Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District - Ottawa, Ontario
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Weathervane
N 45° 26.074 W 075° 41.575
18T E 445801 N 5031460
The development of the Lowertown area was initiated by Colonel John By, the engineer responsible for the construction of the Rideau Canal. This area has now been designated as a Heritage Conservation District to ensure its preservation.
Waymark Code: WM11XCR
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 01/04/2020
Views: 4
Inscription on the plaque:
Lowertown
West Heritage
Conservation District
Colonel John By, the Engineer
responsible for the construction of the
Rideau Canal, initiated the development of
Lowertown when he drained the cedar swamp
that covered much of the area in 1827.
Settlement was rapid as workers associated with
the canal and the timber trade moved in. Early
development was haphazard: In 1845, almost half of
the area's lots were inhabited by squatters living in
hastily-built shanties. During the 1840's, new
legislation regulated land ownership in the area,
resulting in the construction of more permanent wood
and masonry buildings. Generally, these buildings and
those that followed were built close to the street on
narrow lots in a variety of architectural styles and
idioms. Their eclectic charm persists to this day.
The Roman Catholic Church was a major influence on
the physical and spiritual development of Lowertown
providing health care, education and social services
to the area's inhabitants. Its schools, convents and
hospital clustered around Notre-Dame Cathedral,
dominating the landscape.
With the exception of four streets destroyed in
the 1950's, twentieth century planners intent on
transforming Ottawa into an impressive
National Capital largely ignored Lowertown,
thereby inadvertently preserving much of
the area's character. To ensure that its
special qualities will be preserved and
enhanced, the City of Ottawa
designated Lowertown West as a
Heritage Conservation
District in 1944.
Group that erected the marker: City of Ottawa
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Cathcart Park on Cathcart Street
Ottawa, Ontatio Canada
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