Ottawa: Then and Now

[amanfromnowhere]

Nice photo comparison of Elgin & Sparks (1901 vs 2012) by Alexandre Laquerre (spacingottawa):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6910383273_2cd419355f_b.jpg

Elgin & Sparks – 1901 c. 2012 (http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/02/23/elgin-sparks-1901-c-2012/)

[Harley613]

wow i didn't realize that the war memorial area used to be a row of buildings like that, very cool!

[bikegypsy]

I had no idea about this... Those buildings in the back of the image are fantastic!

[Admiral Nelson]

The older image is lovely. What's the building that used to be where the NAC is?

[McC]

The older image is lovely. What's the building that used to be where the NAC is?

City Hall?

[McC]

To preemptively blunt some of the NCC rants that I can feel coming on this thread, a lot of the lovely buildings that were on Elgin over 100 years ago were lost to fires.

[kevinbottawa]

To preemptively blunt some of the NCC rants that I can feel coming on this thread, a lot of the lovely buildings that were on Elgin over 100 years ago were lost to fires.

I still blame the NCC. They were probably responsible for the fire.

[amanfromnowhere]

City Hall?

yes... from wiki:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Second_City_Hall%2C_Ottawa.jpg

[lrt's friend]

What a stunning photo comparison. I have never seen this perspective of downtown in the old days. It always seemed to be from Sparks Street.

City Hall in the background burned in 1931. Perhaps if times were better, the building could have been salvaged but after significant debate, it was demolished. Likewise with the Russell House Hotel, another beautiful structure seen in front of City Hall. It was Ottawa's premier hotel until the Chateau Laurier opened and ultimately the latter put it out of business in the mid 1920s. The abandoned hotel burned in the late 20s and was demolished to make way for Confederation Square. What is not seen was another magnificent building, which would have been behind the buildings on the left, the old Post Office. That building did not burn but was demolished to make way for the war memorial in the late 1930s. The 1930s were a tough time in Ottawa as many beautiful structures were torn down, at least partly because of the Great Depression.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ottawa_Old_Post_Office_Confederation_Square.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ottawa_Old_Post_Office_Confederation_Square.jpg

The Post Office and Russell House Hotel to the left

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Ottawa_Central_Post_Office_19390428.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Ottawa_Central_Post_Office_19390428.jpg
Just after everything was demolished.

[acottawa]

Thanks for the pictures. They're all quite interesting.

It is less noticeable now that the concrete has coloured and the landscaping is in, but it is striking how much influence fascist architecture seems to have had.

[Winnipegger@Heart]

Wow, what a find. Thanks!

[eemy]

Thanks for the pictures. They're all quite interesting.

It is less noticeable now that the concrete has coloured and the landscaping is in, but it is striking how much influence fascist architecture seems to have had.
What influence are you seeing? I'm not terribly familiar with fascist architecture, but a visit to Wikipedia seems to suggest far more simple and classical lines than you see here.

[m0nkyman]

I think he's seeing it in the War Memorial.

[amanfromnowhere]

Another Then&Now from SpecingOttawa (By Alexandre Laquerre)

Coin Bank & Somerset – vers 1935 c. 2012:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7065/6778483986_210c921385_b.jpg

http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/03/01/coin-bank-somerset-vers-1935-c-2012/

[amanfromnowhere]

Intersection Sussex & Rideau – ~1910 versus 2012

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6864902401_305fa1a999_b.jpg

By Alexandre Laquerre

http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/02/16/intersection-sussex-rideau-1910-versus-2012/

[amanfromnowhere]

By Alexandre Laquerre

Elgin @ Laurier 1939-2011.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6711772409_6e0aa54021_z.jpg
http://spacingottawa.ca/2011/11/30/maintenant-et-avant-elgin-laurier-%e2%80%93-1939-c-2011/

Rideau Canal 1933-2012
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6711873731_77297b663f_b.jpg
http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/01/09/canal-rideau-maintenant-et-avant/

Sussex & St-Patrick 1940-2011
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6711816207_e69ed99ce6_z.jpg
http://spacingottawa.ca/2011/11/20/maintenant-et-avant-coin-sussex-st-patrick-%e2%80%93-vers-1940-et-2011/


Looking north at the Rideau Canal 1901-2011
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6711932787_605d2058cc_b.jpg
http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/01/16/le-canal-rideau-maintenant-avant-1901-2011/

[amanfromnowhere]

