From Rooming House to Cozy Home
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Serving the Glebe community since 1973 www.glebereport.ca ISSN 0702-7796 March 13, 2015 Vol. 43 No. 3 Issue no. 468 FREE ANNER T M to PHOTO: PHOTO: From rooming house to cozy home By Tom Tanner The sorry condition of the Glebe Avenue property should every family need their own washing machine, was not a deal breaker in 1978 when we decided to buy lawn mower or power tools? Co-operative living could We were enthused by the possibilities and prepared to the large semi-detached that operated as a rooming mean help with child care, home renovation and other overlook the reality. Well, almost – the dining room house. An opening between the two sides meant the tasks. Eventually two sets of families actually bought made an impression. The sliding doors to the foyer landlord rented 11 rooms and three apartments. Every homes in the Glebe. Of these four families, we are the were wired shut and there were three locks on the room had at least one lock. When we took possession only ones still living in our (now individualized) com- smaller door. Boxes of empty beer bottles filled the the seller rummaged through the trunk of his car where munal house. alcove and there was a mattress on the floor. But the he kept several boxes full of keys – for our new home The Glebe was quite affordable in the late 1970s. “Do- motorcycle was the biggest surprise; we did not even and his other properties. it-yourself” (DIY) was the watchword. But the Glebe notice the charming china cabinet built into the wall During the 1970s the possibility of shared housing on that side of the room. was a lively topic among our group of friends. Why Continued on page 2 MARK YOUR CALENDARS WHAT’S INSIDE Mar. 1–29 Incredible India: Photographs, GCC Art Gallery Abbotsford ............. 3 Health ................30 Mar. 14 Great Bowls of Fire Ottawa Food Bank fundraiser Art . 6, 39–40 Homes .........2, 13, 19–21 GCC, 5–8 p.m. Mar. 18 Voyage à Paris, concert Books .................31 Home Buying.........14–16 Southminster United Church, noon Business Buzz ........... 4 Home Selling ........24–25 Mar. 24 GCA meeting, GCC, 7 p.m. Councillor’s Report........32 Letters ................ 9 Mar. 26–29 Oliver! the musical, Main Hall, GCC, 7 p.m. Downsizing . .17 Memoirs ............35–36 Mar. 27 Artist Ellen MacIsaac, Abbotsford, 7:30–9 p.m. Film .................. 7 MP’s Report ............33 Songs in honour of International Women’s Day Mar. 28 Oliver! the musical, Main Hall, GCC, 2 p.m. Gardens ............22–23 Renovating .............18 Mar. 28 Photography for community newspapers workshop GCA ..................10 Schools ............37–38 GCC Board Room, 10:30 a.m. GNAG .................11 Travel.................41 Mar. 30 “Writing Lives” Topical Talk by Colin Morton Abbotsford, 10 a.m. NEXT ISSUE: Friday, April 10, 2015 Apr. 10 Be in the Band Pub Night, GCC, 7 p.m. EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Friday, March 20, 2015 ADVERTISING DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Full Service online grocery shopping and home delivery, now 7 days a week. 754 Bank Street 613.232.9466 metroglebe.com @metroglebe.com 2 Glebe Report March 13, 2015 homes ANNER T M PHOTOS: TO PHOTOS: This large semi-detached brick house built on Glebe Avenue in 1909 has a storied history. Continued from page 1 Depression made church financing a George Clark, son of George A. Clark, five, four and three when we moved challenge, and we have been told that lived in 136 from 1928 until 1946. His in) always had playmates. The open- Traffic Plan was installed in its initial our house and two others were put up mother died when he was four (the Iva ings between the houses inspired Joan temporary form, the Glebe Commun- as collateral for a loan to finish the roof. Clark mentioned above was his step- Boswell, then living on Third Avenue, ity Centre had opened and the Glebe When George A. Clark died, owner- mother) and the third stained glass to include such a feature in Cut Off His Report had been publishing since 1973. ship passed to his wife Iva until 1950 window on the west side of the St. Mat- Tale, a mystery novel set in the Glebe. The key players in the renaissance of our when Rene and Lena Cholette bought thew’s sanctuary is dedicated to her After five years, however, the passages community were in place. There were the property. There are a lot of other memory. In 2007, George showed up in were closed as Tanners were going to still improvements to come; I remember names recorded as tenants. The house our back