April 2011 www.newedinburgh.ca Photo: Louise Imbeault The March 16 fire began in the basement of Beechwood Home Hardware and quickly spread. Fiery Tragedy on Beechwood By Jane Heintzman much the worse for wear with that a recent (2006) refit of the What began as an ordinary mid- windows smashed in and exten- building to install a fire resis- week workday on Wednesday sive interior damage was The tant barrier between the ground March 16 rapidly devolved New Edinburgh Art Gallery, level stores and the apartments into a day-long nightmare as a while many of the surrounding above may have saved lives raging fire consumed much of businesses, including the UPS in the blaze, as many of the block between Hamie’s Diner Store, Epicuria Fine Foods upstairs residents were in their and the UPS store, reducing and Catering, The Co-opera- homes when the fire broke out five of our landmark businesses tors and Piccolo Grande, but had time to make a safe to piles of rubble, and inflict- coped with extensive basement exit. ing serious smoke and water flooding, smoke damage and Unhappily, however, the resi- damage on several others. loss of power. dents of the apartments above By the time the dust had set- It was a horrifying and heart- the burned out stores lost vir- tled the following day, a shell- breaking day for our entire tually all of their possessions, shocked community looked on community: for the business relying on help in the immedi- with sadness and disbelief at a owners and their employees ate aftermath from Red Cross gaping hole in the streetscape who watched their livelihoods Emergency Services and the where once had stood Home go up in smoke; for the dozen Salvation Army to tide them Hardware, Parker Cleaners, apartment dwellers left home- over. At the same time, the Time Sharpening and less by the fire, and for all the inhabitants of the apartments Nature’s Buzz. Our beloved residents of New Edinburgh for at 409 Mackay Street were also neighbourhood institution whom the familiar landscape at forced out of their homes on Lester’s Barbershop looked the heart of our community had account of extensive smoke Annual Plant Sale perilously close to collapse, been dramatically disfigured. and water damage, and at the and we understand it has since Thankfully, there were no time we went to press, had not Saturday, May 7th been consigned to demolition casualties of the fire despite its yet been able to return. due to irreparable structural ferocity and the toxicity of the The fire appears to have at the Stanley Park Fieldhouse damage. Still standing, but fumes. Fire officials speculate started in the basement of the Beechwood Home Hardware close to a stash of barbecue 8 am to 4 pm charcoal, escalating rapidly throughout the morning into a six alarm blaze battled by RIVER CLEANUP DAY over 100 firefighters, backed Sponsored by NECA, the Urban Rideau Conserva�onists by legions of police, paramed- ics and other support services. and the City of O�awa Black, white and yellow clouds of highly toxic smoke belched SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2011 (RAIN OR SHINE) from the burning buildings as a lethal concoction of pesti- V��������� N�����!! cides, solvents, paints and other chemicals stored at the TIME: 10 am -1 pm hardware store were devoured PLACE: The Fieldhouse at 193 Stanley. by the fire. CONTACT: Gemma Kerr [email protected] By mid-afternoon, the resi- DRESS: It’s a mucky job, so dress for the occasion! dents of New Edinburgh We’ll supply garbage bags and equipment Square were evacuated to the Photo: (c) 2011 Richard Guy Briggs (http://tricolour.net) Good Companions’ Centre on Firefighters remove the Natures Buzz sign before demolish- R����������� ��� T-S����� ��� P�����������! ing the building. Continued on page 6 Page 2 NEW EDINBURGH NEWS April 2011 Kindness: 245 Crichton tion of Beechwood which was The word from Jo-Anne Poirier, devised years ago. It has never CEO of Ottawa Community been acted upon or encouraged NECA President Housing, is that construction by the City. As intensification is definitely proceeding. The proceeds we need to develop new building will open this a Main Street that will meet Joan Mason summer. NECA has seen the the needs of the growing com- plans and the building is in the munity and is accessible by same footprint and is the same, foot or bicycle. Have a look at Reports or slightly less in height and the Plan. mass. NECA is being consult- IODE House Tour, June 11 ed on the facade design, which The Fire of Home Hardware, Nature’s Heritage Conservation District has not yet been decided. The Laurentian Branch of NECA wishes to convey our Buzz, Lester’s Barbershop, Guidelines. This request is now The Collective Act of the IODE is holding its 50th community’s sincere gratitude Parker’s Dry Cleaning and going to the Ontario Municipal Kindness is a partnering of all Annual House Tour in con- to all who came to our aid Time Sharpening Jewellery Board (OMB) on April 11. the trades