OR Established in 1g 67 - HERITAGE `volume 19, No. V,- 1 25t1 rf Celebrating our year ,16M311" l*1 Autumn 1992

Dedicated to Tresert4ng Our Built Heritage President's Message Wallis House - Past and Present by Loaise Coates by Money Verdier, WaUisHo" Historian Two historic buildings are of great The severe typhus epidemic of 1847, was danger of contaminating hospital concern to heritage sympathizers right brought on by the arrival of Irish patients because many buried were now: Jeanne d'Arc on , Catholic immigrants carrying ship fever, small pox victims. As a result, the ceme- and Wallis House at Rideau and prompted the Protestant community teries were moved to what would Charlotte. Both are federally-owned to begin raising funds in 1849 for become Beechwood Cemetery in 1872. . Protestant general hospital. Catholics buildings a Epidemics of ship fever, typhoid, were served by Hotel-Dieu Hospital, cholera, yellow fever, malaria, and small The corner of Rideau and Charlotte operated by the Sisters of Charity under has an eyesore since the pox scourged Ottawa and overwhelmed Streets been Sister Elisabeth Bruyere. department of National Defence moved the tiny stone hospital. A replacement out of Wallis House in October, 1990. On September 19, 1850, the corner hospital was designed by Robert Since then, the 19th century gem has stone for The County of Carleton Surtees (later Ottawa City Engineer) been "progressively demaintained" - Protestant General Hospital was laid; in the Queen Anne style, and on May allowed to deteriorate through a refusal it opened in May, 1851, on the open 16, 1973, the construction of Wallis to heat or keep up the building. area to the east of where Wallis House House was begun. The corner stone was laid by the Governor The federal government General Earl Dufferin with full (Wallis is owned by DND and Masonic ceremonies. It opened by Public Works), managed in 1875 with 75 beds and was is asking a cool $4 million for one of the most modem of its Wallis and its land, a high time, with high ceilings and the economy price considering segregated wards separated and glut of office space by long corridors. The earlier in Ottawa. One has to ask why structure was used as an isola- the federal government - tion ward for contagious forget the private sector! -- is diseases. It was demolished so eager to be rid of our in 1907. heritage. Wallis' 14 foot ceil- ings and elegant demeanor The new County of Carleton have established its reputation Protestant General Hospital in architectural circles. was supported by subscrip- Wallis House tions from the Protestant This fall, two non-profit hous- churches of the region with donations ing groups, City Living and now stands. The two-storey stone struc- sheets, blankets, linen gowns, coal, Citizens of Ottawa Corporation, togeth- of ture opened with ten beds and two food often being received. er with architect Barry Padolsky, firewood, and employees - a steward and a matron quickly outgrew the presented detailed plans to convert Ottawa's population (his wife) to tend to the sick. Wallis into apartments . Wallis House hospital's capacity and in 1898 a major conversion project leader, Richard extension was built to the east, as was The land to the north of the hospital a wing extending to . Sanders, organized a public meeting (now MacDonald Park) was with community leaders and residents purchased in 1844 by the four main reli- Medical services began to congregate Oct. 19 to urge them to lobby the federal gious denominations -- Roman Catholic, in the area, with the Lady Stanley government to lower its price. The fate Presbyterian, Wesleyan Methodist, and Institute for Trained Nurses being of Wallis hinges on provincial support Episcopalian-- for use as cemeteries . founded in 1890 to provide staff. Con'i on page2 By 1870 they were full and there Maternity cases were transferred President's Messagecon't Wallis House con't for the housing proposal, and a federal as of 1894 to Rideau Street's Ottawa which took place off Boston Harbour, decision to save the building and lower Maternity Hospital, to the east of Wallis June 1st, 1813 . Lieutenant Wallis its economic expectations . House near the . The assumed command of the Shannon Ottawa Protestant Children's home -- after Captain Phillips Vowes Bere Broke Jeanne d'Arc, owned by the National the present Turkish Embassy -- was was killed; the Shannon was victorious, Capital Commission, will soon located on Wurtemburg. A children's and Wallis brought both vessels into be "renovated", according to an NCC ward was organized by the May Court Halifax Harbour. Lieutenant Wallis was call for developers' plans . The five Club in 1905 and funded by bazaars subsequently knighted and advanced to buildings