Capital History Ottawa
@caphistottawa.bsky.social
Remembering a By-gone era. Hobby account; no politics, no agenda. #Ottawa #colourized
Feed by Ashley Newall; apt613 alumni; #OttHistory #CdnHistory
Feed by Ashley Newall; apt613 alumni; #OttHistory #CdnHistory
In 1960, there was a boathouse in that zone (pic'd, lower right)
November 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
In 1960, there was a boathouse in that zone (pic'd, lower right)
The more of E.J. Lennox's work I see, the more I'm convinced he designed the Jarvis Bldg @ 103 Bay St., Toronto (pic. ca. 1913)
October 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The more of E.J. Lennox's work I see, the more I'm convinced he designed the Jarvis Bldg @ 103 Bay St., Toronto (pic. ca. 1913)
Same location (Rideau St., a couple doors east of Union Stn, #Ottawa); Bowles Lunch, 1921. #colourized
October 18, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Same location (Rideau St., a couple doors east of Union Stn, #Ottawa); Bowles Lunch, 1921. #colourized
Just happened across this Scott's Restaurant pic whilst searching for something else. Formerly on Rideau a couple doors east of Union Station, & prev. a Bowles Lunch. The other #Ottawa Bowles (on Sparks St.) ultimately became a Scott's Chicken Villa (KFC). Full story: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
October 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Just happened across this Scott's Restaurant pic whilst searching for something else. Formerly on Rideau a couple doors east of Union Station, & prev. a Bowles Lunch. The other #Ottawa Bowles (on Sparks St.) ultimately became a Scott's Chicken Villa (KFC). Full story: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
NE corner of Rideau @ Sussex, 1957. Tamblyn Drugs, F.W. Woolworth Co., & Freiman's. (New, lighter v. than originally posted.)
October 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
NE corner of Rideau @ Sussex, 1957. Tamblyn Drugs, F.W. Woolworth Co., & Freiman's. (New, lighter v. than originally posted.)
2) H. F. Brading & Co.'s "Union Brewery", and Lebreton Flats / lumber piling grounds, viewing north-westerly from Bronson's Hill aka Christ Church Hill, ca. 1875. [Photo by William Topley]
October 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
2) H. F. Brading & Co.'s "Union Brewery", and Lebreton Flats / lumber piling grounds, viewing north-westerly from Bronson's Hill aka Christ Church Hill, ca. 1875. [Photo by William Topley]
2 new pics added to my recent Brading's Brewery story...
1) A giant crane lifts one of two 7000 gallon "wort tanks" to the top of O'Keefe's Ottawa brewery (prev. Brading's-Capital, present-day SW corner of Albert & Preston) as part of a three-year, $1 million expansion program. [Dec. 12, 1962]
1) A giant crane lifts one of two 7000 gallon "wort tanks" to the top of O'Keefe's Ottawa brewery (prev. Brading's-Capital, present-day SW corner of Albert & Preston) as part of a three-year, $1 million expansion program. [Dec. 12, 1962]
October 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
2 new pics added to my recent Brading's Brewery story...
1) A giant crane lifts one of two 7000 gallon "wort tanks" to the top of O'Keefe's Ottawa brewery (prev. Brading's-Capital, present-day SW corner of Albert & Preston) as part of a three-year, $1 million expansion program. [Dec. 12, 1962]
1) A giant crane lifts one of two 7000 gallon "wort tanks" to the top of O'Keefe's Ottawa brewery (prev. Brading's-Capital, present-day SW corner of Albert & Preston) as part of a three-year, $1 million expansion program. [Dec. 12, 1962]
Interesting 1960 pic of Alexandra / Interprovincial Bridge. What's interesting is structure in area of former Stirling's Wharf / Canal Wharf / Fitzgibbon's Landing / Steamboat Landing, where George Stirling had his Dominion Brewery, & where John Rochester Sr. may have (briefly) had his 1829 brewery.
October 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Interesting 1960 pic of Alexandra / Interprovincial Bridge. What's interesting is structure in area of former Stirling's Wharf / Canal Wharf / Fitzgibbon's Landing / Steamboat Landing, where George Stirling had his Dominion Brewery, & where John Rochester Sr. may have (briefly) had his 1829 brewery.