By Alexandre Laquerre

Sparks @ Wellington - 1885 vs. 2011
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6199/6122423906_77ed0e382b_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexlaq/6122423906/in/photostream/

Sparks & Rideau
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6711775211_6afc0e5ed8_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexlaq/6711775211/

[drawarc]

From Urbsite:

King Edward Avenue(late 1930s vs 2011)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TsDmFw5b1t8/TfAt8orCASI/AAAAAAAAE-Y/R-28mtQnPZo/s400/P6020052.JPG
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s4DZqzD6yKM/TfAt1jscJxI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/LOEh880VoPA/s400/kingrideau.jpg




http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oK9BM4wRhDQ/TfAvlyM5MnI/AAAAAAAAFAA/K6tFSLlwerM/s400/P5010075.JPG
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz68jGwP_iU/TfAvdKGa1rI/AAAAAAAAE_4/qvss84wBRgk/s1600/kecathcart2.jpg



More photos available:http://urbsite.blogspot.com/2011/06/king-edward-avenue-massacre.html

[Davis137]

Wow, Simply stunning collection of photos and comparisons...it's too bad that Ottawa, Toronto and a few other cities wasn't a little bit more like NYC, wheras more of the old buildings are retained and restored. As mentioned higher up the page, I'm aware of many being destroyed by fires or other things, but some shouldn't have been demolished just to be replaced by a higher tech building without character or substance.

Anyways, it's a lot of fun to see pictures like these, and see the way things used to be...

[S-Man]

Those are some beautiful shots, and some great buildings at Elgin and Sparks. Those wide open spaces of the Greber plan make the 'after' shots seem less urban and cold. Strange.

[citizen j]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ottawa_Old_Post_Office_Confederation_Square.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ottawa_Old_Post_Office_Confederation_Square.jpg

The Post Office and Russell House Hotel to the left

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Ottawa_Central_Post_Office_19390428.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Ottawa_Central_Post_Office_19390428.jpg
Just after everything was demolished.

If you cross-reference the various shots of the old Post Office building that stood where Confederation Square is now, it appears the building magically gains a storey in the years between 1885 and the early 20th century. I remember reading about this somewhere. Seems that old 'basement' level that was at canal level 'emerged' to the street level when the grade of Sappers' Bridge was changed.

[amanfromnowhere]

Wellington Street Looking East between Bay and Lyon
by Alexandre Laquerre

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/7026469369_c6c4291d17_b.jpg

Note: archive picture was taken in 1938

http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/03/29/wellington-street-looking-east-between-bay-and-lyon/

[amanfromnowhere]

just love this picture:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Gy8jBwbDzw/T8KSF4hM9PI/AAAAAAAAGG8/HMUw5hsZ71Q/s1600/chateau-laurier-scan-cropped_auto-levels-3000.jpg

taken from Centretowner blog (http://centretown.blogspot.ca/)

[kevinbottawa]

just love this picture:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Gy8jBwbDzw/T8KSF4hM9PI/AAAAAAAAGG8/HMUw5hsZ71Q/s1600/chateau-laurier-scan-cropped_auto-levels-3000.jpg

taken from Centretowner blog (http://centretown.blogspot.ca/)

In that one picture you have commuter trains, horse and buggey, trolleys, ferry boats. I have always agreed with the NCC's decision to remove the trains from along the canal, but this picture is making me change my mind.

[McC]

lovely illustrations of Victorian Ottawa
http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/06/red-album.html

[kevinbottawa]

lovely illustrations of Victorian Ottawa
http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/06/red-album.html

Ottawa definitely had some elegance to it. I wish a lot more of those buildings were still around. It would give the city a lot of character and would contrast well with some of the modern designs that will be coming to the city.

[McC]

and not just the buildings, but the places!

[OTSkyline]

What a stunning photo comparison. I have never seen this perspective of downtown in the old days. It always seemed to be from Sparks Street.

City Hall in the background burned in 1931. Perhaps if times were better, the building could have been salvaged but after significant debate, it was demolished. Likewise with the Russell House Hotel, another beautiful structure seen in front of City Hall. It was Ottawa's premier hotel until the Chateau Laurier opened and ultimately the latter put it out of business in the mid 1920s. The abandoned hotel burned in the late 20s and was demolished to make way for Confederation Square. What is not seen was another magnificent building, which would have been behind the buildings on the left, the old Post Office. That building did not burn but was demolished to make way for the war memorial in the late 1930s. The 1930s were a tough time in Ottawa as many beautiful structures were torn down, at least partly because of the Great Depression.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ottawa_Old_Post_Office_Confederation_Square.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ottawa_Old_Post_Office_Confederation_Square.jpg

The Post Office and Russell House Hotel to the left

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Ottawa_Central_Post_Office_19390428.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Ottawa_Central_Post_Office_19390428.jpg
Just after everything was demolished.

