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LA Established in 1967 HERITAGE Winter 1998 Celebrating our 30th year RNOTTAWA L~J Volume 25, No. 1 Dedicated to Preserving Our Built Heritage How to Save a Farm : Central President's Address Experimental Farm Designated a by Carolyn Quinn National Historic Site I would like to take this opportunity by Jean Palmer to thank the Board ofDirectorsfor appointing me President of Ottawa's heritage community hails the recent announcement that the Heritage Ottawa and to introduce members who were Central Experimental Farm has been designated a National Historic Site myselfto those by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board ofCanada, a move that will go unable to attend our Annual a long way towardprotecting the buildings now slatedfor demolition, and General Meeting last October slow down any plans to sell offvaluable landfor real estate development. Those of you who did attend no doubt Early in 1996 rumours ofthe impending Rosebrugh, met with the Director ofthe enjoyed the interesting and entertaining demolition ofthe Booth Barn complex Central Experimental Farm and secured a talk given by our guest speaker first focussed Heritage Ottawa's attention promise that there would be consultation Councillor and past-President Richard on the Farm buildings. with community groups before demoli- Cannings entitled, "Sex, Lies, and One of the oldest buildings on the Farm, tion. The letter and promise rest in Heritage Conservation" . The chuckles and part of J.R. Booth's farm holdings, Heritage Ottawa files. could not be contained! the Booth Barn was not considered to be Meanwhile Ottawa's Local Archi- With a background in history and her- ofheritage value in a federal heritage tectural Advisory Committee (LACAC) itage conservation I have become a pas- review, and was one of forty buildings to researched the history and architecture of sionate believer in the need to preserve be demolished as surplus to the needs of the cluster of farm buildings forming a those historic buildings and landscapes the Farm. courtyard of silos and sheds that comprise that remain the artifacts of our collective A coordinated effort by heritage groups the Booth Barn complex, and advised the past. And I am enjoying the challenges saved the Booth Barn from demolition City of Ottawa to give them heritage des- that the important position my colleagues and led ultimately to the National ignation under the Ontario Heritage Act. have bestowed upon me is bringing. Historic Site designation for the entire Acting on the advice ofthe Advisory Our goals for the near future include Farm. Each group had a role to play. Committee, the City of Ottawa designated rejuvenating our membership rolls and Friends ofthe Farm are a support the Booth Barn, and promptly received a recruiting new members for the Board. group to the Farm, but they are there on letter from Agriculture Canada opposing And I believe that if we are to be suc- sufferance. Any active lobbying to oppose the designation and stating that federal cessful we must face head-on the eco- Agriculture Canada's demolition plans is land and facilities are not subject to nomic realities of this our last decade of out ofthe question. Heritage Ottawa has municipal by-laws. the 20th century and the shifting social no such qualms. It exists to preserve the An Ontario Conservation Review values that accompany them. Heritage built heritage and speaks out through the was held in January 1997, to rule on the Ottawa's goals for the 21st century use of the media, and by phone calls, dispute. Amazingly, Agriculture Canada include the creation ofpartnerships with letters and demonstrations. In this case the did not show up for the hearing, but other sectors like business and tourism. Heritage Ottawa President, then Jennifer Continued page 2 Continued page 2 Experimental Farm con'd tion crew. The demolition was called off. President's con's Meanwhile Ottawa LACAC had Heritage Ottawa, Heritage Canada and already been working on another recom- We must not be perceived as the LACAC were all there to support her- mendation; that the entire Central nemesis of the business community; recy- itage designation . The hearing recom- Experimental Farm be designated a cling and reusing a heritage building mended that the Barn be preserved at its Cultural Landscape ofNational Historic makes economic and ecological sense. present site as a heritage property, and it Significance. LACAC prepared a resolu- The spin-offs are numerous as can be rebuked Agriculture Canada for not tion pointing out that the Farm, estab- seen in the tourism industry where attending the hearing, advising them to lished in 1886, was nationally important growth has been linked directly to the consult with the community. for its historical role as a model of appeal of heritage related sites and The next crisis came when an amateur farming techniques, for its scientific events. Ottawa benefitted directly by the photographer saw radiators and lamp fix- achievements, including the development