Feds save grillwork Paul Stumes Forced retirementat age 65 is not the rule anymore at the Federal Government . Age discrimination isout and one may HERITAGE r"111002 work until one reaches 120-years-old, or until one expires (whichever comes first). Thispolicy, however, does not apply to elevators. 0a After 70 years of faithful service, the elevators at the GovernmentConference Centre, oppositetheChateauLaurier, were sacked. Our Built Heritage Dedicated to Preserving An example of the Roman Classical Revival style, the Vol. 19, No. 1, Summer, 1992 conference centre was built in 1912 as the for the Grand TrunkRailwayCompany. Lateritbecame knownas Union Station, serving both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific trains.Aftera station was constructed in AltaVista, in President's Message 1967, the building was converted to its presentuse. Louise Coates Over the past 70 years, the original elevators have been Last summer marked a new erafor Heritage Ottawa. cruising inside a very ornatecage, at a leisurely pace, up and Afterthree successful years ofheritage promotion and rally- down five floors. The cage was constructedfrom cast iron and ing public support for such buildings as Windsor House wrought iron components, creating an exquisite decorative (Dalhousie and Rideau) and the Byward Market's 19th cen- grillwork. cont'd on page two tury architecture, Richard Cannings stepped down as presi- dent. Today he continues to champion our architectural heritage at City Hall as Councillor for By-Rideau ward. On behalf ofthe Board, Richard, thank-you for ajob well done! As president of our 300-strong membership, I am thrilled to leadthe organization and speak out on behalfofthe few gracious old buildings we have left in Ottawa. Since last fall, we have set up regular Sunday tours of the Aberdeen Pavilion and its neighbour, the Horticulture Building. Council is soon todecide ifthe Watson-Humeplan -abare-bones renovation ofthe buildings-will be put into action. Our December demonstration and February public lecture and rally aroused the support of hundreds of local citizens, whose signatures were sent to City Hall. We are hoping this made an impression on Council. We lost the last fall, after a fight that Courtesy,Cityof0twwa began in the 1970s and ended when its owner, the National A bronze plaque on this gem . at 92 Stanley St., in New Capital Commission, figured demolition was easier than Edinburgh, now offers a brief bilingual description of its finding areplacementfor bankrupt developer Coop-Dev. We heritage significance. Late last year, the City of Ottawa are aghast at the decision and nowknow that the NCC isnot approved installation ofplaques on halfa dozen properties. ajudicious proprietor ofthe city's historicbuildings and must (see related story, page 4) be watched carefully . In its hands lie several outstanding examples ofearly Ottawa architecture. "An Architecture of Place" In the heartofthe city;opposite the War Memorial, the Variations in three Romantic Landscapes NCC-owned Chambers Building has languished empty for three years. 's Catholic Institut Jeanne D'Arc An Upcoming Lecture buildings also stand vacant. Recently,.the wonderful gray by Heritage OttawaBoard Member that housed Guadalaharry's restaurant was stone structure and architecture critic vacated because the tenants couldn't afford the NCC's enor- Rhys mous rent increase. contdpage two Phillips grillwork... DON'T MISS (from page one)