Wow, what lovely pictures! The top one is amazing! The buildings might have been the same height (same problem as downtown Ottawa today) but they are done with such quailty and such architectural details.. Reminds me of some arrondissements in Paris :)

[J.OT13]

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/07/sparks-departed-department-stores.html?utm_source=BP_recent

What RBC's cube of crap on Sparks replaced.

[CongoJack]

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/07/sparks-departed-department-stores.html?utm_source=BP_recent

What RBC's cube of crap on Sparks replaced.

What a shame. However, I'm happy that they were replaced with something that is actually interesting rather than another unimaginative box.

[J.OT13]

What a shame. However, I'm happy that they were replaced with something that is actually interesting rather than another unimaginative box.

Sparks street façade isn't too bad, but the Metcalf and Queen elevations are horrible.

[McC]

There are eels in the aqueduct? what a story! And for those less interested in fauna, it's still a great urbsite post on the history of the Aqueduct, Fleet St. Pumping Station & Pooley's Bridge with photos of Then and Now:
http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/08/eels-under-fleet-street-e-e-e.html

[J.OT13]

Commemoration of Cathedral Hall.

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/08/christ-church-cathedral-hall-remembered.html?utm_source=BP_recent

I didn't care before, but now I'm kind of sad. As much as I love progress, every time a see an old building coming down, it kind of hurts.

[Ottawan]

Commemoration of Cathedral Hall.

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/08/christ-church-cathedral-hall-remembered.html?utm_source=BP_recent

I didn't care before, but now I'm kind of sad. As much as I love progress, every time a see an old building coming down, it kind of hurts.

I agree. While the hall was impractical, it was architecturally quite interesting. I believe the new hall will be facing the Queen Street side of the site, so future users will have lost a magnificent view.

[J.OT13]

Bank and Slater. Shows a lot about Standard Life Phase III project.

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/09/bank-and-slater-streets.html

[lrt's friend]

I remember when growing up in the 1960s how crappy and rundown a lot of downtown buildings appeared. At that time, it was a great relief to see modernization. My perspective would probably change today and I would have a much greater appreciation of those old buildings that no longer exist. On the other hand, many of them had little architectural merit and we should be happy that so many of the surface parking lots prevelant in the 1960s no longer exist.

[J.OT13]

The old Carnegie library;

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/09/unforgotten-ottawa-carnegie-library.html

[amanfromnowhere]

Downtown Ottawa before the courthouse and city hall were built:

http://ao.minisisinc.com/WEBIMAGES/I0007482.jpg

from twitter:
http://twitter.com/metroottawa/status/254269859452571649

[J.OT13]

Downtown Ottawa before the courthouse and city hall were built:

http://ao.minisisinc.com/WEBIMAGES/I0007482.jpg

from twitter:
http://twitter.com/metroottawa/status/254269859452571649

This should be around 1986. I love this, spot the diffrences.

First the obvious,

-City Hall non-existent and the
-Courthouse U/C

And the less obvious;

-Building behind Place Bell (Barrister House)
-99 Metcalf U/C (orange crane across the street from Ottawa Public Library/Sir Richard Scott building and the Urbandale tower at 100 Metcalf)
-Gillin building behind Lord Elgin all glass (too bad for bad renos)
-Lord Elgin missing mismatched wings
-Lorne building still there
-150 Elgin before bad renos with brown roof
-WEP not yet built
-HSBC not built
-Chambers tower not built
-Heritage Place (Zellers office tower) not built

Across the canal;

-Old Congress centre
-Daly building
-National Gallery U/C

Gatineau

-Museum of Civilization site prep
-Victoria street building near the Portage complex non existant

And that is the list of visible differences, I won’t get into buildings in the Market like the new condos forming the Sussex Drive courtyards and the Photography museum (sorry, committee rooms).

[J.OT13]

Hotel "Le Castore" on Sussex Drive.

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/10/hotel-du-castor.html

[J.OT13]

Mackenzie King Bridge

Pics form the Bridge before it's construction towards downtown, note city's east skyline and the jail's courtyard.

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2012/10/mackenzie-king-bridge-part-1.html

[Harley613]

that is awesome! welcome to SSP!

