history

Re: ‘It was a real family’: Ottawa employees remember life at Sears Yesterday morning I couldn’t help but stop in the empty parking lot at Carlingwood and stare at the sight of what was Simpsons-Sears, then later Sears – now no longer. ...

Photo via City of Ottawa Ottawa – A new City of Ottawa Archives’ exhibit opened to the public today. Postcards from Ottawa: Traveller Tales, opened in the Barbara Ann Scott Gallery and will remain until 2023. Postcards from Ottawa: Traveller Tales invites you to take a brief journey across Ottawa’s history through individuals that have come to this city. ...

At an archeological dig site. (Via NCC) The National Capital Commission dubbed August “Archeology Month” and has been holding a series of archeological digs anyone can sign up for. If you missed the first two, there’s one last chance to try it this week at Leamy Lake Park, from Aug. ...

After a partial collapse at the Magee house on Tuesday, the city knocked off some of its roof and a wall corner to keep the building safe as engineers survey the damage. “After workers remove those portions that pose a public safety risk, the city will have experts conduct a further analysis on the remainder of the building,” a Friday press release from the city says. ...

(Hat tip to @slowhnds whose tweets gave us the the idea for this post!) A small-market hockey team, a star defenceman (and captain), dwindling attendance… all this talk about a potential Erik Karlsson trade reminds us of another Ottawa Senators transaction, going all the way back to 1930. ...

Retro Rx: The Civic Pharmacy sign, on the corner of Carling and Holland. Photo by Robert Metzger. (Via Andrew King’s blog, Ottawa Rewind) All too often I use this blog to lament over the loss of Ottawa’s classic old signs, a trend that seems to have now finally been swayed in the other direction. ...

_ ( ** EDITOR’S NOTE: ** We originally published this article on Sept. 19, 2016 after the original design for the Château Laurier expansion was revealed. In light of a revised design , we’ve decided to re-post with a few updates. ...

_ (Via Dave Allston at the Kitchissippi Museum blog) _ It is a privilege to present some incredible home video footage from the mid-1960s of trains in the west Ottawa area. This footage is all courtesy of local train historian/archivist/enthusiast Bruce Chapman, who shot all of this footage himself. ...

_ (Republished from Dec. 15, 2015) _ A B17 Bomber from Ottawa loaded with Christmas cargo disappeared without a trace on December 15, 1944. Andrew King tells the story. (This originally appeared on his blog, Ottawa Rewind .) During World War 2, Ottawa’s Rockcliffe air base operated a total of six B17 Flying Fortress aircraft that were outfitted as transport “mailbirds” ferrying thousands of letters and packages between Canada and the fighting forces overseas in Europe. ...

** A HERITAGE OTTAWA BOOK LAUNCH ** Wednesday, December 13, 2017 - 19:00 to 21:00 Join Heritage Ottawa as we launch our newest book with this special presentation by two of its contributors, Shannon Ricketts and Susan Ross. The fascinating story of how apartment house living emerged in 20th century Ottawa focuses on Centretown, Sandy Hill and parts of Lowertown East. ...