HomeThe following information has been drawn from historical reports of the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office (FHBRO). Qualified historians produced these reports to help the FHBRO committee evaluate potential heritage properties.
CLASSIFIED (C), RECOGNIZED (R)
Bronson Company Office (R)
150 Middle Street, Victoria Island, Ottawa
The Bronson family were leaders in lumber-related industries in the Ottawa Valley in the 19th century. The company office (1880) was once part of a diverse complex of industrial buildings. E. H. Bronson was an industrialist who was also involved in conservation, diversification of industry in Ottawa and attempts to create a private utilities monopoly. The setting of the office has changed dramatically but the building remains as a relic of a bustling industrial era.
Central Chambers (C)
42–54 Elgin Street, Ottawa
Constructed in 1890–1891, the Central Chambers was one of the largest undertakings of its kind in 19th-century Ottawa. It is a notable example of the Queen Anne Revival style of commercial design and in its time represented an important departure from mainstream architecture, with an interior structure of brick and stone load-bearing walls mixed with steel girders. Today, it is a fundamental element of Confederation Square and the streetscape around the War Memorial.
Collège Larocque-Lafortune (R)
445–447 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Built during the 1840s, this is one of the earliest commercial buildings in Ottawa to be constructed of stone at a time when a rough-and-tumble lumber town was changing into a modern city. Today, it is an important element on the NCC’s Mile of History.
Commercial Building (R)
457–459 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
This building (c. 1850) represents commercial architecture in Lowertown of the mid-19th century and is a milestone marking the growth of Ottawa from shanty town to modern capital. The mix of residential and commercial uses continues a long-standing tradition and reinforces the heritage character of the NCC’s Mile of History.
Commercial Building (R)
461–465 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
This building (c. 1850) is a rare survivor of early development along Sussex Street that mixes commercial and residential uses. The scale, volume, regularity of openings, the handling of exterior materials and the way it was used all give it enormous heritage value. The mix of residential and commercial uses continues a long-standing tradition and reinforces the heritage character of the NCC’s Mile of History.
Commercial Building (R)
13–15 Clarence Street, Ottawa
Built in 1898, this building with its pleasing Second Empire style is an attractive example of turn-of-the-century structure intended for mixed residential and commercial uses. It contributes, with other buildings in the vicinity, to establishing the ByWard Market as a cohesive heritage neighbourhood.
Fraser School House (R)
62 John Street, Ottawa
This modest stone building is a good example of early working-class housing with strong associations with the early history of New Edinburgh. The house is believed to have been built in 1837 at the order of Thomas McKay, a local mill owner and founder of New Edinburgh. From 1838 to 1843, the building served as schoolhouse and residence for the village’s first teacher, James Fraser. Afterward, it probably became a working-class dwelling.
George Sparks House (R)
936-940, River Road, Ottawa
This is a well-conceived example of rural housing built sometime around 1868 for a member of a well-to-do farming family — a connection to Nicholas Sparks, first settler in Ottawa. Built in the 18th-century classical style, it is a rare example of a double rural house of the late 19th century. Among all the remaining Sparks residences, this one maintains the highest degree of architectural integrity.
Gilmour Hughson Lumber Co. (R)
Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
This modest masonry building dates back to 1892 and, despite its humble appearance, is historically distinguished. It is one of the few remnants of what was once one of the most important of the Ottawa Valley lumber companies. In layout, the building is also unique. It was designed around a huge central vault on the main floor where company documents could be protected from fires that were a frequent occurrence in 19th-century Canada.
Harrington Lake (R)
Gatineau, Gatineau Park
The Harrington Lake house was built in 1925 as a country house for Ottawa lumber baron, Lt.-Col. Cameron Edwards. Its rustic design, with stone fireplaces and open verandas, was typical of cottages of the period. Since 1959, Canadian prime ministers have used the house as a country retreat.
Hull Iron & Steel Foundry Office (R)
205 Montcalm Street, Gatineau
Constructed between 1915 and 1918, this foundry reflects attempts made by the City of Hull (now Gatineau) in the early 20th century to attract investment after the devastating fire of 1900. The builder of the foundry, Archibald Coplan, was nationally recognized for his contribution to the steel and munitions industry.
Institut Jeanne d’Arc (R)
489 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Constructed between 1846 and 1876, these five buildings are typical of mid-19th-century commercial architecture. They have also been associated over time with businessmen, professionals and with an order of the Catholic Church that cared for young women who began to come to Ottawa in search of work in the early years of the First World War. From 1917 to 1926, the five buildings were converted into a single residence. Today, the buildings are an important architectural and cultural feature of the NCC’s Mile of History.