[citizen j]

Great set, Alexlaq!
It's hard to look at some of those old photos. Ottawa was gutted and what's left is a trace. The NCC should be doing everything it can to rebuild what it can of the past (and what it, in many cases, is responsible for destroying). Instead, we have Claridge's condos in Lebreton Flats, and empty lots along Wellington.

[Alexlaq]

I have set up a site with quite a bit Now and Then photos of Ottawa (http://en.alexandrelaquerre.com).

Ottawa - Past & Present (http://en.alexandrelaquerre.com).

I update it regularly, so check often.

The French version is also available. (http://www.alexandrelaquerre.com)

[Harlow]

Wonderful thread! Enjoyed seeing old Ottawa very much, thank you :)

[lrt's friend]

I have set up a site with quite a bit Now and Then photos of Ottawa (http://en.alexandrelaquerre.com).

Ottawa - Past & Present (http://en.alexandrelaquerre.com).

I update it regularly, so check often.

The French version is also available. (http://www.alexandrelaquerre.com)

Thanks for sharing. Love seeing pictures of old Ottawa. It is hard to believe that Wellington and Sparks once merged together but that intersection was there until the early or mid 1960s and was replaced by the Garden of the Provinces. Part of the Lebreton Flats urban renewal. I always wondered where Bradings Brewery was and there it is. I thought it had been the same site as the O'Keefe's Brewery but no, O'Keefe's was further west on Wellington, which I remember well by appearance and smell.

[McC]

"Postcard Scenes of the Glebe ca. 1910 (from Toronto Public Library)"
http://glebeheritageblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/postcard-scenes-of-the-glebe-ca-1910-from-toronto-public-library/

It's almost all "Then", but lots of great old photos on the site.

[gjhall]

"Postcard Scenes of the Glebe ca. 1910 (from Toronto Public Library)"
http://glebeheritageblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/postcard-scenes-of-the-glebe-ca-1910-from-toronto-public-library/

It's almost all "Then", but lots of great old photos on the site.

Very cool.

[McC]

I think we've seen most if not all of these photos and sketches before, but all in once place, this Midcentury Modernist post still makes a nice scroll through:

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-red-album-views-of-ottawa.html

I also hadn't heard of the Vintage Ottawa facebook page, which was a nice tip, too: https://www.facebook.com/VintageOttawa

[McC]

Confederation Square, 1957: http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/02/an-afternoon-in-june.html

[MountainView]

^^ Some very nice pictures there!

[amanfromnowhere]

A lot of new then/now pictures posted here with very cool interactive comparison feature:

http://en.alexandrelaquerre.com/

[lrt's friend]

I was just given a couple of really cool pictures of a parade from 1909 and I have found the associated news stories about it. They are downtown but not in the popular locations at Parliament Hill and Sparks Street and the specific locations are rather puzzling. The city has changed substantially since then. I would like to have everybody take a stab at where they are located. They also include what appears to be a construction site with several period posters mounted on the surrounding wooden fence, some of which are readable or close to readable. I have never posted photos on the Internet before and I need some advice on how and where to do this. Thanks.

[brentgaulois]

I also hadn't heard of the Vintage Ottawa facebook page, which was a nice tip, too: https://www.facebook.com/VintageOttawa

While some interesting photos are uploaded there, the person uploading (and many of those commenting) clearly are clueless as to what it is they're actually showing.

[McC]

While some interesting photos are uploaded there, the person uploading (and many of those commenting) clearly are clueless as to what it is they're actually showing.

yeah, that's a little annoying for a Knowitall!

;-)


My favourite was the time that the moderator was arguing repeatedly that a really obvious shot of Portage Phase III taken from the Ottawa side of the river was, in fact, a shot of non-existant buildings at Tunney's.

Update: Welcome to the Forum, by the way!

[brentgaulois]

yeah, that's a little annoying for a Knowitall!

;-)


My favourite was the time that the moderator was arguing repeatedly that a really obvious shot of Portage Phase III taken from the Ottawa side of the river was, in fact, a shot of non-existant buildings at Tunney's.

Update: Welcome to the Forum, by the way!

Did they really do that? I'll have to check it out. Even still, they find some pretty great photos.

Thanks for the welcome! :) I feel almost like I've been apart of it for a while, as for about a year I have been following everything. Finally decided having an account to participate would be a good idea.

[McC]

I feel almost like I've been apart of it for a while, as for about a year I have been following everything. Finally decided having an account to participate would be a good idea.