Unfortunately, as time went oncer- tain changes were made. First, the el- bition Halls evator shaft wasenclosedtoprevent the spread of fire. Then the ironwork was repainted tomid-century hippie shades, distorting its artistry. HeritageOttawawilloperate abooth Finally, the maladies of old age at the Canadian College of Teachers reachedthe machinery. Sometimes, the national convention, July 4-6, at the commonwea.ithe elevators stopped unexpectedly, leav ParkLane Hotel. Drop in and look at our ing VIPs and foreign dignitaries sus- books and souvenirs for sale. lary that Was pended between floors. The time came During Architecture Week to retire the old elevators and install 1992 - Fri., Sept 18, until Sun., new, more dependable, electronically- Sept. 27 - Heritage Ottawa will A Lecture controlled hoists. host anumber ofevents, including a by This renovation, which began in Cattle Castle art contest for local January, gave an opportunity to the Fed- Fern Graham artists. Apanel ofexperts willchoose eral Heritage Building ReviewBoard to architectural historian the winner, who will receive a cash and orderreinstatement oftheartistic iron- original prominence. Plans prize. Watch for posters and an- Heritage Ottawa work to its for the work were prepared at Public nouncements around town. Board Member WorksCanadabyarchitect Gregory Utas Our annual general meeting and engineer Chester Kukulka. For takes place in November., It will project management, PWChired Herit- give members a chance to meet the Details in fall newsletter age Ottawa Board Member and well- Board and discuss issues. See you known conservator of historic monu- there! ments Paul Stumes. Since the ornamental ironwork was to have no functional role with the new elevators, Stumes designed a concealed steel structure to hold thecomponents in President's Grange place. The sensitive task of reassem- bling the 70-year-old pieces was given Message... to Regional Iron Works, an Ottawa firm burns (from page one) One ofHeritageOttawa's found- who stripped and refinished them to ers suffered a devastating loss ofarchi- resemble the original 1912metallic col- We hope the Daly fiasco does not tectural and cultural heritage when his ours. repeat itself and that the lifeblood of sprawlingl9thCentury loghomebumed Completed in late May, the rein- historic Ottawa is not spilled through this spring. stated grillwork provides an imposing NCC indifference.And weare opposed WriterBobPhillips-who in the facade at the entrance tothe new eleva to any building replacing the Daly be- late 1960s was instrumental in laying tors at every floor, and a proud display cause it would set a terrible precedent the groundwork for Heritage Ottawa, to foreignvisitors ofthe artistic skills of for otherNCC properties. With a 20% along,with his wife, Mary-Anne-lost Canadian craftsmen . vacancy rateforoffice space, taxpayers a treasure trove of antiques, artifacts, shouldn'tbe funding the construction of books, and art when his Cantley home new office buildings. wasdestroyedbyanearly-momingelec- Many challenges remain in 1992. trical fire on April 27.None of the many We hope you will continue to support outbuildings at Phillips' rustic spread, us. Please call us at 230-8841 if you The Grange, were touched, and Bob want to get involved. Oncethese build- escaped unharmed . ings are gone, they are gone forever. May Court Coup Louise Coates Built by Sir Alexander Campbell, then Minister of The Chelsea Club, a residential and social club for Justice, 236 Metcalfe was laterowned by SirJohn Carling (the women,and 1883 heritage building at Metcalfe and Somerset author's great-grandfather), Sir Louis Henry Davies, and Streets, wasrecently renovated and then dressed up by Otta- William S. Fielding. In 1925, the building was sold to agroup wa'sbest in the field ofinteriordesign. ofwomen from theCanadian Club; the next year, the Chelsea The project, which was completed May 14, was organ- Club was formed. ized by the MayCourt Club ofOttawa, a charitable organiza- The club now features a lemon-coloured livingroom, tionthatruns aconvalescenthome for women. The MayCourt with grand piano, and a sunroom with a gently splashing searched for a heritage building in need of renovation and fountain. The 13 bedrooms and six bathrooms ofthe three- contracted lighting specialists, graphic artists, carpenters, storey building were alsorenovated and decorated. painters, florists, and antique dealers, at the sametime offer- When the public viewing wasover, designers took with ing them exposure by arranging a May 14 -June 14 public them theirfurniture and decorations, but thecarpentry work viewing of the Chelsea Club. A temporary tea room and and paintjobs remain, as well as fond memories of how a giftshop were setup in the basement to raise money. heritage house can look in its finest attire. would Lady Aberdeen say now? WhatJean Palmer Aqueasy travellerby sea, Lady Aberdeen, nonetheless, the Fair each week) there was a remarkable absence of any bravedthe "wild waves ofthe ocean" for twotripsto Canada disorderly conduct orunseemly language. All strangers are before arriving for the third time in 1893 to accompany her struckby thegood behavior ofthe crowd, andby the evidence husband Lord Aberdeen,newly-appointedGovernor-General it gives ofthe high moral tone in Canada." ofCanada. She adds, "No intoxicating drinks aresold on the grounds Her accounts ofthe firsttwojourneys were written "for during the Fair." the information and amusement of the Members of the On- Lord Aberdeen had the honour of opening the 1891 ward and Upward Association," and published intheir maga TorontoFair, after which Lady Aberdeen dashed aboutpho- zine in 1891-1892. In 1893, theywerecollected and published tographing the exhibits . "Iought to tell you of all the strange as abook, "Through Canada With A Kodak." implements for sowing andreaping andbindingand digging... This little volume, containing also herphotographs and and then we ought to stand in the ring and see the Herefords, sketches, shows a young woman enchanted with her travels, and Shorthorns and ourown Aberdeen-Angus cattlebeing led andis ratherpoignant reading acenturylater, asherhusband's out, and the Clydesdales too and thewonderfuljumping horse memorial, Ottawa's shabby but spirited Aberdeen Pavilion, Rosebery who cleared the seven-footjump easily." faces an uncertain future. This breathless accountends "and then there are the birds Ofparticular interest is her enthusiasm for fairs. Seven and the insects and the snakes to be seen." years before thePavillion was built she writes: At the Hamilton Fair she gasps, "Why have I not a "I promised to escort you to some of the well-known photograph to show youthe long piled-uptables covered with Autumn Fairs ofCanada. .... buthow can I dojustice to all that lovely clusters ofbloom-covered grapes?" we saw?" Heraccount ofthe OttawaFair opened byLord Aberdeen Heraccountof "Canada's Greatest Fair" mentionsToron- mentions the parade. "Afterthecattle andthecarthorses came to's60-acre fairgrounds "on which handsome buildings have some fast-trotting carriage horses, and among these were a been erected forexhibition purposes, too small now for the pair ofblack horses which Lord Aberdeen admired so much exhibition of all the stock brought from all parts of the thathe boughtthem and shipped them home ." Dominion, not to speakofthe agricultural machinery in which It comes as no surprise that Lord Aberdeen also opened Canadaexcels, and the specimens of manufactured goods of the Fair in Vernon, B.C., nor that once again he bought the every description, from pianos and organs and really beautiful team ofhorses that won first prize. articles of furniture down to the humblest of household Those trainjourneys across Canada in 1891 and'92 were necessaries." private pleasure trips, butLord and Lady Aberdeen chose the She goes on, "Andnot only the useful was provided for, Autumn Fair as the focus for their itinerary . To have been butthe ornamental and the amusing alsowere given their full honoured in 1898 as Governor-General by having Ottawa's place. Trotting horses, the Wild West Show, jugglers and new Fairground building named after him must have de- acrobats were all to hand. And in spite ofthe vast concourse lighted Lord Aberdeen, and also the young woman on the assemblingdaily (itis reckoned that300,000visitorsattended platformbeside him on Opening Day, the one with theKodak, Ishbel, Lady Aberdeen.

