daytime view of the arch, looking south on Metcalfe at Sparks Street (McCord Museum v6740)

The four-way arch was at the intersection of Metcalfe and Sparks. Here is a description from the Journal, Sept. 20, 1901:

The photograph reminded me of the 'pictures' we used to make on screen during computer classes! Strange to see Centre Block without the Peace Tower.

Fabulous

What is the top pic? Especially the black thingy.

It’s a beaut, Clark.

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Sunday August 22nd, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Mark Taverna shares the Evening Puzzler and a boyhood reminiscence about and old Ottawa landmark.

Writes Mark:

"This is a Google Street View image of the southwestern side of the O-Train tracks below the bridge on Somerset West, a few blocks before it merges with Wellington.

When I was a small boy in about 1971, my mother and I moved to the Governor de Ville Apartments on Bayswater. One of the first things I remember seeing in my new neighborhood as we moved in was an ancient-looking stone tower that stood approximately where I have placed the red rectangle on the photograph.

I remember being fascinated by this tower every time we crossed the bridge. It looked like something from the medieval era, old, mysterious and crumbling, built with huge stone blocks and surrounded by bushes and trees. I used to imagine it was a haunted wizard's tower from a storybook. I think I could see the top of it from the Devonshire schoolyard.

Probably fortunately for me, by the time I started going out in the neighborhood unsupervised with my school friends about early 1974, the tower had been demolished. I likely would have tried to climb to the top and broken my neck.

Obviously it served some simple function for the rail line, but to me it was a place of mystery and imagination.
I would love to see a photograph of my old haunted Wizard's tower and learn more about it."
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Mark Taverna shares the Evening Puzzler and a boyhood reminiscence about and old Ottawa landmark.

Writes Mark:

This is a Google Street View image of the southwestern side of the O-Train tracks below the bridge on Somerset West, a few blocks before it merges with Wellington.

When I was a small boy in about 1971, my mother and I moved to the Governor de Ville Apartments on Bayswater. One of the first things I remember seeing in my new neighborhood as we moved in was an ancient-looking stone tower that stood approximately where I have placed the red rectangle on the photograph.

I remember being fascinated by this tower every time we crossed the bridge. It looked like something from the medieval era, old, mysterious and crumbling, built with huge stone blocks and surrounded by bushes and trees. I used to imagine it was a haunted wizards tower from a storybook. I think I could see the top of it from the Devonshire schoolyard.

Probably fortunately for me, by the time I started going out in the neighborhood unsupervised with my school friends about early 1974, the tower had been demolished. I likely would have tried to climb to the top and broken my neck.

Obviously it served some simple function for the rail line, but to me it was a place of mystery and imagination.
I would love to see a photograph of my old haunted Wizards tower and learn more about it.

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

I grew up on Somerset, between Bayswater and Spadina—before your childhood apartment building was built. We didn’t have a car so walked across that bridge to St. Luke’s church on Sundays. i don’t remember the tower you speak of but I do remember the mysteries of the train yards and roundhouse.

Bruce Fuels had a fuel depot there and there was a siding where tanker cars would be parked for offloading of diesel, furnace and other types of fuels. Probably it was related to the offload of the tankers

1958 aerial image gives the clearest picture. appears to be demolished after sometime after 1976

They were coal silos at the location.

I don't know much about what was there, unlike Mike Vincent, but my guess is that it was some kind of smoke stack.

I remember that, too ! I'm pretty sure it was a coal silo for filling the coal car(s) behind the engine. They were always black with coal dust which enhanced their spooky appearance !

There was also a lumber Mill there that was fed by the siding.

Take a peek at GeoOttawa...in the different aerial views there is a building there that is visible in 1958, 1965, and 1976 (could be there in 1928, but hard to tell) wonder what is was? maps.ottawa.ca/geoottawa/

I remember the one in particular that resembled a Citadel from a castle. Huge grey stone structure. In the 70's we'd hear tales of a Man In Black that haunted the coal yards.

I've lived in the neighbourhood for over 30 years, and I honestly don't remember that tower.

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Sunday August 22nd, 2021
Lost Ottawa

We have another puzzler this morning, featuring these gentlemen somewhere in Ottawa. Looks like Parliament Hill judging by the tower in behind.

Shared by Jason Cohen, who asks:

"Can someone please tell me what the significance of this photo and signature is. Thank you in advance."
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We have another puzzler this morning, featuring these gentlemen somewhere in Ottawa. Looks like Parliament Hill judging by the tower in behind. 

Shared by Jason Cohen, who asks:

Can someone please tell me what the significance of this photo and signature is. Thank you in advance.