I think that's pretty common, I lurked and eavesdropped around the Forum for a good while before I finally signed up, too.

[J.OT13]

New one on Urbsite; a quartet of mid-century office buildings. I would like to direct your attention to the 1961 RBC Ottawa headquarters, a classic early 60s design built with quality materials wrapping around Queen and Metcalfe in an L shape preserving some nicely preserved historic buildings on Sparks street, such as Morgan's/the Bay Department store. This elegant office tower, along with the historic Sparks street buildings were demolished 20 years later for the monstrous Darcy McGee building with its weird glass Sparks elevation and its ugly ass blank walls on Metcalfe and Queen.



http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/05/royal-trust-royal-bank.html

[NOWINYOW]

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/05/royal-trust-royal-bank.html


Great link! I spent several hours browsing though the archives.

One building I was hoping to spot is the former Voyageur Colonial bus terminal. I'm sure it was on Albert street, but maybe Queen? I remember it from over 40 years ago. It was a dump then! :)

I know it was near a landmark (at the time) Chinese restaurant "The Canton Inn" on Albert. Between O'Connor and Metcalfe? There was a picture inside that restaurant showing P.E.T. enjoying a dinner there. Some photos of other MP's and celebrities were also hanging on the wall, but the only one I remember is of P.E.T.

If anyone spots a link or has photos to post of this area from around 1965 or so, please post!

[J.OT13]

Great link! I spent several hours browsing though the archives.

One building I was hoping to spot is the former Voyageur Colonial bus terminal. I'm sure it was on Albert street, but maybe Queen? I remember it from over 40 years ago. It was a dump then! :)

I know it was near a landmark (at the time) Chinese restaurant "The Canton Inn" on Albert. Between O'Connor and Metcalfe? There was a picture inside that restaurant showing P.E.T. enjoying a dinner there. Some photos of other MP's and celebrities were also hanging on the wall, but the only one I remember is of P.E.T.

If anyone spots a link or has photos to post of this area from around 1965 or so, please post!

I wasn't aware of any of the previous bus terminals in Ottawa. But if I ever find a link, I will certainly post it.

[NOWINYOW]

I wasn't aware of any of the previous bus terminals in Ottawa. But if I ever find a link, I will certainly post it.

If you ever saw the old Voyageur Colonial bus terminal in Toronto, it looked a bit like that, though smaller. Enough bays for perhaps 5 or 6 buses at most. The buses would drive up from one side of the building then drive into the bay to load up. It would then just carry on forward back onto Albert(?) street.

[NOWINYOW]

Link to site that outlines Ottawas first Chinese families. Great read and includes photos. Lots of historic and familiar businesses are described as well.

One picture from a painting of "The Canton Inn".

http://livesofthefamily.com/

[lrt's friend]

Yes, the old Colonial Coach Bus Station was on Albert Street, I believe on the north side between Bank and Kent. It was there until around latter 1960s when the new station opened on Catharine Street. Those were the days when a downtown bus station and train station were more important because both provided commuter services that gradually died off as rural families became multiple car owners.

[NOWINYOW]

I couldn't remember the exact name of the terminal. Thanks for the name clarification! So it was on Albert street. I thought so. Now I have a point of reference.

I'm hoping my web searches will lead to a few picture finds. I've been able to find pictures of the Montreal and Toronto Colonial stations.

[J.OT13]

Urbsite Lord Elgin Hotel;

http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/06/the-lord-elgin-hotel-part-i.html

Link from Urbsite (historical photographs of various buildings with then and now comparisons);

http://www.ottawahh.com/

[lrt's friend]

I couldn't remember the exact name of the terminal. Thanks for the name clarification! So it was on Albert street. I thought so. Now I have a point of reference.

I'm hoping my web searches will lead to a few picture finds. I've been able to find pictures of the Montreal and Toronto Colonial stations.

I haven't been in the Catharine Street bus station in a long time. Sometimes historic pictures are displayed in public buildings such as this. A good place to look to see if a photo of the old station is located there.

[lrt's friend]

Here everybody is the write up about the Colonial Coach Bus Terminal grand opening on Albert Street including pictures. It only dated back to 1950. It includes the history of Colonial Coach Lines which became Voyageur in the 1960s. The coverage ran over a number of pages.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VbQvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mtwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2535,1148250&dq=albert+street+bus+station+ottawa&hl=en

[J.OT13]

Here everybody is the write up about the Colonial Coach Bus Terminal grand opening on Albert Street including pictures. It only dated back to 1950. It includes the history of Colonial Coach Lines which became Voyageur in the 1960s. The coverage ran over a number of pages.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VbQvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mtwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2535,1148250&dq=albert+street+bus+station+ottawa&hl=en

Cool. Thanks!

