It’s back: Bordeleau Park’s beloved dock on the Rideau
|

It’s back: Bordeleau Park’s beloved dock on the Rideau

By Sandra Milton and Nancy Miller Chenier, Adopters of Bordeleau Park After a brief disappearance earlier this summer, the much-loved dock at Bordeleau Park has made a welcome return to the Rideau River, thanks to the persistent efforts of city park staff and the local community. Installed originally around 2012, the floating wooden dock –…

Lowertown fire stations, then and now
|

Lowertown fire stations, then and now

By Michel Rossignol In 1864, Ottawa’s municipal government decided to improve the city’s firefighting capabilities by buying two hook and ladder wagons for two fire brigades, one in Lowertown and one in Uppertown. There were no funds to buy horses, so the wagons had to be pulled by twenty volunteer firefighters.  There was another problem….

Brigid’s Well – Lowertown’s own neighbourhood Irish pub
|

Brigid’s Well – Lowertown’s own neighbourhood Irish pub

By Dave Bowen There’s no neon sign out front telling you you’ve arrived, no menu on the door with a list of offerings, nor even any big windows to peep in and see what’s inside. The only sign you’re at your destination is the small blue light over the door, lit when they’re open. But…

Having the courage to change
|

Having the courage to change

By Josiah Frith, Lowertown Community Association There was a time when horses ruled Ottawa’s streets, pulling carts, carriages, and wagons through Lowertown and beyond. But the charm wore thin. Horses were unpredictable, left the roads filthy with manure, and limited the city’s ability to grow. So came the trains. By the mid-1800s, rail lines were…