and services building junction with the celebration during the Beechwood fire. and Watch Repair. We shall As we celebrate our 10th the Convention Centre, OCH of the 10th anniversary of Within minutes the fire fighters certainly miss you in the year as a designated Heritage and New Edinburgh in order to the New Edinburgh Heritage and police, the Red Cross and meantime as we visit the great District, under Part V of the create six apartments for those Conservation District by open- the Salvation Army arrived. shops and services that remain. Ontario Heritage Act, as a rare in need of housing. ing six of the district’s homes While we were in shock and Go Shopping! Support the survival of a 19th century vil- Latest update: Concrete will to the public. This is a perfect dismay, they were prepared to Beechwood merchants! lage and repository of so much be poured next week and com- fit, for while we raise funds for immediately respond and act Canadian history, it is distress- Keep 200 Crichton Public pleted April 11-18; framing the IODE’s charities, we raise to protect and to care for those ing that City Planners choose, NECA has not been contacted will take a minimum of six awareness of our heritage and in distress. The Family Shelter yet again, to defy the Heritage by the City concerning the fate weeks history. was ready to house those who of 200 Crichton Street into Overlay and the District Her Excellency, Sharon did not have family or friends the future as our Community Guidelines. The Beechwood Design Plan Johnston, will attend the that they could go to. Clothing Centre. As we all know, it is The City recognizes it has NECA will put a link to the Celebration Tea at St. Bart’s on and food vouchers were also the only large building in the problems with its present infill Design Plan on the community June 11. Plan to attend and buy available. area, and has been the hub guidelines and held four pub- website www.newedinburgh.ca a ticket from the Laurentian Calls came in to me immedi- of the community since 1906. lic meetings last month. The This Plan is for the rejuvena- Chapter of the IODE. ately from neighbouring com- New Edinburgh and surround- one at St. Bart’s Church Hall munities and many residents ing communities rely on the drew a capacity crowd. So, asking how they could help, present programs and space, both within and outside the for they know and love the and will benefit greatly when HCD, there are issues that need Beechwood merchants. It was the building is secured and can addressing. NECA’s Heritage a long sad day that slowly offer many more services. and Development Committee destroyed the places we shop at One thing we can all is being kept very busy. Join and rely on to meet our needs. do right now is to alert our them and help to keep our The people we know and chat Councillor that we are solidly neighbourhoods charming and with and care about who would behind Keeping 200 Crichton livable. not be there tomorrow. PUBLIC. We need more ser- NECA was invited by the NECA, the Crichton Cultural vices for our growing popula- Carleton University Heritage Community Centre (4Cs), The tion. It would be a tragedy Conservation Symposium, Crichton Community Council and a travesty for all the sur- March 26, to speak about our (3Cs), Lindenlea, Rockcliffe, rounding communities to lose HCD, its success and the chal- Vanier, Manor Park and this wonderful asset after all lenges it faces. A report of Overbrook, as well as local these years. Write to Peter. the day-long symposium, with businesses and individuals are [email protected]. Heritage professionals from now coordinating relief efforts. across the country, will be Stay tuned! The Heritage Conservation included in the next edition of Let us fast forward and District the paper. NECA has asked the City to obey encourage the rebuilding and The Collective Act of the swift return to Beechwood its own Bylaws and respect our Your NECA Representatives 2010-2011 Sarah Anson-Cartwright 745-4194 [email protected] Environment Roslyn Butler 746-8037 [email protected] Traffic Calming/Secretary Gemma Kerr 745-7928 [email protected] Membership Michael Larrass 744-0304 [email protected] Joan Mason 842-8693 [email protected] Paul McConnell 746-4901 [email protected] Heritage & Development David Sacks 740-0650 [email protected] Past President Ernie Smith 744-8191 [email protected] Jim Watson 745-7928 [email protected] Treasurer Carlo Zambri 744-0773 [email protected] Ex officio: Susan Ashbrook 745-2742 [email protected] CCCC Program Co-ord Jill Hardy 746-1323 Fieldhouse Rentals Michael Histed 741-1660 [email protected] Neighbourhood Watch Cathy McConkey 746-0303 [email protected] Crichton Community Council Cindy Parkanyi 745-8734 [email protected] New Edinburgh News Johan Rudnik 749-2811 [email protected] CCCC President Brian Torrie 747-7951 [email protected] Crichton Community Council April 2011 NEW EDINBURGH NEWS Page 3 the majority of our heat was gas installation upon request.