20 CommentsComment on Facebook

I recognize PM MacKenzie King, Cabinet Minister Paul Martin Sr., and I think the man in military uniform might be South African WW2 General Jan Christian Smuts. Clearly it's a photo taken after war ended.

The signature is James Joseph McCann, Minister of National War Services

The man in the uniform looks like Jan Smuts of South Africa. He visited Ottawa in 1945

Smuts was Churchill's Minister of National War Services in the UK Cabinet, as McCann was to King in Canada. He was also a major figure in establishing the League of Nations, Forerunner to the UN. And Paul Martin At is in the middle there too

Prime Minister King on the right but I'm lost with the others. US Army uniform, I believe. And yes, that's the East Block tower in the background.

PM Mackenzie-King on the right, Field Marshal Jan Smuts in uniform to his right. Smuts was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and 1939 to 1948. Is he greeting members of Mackenzie-King's cabinet?

Man shaking hands with Smutts, Could he be Mr. C.D. Howe ( 1886-1960) Wiki says he was the Minister of Everything" he held several positions in Cabinet over 2 PMs L StL and McK, during the WW2 is was the Minister for Dept of Munition and Supply. At the time of this photo he was minister of Reconstruction.

It’s signed by James J. McCann, Minister of National War Services.

Perhaps the photo was taken by McCann, and he sent it to someone; hence the signature.

Looks like Prime Minister McKenzie King

Paul Martin Sr. In middle.

lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=15556 James Joseph McCann (the signature and perhaps one of the participants)

Could that be in front of the old Ottawa City Hall?

Plenty of history here, especially after reading the numerous comments. So glad to belong to this Group, thank you.

I found an article in a newspaper Friday June 29, 1945. SMUTS IN OTTAWA OTTAWA, Thursday. - Field Marshal Smuts flew to Ottawa from San Francisco this morning to decorate some Canadian nurses for their services in Africa. Would those be nurses at the far left? Not sure if this link will work for you: trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47719961?searchTerm=smuts%20ottawa

Not always a friend to Britain, Smuts fought against them in the Boer War. www.nam.ac.uk/explore/jan-smuts-warrior-statesman

Field Marshal Jan Smuts standing in front of his personal transport aircraft, an ex-South African Airways Lockheed Lodestar, which he used to tour the North African front. [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205123798][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/20/294/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205123798]FIELD MARSHAL JAN SMUTS. © IWM (TR 5)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url]

the signature seems to be James J McCann ..I found this on google : Not sure who he is but it seems there are a few things named after him : www.google.com/search?q=james+j+mccann&rlz=1C1CHBF_frCA908CA908&oq=james+j+mccann&aqs=chrome..69i...

old whitey hand wankers, Makenzie King seems to not to partake in the "hand wanking"

Smuts was shaking hands with Canadian veterans of the South African War at the War Memorial on 29 June 1945. He also met cabinet ministers and diplomats there and Paul Martin senior is in the background.

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Sunday August 22nd, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Postcard from Lost Ottawa ... featuring Ottawa's "Central" Station and also the Morning Puzzler.

What's the problem? Well, if you look at the color postcard you'll see the station had a dome on it, which I always thought was lost in the 1950s. However, the second postcard is a photograph that shows a weird turret on top and no dome.

On the other hand, the second image appears to be a photo, and it appears to be a later picture on account of all the cars, so what gives? It's true that postcard makers were known to take liberties, but ... ⁉️
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Postcard from Lost Ottawa ... featuring Ottawas Central Station and also the Morning Puzzler.

Whats the problem? Well, if you look at the color postcard youll see the station had a dome on it, which I always thought was lost in the 1950s. However, the second postcard is a photograph that shows a weird turret on top and no dome.

On the other hand, the second image appears to be a photo, and it appears to be a later picture on account of all the cars, so what gives? Its true that postcard makers were known to take liberties, but ... ⁉️Image attachment

22 CommentsComment on Facebook

the turret seems to be there in this photo from 1916. I think it is on top of the dome.

The turret is simply the "working" part of the dome, which appears to have just been a shell, likely there for aesthetics. The dome was easier to look at and blended in better than the turret, which is likely water storage. Heavy snow may have damaged the dome so it was removed, leaving the turret exposed.

The turret looks like it is with a different bldg or maybe even a water tank/tower

Interesting to note that Grand Trunk was not allowed to bring trains into Vnion Station but only as far as their station at Nicholas and Mann. Long gone now but I vaguely remember the platform.

Grand Trunk Central Station was renamed Union Station in 1920, to narrow things down a little bit.

That turret looks to me to be part of another background building.