HELP! Cohen takes City prize Heritage 0ttawn Award of Excellence Infill wizard Barry Hobin and needs voIUnteers Winning the in the restoration category attheCity of CharlesfortDevelopmentCorp . won one Ottawa's Heritage Day ceremony was oftwo Awards ofExcellence in theinfill Can you devote a I i the the former St. Louis Hotel, at 41 York category for the Batrett Laneproject at time -- even a couple of St. 215 St. Patrick St. The new building, hours a month -- to fund Owner Eric Cohen hired architect which recalls mid-to-late19th Century raisingprojects, setting Julian Smith, Cimmeron Development, Byward Market architecture, was in- up I ectures or pub I i c dem- and UniatDesign Management to carry serted between a stoneand brick build- onstrations, lobbying, of- out the restoration of the 1874-1875 ing of the period. The new structure is featuring a fice work, etc? stone and brick building, which had divided into two bays, each become a mongrel through years ofne- wooden porch characteristic ofthe street. If so, write us at the glect andrenovation. Charlesfort won a second plaque address on the membership In the adaptive re-use category, the for its role in the Leaning and Associ- form below, or call 230 Champagne Bath at 321 King Edward ates infill project at 90-96 Flora. Two 8841 and leave a message . Ave. took the honours forajointeffort units were inserted among three late by the City departments ofRecreation 19th Century clapboard houses. Car- and Culture and Housing and Property. men Scaffidi Argentina, C.S.A. Devel- Receiving framed certificates as well opment Incorporated, and the Leaning were Robert Halsall and Associates, firm also received plaques. Goodkey Weedmark and Associates, Leaning and Assoc. won a second Cow Palace Tours and R.J. Nicol Construction . plaque for the new Keg Restaurant at 75 Builtin 1921-1922, the Champagne York, fortheir matingof contemporary Free Sunday tours ofthe Aberdeen Bath was designed by noted Ottawa forms with the spirit and scale of the Pavillion, affectionately known as the architect W.E. Noffke. Work included Market. Ed. Brunet et fils Ltee. won a Cattle Castle, will run to theend ofJune enhancement of interior and exterior plaque forthe project as well. and probably through the summer. architectural finishes, updating ofme- Aone-hour slide show in the Horti- chanical and electrical systems, in- culture Building, prepared by architec- sertion of an elevator, and the addition tural historian G6rard Robard, begins at of a glass-roofed atrium on the south 2 pm, and is followedby a walk about sideto enlarge the pool deck and house the Castle. asauna.

