Bank Street Bridge: Images from the Past
From Library and Archives Canada, a couple of older photos of the Bank Street Bridge, the north gateway in Old Ottawa South.
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Stories
Glimpses of Old Ottawa South's history: local stories of the past, research findings, and snippets of old news items.
From the Archives: Roman Catholic Parish Created South of the Canal
From the Ottawa Citizen Tuesday, November 12, 1929, the creation of a Catholic parish in Ottawa South. The Catholic diocese subsequently purchased the former Calvin Church on Sunnyside at Fairbairn for St. Margaret Mary's Church. Father A.E. Armstrong Appointed Parish Priest and Will Start Organization Work at Once Roman Catholic residents of Ottawa South have been granted a parish. It was announced yesterday by His Grace Archbishop William Forbes. Some two years ago a petition was forwarded to the archibishop's palace requesting a new parish in this district.
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From the Archives: Opening Services Calvin Presbyterian
From the Ottawa Citizen Monday, December 21, 1914: inauguration of the Calvin Presbyterian Church on Sunnyside at Fairbairn.The property was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese when the Calvin Church joined with Ottawa South Methodist Church to form Southminter United. The building now houses St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Congregation in Ottawa South Hold Services in Handsome New Edifice
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Billings Bridge Sketch 1877
The Archives of Ontario has collected and preserved many works by Anne Langton (1804–1896), artist and pioneer settler in Upper Canada, including this charming depiction of the area along the Rideau River by Billings Bridge.
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The City of Ottawa Archives: Hidden in Plain Sight
If you're looking to research your house, your family, your neighbourhood, or just explore local history, the City of Ottawa Archives is a great place to start your journey.
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Proposed Billings Bridge Street Car Service Never Materialized
The idea of extending street car service southward began with the annexation of Rideauville, and Wyoming Park (now Old Ottawa South) and the village of Ottawa East by the City of Ottawa on December 16, 1907. But street car service was dependant on suitable bridges crossing the Rideau Canal. At the time, swing bridges existed on Bank Street at Lansdowne Park and at Argyle Avenue and could not carry street cars. Almost immediately, new bridges were being planned.
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Treasures from the Attic
Jim Montgomery recently uncovered this artifact from a former Bank Street business: a 1927 calendar from A. E. Fairbairn, grocer, located at 1320 Bank Street, Ottawa South. Arthur E. Fairbairn operated a general store for many years on the west side of Bank Street, just north of the Billings Bridge. Arthur was the son of Peter Fairbairn, one of Ottawa South's pioneers.
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