that compose Jeanne d'Arc and other public fundraising events. the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1877. date from 1846; the NCC wants He died at the age of 102. to demolish most of their contents and A third storey was added to the hospi- build upscale offices and stores . The tal's east wing in 1912 and large sun The barracks were used by the WRENS abandoned requirement placed on developers rooms constructed at the ends of the until 1945 when they were only demobilization. They were then Sussex and wards on Rideau Street . The last major in the is that the facades on occupied by vagrants and squatters. York are saved. epidemic to strike Ottawa was typhoid fever in 1912; so many patients were An acute housing shortage after the The heart of the problem with the admitted that tents had to be set up on war resulted in action by the Veterans' treatment of these two sites is a the grounds where the first hospital Housing League which occupied a federal policy that says empty federally- once stood. By 1920, Ottawa's medical number of vacant military buildings . In owned buildings should be rented out requirements outgrew the city's facili- 1946, Wallis House and other buildings at market value. On the other hand, its ties and the County of Carleton were leased by the Federal Emergency City Federal Heritage Buildings Review Protestant Hospital and St . Luke's Shelter Corporation to the Wallis Office (FHBRO) says heritage proper- Hospital were amalgamated to form the of Ottawa for rental housing. converted into 46 apart- ties should be saved. How can these Civic Hospital, which moved to a new House was initially housed 47 families policies work together? If an empty building on in 1924. ments and children . The dilapidated to bring in market with 136 heritage building has The Wallis House site was structure was vacated in 1950. value rents that compare with state-cf- purchased in 1925 by the Archdiocese the-art office tower space, it can't stay of Ottawa and the building was convert- The Korean War resulted in a new role heritage, it has to be "modernized", that ed into Major and Minor Seminaries. for Wallis House and 13 Personnel is, rebuilt. The policy of market value for The Minor Seminary provided eight Depot moved in to undertake recruiting heritage properties is one years of classical schooling for young for the conflict. A year later 113 of the key issues in federal heritage men, leading to a Baccalaureate of Manning Depot (M) and the militia preservation today. Arts. Students could then complete four district's 1 Cadre moved in. In 1954, years in the Major Seminary and gradu- additional militia units arrived - If federal, provincial and municipal ate as priests. The Archdiocese sepa- 3 Divisional Signals Regiment RCSC, governments re-used the buildings rated the seminaries in 1943 and 130 Transport Company RCASC, they owned, as is done in the U.S., moved them to other sites in Ottawa. 3 Ordinance Company RCOC, and didn't insist on building new office 10 Medical Company RCAMC, and towers, our heritage would survive. The Navy bought the facility the same 54 Dental unit RCDC . The logistics Why is Wallis empty and the Daly year and converted it into barracks units were amalgamated in 1965 to demolished while federal departments for the Women's Royal Canadian Naval form the Ottawa Service Battalion and move into spots such Service (WRENS), whose personnel the Communications Unit was redesig- as Place de Ville? Who isn't happy the worked in various Ottawa locations nated the 763 Communications Unit. former county courthouse has been on administrative duties. The building The 28 Service Battalion and converted into a complex for at this time was covered in vines and provided an ideal home for spiders, 763 Communications Regiment and the performing arts? Recycling their affiliated Cadet Corps finally left heritage properties is not only smart, a fact not lost on the ladies stationed the Wallis House in October, 1990, moving it makes for a charming and colourful there who had to sweep ceilings daily. to the - Major EJG pastiche of styles in a city, a blend Holland, VC Armoury. of streetscapes with something for The Navy named the building "Wallis everyone. Please, write or call your House" after Lieutenant Provo William With the departure of the militia, Wallis local politicians and press for an end Parry Wallis. Wallis was born in Halifax House is awaiting a new role in the to market value for heritage buildings in 1791 and distinguished himself in the service of the city and the community. and amove towards recycling . naval engagement between HMS Mr. Verdiermasowslalioned in Walls Hone;hehas Shannon and and USS Chesapeake, done exunsice resemd on debuilding.