Mackenzie King Estate (R)
Gatineau Park
This estate once belonged to Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who served as the political leader of Canada for a record 22 years. There are several buildings on the estate: the two Kingswood cottages (purchased in 1903 and 1922); Moorside (built in 1901 and purchased in 1924); and The Farm (purchased in 1927 and renovated in the 1930s as a year-round residence; today it is the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons). The complex has heritage value not only for its association with an important Canadian personality, but also as a representation of the Canadian cottage culture and architecture in the early 20th century. King left the whole of this estate as a legacy to the Canadian people when he died in 1950.
Maclaren House (R)
72 Mill Road, Wakefield
The Maclaren House (1861–1871) was occupied by the family that operated the nearby Wakefield Grist Mill. The house and related buildings are relics of early industrial development along the Gatineau River and of the family that served as community leaders to spearhead settlement and development in the area. Eventually, the Maclarens came to dominate commercial life.
Maintenance Building (R)
Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa
This former potting house (1901–1902) is the only remaining fragment of the Major’s Hill Park greenhouse complex (consisting of greenhouse, conservatory, summer house and fountains), dismantled in 1937–1938. The City Beautiful Movement of the late 19th century played a major role in transforming industrial Ottawa into an attractive capital. This potting shed is a utilitarian example of the role parks played in that transformation.
Maison Charron (R)
164 Laurier Street, Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau
A relic of early settlement on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, the Maison Charron was built in two stages sometime between 1826 and 1841 on land belonging to the founder of Hull (now Gatineau), Philemon Wright. This is the oldest surviving house in Hull, and in style it represents a transition between traditional Quebec styles of the 18th century and more modern 19th-century structures. At one time, it was used as headquarters for the Ottawa Transportation Company (founded in 1912).
Maplelawn (C)
529 Richmond Road, Ottawa
Built in 1831, relatively unchanged and one of the oldest surviving houses in Ottawa, this is a fine example of classical 18th-century architecture and of domestic design in Canada. The garden is one of the few known examples of an early 19th-century walled garden. The house was owned over time by three of Ottawa’s leading families. It is currently leased as a restaurant.
McConnell House and Barn (R)
188 Aylmer Road, Gatineau
The McConnells are a pioneer family that settled in what was then Hull Township. The most important feature of this rather common farmhouse is the connected barn, which was an architectural device that gave farmers access to farm machinery and animals without having to go outside. The setting is also noteworthy because the land has retained its pastoral quality despite the growth of Aylmer and Hull (now Gatineau). McConnell House is an important pastoral landmark on the north shore of the Ottawa River.
O’Brien House (R)
Meech Lake, Gatineau Park
The only example of a large-scale log house at Meech Lake, Kincora Lodge — now O’Brien House — was built in 1930 as the country residence of a prominent Ottawa businessman. A rustic architectural expression that drew on the popularity of log construction at the turn of the century, the house is now owned by the federal government.
Office Building (R)
17 York Street, Ottawa
Constructed in 1901, this office building incorporates features of an earlier building (1876), with both periods being expressed in the form, materials and craftsmanship of the structure and the two periods combining successfully into a unified whole. The building is an important element in the NCC’s Mile of History.
Old Geological Museum (R)
541 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
This historic building started life as the Clarendon Hotel in 1863 on the foundations of the earlier Bytown Hotel (1837). It expresses many themes, including the social and economic history of hotels and the development of Sussex Drive as a commercial and ceremonial route. Also, during the time it served as the headquarters of the Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada (1880), the building housed Canada’s first national museum — the Geological Museum.
Ottawa School of Art (R)
35 George Street, Ottawa
This building (1907) is an uncommon example of an early 20th-century commercial building that survives virtually intact to contribute to the turn-of-the-century character of the ByWard Market. The decorative and highly detailed front façade, the plain exposed masonry to the sides and the structural system combine to give the building architectural and heritage importance.
Ottawa Electric Railway Co. Steam Plant (R)
Middle Street, Victoria Island, Ottawa
The steam plant (1914–1915) one supplied auxiliary power to Ottawa’s electric streetcar system and is associated with the development of transportation infrastructure in Canada and with the growth of hydro-electric generation in the early 20th century.