Membership Application HERITAGE OTTAWA NEWSLETTER issty osos-o5o6 standard membership ...... $20.00 senior citizen or student ...... $10.00 Contributors: Louise Coates patron ...... $50.00 or more Jean Palmer Paul Stumes Name_ Address: Editing and Layout: Alan de Chezet Postal Code: Mailing Address: Heritage Ottawa Telephone: (home) (business) 2 Daly Avenue Please forward with payment to: Heritage Ottawa Ottawa, Ont. 2 Daly Ave. KIN 6E2 Ottawa, Ont. KIN 6E2 _...... _...... -...... _...... Heritage Information Updates--.....-..._...... Heritage Ottawa Celebrates 25 Years The City and Heritage Ottawa believe attended the Rideau St . Convent . Heritage Ottawa is celebrating its 25th food selling is crucial to keeping the A 100-year-old woman remembered of Ottawa hired a when the Aberdeen Pavilion was year in 1992. In early August, a party in market alive. The City prepared an ini- being erected. the Gatineau rounded up former and consultant group which meet this goal. These current members (including youngest tial list of ways to A model of the revitalized Cattle Castle market build- member, three-month-old Mary Irwin) include turning the central was generously made available buy to discuss heritage buildings and the ing into food stores, having the City by , and sales of books having the City group's direction . Founding member out Loeb's properties, or and cards earned money for Heritage and sublet to retailers . Bob Phillips said Heritage Ottawa must rent from Loeb Ottawa's work. To all those (including involved in these continue to be a force that "developers Heritage Ottawa is the above-mentioned centenarian) ensure that don't want to tackle." discussions and will try to who guessed that the photo featuring is not controlled the area's development pigs and wooden shacks was Sparks afford Byward Market Plan only by those who can Street in the late 1800s, congratulations! Is there a plan, a vision, for how the 1994 rents. Byward Market should develop over the 44 Bolton St. : Canada Exhibition next decade? Or should we allow com- Central In July, when Ottawans were on holi- mercial forces to control its fate? In two Heritage Ottawa maintained a booth day, the NCC demolished a charming, years, leases will expire for most of the at this year's Central Canada Exhibition, turn-of-the-century house in Lowertown . food retailers along the west side of August 20 to 30. Crowded among funk The owner realized renovations would Byward St. The owner of many of these rappers and karate classes, our stand be costly, called in the fire marshal[ properties, Loeb Inc., may raise rents in attracted many people with an interest to condemn it, and refused to sell it to line with property values. A likely sce- in Ottawa history. Photos of Wallis an interested buyer. We suspect the nario is that the 15 or so retailers will be House provoked memories for Armed NCC has future plans for a building on forced out. Forces visitors; many viewers had also the property.