Herflav,Onaana 2 Tax Reassessments: A Three-Point Solution for Heritage Buildings by Marr Denhez (Heritage Ottawa's legalconsultant) For decades, experts argued that down- guard. Heritage Ottawa has responded The second point is more substantive . It town locations were traditionally under- with a proposal for a three-point pro- calls on local officials to explore the fea- assessed for property tax purposes, and gram to bring tax increases down to a sibility of acknowledging that among fringe locations over-assessed . When less punitive level. designated heritage buildings, a part of bit the bullet in the 1980s and the property (e.g. the facade) is now determined to abide by "Market Value First, public authorities should double- under public control and should be Assessment," the corollary was that check whether their assessment of des- taxed as such. Real estate under public downtown assessments would be in for ignated heritage properties is legally control (e.g. via easement etc .) is usual- a rough ride. Add to that the boom in correct. Courts have long held that her- ly taxed at a lower rate. the Byward Market over the last itage buildings are supposed to be decade, and many people were bracing assessed according to their existing The third point calls on Ottawa to follow for large tax increases for many of use, not according to an upgraded con- the example of other municipalities Ottawa's heritage buildings. jectural use following alterations. That (, Saskatoon, Yellowknife, existing use would usually lead to a even Perth) and provide a "heritage Nonetheless, tax increases of over lower tax bill, compared with an asses- grant" to owners equal to the tax 100% in many cases, still caught sors' idea of what an altered "highest increases resulting from the restoration numerous heritage property owners off and best use" might be. of their property. Under that system, the owner's taxes do go up - but, there is a set-off, as the grant brings the tax Aberdeen bill back to its original level. In practice, Au fil des evenements: Le Pavilion no money changes hands ; the parGdrard Rolmd tax bill just stays at its current level for a few years. Other municipalities across Au debut de juillet cette annee les con- the building and the last piece of sod is down, it's never going to be over." North America have concluded that this seilters municipaux de t ville d'Ottawa is one of the easiest incentives se prononcaient une large majonte a Heritage Ottawa ce stade de ('evolution to administer and these "grants" cost pour la restauration du Pavilion a dossier dolt prendre deux mesures: nothing to the city's cash flow. Aberdeen. " continuer La sensibilisation du public The question which now faces Ottawa Ce vote n'est pas le fruit du hasard. II le Pavilion vis-a-vis is whether this city will simply ignore est du tous ceux et celles qui ont par- " suivre le processus d'avancement a heritage and waft for it to be hammered ticipe au debut sur I'avenir de ce du dossier dans les dedales du by the tax man, or take the positive Pavilion decennies. Ce tra- circuit administratif pour s'assurer depuis des measures that have been used by its a per- que le dossier reste prioritaire . vail d'equipe a tous les niveaux counterparts . mis de sensibiliser la population et Si vous songez des actions allant par ricochet les decideurs qui nous a vers une sensibilisation du public representent. vis-a- vis ce sujet, nous vous invitons a tele- Chambers Update Nous tenons donc a remercier tous les phoner a notre bureau (230-8841) membres qui ont contribue a la oonclu- ou a Gerard Robard (236-9332). A $30 million redevelopment plan sion heureuse de ce dossier. for the Chambers Buildings at Elgin and Sparks Streets has been La ville d'Ottawa a maintenant man- Since joining the board last fall, Gerard approved by the City of Ottawa Ottawa date un architecte -- M. Julian Smith -- Robard led the charge for Heritage Planning Committee . It includes a qui entreprend la selection des con- in the Cattle Castle debacle. In July the City approved a scaled- down "preservation" approach to restoring tracteurs pour t realisation des divers the exterior and renovating the interior travaux. La fin de ceux-ci est prevue $5.3 million plan that will see structural and exterior restoration of the structure, to be of the Chambers Buildings, as well pour mars 1993 et la reouverture du done by heritage architect Julian Smith. as construction of a 14-storey office Pavilion pour mars 1994. tower and underground garage The unheated interior will be used by the developer Perez Corp . and Est-ce que notre action se termine id . by community for seasonal activities The Work to pour autant? Horticulture Building will be left