[NOWINYOW]

Here everybody is the write up about the Colonial Coach Bus Terminal grand opening on Albert Street including pictures. It only dated back to 1950. It includes the history of Colonial Coach Lines which became Voyageur in the 1960s. The coverage ran over a number of pages.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VbQvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mtwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2535,1148250&dq=albert+street+bus+station+ottawa&hl=en

Awesome find!! Thanks for this!

I wonder what ever happened to the planned convention centre just west of the new terminal??

Great read!

[NOWINYOW]

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VbQvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mtwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2535,1148250&dq=albert+street+bus+station+ottawa&hl=en

Page 85 has a few photos of Ogilvy's on Rideau. Much of the newspaper has coverage of the recent passing of former PM William Lyon McKenzie King. Bonus reading material!

[lrt's friend]

Awesome find!! Thanks for this!

I wonder what ever happened to the planned convention centre just west of the new terminal??

Great read!

I know I am showing my age, but I remember the radio jingle for Colonial Coach Lines

It went something like this

"Everybody is going by Colonial, glad you know the reason why"

I remember the tales my family told me of riding a Colonial commuter route. It was a different era. People got to know their neighbours much better and let their hair down. My cousins still talk about the fun they had travelling out from the Albert Street terminal and the characters that rode the bus with them.

[drawarc]

From Lost Ottawa page on Facebook. Video from 1968 showing various parts of city and landmarks:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151468248067811

[J.OT13]

From Lost Ottawa page on Facebook. Video from 1968 showing various parts of city and landmarks:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151468248067811

I thought the Varette building was built in 72'. Cool to see Woolworths and the all out decorated Freiman's. Weird to see the Mackenzie King as an actual Bridge for the whole length.

I wish I could have been there in those days.

[drawarc]

Yeah, downtown and Rideau street looked much different. Found it funny seeing the Queensway with a large grassy median, and the then small Loblaws on Baseline before being expanded.

[lrt's friend]

That was the way that Ottawa looked when I was growing up. The big EB Eddy pulp mill across from the Parliament Buildings in Hull. The log booms in the river. The way the Sparks Street Mall looked like after it was made permanent in the mid 60s. The colour scheme of the buses from 1960 until when OC Transpo came into being in the early 70s. The way things looked just after the railways were taken out of downtown. The very new NAC. The presence of elm trees still before Dutch Elm disease got almost all of them. The way they used to decorate the stores on Rideau for Christmas.

[kevinbottawa]

I just visited http://www.ottawahh.com for the first time. Just when you think there are enough of these websites showing historical pics of the city someone comes out with a new concept. Here a blend of Metcalfe and Laurier in the 1930s and 2013.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yBj4A_SU-GI/UfrIBlUltRI/AAAAAAAACtc/91b5ksTsElI/w769-h574-no/capture-20130801-163401.png

[J.OT13]

I just visited http://www.ottawahh.com for the first time. Just when you think there are enough of these websites showing historical pics of the city someone comes out with a new concept. Here a blend of Metcalfe and Laurier in the 1930s and 2013.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yBj4A_SU-GI/UfrIBlUltRI/AAAAAAAACtc/91b5ksTsElI/w769-h574-no/capture-20130801-163401.png

The Carnegie Library was a huge loss. What were they thinking?

[drawarc]

Found this on flickr, Ottawa Vintage Photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdb466/sets/72157629596009739/) by Ross Dunn. Lots of old pics.

[NOWINYOW]

Found this on flickr, Ottawa Vintage Photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdb466/sets/72157629596009739/) by Ross Dunn. Lots of old pics.

Great find! Thanks for sharing!

[J.OT13]

I thought the Capitol Theatre was on the south east corner of Bank and Queen where the Sun Life complex is, but it was in the south west, torn down for this piece (left of picture) of junk!!!

http://www.pastottawa.com/include/ottawa/images/presentphoto/640/corner_bank_queen_street_ottawa_2013_1364063529.jpg

[J.OT13]

Just found this on Vintage Ottawa Facebook page, the Larocque Department Store, now Mercury Court, couldn't find the same angle;

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p480x480/537102_607526349258952_1375585388_n.jpg

http://photos.wikimapia.org/p/00/00/16/30/53_big.jpg

[Norman Bates]

I was in there once in the late '70s. It was like a French-Canadian Ogilvy's.

