Glimpses of the history of Ottawa South compiled by Ottawa South History Project: local stories of the past, research findings, and snippets of old news items.
If you have a story or photos about Ottawa South’s past that you’d like to share, please contact us at HistoryProject@OldOttawaSouth.ca
On Saturday, September 11th 1920, the Ottawa Journal published a full page feature about the neighbourhood of Ottawa South, describing the area accompanied by advertisements from many of the local businesses. Here’s how the neighbourhood was described in 1920. See how Ottawa South of old compares to Old Ottawa South of today. Ottawa South – A District of Cozy Homes and Fine Stores Almost as breezy as a lakeside resort is Ottawa South in…
On May 8th 2026 a new interpretive panel was installed in Windsor Park, near the Riverdale entrance, to commemorate the renowned “Bellwood Boulder”. The massive rock was discovered by City workers in 2021 during roadwork on Bellwood Avenue. The text on the sign reads as follows: This is an “erratic”, a large rock transported by glaciers during the last ice age over ten thousand years ago. It was unearthed during a watermain replacement on…
In 1929 the Federal District Commission, precursor to the National Capital Commission, documented the condition of Echo Drive with a series of photographs showing the roadway, houses, landscaping, and even plank sidewalks in some sections. Have a look at how this part of the neighbourhood of Ottawa South has changed over the last century — and what has remained the same. From the Library and Archives collection: Echo Drive 1929.
In the February 1995 OSCAR, editor Peter Hecht highlights our main commercial street with an aim to “put the heart back into Bank”. This article features a well-known local business, Savannah Groceteria, at the time located on the corner of Bank Street & Cameron Avenue. Savannah Groceteria Joseph and Fahima Nahas and family have been servicing the community for the past 35 years. Their story begins in June of 1960 when they owned and…
Glenn Clark, President of the Gloucester Historical Society, has compiled a history of ‘lost’ sites in (Old) Ottawa South. Excerpts from his research have been published in the Gloucester Historical Society newsletter Historic Gloucester. In the Winter 2022 Historic Gloucester issue, places from the Ottawa South past include: In the Summer 2023 Historic Gloucester issue:
This stately house by builder David Younghusband was up for sale almost a hundred years ago. Thanks to Bob Simpson for finding this ad from the Ottawa Citizen March 19, 1927. David Younghusband was a residential architect and building contractor who build many houses in central Ottawa, often of red or yellow brick in the Arts & Craft style with a four-square design around a central hall. Description from the 1927 ad : This…
The challenge of identifying this (Old) Ottawa South house looks to be solved. Bob Simpson had found this real-estate ad in The Ottawa Citizen Saturday February 7, 1925.
Thanks to Bob Simpson for tracking down this sales ad from a century ago touting the wonderful selling points of properties in this neighbourhood area that came to be known as Oakland Heights, likely from its tree canopy. From the Ottawa Citizen 7-June-1913
Joining the western side of Brewer Park to the Carleton University campus is a well-used footbridge tucked alongside the Rideau River. The construction material is quintessentially Canadian: the railings are made of wooden hockey sticks! The commemorative plaque, somewhat worn and graffiti-ed, installed on the bridge reads:
Almost a hundred years ago, Brighton Beach in Ottawa South was touted as one of the best places for bathing in the city. This clipping is from The Ottawa Journal on June 17, 1921, where plans for the opening of the diving tower and accompanying party were revealed.
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