A classic (in my books), from 1944
October 8, 2025 at 3:28 PM
A classic (in my books), from 1944
Newly discovered image just added to my Paul J. Barber (newsie & WWI vet) story from earlier this year: Ketchum's Sporting Goods store, NW corner of Bank @ Sparks, ca. 1906 - Paul Barber's news stand circled.
Full story (photo essay style): www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/02/capi...
Full story (photo essay style): www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/02/capi...
September 20, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Newly discovered image just added to my Paul J. Barber (newsie & WWI vet) story from earlier this year: Ketchum's Sporting Goods store, NW corner of Bank @ Sparks, ca. 1906 - Paul Barber's news stand circled.
Full story (photo essay style): www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/02/capi...
Full story (photo essay style): www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/02/capi...
From 1887-1929, future Chateau Lafayette on York St. was called Dominion House. At same time, there was a Dominion Hall hotel on Sparks @ Bank St. Post-1929, there was an alternate Dominion Hotel on York St. Meanwhile in 1890s, there was this Dominion House Hotel in Kazubazua, PQ, north of Wakefield
September 17, 2025 at 1:50 PM
From 1887-1929, future Chateau Lafayette on York St. was called Dominion House. At same time, there was a Dominion Hall hotel on Sparks @ Bank St. Post-1929, there was an alternate Dominion Hotel on York St. Meanwhile in 1890s, there was this Dominion House Hotel in Kazubazua, PQ, north of Wakefield
The photo is pic of a pic; original likely taken earlier, & is NOT in William Topley's style. It IS, however, in the style of Ottawa photographer Elihu Spencer, who was active from 1859-69, & who's most famous for his photo of Parliament Hill on Confederation Day (below, colourized)... [2/3]
August 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The photo is pic of a pic; original likely taken earlier, & is NOT in William Topley's style. It IS, however, in the style of Ottawa photographer Elihu Spencer, who was active from 1859-69, & who's most famous for his photo of Parliament Hill on Confederation Day (below, colourized)... [2/3]
Dichotomy of an inadequately labelled historical portrait...
Photo labelled "Mr. Rochester, Ottawa, (copied) Oct. 1868, by William Topley".
I firmly believe this is John Rochester Sr., original / 1829 founder of Ottawa's Victoria Brewery... [1/3]
Photo labelled "Mr. Rochester, Ottawa, (copied) Oct. 1868, by William Topley".
I firmly believe this is John Rochester Sr., original / 1829 founder of Ottawa's Victoria Brewery... [1/3]
August 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Dichotomy of an inadequately labelled historical portrait...
Photo labelled "Mr. Rochester, Ottawa, (copied) Oct. 1868, by William Topley".
I firmly believe this is John Rochester Sr., original / 1829 founder of Ottawa's Victoria Brewery... [1/3]
Photo labelled "Mr. Rochester, Ottawa, (copied) Oct. 1868, by William Topley".
I firmly believe this is John Rochester Sr., original / 1829 founder of Ottawa's Victoria Brewery... [1/3]
This letter-to-the-editor from 1845, complaining about John Rochester's roving pigs, reads like something a modern-day FrankMag reader might pen.
& Bob Bristle is aptly named (er, if that *is* his real name).
& Bob Bristle is aptly named (er, if that *is* his real name).
August 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This letter-to-the-editor from 1845, complaining about John Rochester's roving pigs, reads like something a modern-day FrankMag reader might pen.
& Bob Bristle is aptly named (er, if that *is* his real name).
& Bob Bristle is aptly named (er, if that *is* his real name).
Researching for some new Ottawa history stories & stumbled across this 1860s ad for a local grocery-liquor store.
August 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Researching for some new Ottawa history stories & stumbled across this 1860s ad for a local grocery-liquor store.
The newly discovered clipping, + a pic from the same article. [Ottawa Journal – June 14, 1969]
July 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The newly discovered clipping, + a pic from the same article. [Ottawa Journal – June 14, 1969]
Since it's evidently impossible to find a decent pic of Brading's former Ottawa brewery on the SW corner of Preston & Albert, here's a decent pic of their former brewery in Hamilton. :) [Via @thespec1846.bsky.social – June 21, 1954]
July 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Since it's evidently impossible to find a decent pic of Brading's former Ottawa brewery on the SW corner of Preston & Albert, here's a decent pic of their former brewery in Hamilton. :) [Via @thespec1846.bsky.social – June 21, 1954]
By my math, Ratté (aka 'Ratty') opened the 1st covered skating rink in Ottawa (in the 1870s, presumably inside his boathouse).