Ottawa Hydro Generating Station #2 (C)
Mill Street, Amelia Island, Ottawa
This generating station is closely identified with the development of hydro-electricity in Canada and is believed to be the oldest facility of its kind in Canada that is still operating. The facility was built in 1891 and underwent a major refit in 1908–1909. Its equipment offers a comprehensive picture of the evolution of hydro-electric power in Canada.
Patterson Creek Pavilion (R)
Linden Terrace, Ottawa
This modest structure (1923) harks back to the City Beautiful Movement and the role that parks played in transforming industrial cities like Ottawa into beautiful modern cities. It also relates back to the awakening consciousness of public health at the turn of the century. The pavilion was built to provide storage and public toilets, and it now serves as a skate-changing facility on the banks of the Rideau Canal Skateway.
Powell House (R)
4389 Ridge Road, Ottawa
This house (1880) is a typical rural residence of the late 19th century and a good example of the pattern-book construction, with its lack of ornamentation, that was popular at the time. The quality of the design and the continued integrity of its farm site and setting give it great heritage value.
Refreshment Stand (R)
Hog’s Back Park, Ottawa
The Refreshment Stand (1955) highlights the lasting influence of the City Beautiful Movement on Ottawa. The Federal District Commission (predecessor to the NCC, 1927–1958) created Hog’s Back to anchor the south end of the city in the same way that Rockcliffe Park anchored the east. The Refreshment Stand, built during a period of significant growth in Ottawa, was praised at the time of its building for its bright, modern appearance. It remains the focal point of the Park.
7 Rideau Gate (R)
Ottawa
The building that now serves as Official Guest House of the Canadian government was built in 1861-62 and is typical of Ottawa as it was at the time. Acquired by the Canadian government in 1966, 7 Rideau Gate was previously occupied by five successive families that were prominent in Ottawa society.
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
(Main Building, Main Gate and Grounds) (C)
Built as a country villa in 1838 by local industrialist, Thomas McKay, Rideau Hall is now the official residence of the Governor General of Canada.
(Fences and Secondary Gates, Gate Lodge, Gasometer, Cricket Pavilion, Dairy Building, Rideau Cottage and Stable) (R)
Various structures and outbuildings at Rideau Hall have been recognized for their historic importance: 2,000 metres of fence (1920s and 1930s), built in the British landscape tradition; the architecturally interesting octagonal Gate Lodge (1860), the only building visible to the public from outside the grounds and one that has strong and unchanging viceregal associations; the Gasometer or Dome Building, (1877–1878), built to hold coal gas, bridges utilitarian and pastoral design; the Cricket Pavilion, built at the turn of the century, is a living testament to an almost lost feature of Canadian culture; the Dairy Building (1895) contrasts pleasingly with the more formal architecture of Rideau Hall; Rideau Cottage (1866–1867), an ancillary building housing the governor general’s secretary, and closely connected with viceregal administration; and the Stable, built in 1860, later converted to a garage and recently rehabilitated into office space.
Rochon House (R)
138 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa
This tiny house was built in the 1830s or 1840s and is a rare survivor of what was once the typical “Lowertown House.” Like many early houses in the area at that time, this one was built of logs using the pièce-sur-pièce construction. The cedar logs that support the floor still have bark on them and probably came from the swamp that once covered Lowertown. The Rochon who lived here carved the stalls and sanctuary in the adjacent Notre Dame Cathedral. With the Valade House, next door, it forms part of a group of heritage houses that conveys much of the spirit of early Lowertown.
Rockcliffe Park Pavilion (R)
Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa
The Rockcliffe Pavilion (1917) reflects Ottawa’s response to the City Beautiful Movement and the role of parks in transforming a young, industrial city into a fine capital. This kind of garden building has a long pedigree but, cast in concrete, is also an expression of the innovative Arts and Crafts movement. The building has a long association with the neighbourhood and with Ottawa generally.
Scottish Ontario Chambers (R)
44–50 Sparks Street, Ottawa
This four-storey commercial block was built in 1883 and was originally owned by the Scottish Ontario and Manitoba Land Company. It was a prestigious commercial address in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for Ottawa’s business and professional elite, and among the last large brick or stone complexes to be constructed. The building incorporates many fine architectural details and anchors one end of Sparks Street. In 1994, the NCC integrated that important structure (with the Central Chambers next door) into a new office complex called the Chambers Building, which now houses the NCC headquarters. It is an important element in the Confederation Square streetscape.
