Scan 6
The Ottawa city directory 1921 = L'annuaire des adresses d'Ottawa 1921, 1921
30 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1The canal which was built in six years cost $4,000,000. This connection with the St. Lawrence river brought business and population to Ottawa, and within a couple of years Ottawa boasted some 50 commercial establishments, mostly small. Many of them however laid in those days the foundation of several fine fortunes that are still in existence today in the Canadian capital.
3Another boon came in 1837 when the first timber slides were constructed in Ottawa. By 1828 there were 150 houses in Ottawa located on the following streets: Wellington, Vittoria, Lyon, Kent, Sussex and Rideau Streets, and a few in Corktown, the settlement of the Irish immigrants which laid along the present canal from Birkett's' warehouse to the subway on Elgin Street.
5By 1837 there were two small villages of Upper and Lower Town separated by a wooded spur of the hill. A lumbering centre, a lively busy place; with an abundance of intelligence and business enterprise, with 1,300 inhabitants, Bytown grew rapidly and became of great importance and was incorporated as a town in 1847, having a population of 5000 at that date. Much of its importance came about as a consequence of its being the distributing centre for the growing districts and lumbering areas of the upper Ottawa.
7The first saw mill was erected at the Chaudiere in 1853, and others followed in rapid succession, bringing increased population and wealth to the town which by 1854, on December 18th, was incorporated as a city. The municipal councillors remembering the writings of Charlevoix in 1740, who called the great trader Indians of that date Outaway instead of Oudatawa from Charlevoix's name gave the new city the name "Ottawa." At the time of its incorporation Ottawa had a population of 7500 inhabitants.
9Ottawa's Coat of Arms and Motto.
11Long before the name of Col. By was ever heard in this part of the world, two men strolled along the beach in Hull, one of them, the Earl of Dalhousie, said to his companion, "His Grace the Duke of Wellington has lately proposed a scheme of uniting the Grand River (Ottawa) with Lake Ontario. If such an event should happen, do not be surprised if one day you should see on yonder eminence (and pointing to Parliament Hill) the seat of the Government of the two Canadas".
13This was in the summer of 1815. The prophecy has been fulfilled. Col. By also had the same dream. All the great people connected with the building of the great Capital here seemed to have an uncanny vision of the future of Ottawa. Even the great Duke himself dreamed of a vast interior city and a commercial hive of industry. Knowing Ottawa to-day it is inspiring to realize the tradition and history back behind her.
15The incorporators of the City in 1854 seemed also to have the same faith for the Motto they adopted for the City was not only ennobling, but inspiring. "Advance." And "Advance" it has been, for to-day Ottawa is the Metropolis of United Canada.
17Ottawa's Crest adopted at the same time also pointed distinctly to a distinguished future. The interpretation of the Crest is interesting and it also serves to explain to a great extent Ottawa's present proud estate in Canadian and world affairs.
19The broad axe represents "The square timber trade."
21The beehive represents "Industry."
23The plough and sheaf of wheat represent "Plenty."
25The locomotive represents "Transportation facilities by rail."
27The rural scene and setting sun represent "A country blessed with sunshine timber and game."
29The falls represent "The Chaudiere Falls and water power facilities."
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.