Lots of differences. Street fixtures, roof thing on left-hand side is configured different, electrical wires.

I remember going there to pick up my father when he travelled for work, and great aunt when she visited. It was beautiful inside.

I only recall it called the Union Station in the '50s and later, until it was closed as a station. I loved looking at the trains. I worked there for the Board of Transport Commissioners, in the late 50s, in the room right over the canopy.

It looks a bit like the top of the turret matches the top of the dome. (It’s now a large boxed in area, according to Google street view)

Judging from pictures, Im guessing the original piece on the very top of the dome was replaced with a slightly more prominent one between the mid-teens and the 30s, perhaps in conjunction with the name change? The visual in the 2nd picture seems so odd, maybe the photog caught them in the midst of some dome maintenance haha

I remember going to the train station which makes me old

The colourized post card is pre-1920 as the building sign has “Grand Trunk Central Station”. The greyscale photo is post-1920 as the building sign has “Vnion Station”.

Hmm the position of where the photos were taken??? Just saying?

This must be the building at Rideau Street. When was the train station moved at Tremblay and why?

First picture shows a dome on the roof?????

Think it’s just a different angle.

In this later pic an air ventilator can clearly be seen & it was also there in an earlier 1938 pic.

Remembering

Beautiful bldg. I remember going to the Chateau to swim on Saturdays in the winter with my brother... we would then cross over to the train station via the tunnel and buy their famous hot dogs, I can still taste it! It is still a beautiful bldg to this day... we would get our pictures taken in their machine (4 for a Quarter) and exchange them with our friends. My parents went there for a New Year's dance to mark a new Centennial and many more memories about this bldg. Hope it never goes away for progress.

The dome was originally designed in 1909 to give light from the circular window on top to a light well down through three floors of offices. However, during construction the light well was was eliminated and the dome instead lighted skylights in the ceiling of the Board or Railway Commissioners courtroom on the top floor. By 1956, when the dome was removed, fluorescent lights had made the skylight unnecessary. There may also have been water tanks in the dome, similar to the large tank in the corner tower of the Chateau Laurier. (cross-section detail from Canadian Center for Architecture, Ross & Macdonald Archive #13-004)

This angle gives a good view of the dome. Undated photo.

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Saturday August 21st, 2021
Lost Ottawa

A Vanier Triptych, featuring three views looking down over the Cummings Bridge that connects Rideau Street in Ottawa to Montreal Road in Eastview.

The date is 1957. Most noticeable to me is ... no Eastview Plaza. Also, I don't think I ever noticed there were low-rise apartment buildings on Mark Avenue. Nice?

(City of Ottawa Archives CA008070, 71, and 72)
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A Vanier Triptych, featuring three views looking down over the Cummings Bridge that connects Rideau Street in Ottawa to Montreal Road in Eastview.

The date is 1957. Most noticeable to me is ... no Eastview Plaza. Also, I dont think I ever noticed there were low-rise apartment buildings on Mark Avenue. Nice?

(City of Ottawa Archives  CA008070, 71, and 72)Image attachmentImage attachment

20 CommentsComment on Facebook

City buys Cummings Island.

I like the old pictures of this area. My Mom was born in Eastview in 1942 and I always tease her about it, but I like to see what the area looked like back in her day.

Looks like a building on the island in the Rideau River on the east side of the bridge???? I don't recall seeing that - and I crossed that bridge thousands of times in the 70s and 80s.

Low rise apartments on Mark are still there. They are just starting to re-develop that street.

We lived on Mark Avenue in the 60s. Great apartment, quite roomy.

friends lived in those apts on Mark St in the 1970's , Doug and Mary Theresa Killeen.

The Sea Scouts used to use the island be it was shapped like a boat

Early history.

Some history.

We used to live at 20 John Street, just behind the apartments, as I recall, 1950 until 1955.

Nice try.

I used to live in those low rise apartments on Mark Ave. Great spot!

I remember it well. We used to cross to Eastview on Sundays to buy gas because Ottawa only allowed one station from each company to be open on Sundays. The closest station was on the right just as you crossed the bridge.

Didn't Vanier used to be Cyrville?

No place Vanier and cpp

Christopher Mullington: your house is clearly visible.

Randi Morelli

Photo shows the gas station on the south side of Montreal Road just east of the bridge. That explains why that land (2 Montreal Road) has remained an un-used brownfield lot, until the recent proposed high-rise development.

You’ll be interested in this Karen Murray

Is that big building a bit further down Montreal the bingo hall that's still there?

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Friday August 20th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

It's not the Ottawa Ex ... but it is a fair being assembled in the back of the Earl Armstrong Arena.