[lrt's friend]

I found the Larocque Department Store picture elsewhere and the photo was dated November 6, 1971. This was the first sign of the demise of the downtown department stores as the suburban malls took over. My mom used to shop there.

[Norman Bates]

I wonder if it was called something other than Larocque when I went there?

It would have been fall 1978 or more likely 1979.

[J.OT13]

Here are a few of the early proposals for Place Bell.

This one I find has a lot of similarities to the DND HQ;
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Boch5Qsr9pM/Uh__WGEi6jI/AAAAAAAAMcE/QGOLjEpbVYA/s1600/MiguelezCA023098.jpg

This one was re-adopted (according to the site) for l'Esplanade;
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nefUQwUznTU/Uh__i291fzI/AAAAAAAAMcA/DeHb0uodqPo/s1600/MiguelezCA023099.jpg

This one is very similar to what we ended up with but with a flat roof with overhang;
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vcwTw4hjGk/Uh__0ijRcXI/AAAAAAAAMcs/9bVu3EtLo1E/s1600/belltel.JPG

And what we ended up with, possibly my favourite of the bunch (picture before "light restrictions";
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GW4rknH_cII/UiAAHa-NUuI/AAAAAAAAMc8/e_RKbV16nng/s1600/MiguelezCA023100.tif

Midcentury Modernist says that the parking garage next door (part of the Place Bell complex) use to have the same cladding, but due to salt damage, they rebuilt it with the more durable metal strips.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7L5TbN95rRY/UiAANL6ozAI/AAAAAAAAMdM/CJFpb2f40ow/s1600/P8280051.JPG

And a bit on Bill Teron; his first office building was the following on what is today the Place Bell site (demolished 5 years after construction for Place Bell);
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6RfYOOvH0Rg/UiAAqHU_YOI/AAAAAAAAMeE/UOMciZS4ZfU/s1600/SmytheCA022899.jpg

His second building is the one on the corner of O'Connor and Laurier, across for the old EDC (Plaza 234) and next to the new EDC. That building was given a new skin at some point, but the original is still visible on the back (but largely obscured by the new EDC). I figure there used to be windows between the ridges.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sGYel68WyE/UiAA5LzwteI/AAAAAAAAMe4/Y2ma-E8wFJg/s1600/IMGP09589.JPG

Not on Urbsite, but interesting fact, but Teron also built the former Delta complex across the street from his rival's Place de Ville. The complex is now owned by Morguard.
http://www.letsbookhotel.com/img/max300/118/11836709.jpg
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/canada/ontario/ottawa/delta-ottawa-hotel-suites.jpg

Urbsite link; http://urbsite.blogspot.ca/2013/09/playing-with-elgin-street-blocks.html

[lrt's friend]

I don't think this has appeared before, but I could be wrong. Lots of great Ottawa photos with historic photos superimposed with the same current view.

Past and Present Ottawa: http://www.pastottawa.com/

Check out the Gallery and the slider on each photo that allows you to move back and forth between the present and the past. Very well done.

[J.OT13]

I don't think this has appeared before, but I could be wrong. Lots of great Ottawa photos with historic photos superimposed with the same current view.

Past and Present Ottawa: http://www.pastottawa.com/

Check out the Gallery and the slider on each photo that allows you to move back and forth between the present and the past. Very well done.

It was posted a while a go, but it is always good to have it reposted for those who didn't see it/added to their favourites.

It's very well done. :tup:

[drawarc]

Found these on Ebay:


George street with trolley right of way, 1973:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ORIGINAL-SLIDE-BUS-OTC-OTTAWA-TROLLEY-RIGHT-OF-WAY-KODACHROME-1973-GEORGE-STREET-/171124285668?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d7cd60e4
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/ORIGINAL-SLIDE-BUS-OTC-OTTAWA-TROLLEY-RIGHT-OF-WAY-KODACHROME-1973-GEORGE-STREET-/00/s/NzU4WDExMDY=/z/eD0AAMXQigBSL7bB/$(KGrHqEOKpYFIs7fSD3CBSL7b!b44w~~60_57.JPG
Similar vantage point today:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=45.428252,-75.689514&spn=0.003735,0.010568&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=45.428299,-75.689402&panoid=_OrrCJ5ikmqnA67Z9CAu3g&cbp=12,75.68,,0,-2.57