success of heritage conservation when tures being deposited in a dumpster out- ofMarquis wheat, a frost-resistant, early- Nortel decided to expand its Carling side #26, on Winding Lane, a red-brick maturing wheat that led to the Canadian Avenue business campus and hire 5,000 1920s house on the Farm. The workmen prairies becoming one ofthe great wheat- new employees. The headline in the told him the building was to be demol- producing areas ofthe world. The recom- Ottawa Citizen's June 7th edition this ished in the next few days. The photogra- mendation also stressed the role of the past Summer read: "Ottawa Lifestyle pher raised the alarm, phoning Heritage Farm in the nations's capital. Wins Nortel Over". Heritage as a very Ottawa and the Heritage Section ofCity It may be useful to track the sequence. visible part ofthe city's lifestyle is a sig- Hall, and appearing before a LACAC LACAC prepared the recommendation nificant dimension that createsjobs and meeting. and asked Ottawa City Council to send attracts employers. Once again the Heritage Ottawa Presi- it to the Historic Sites and Monuments Yet, we must avoid the danger of com- dent met with the media and expressed Board for study and consideration. City promising heritage by turning it into a her outrage that the Farm's Director had Council passed the resolution and for- commodity. There is a danger that her- broken a pledge to seek public input warded it to the HSMB, who studied the itage buildings will be reduced to their before destroying buildings. Heritage recommendation, did further research, decorative components; components that Ottawa contacted CTV and a television and in their annual June meeting passed can be bought off the shelf as people camera was on hand to film the demoli- a motion to declare the Central Experi- attempt to "create" heritage for them- mental Farm a National Historic Site. selves. Oddly enough, neither Agriculture So what then must accompany a shift Canada nor the Department ofHeritage to stressing the economic benefits of her- made the announcement for another six itage conservation? The answer. is simply months. Finally, early in February 1998, education . We must emphasize the impor- a hasty news conference was called at tance ofgoing beyond the heritage facade the Farm, and the designation was to rooting it in a sense of community and ItERITAGE I:~J announce by Agriculture Canada . a a sense of place. Keeping historic build- Ire, happy outcome for Friends ofthe Farm, ings alive by keeping people connected to J Heritage Ottawa, Heritage Canada, the not just the buildings themselves but the MOTTAWA photographer who had raised the alarm, stories associated with them is crucial; LACAC who had prepared the recom- this is the information that links our her- mendation, City Council who had passed itage buildings to their locations and to Heritage Ottawa is a non-profit organisation the recommendation and sent it on to their communities . dedicated to advocating the preservation, Historic Sites and Monuments In this pursuit Heritage Ottawa will restoration, and adaptive re-use of the the the momentum. generated by last National Capital's built and natural heritage . Board, and to all concerned citizens who maintain support heritage conservation . It takes season's successful Walking Tours Membership fees: Individual $25; us all to save our old buildings and to Program. The 1998 season promises to be Family $30; Student/Senior $15; gain protection for our historic and more extensive and equally interesting Patron $50; Corporation $75 beloved Central Experimental Farm. It and entertaining. I would like to extend a Heritage Ottawa, 2 Daly Avenue, is a satisfying achievement . special thank you to all the volunteers Ottawa, ON, K1N 6E2, Tel. 230-8841 Sadly, heritage designation does not who helped to make the Walking Tours ISSN 1483-9032 guarantee that building and farmlands Program so successful: Louisa Coates, remain intact. It does however gain time Jennifer Rosebrugh, Paul Stumes, Newsletter Editor: Carolyn Quinn and consultation before decisions are Stephane Hoffman ; Hagitt Hadaya; Judy Layout: Heather Freeman made. 38 Deagan, David McKay and Curtis HERITAGE OTTAWA Keeble. I look forward to working with you again this season! There is so much work to be done; more than our available people power can The Victoria & Chaudiere Islands accomplish. Please phone the Heritage Ottawa office at 230-8841 if you have District in Canada's Capital even the smallest amount oftime to donate-it is the accumulation of all our by Mark Brandt, Architect, O.A.A. efforts, large and not so large that keep volunteer organizations like ours alive. The Victoria and Chaudiere Islands district is one ofsignificant local Before closing I would like to thank and national heritage importance. The Historic Sites and Monuments President Jennifer Rosebrugh for our past Board ofCanada has recognized this as part ofa comprehensive study her dedication and hard work that led to many success stories over the past two ofhistoric industrial sites across Canada.