yard and came in to see his old Australia for a year of sabbatical leave. standing at the corner of Lyon and Glebe sheltered many people – as did many home. Of course he told us some history. The two dwellings have been separate in the spring before we moved in. Melt- Glebe homes, especially during the For example, the mismatched exterior since 1983 and 138 has been sold twice. ing snow was exposing an abundance Second World War when people flocked bricks in the chimney for the foyer fire- Vision and hard work brought the of dog “dirt” on tired lawns. The “stoop to the capital to help the war effort. place had always puzzled us. It turns out Glebe back to being a desirable family and scoop” law for pet owners was not In 1960 or 1961, another era began this is where a hole was knocked in the neighbourhood. Now the battles are yet in force. when Ethel McCormick set up “Melanie wall to release George who had been over intensification, and familiar houses 136/138 Glebe Avenue reflects the Rest Inn for Aged”. We assume that this let down three storeys to clean out the are being replaced with modern multi- stages of our community. Built by Ernest is when passages were knocked through chimney. He was a “scrawny kid,” but family designs. But the cream stone A. Hurdman, secretary of the Hurd- the common wall between 136 and 138. got stuck and could not be pulled up. The walls of St. Matthew’s reflect winter sun man Lumber Company in 1909/1910, The nursing home operated until 1972 fire department was called but could not into our windows and the organ provides the building was under one deed with or 1973. By 1975, Bill Levine was run- get him free so the bricks were removed backyard concerts on summer evenings. the owners living in 136 and renting ning a rooming house. The Tanner and to release him. Thirty-seven years after viewing the run- 138. Milton H. Pettypiece, an osteo- Kuelz families purchased the property When we moved into 136/138, the pas- down rooming house in a community path, is listed as owner in 1919. There in 1978 and had it severed, Tanners buy- sage was open between the two halves then somewhat shabby, we know we were tennis courts on the east side when ing 136 while Kuelzs bought 138. The on the ground floor and in the basement. made the right decision. George A. Clarke bought the house in neighbours were pleased to see two fam- There was a lot of co-operation and shar- 1928, but that didn’t last long as the next ilies moving from the suburbs intent on ing. This pioneering phase saw constant Tom Tanner has been a Glebe Avenue year saw construction begin for the new restoring a property that needed more activity and the five children (two Tan- resident for 37 years, and is a member St. Matthew’s. The onset of the Great than a bit of TLC. ners and three Keulzs – ages seven, six, of the Glebe Report board of directors. Mike Hooper Jeff Hooper Derek Hooper BROKERS RARE OFFERING NEW LISTING 32 BULLOCK AVENUE 245 KENT STREET #1407 $625,000 • 3 bedroom family home on $810,000 • Three bedroom plus den a large lot with a great backyard. condo overlooking downtown Ottawa. NEW PRICE NEUROGYMREHAB The Mobility Innovators 330 LORETTA AVENUE #406 20 AYLMER AVENUE · Stroke $259,000 or $1,300/month • 598 sq ft Studio with a balcony & underground parking. SOLD · Brain Injury · Multiple Sclerosis CALL US TODAY TO BOOK YOUR OWN PRIVATE VIEWING! · Spinal Cord Injury 613-788-2588 · Parkinson’s Disease · Cerebral Palsy [email protected] www.HooperHomeTeam.com (613) 523-9905 · 1644 Bank Street, Suite 101 · www.neurogym.com Not intended to solicit properties already for sale. abbotsford Glebe Report March 13, 2015 3 Fancy footwork at Abbotsford By Pat Goyeche Hope springs eternal and at Abbots- ford we are really hoping that spring is on its way. Many brave and indus- trious members have been singing, exercising, painting, potting, play- ing ping-pong and enjoying coffee klatches at Abbotsford for the past E CH two months but now we are gearing E up for spring and the programming T GOY that comes with it. A Spring will bring more occasions to feel good while you get fit. We have PHOTO: P PHOTO: Folk Dancing (dances from around the Instructor Michael Markov and a few Abbotsford members trying out Latin dancing. world) and Latin Dancing Levels I and II in the new spring lineup. Susan Barker is our folk dancing instructor. She has a veritable smor- Michael Markov. His Latin Dancing light the full roster of classes that Glebe Centre Inc., a charitable, not- gasbord of varied cultural dances to classes are meant to keep you fit while begin in early April.