It's the Fun Fair (at least I think that is the name), which will be raising money for the Gloucester Food Cupboard at Earl Armstrong this weekend, August 20 through 22.

I did not know the Fair had been in Kanata earlier. Later in September the Fun Fair will be at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex in Orleans in support of the the school breakfast program.
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Its not the Ottawa Ex ... but it is a fair being assembled in the back of the Earl Armstrong Arena.

Its the Fun Fair (at least I think that is the name), which will be raising money for the Gloucester Food Cupboard at Earl Armstrong this weekend, August 20 through 22.

I did not know the Fair had been in Kanata earlier. Later in September the Fun Fair will be at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex in Orleans in support of the the school breakfast program.

31 CommentsComment on Facebook

I miss the Gloucester Fair, so many great childhood memories, i hope they bring it back..fun needs to be had again in the east end and it helps for good causes.

It looks like the same people that did the construction for the LRT

My mom was on the board for the Gloucester fair so we used to spend a lot of time there. I recall seeing the spoons there and possibly the box?

Also coming to Barrhaven. Stay tuned….

Shades of the former Gloucester Fair which was an annual tradition in my neighbourhood.

It was yards away from my classroom at Gloucester Hjgh School, and made it almost impossible to keep students on track! Drove me crazy.

That’s where the Gloucester fair used to be.

Still brings back great memories, even if not the original ex.

This is when the Ottawa Exhibition should be on……good old days sure missed

That ferris wheel looks funky!

To expensive $25.00 entrance fee that’s if you go on rides or not

But I take a look at the official site, they say the fair is cancelled.... Can ypu please provide more information?

Always a good time before getting ready for start of school. Ah the good old days❤

This fair cost 25$ per person and sucked. Capital fair way better

Sounds like the annual Tim Tierney campaign fundraiser

I'm with you. That's just to enter the ground! 😏🙄

our kids used to love this.

My adult children were there just today

Thé Gloucester fair

Back some 20 years or more, that fair was called the Gloucester Fair.

Over now.

Daniel Hone Shane Sauve wanna go?

The Ottawa Ex was great grandstand shows horse shows the food

Gloucester fair, my dad used to take me every year 🙂

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Friday August 20th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

When the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York came to Ottawa in September of 1901, the city made a special electric streetcar for the future King George V and Queen Mary to ride around in. Here we have it, inside and out.

So nice to commute in an armchair. Idea to boost ridership on the LRT?

"According to the description, "the interior of the car consists of polished oak, a 3-ply Birds Eye Maple roof, plate mirrors in frames, solid bronze hat racks, window curtains, incandescent lamps, floor covering in royal blue velvet and easy chairs upholstered in olive green velvet."
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When the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York came to Ottawa in September of 1901, the city made a special electric streetcar for the future King George V and Queen Mary to ride around in. Here we have it, inside and out.

So nice to commute in an armchair. Idea to boost ridership on the LRT?

According to the description, the interior of the car consists of polished oak, a 3-ply Birds Eye Maple roof, plate mirrors in frames, solid bronze hat racks, window curtains, incandescent lamps, floor covering in royal blue velvet and easy chairs upholstered in olive green velvet.Image attachment

23 CommentsComment on Facebook

yes, I won't use anything but the solid bronze hat racks, myself...

what will boost ridership will be trains that don't break down every week due to weather, defective wheels, derailments, axle issues, etc

The City of Ottawa Museums have one of the original armchairs. Bytown Museum might have one as well?

I remember the streetcars in Ottawa when we used to ride them downtown and to Britannia Beach. The smoking section was in the back by the way. Yep, you could smoke on-board these tramways as they were called.

Reminds me of a story my dad likes to tell about retrofitting a Laidlaw school bus (when he worked for the company) into a more luxurious configuration for visiting big wigs.

Speaking of the LRT what a mess! When I lived in Ottawa I got to ride on it a few times and more often than not it always broke down.

I still think it was a mistake to remove the downtown train station and all those tracks.

My father had a hjge photo of them waving from the back of the train when they were doing their Canadian tour

Hmmm...wonder where that rail car is today??

Swanky Showcase of Canadian Style!

Did the wheels stay on this one?

Has this been preserved? If so, where would it be?

Great picture with the Parliament Peace Tower in the background and the cobblestone road.

Beautiful workmanship and style

Problem today is a good number of riders are assholes. They take up a few spots for themselves and backpacks, leave crap and food all over the place, harrass others, no respect. So glad that for the last 10 years i work less than 5 minutes from work. No BS to deal with...

Bring the trams back !

Cow catcher on the front?

Let me put a bit of colour in there

It is beautiful and well deserved. The country had money then. Now we are broke.

