publications

50 Years | 50 Stories

Ontario 150

In celebration of our 50th anniversary in 2017, Heritage Ottawa created our popular online series entitled 50 Years | 50 Stories. Entries are updated regularly as new interventions arise. 

This valuable resource shares the illustrated stories of 50 buildings that Heritage Ottawa helped to save and preserve over the course of our first 50 years of advocating for our city's heritage structures.  Read about the architectural and historical significance of these important places, the threats they faced, and the people who mobilized to save them.  A few stories are about buildings lost along the way—making our appreciation for the successes even greater.  Many thanks to Heritage Ottawa member and architectural historian Ken Elder for the considerable hours of research he devoted to this project.

All 50 stories are also published in French. Vous pouvez les lire ici.

Heritage Ottawa gratefully acknowledges the support of Ontario150 for this project.

Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories -  ByWard Market Building
20. ByWard Market Building
The present ByWard Market Building, designed in 1927-1928 by architects Richards and Abra, is the fifth to house Ottawa’s public market, established by Colonel John By…
Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories -  Fleck Paterson House
19. Fleck-Paterson House | Embassy of Algeria
The magnificent Fleck-Paterson House overlooking the Rideau River was designed by prominent Ottawa architect John W.H. Watts (1850-1917) for Andrew W. Fleck…
18. Protestant Children's Village
The Protestant Children’s Village, formerly the Protestant Orphans’ Home, was founded in 1865 by the Ladies’ Protestant Benevolent Association of Ottawa to provide “...the relief, support and education of orphans…
Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories -  Poulin's Dry Goods | Zellers
17. Poulin's Dry Goods | Zellers Department Store
Built in 1871-1872 on the south-west corner of Sparks and O’Connor streets, this remarkable 3-storey brick commercial building was designed in the Italianate style. The design is attributed to…
Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories -  Rideau Street Convent Chapel
16. Rideau Street Convent Chapel
Established in 1869 as a bilingual school for girls, the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (better known as the Rideau Street Convent) was soon expanding to meet enrolment demands…
Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories - Clegg House
15. Clegg House
The Clegg House, located at the corner of Bay and Queen streets, was built circa 1866 on land purchased some 20 years earlier from Nicholas Sparks by Captain William T. Clegg…
50 Years | 50 Stories: Maplelawn
14. Maplelawn House and Garden
Once part of a large prosperous farm on the outskirts of Bytown, today Maplelawn House and Garden is part of the Westboro area of Ottawa. Maplelawn has a long history associated with three important families…
Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories -  Murray Street Synagogue Murals
13. Murray Street Synagogue Murals
The Murray Street Synagogue, located at the north-east corner of Murray Street and King Edward Avenue from 1927 to 1978, was designed by the Ottawa architectural firm of Noffke…
Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories: Panet House
12. Panet House
Completed in 1877, Panet House was built for Colonel Charles-Eugène Panet, Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence from 1875 until his death in 1898. The house is prominently sited on…
Heritage Ottawa 50 Years | 50 Stories - Fraser School House
11. Fraser School House
The Fraser School House was originally constructed in 1837 by industrialist and founder of New Edinburgh Thomas McKay (1792-1855) as a semi-detached residence to house the workmen building his elegant family villa.…