Ottawa: Then and Now

[amanfromnowhere]

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



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]

Originally Posted by Admiral Nelson

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

City Hall?

[amanfromnowhere]

Originally Posted by McC

City Hall?

yes... from wiki:

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[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/wikipedi...ion_Square.jpg

The Post Office and Russell House Hotel to the left


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_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.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[citizen j]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ion_Square.jpg

The Post Office and Russell House Hotel to the left


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_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



Note: archive picture was taken in 1938

http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/03/29/w...-bay-and-lyon/

[amanfromnowhere]

just love this picture:



taken from Centretowner blog

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by amanfromnowhere

just love this picture:



taken from Centretowner blog

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.

[OTSkyline]

Originally Posted by 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/wikipedi...ion_Square.jpg

The Post Office and Russell House Hotel to the left


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_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

[Winnipegger@Heart]

Wow, what a find. Thanks!

[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://spacingottawa.ca/2012/03/01/c...s-1935-c-2012/

[amanfromnowhere]

Intersection Sussex & Rideau – ~1910 versus 2012



By Alexandre Laquerre

http://spacingottawa.ca/2012/02/16/i...0-versus-2012/