Wow !!!

Hopefully used more than once

Looks comfy!

Now that’s public transit! 😜

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Thursday August 19th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

Just got a request for a picture of Bagel Bagel, an eatery down in the Market, I beleive.

Here's the only photo we ever had, which we posted way back in 2013. Love the hairdo's.

No idea about the original source.
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Just got a request for a picture of Bagel Bagel, an eatery down in the Market, I beleive.

Heres the only photo we ever had, which we posted way back in 2013. Love the hairdos.

No idea about the original source.

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That is me Joey Rhys-Jones. My friend Doric who died in the 1990s Greg Mathieu, Bianka Lambert ,Pierre, a friend who died in the 1990s, Natalie Jean and Brigitte.

Bagel Bagel was where we went after partying! They were the only eatery open 24/7

Ah Bagel Bagel after a night of dancing at Stoney Monday’s!!

Oh my! I worked at Stoney Mondays; first outdoor patio in town. It’s now a Starbucks. Of course. We went to Bagel Bagel after work. Was a novel idea then. Such a fun time.

I used to work there in that time period. It was 24/7 and the weekend over nights were great fun

Oh my word. My dad used to re-do the chairs from that place (they had wicker seats), and people used to be really, REALLY hard on those chairs - loosening the backs from the seats, putting their feet through the wicker....there were times when his workshop would have 20, 30 chairs at a go.

I worked there for a while in 1983, busing tables, alongside Erica Miechowsky, aka Erica Ehm. She quit to go off to work in Toronto for some new TV music show.

Had many breakfasts at Carlingwood Bagel Bagel.

I used to go there often! Loved their bagels.

The person in the middle turned around to face the camera looks like Lisa Vanlint (Berger at the time). My friends and I went to Bagel Bagel every Friday night and many Saturdays as well. Our waitress was almost always Shirley, who was wonderful. One night, in walked a guy who looked JUST LIKE the cartoon-y logo. We had no idea that Mr. Bagel Bagel was a real person. Shirley introduced us to Morty. I think we probably asked him to sign a paper place mat for us.

I used to also remember The Spaghetti Factory.

I remember Suzanne Perry, Keith Morrison and a young Matthew Perry eating with his younger siblings there back in the 80s.

Yes it was in the Byward, on Clarence Street. I lived right across the street from it at 101 Clarence. Always something going on, and always great food!

Looks like the 80's group dead or alive. You know you spin me right round like a record baby right round. Lol.

Omg I worked there what feels like an entire lifetime ago. Had to scoop a dead mouse out of the sauce for the cheesecake once. Mgr wouldn’t let me throw the sauce out! 🤮🤮

He was partners with my neighbour I believe, loved that place! I remember them discussing the name for the restaurant

I worked at the Laura Secord at Carlingwood and would grab an everything bagel from Bagel bagel with cream cheese for my breakfast. This would be around 1984 or 1985.

It was a great place to hang out, have a coffee and a great bagel while watching the action on the market. So sad it is gone...

I lived on Cumberland in the 80's and went there every 3rd day. Cinimon raisin was the best.

We used to go down and busk after high school if you could scrape together $2 you had a coffee and a bagel & hang for hours!

Looks more like they came from Club Zinc on the other side of the river.

My younger brother worked at the Bagel Bagel in the early 80's. The owner was a guy named Morty, whom my brother and his buds referred to as Mortimer the Bagelmeister(after a Peter Gabriel song- Moribund the Burgermeister)

Seeing all the posts about heading to the Bagel Bagel after hours, you probably met up with me. I worked either the overnight shift on the weekends or the very early morning shifts on the weekdays in the early 80s

I worked there so many years ago! The overnight shifts were crazy but fun!!

I loved that place. Best bagels ever.

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Thursday August 19th, 2021
Lost Ottawa

We've got the beginnings of a fabulous Ottawa steampunk novel here as this steam shovel crew digs deeper and deeper into the ground between Elgin Street and the old Post Office in 1938.

Sure they "said" they were digging a foundation for the War Memorial. But we know they were digging for something else. Treasure maybe. Tunnels down there for sure!

And how did they get the steam shovel out of the hole when they got to the bottom ... or is it still there!?
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Weve got the beginnings of a fabulous Ottawa steampunk novel  here as this steam shovel crew digs deeper and deeper into the ground between Elgin Street and the old Post Office in 1938.

Sure they said they were digging a foundation for the War Memorial. But we know they were digging for something else. Treasure maybe. Tunnels down there for sure!

And how did they get the steam shovel out of the hole when they got to the bottom ... or is it still there!?Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment