What’s in a name? Uncovering the namesake of Tormey Street 

By Curtis Wolfe 

Tormey Street, bordering Macdonald Gardens Park in Lowertown East, commemorates William Tormey, a blacksmith and civic leader whose work during the Rideau Canal’s construction, and contributions to the development of early Bytown, had a long-lasting impact on the city. 

Born in 1795 in County Tyrone in what is now Northern Ireland, William Tormey and his mother emigrated to the Ottawa Valley after his father’s death. They first resided at Richmond Landing (now LeBreton Flats) to live with Tormey’s uncle John McGuigan. His mother ran a small store and Tormey established a blacksmith forge. 

When Colonel By arrived in 1826 to oversee the construction of the Rideau Canal, Tormey’s expertise earned him the position of Master Smith with By’s Royal Engineers. In this role, Tormey was responsible for crafting and overseeing the production of essential components like gears, levers, and iron bolts, which ensured the functionality and stability of the canal’s lock gates.

As part of the initial preparations for the project, Colonel By constructed four log buildings near the intersection of Rideau and Sussex Streets – offices for the engineering department, a tool and supply storehouse, a carpentry shop, and Tormey’s smithy. 

It is clear that Tormey had gained By’s trust and enjoyed a certain level of influence with him. For example, Tormey once raised concerns about workers who frequently became intoxicated at a nearby tavern. When By confronted the tavern owner, the barman admitted to selling liquor at all hours without limits.

Frustrated by the disorder, By issued a 24-hour eviction notice to the barman. However, upon returning the next day, he found the barman’s wife had locked herself inside. By called on his soldiers to retrieve tools from Tormey’s forge, using them to forcibly open the tavern door and evict the occupants.

Tormey married By’s niece, Ann Taylor, reportedly at the Colonel’s house at Major’s Hill Park on June 13, 1827 (the marriage was registered in Montreal). As newlyweds, Tormey and his wife initially set up a tent on Kìwekì (formerly Nepean) Point. Ann died in 1834 and there is no record of children from this marriage. In 1847, he married Ann (or Anna) Hosey, with whom he had five children. 

After the canal was built, Tormey remained on Rideau Street, establishing himself as a key figure in Bytown’s development. He not only continued his work as a blacksmith but also contributed to the maintenance of the canal’s infrastructure. Colonel By allocated lots for lease on Rideau to those closest to him, and Tormey was given the western half of Lot B, now the site of The Bay. 

When Tormey received full ownership of his lot in 1845, he built a large wooden smithy. Also on the lot was his family home, accessed by a laneway through the property. At the rear of the property on George Street, Tormey owned two buildings, one of which operated as the Canada Hotel. 

In addition to blacksmithing, Tormey’s contributions to Bytown reflected his commitment to community building and progress. He participated in the construction of the city’s telegraph line in 1849 and he was a charter member of the corporation responsible for bringing the first railroad to Ottawa. He served as a city councillor around 1853 and, in a city without public education, he encouraged learning by supporting the Bytown Mechanic’s Institute and Athenaeum, which hosted lecturers and exhibits, and promoted education to working class men. 

In 1851, Tormey was called as a witness at the trial of the 15 men charged in the Stony Monday Riot, which arose from Tory dissatisfaction with compensation awarded by the Province of Canada to citizens who had suffered losses during the 1837-38 Rebellion. The conflict had left one person dead and several injured. 

Tormey testified that he saw guns being carried in the area but that he didn’t see any shots fired. He said he felt that it was his duty to keep the peace and that he was not a “party man,” likely meaning that he was not aligned with the rioters.

Tormey died in 1866 at age 71. Surviving his death were three children, William II, George, and Mary Jane, who donated several family heirlooms to the Bytown Museum, including gifts from Colonel By.

Tormey Street was outlined in plans as early as 1847. It may have been known as Cemetery Street locally before it was officially called Tormey Street and included in Ottawa City Directories in 1876. Recognizing Tormey’s role in shaping Bytown, local chronicler and poet William Pittman Lett celebrated Tormey in his 1874, Recollections of Bytown and Its Old Inhabitants. 

And William Tormey, stern and straight,
A man who came ere '28,
Chief of the men who kept the fire on
And hammer'd the strong bands of iron,
Which first securely bound together
The old lock gates through wind and weather,
The old Town Council minutes bear
The record that his name is there.