-...... King Edward Avenue Community Improvement Plan -.....-"------°-°

by Corofine Guay On July 9th, The plan illustrates how the section Rideau Street and the creation of approved the conceptual design for the of King Edward Avenue from Sussex "build-to" lines on certain redevelop- King Edward Avenue Community Drive to Rideau Street can be devel- ment sites to help define the street Improvement Plan. Initiated in January oped as a "civic boulevard", knitting edge; and, of this year, the plan was developed in together the communities of Lowertown " improving the aesthetics of the response to the numerous problems East and West, as well as serving avenue, such as adding planting articulated in community consultations, as part of the region's roadway network. areas: in the southern section they and a review and analysis of the The plan encompasses the following would be concentrated in the avenue. The plan was developed with improvements: median, and on the sidewalks of the the co-operation of King Edward northern section a buffer would be " narrowing the travelled portion Avenue and Lowertown residents, created between traffic and housing. of the roadway south of Murray Rideau Street merchants, BMOC, At the moment, heritage buildings Street and creating a wider median; Heritage Ottawa, the City of Ottawa and are "lost" by the lack of definition of widening its consultants. " narrowing the median and a street edge. Vertical elements predominantly the sidewalks at the such as light standards, flag poles Edinburgh, reassured end; Residents of New residential northern and bollards would help to unify the that the plan does not re-route traffic " modifying the intersection of the street and define its edge. through to the Vanier Parkway, have the access(egress from avenue with details of the community expressed their support. Bridge to a Final the MacDonald-Cartier Improvement Plan are being presented signalized "T' intersection and Currently, King Edward Avenue is a six- to City Council in November. The plan is realigning the Avenue towards lane divided urban roadway, functioning seen as a prelude to the future elimina- Drive; as an interprovincial transit route. It pro- Sussex tion of interprovincial truck traffic from vides a primary route for heavy trucks " increasing the number of pedestrian the King Edward Avenue corridor. An travelling from Quebec to . crossings; interprovincial bridge study, seeking Heavy traffic, fumes, dust and noise " minor zoning changes imposing a alternative routes, is slated to present create an inhospitable environment for height restriction on the northeast its findings next year. local residents and pedestrians. corner of King Edward Avenue and, Ms. Guay is asatdritalnrallethnologist HeitageOu"a 5

Public Announcements Reminder to Members

U;l NER .L A public meeting on the Lowertown West Heritage Ottawa has appreciated your Heritage Conservation District will be support throughout 1992. But there are EE'z`~N held December 9, 1992, 7:OOpm at City still many buildings in danger of demoli- M Hall. tion that need our attention in 1993. We hope you will renew your membership Art 0060, FI IUleetttf$ The St. George's Housing Cooperative and return the attached application to on Henderson Avenue, designed Heritage Ottawa . (Memberships expire Our annua neral m~aetlng takes ; won Ottawa's 'Ctresday, r~lYiber S92, by Barry Padolsky, recently in December every year.) N _ .. 24 Award". an FarttameRttf e.8tock,': "Architectural Conservation Ragrrt 37 'f isI speaker:' The fate of Guigues Street school, A Heritage Ottawa membership makes is fl)e ~!tew chair'.. 1V4accef on Murray, between Dalhousie and an excellent gift for anyone concerned add~~ss Cumberland, is in jeopardy. Its owner, with local architecture. Members will tazJe ; the French language school board, can- receive regular newsletters, be invited not find a buyer for the 19th century to public lectures, and be kept up to school-takers, anyone? It would make date on current issues. Help save our a fabulous office building. built heritage environment! Become a member today!

Heritage Ottawa's Heritage Ottawa "Three - Part Lecture" Fundraising Series Newsletter

"Exhibition Halls in the Commonwealth: The Glory that Was" ISSN 0808-0506 January 12,1993, 7:00pm-Ashbury College, 362 Mariposa Ave., by Fern Graham, architectural historian and Heritage Ottawa Board Member Contributors: Louise Coates Morley Verdier "An Architecture of Place: Variations in Three Romantic Landscapes" Marc Denhez January 21, 1993, 7:00pm-Ottawa Public Library, 120 Metcalfe St., Ottawa Gerard Robard by Rhys Phillips, Heritage Ottawa Board Member and architecture critic Francois Leblanc Caroline Guay "From Barracks Hill to " February 9,1993 7:00pm -Ashbury College, 362 Mariposa Ave., Rockcliffe Park & Layout: Mary Lou Doyle by John Stewart, historian. Design

Cost: $15.00 for all three lectures; $6.00 per lecture. Editing : Louise Coates Alan de Chezet

Membership Application

Standard membership ...... $20.00 Senior citizen or student ...... $15.00 Patron ...... $50.00 or more Name: Address: Telephone: (business)

Please forward payment to: Heritage Ottawa 2 Daly Avenue Ottawa,Ontario KIN 6E2

Heritage0ttama 6