Silver Springs Farmhouse (C) and Barn (R)
3501 Richmond Road, Ottawa
This cluster of well-preserved buildings is an important example of the application of Gothic Revival styles to 19th-century rural architecture. The farmhouse was built in 1867, and the barns — expressive of turn-of-the-century scientific farming — somewhat later. Situated in the Greenbelt, the buildings are a visible symbol of Canada’s agricultural heritage.
Stornoway (R)
541 Acacia Avenue, Ottawa
Stornoway was designed and built in 1914 by architect Allan Keefer, great grandson of Thomas McKay (builder of another official residence, Rideau Hall). In 1950, a citizens group set up a trust to buy Stornoway as a residence for the Leader of the Opposition. The Canadian government purchased it from the trust in 1970.
24 Sussex Drive (C)
Ottawa
This fine old limestone structure was built in 1868 as a residence for a local lumber baron. The government acquired the house in 1943 and transformed it into an official residence for the Canadian Prime Minister in 1949.
The Farm (R)
Gatineau Park
The Farm represents the third phase of development on the Mackenzie King Estate and was the first house on the estate that could be lived in summer and winter. Originally a pioneer homestead, The Farm and its outbuildings were purchased by Prime Minister Mackenzie King in 1927 and converted in the 1930s into a comfortable year-round residence. Since 1955, the Farm has been the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Hardy Arcade (R)
130 Sparks Street, Ottawa
The Hardy Arcade (1936–1937) features a rare “arcade” form of commercial design, combined with Art Deco ornamentation and is associated with renowned Canadian photographer Yousef Karsh, whose studio was on the upper floor of this building for more than a quarter century. The design maximized the number of rentable stalls that could be placed in the 30-foot frontage.
Valade House (R)
142–144 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa
This stone house was built before 1866 and once housed Dr. François Valade (who lived here from 1866 to 1918 and was at one time the doctor of Louis Riel) and his practice. In the 1830s, the inhabitants of Lowertown could only lease, not buy, land, and so they hesitated to invest in expensive stone and brick construction. After the land was released for sale in 1843, that began to change. This house shows how better housing began to appear around the time of Confederation (1867) with a successful merging of French and British architectural traditions. With the Rochon House, next door, it forms part of a group of heritage houses that conveys much of the spirit of early Lowertown.
Virginia Moore Farm, Stable and Arena (R)
670 Alexandre-Taché Boulevard, Gatineau
Three buildings on this farmstead — the ice house, the stable and the arena (1910) — comprise a fine example of the genteel working estates that arose on the outskirts of Canadian cities in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. This establishment has strong links to the equestrian tradition. The stable is rendered in Queen Anne Revival style with emphasis on the picturesque.
Wakefield Grist Mill (R)
60 Mill Road, Wakefield
This is one of the few 19th-century mills that remained in good working condition and continued to function until 1980. In its day, this mill was a hub of economic activity, and it attracted settlement to the Wakefield area. The owners, the MacLarens, diversified into other businesses over time and became one of the region’s leading families. The Mill was expanded and converted into a country inn and spa.
Waller/Nicholas House (R)
180 Waller Street/195 Nicholas Street, Ottawa
This house (1883–1884) is one of Ottawa’s most striking examples of the Second Empire style applied to residential architecture. It features distinctive ornamentation, irregular massing, a mansard roof, a central tower, decorative dormer windows and ornate window frames. It is equally notable for its location, on a prominent site between two busy streets.
Willson Carbide Mill (R)
Victoria Island, Ottawa
Inventor Thomas Willson developed a process for producing calcium carbide in 1892 and founded the Ottawa Carbide Company. He built a mill on Victoria Island between 1899 and 1900 to produce acetylene gas (a product of calcium carbide). The building, which Willson helped to design, was attractive in appearance (with stone exterior) and innovative in design. It was planned with a compartmentalized layout to mitigate the dangers of acetylene gas production. The buildings escaped the Great Fire in 1900 but were twice damaged by fire in the 1970s.
Willson House (C)
Meech Lake
The Willson House was built in 1907 on a promontory overlooking Meech Lake and is a fine example of the grand and rustic summer estates that were popular among the well-to-do in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The house (with four classified outbuildings) belonged originally to the inventor, Thomas Willson. It was built in Queen Anne Revival style and has changed little over the years. It played a role in bringing Ottawa society into the Gatineau Hills to enjoy outdoor recreation.
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