July 20, 2025 at 3:13 PM
By my math, Ratté (aka 'Ratty') opened the 1st covered skating rink in Ottawa (in the 1870s, presumably inside his boathouse).
In the '50s Karsh did an incredible "be a Brading man" ad campaign for Ottawa's Brading's beer. Full series on my blog: www.ashleynewall.ca/2022/05/otta...
July 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
In the '50s Karsh did an incredible "be a Brading man" ad campaign for Ottawa's Brading's beer. Full series on my blog: www.ashleynewall.ca/2022/05/otta...
"Commencement in Hull of big fire of April 26, 1900." Henry Brading's Union Brewery in foreground narrowly escaped, saved by the gorge behind + a bucket brigade of loyal lumberjacks who doused any embers that crossed said gorge.
From my photo essay on Brading's: www.ashleynewall.ca/2022/05/otta...
From my photo essay on Brading's: www.ashleynewall.ca/2022/05/otta...
April 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
"Commencement in Hull of big fire of April 26, 1900." Henry Brading's Union Brewery in foreground narrowly escaped, saved by the gorge behind + a bucket brigade of loyal lumberjacks who doused any embers that crossed said gorge.
From my photo essay on Brading's: www.ashleynewall.ca/2022/05/otta...
From my photo essay on Brading's: www.ashleynewall.ca/2022/05/otta...
In a related story... :)
1869, via @canadashistory.bsky.social
1869, via @canadashistory.bsky.social
February 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
In a related story... :)
1869, via @canadashistory.bsky.social
1869, via @canadashistory.bsky.social
"Central Railway Depot and Corry Block building, #Ottawa,” btwn 1905-1909. #colourized From my apt613 story on history of Union Station: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
February 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
"Central Railway Depot and Corry Block building, #Ottawa,” btwn 1905-1909. #colourized From my apt613 story on history of Union Station: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
Great new #BlackHistory article in Glebe Report on horse-trainer Paul Barber I (ie. Paul J. Barber's father): glebereport.ca/articles/pau...
Pic'd: horse race on #Ottawa River, 1902. #colourized
Pic'd: horse race on #Ottawa River, 1902. #colourized
February 15, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Great new #BlackHistory article in Glebe Report on horse-trainer Paul Barber I (ie. Paul J. Barber's father): glebereport.ca/articles/pau...
Pic'd: horse race on #Ottawa River, 1902. #colourized
Pic'd: horse race on #Ottawa River, 1902. #colourized
On west/left side above pic of Birks Bldg is Bate Bldg, which also still stands. (Bates were wholesale grocers.) Pics below ca. 1903-10, when Rosenthal & Sons @ 113 Sparks, on Bate's west/left side (R & S store sign partially visible pic 1). Pic 2 viewing west Sparks from Metcalfe, Bates centre-left
February 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
On west/left side above pic of Birks Bldg is Bate Bldg, which also still stands. (Bates were wholesale grocers.) Pics below ca. 1903-10, when Rosenthal & Sons @ 113 Sparks, on Bate's west/left side (R & S store sign partially visible pic 1). Pic 2 viewing west Sparks from Metcalfe, Bates centre-left
Birks Bldg, Sparks St., 1911. #colourized Built by Rosenthal fam 1910-11, who then sold their jewellery biz to Birks in 1911. (Looks like Rosenthal going-out-of-business banners in windows.) Founders son/2nd gen Martin Rosenthal was VP of Ottawa HC in Silver Seven era. Bldg still stands @ 107 Sparks
February 13, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Birks Bldg, Sparks St., 1911. #colourized Built by Rosenthal fam 1910-11, who then sold their jewellery biz to Birks in 1911. (Looks like Rosenthal going-out-of-business banners in windows.) Founders son/2nd gen Martin Rosenthal was VP of Ottawa HC in Silver Seven era. Bldg still stands @ 107 Sparks