Another pic of George street, 1973:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OTTAWA-BUS-SLIDE-OCT-7317-GM-NEW-LOOK-1973-ORIGINAL-/400559521817?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d43354019
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/OTTAWA-BUS-SLIDE-OCT-7317-GM-NEW-LOOK-1973-ORIGINAL-/00/s/MTA2MFgxNjAw/z/bwcAAOxyE3pSGOqB/$T2eC16J,!)EE9s2ufWGSBSGOq!ey5w~~60_57.JPG
Today:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=45.427462,-75.689653&spn=0.003735,0.010568&t=m&layer=c&cbll=45.427994,-75.690368&panoid=EZ27qSRTu9xYjS8-uzgr4g&cbp=12,80.57,,1,-0.64&z=17


Postcard of Rideau street in front of Ogilvy's, with glass enclosures and an old Orion-Ikarus bus, mid 80s:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/OC-Transpo-Articulated-Bus-8504-Ogilvys-Rideau-Transit-Mall-Bus-Postcard-/00/s/OTQwWDE1NDI=/$(KGrHqVHJFIF!8E+vphKBQQ-7nwykQ~~60_57.JPG
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OC-Transpo-Articulated-Bus-8504-Ogilvys-Rideau-Transit-Mall-Bus-Postcard-/400558237067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4321a58b

[1overcosc]

The streetcar tracks were still there in 1973? Did it really take Ottawa that long to remove them all?

[lrt's friend]

Yes, I remember visible streetcar tracks in the market in the 1970s. Also, in a parking lot on Albert Street west of Bank Street. You could see the outline of an old building in that parking lot. Was this where streetcars were manufactured in Ottawa?

[Harley613]

THAT IS SO AWESOME. I love these old shots. I miss the ol' Ikarus. They were so insanely loud and intense. I think I heard they ended up in Cuba.

[Norman Bates]

Yes, I remember visible streetcar tracks in the market in the 1970s. Also, in a parking lot on Albert Street west of Bank Street. You could see the outline of an old building in that parking lot. Was this where streetcars were manufactured in Ottawa?

Yeah, I remember that too. It was where Constituion Square is now.

[Norman Bates]

THAT IS SO AWESOME. I love these old shots. I miss the ol' Ikarus. They were so insanely loud and intense. I think I heard they ended up in Cuba.

I drove an Ikarus once on a closed course at Landsdowne Park. Intense is the word.

[J.OT13]

Yes, I remember visible streetcar tracks in the market in the 1970s. Also, in a parking lot on Albert Street west of Bank Street. You could see the outline of an old building in that parking lot. Was this where streetcars were manufactured in Ottawa?

I don't think so. The streetcar garages were situated on the site Place de Ville sits today (phase I if I'm not mistaken). Who knows, they might have had 2-3 blocks of streetcar garages.

[drawarc]

Aerial pic of downtown, mid 70s.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1255486_10151893764731181_1076338516_n.jpg

Source:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151893764731181&set=o.380334048732492&type=3&theater

[S-Man]

Wow - that's a lot of surface parking and boxy midrises.

Just think - they could have gone much taller than they did in a few of those locations. Would that have been so bad?

[OTSkyline]

Wow for 1970's that was pretty good..

To say that now in 2013 not much has changed except that these surface parking have been turned into more of these boxy midrises :yuck:

[J.OT13]

Aerial pic of downtown, mid 70s.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1255486_10151893764731181_1076338516_n.jpg

Source:https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151893764731181&set=o.380334048732492&type=3&theater

That is awesome!

Place de Ville dominates downtown, only one John Edmonds, no Constitution Square or Minto Place, L'Esplanade Laurier U/C, Hunter Building still standing, original Bank of Canada standing by itself...

The Centennial (cruciform building, lower, left) building looked so much better back then!

[MountainView]

The river looks like the Caribbean!!

But honestly, Place de Ville could have been 40+ storeys and no 'views' would have been harmed. Downtown would be a much different place now if 30 years ago things would have been built differently. Hope everyone likes Canyons, because that's what we have now! Albeit, dense Canyons.

[Harley613]

The river looks like the Caribbean!!

But honestly, Place de Ville could have been 40+ storeys and no 'views' would have been harmed. Downtown would be a much different place now if 30 years ago things would have been built differently. Hope everyone likes Canyons, because that's what we have now! Albeit, dense Canyons.

Ottawa does have some incredible density for a city of it's size. When we get a couple 40+ story buildings in centretown it'll be quite the skyline!