Petition for the Establishment of a Post Office at Rideauville

Petition for the Establishment of a Post Office at Rideauville

On August 10, 1897, Mr. P. Robertson of Rideauville addressed a letter to the Postmaster General of Canada, the Hon. Wm. Mulock, asking for the establishment of a post office in Rideauville (Ottawa South) and recommended that Mr.T.R. Scott, owner of a store at the corner of Bank and Cameron Street, be appointed the postmaster of this establishment. With his letter he submitted a petition with 58 names.

In his report of August 23, 1897, the P.O. inspector, Mr. F. Hawkin, stated that the proposed sub PO of Rideauville, on Lot L Con. C, Rideau Front, Township of Nepean, would accommodate about 150 families and that the area was principally occupied by tradesmen. Mr. Hawkin continues stating that the proposed PO would be ? mile north of the Billings Bridge PO. The Billings Bridge PO was located in a former Methodist church that had been built by funds donated by Sally Billings, situated west of Bank Street on the south side of the Rideau River, just beyond the bridge.

The nearest other post office was 2 ? miles north of Billings Bridge on the east side of Bank Street, south of Maria (Laurier Street West).

Because of the proximity of the Billings Bridge office to the proposed site, Mr. Hawkin did not see any necessity for the establishment of a post office in Rideauville. He also stated that, in his view, Mr. Scott had just started a small grocery business and desired a PO at his place to better his business.

On November 17, 1898, T.W. Belot, a businessman at the corner of Bank Street and Sunnyside, sent another petition with 59 names to the Hon. W. Mulock. His request was written on stationery of the Ottawa Daily Free Press, owned by C.W. Mitchell. A Mr. J. McKellar also wrote to Mr. Mulock on November 16, 1898, asking that Thomas William Belot be entrusted with the duties of postmaster. These communications came across the desk of W.D. LeSueur, Secretary of the Post Office Department. (Mr. Charles Philip LeSueur was a property owner in Ottawa South and lived at 14 Galt Street, then called John Street). The inspector, Mr. Hawkin, in his report to Mr. LeSueur on November 26, 1898, wrote favourably of Mr. Belot’s application since his business at Bank & Sunnyside was further away from Billings Bridge than Mr. Scott’s business at Bank & Cameron.

This petition stated that the population of Rideauville had rapidly increased in the past year, that a convent (Precious Blood) had just been built and was occupied by the order, that many houses were being constructed and that the post office in Billings Bridge was difficult to access in inclement weather. (The bridge at that time was a low wooden swing-bridge that was often damaged or even destroyed by the Rideau River ice floes in the springtime). Moreover, the contractor who delivered mail between the Ottawa PO and Billings Bridge PO had to come through Rideauville daily.

Reference LAC RG3 Vol. 98 375-439/1897

Petition for J.R. Scott (grocer Bank & Cameron) 1897

(58 names transcribed from signatures)

Petition for Thomas William Belot as Postmaster, corner Sunnyside & Bank

November 17, 1898

(59 names transcribed from signatures)

The 1901 Ottawa city directory does not list an Ottawa South branch nor is Mr. Belot the postmaster since he is listed as being a foreman. In 1909, the postmaster of the Ottawa South branch is Mr. W.J. Spratt at 1099 Bank Street. In 1910, Mr. H.H. Gibson, a dry goods and men’s furnishings store at 1103 Bank Street became the postmaster and remained so until 1928 when J. Southwell, pharmacist, was given the responsibility in his store, Southwell’s pharmacy, at 1121 Bank Street.

References

1. Library and Archives Canada

Title PETITION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POST OFFICE AT RIDEAUVILLE.

Accession Textual records

Former archival reference no.D-3

Volume 98 File Part OTT

File no. 1897-394

also Microfilm reel RG3 T-2262

File part of Reports [textual record] (R169-71-5-E)

2. City of Ottawa Directory (various years)