standing, Standard Life Insurance. is while the Coliseum annex will be demolished. start in December of this year and Si le Pavilion a etc suvre en theorie A park will be established along Holmwood finish in mid-1994. nous devons malgre tout rester vigilent. Ave. The plan was developed by Capital En effet, a la question d'un journaliste Ward Councillor Jim Watson and Afta Vista The new building will need city and qui demandait au conseiller Jim Councillor Peter Hume. It will be funded by NCC Design Committee approval, as Watson si ceci serait le demier vote, $3 million in federal and provincial grants. well as that of FHBRO, but work on il repondait ainsi: "Until the last nail is in Work is to begin in the spring of 1993. the restoration project has begun. 's Official Residences by Franems Leblanc (Mr. Leblmuis the National Capital Commission's new ChiefArdifece)

Did you know that the government About 5,000 sq . ft. of main building is of Canada owns and operates seven used exclusively by the Governor Stornoway comprises a little over official residences, six of which are General; the remaining 90,000 sq. ft . one acre of grounds, one main building in the National Capital Region? Did you is used for state, service and with 34 rooms covering approximately know that all official residences, includ- administrative purposes. 9,500 square feet, and one outbuilding. ing some of their outbuildings, are included in the Federal Heritage at Kingsmere Buildings Register, a status that The Prime Minister's , Once part of the summer residence requires their protection and preserva- known as 24 Sussex Drive, was built of Prime Minister William Lyon tion for future generations? Did you between 1866 and 1868 by Mackenzie King, the Farm at Kingsmere know that the National Capital Joseph Merrill Currier, a lumber manu- in the Mackenzie King Estate in Commission is responsible for the main- facturer and member of the first Park, was bequeathed to the tenance and restoration of the six offi- Dominion Parliament . In 1902, it was people of Canada upon his death in cial residences located in the National sold to another lumber manufacturer, 1950. It is now the residence of the Capital Region? William Cameron Edwards. It was sub- Speaker of the House of Commons. sequently acquired by the federal Some of the official residences are well It comprises more than four acres, one government in 1943. Between 1949 and known, others less so. Essentially, their main building with 11 rooms covering role is to provide a. worthy setting for 1951 the house was remodeled to make approximately 5,000 square feet, and state functions and official hospitality it more suitable for its role as the official five outbuildings . offered by those who hold the highest residence of the Prime Minister. public offices in the land. Often the 24 Sussex comprises four acres public perception of these residences of grounds, one main building with The residence known is quite different; they are regarded 34 rooms covering approximately as 7 Rideau Gate was built as mere perquisites of high office, 12,000 sq. ft., and four outbuildings. or fringe benefits.They are not. Every in 1861-1862 for Henry Osgoode Burritt, Governor General and Prime Minister the owner of the Milling has to live where they do for protocol Residence Company. In 1966, the Government and security reasons. Permit me to Well known these days because of the purchased it to serve as the guest introduce you to these unique proper- constitutional talks, the Harrington Lake house for the steady stream of distin- ties, significant elements of our residence on Lac Mousseau guished visitors to Canada during the Canadian heritage. in was built in 1925 for Centennial and it continues to serve this Colonel Cameron Macpherson function to this day. Edwards, an Ottawa lumber baron. Rideau Gate is comprised of half an The government acquired the property Rideau Hall in Ottawa was built in 1838 acre and one main building with in 1951 as part of the federal program for a local industrialist, Thomas McKay. 30 rooms covering approximately 8,500 to develop Gatineau Park. In 1959, In 1864, it was leased sq. ft.. It is ashort walking distance from it became the official summer residence as a temporary residence for the 24 Sussex and Rideau Hall. of the Prime Minister. Governor General, and then purchased as such in 1868. There are 88 acres Harrington Lake comprises 13 acres The Citadel of grounds, and a main building with of grounds, one main building with Located in City, the Citadel 175 rooms that cover 95,000 sq . ft. 16 rooms covering approximately is also an official residence of the There are an additional 24 outbuildings. 8,300 sq . ft., and eight outbuildings. Governor General.