Monuments and plaques

Between 1891 and 1959, streetcars operated throughout Ottawa. The surviving post – located on Bank Street, at Pretoria Avenue (45.40794611130547, -75.69129148046387) – is one of the few remaining structures that supported the overhead electric cables, which powered Ottawa's streetcars.

Part of the original 1891 network, the streetcar line along Bank Street ran as far south as Lansdowne Park. Over time, the network expanded, covering the downtown, west to Britannia Park, east to New Edinburgh, and into Hull. At its peak, the streetcar lines covered almost 94 kilometers.

The Ottawa Electric Railway Company was established by local entrepreneurs Thomas Ahearn and Warren Soper. In 1948, the City of Ottawa purchased the company, creating the Ottawa Transportation Commission (now OC Transpo), which operated the fleet of 130 streetcars.

After 68 years, streetcar service in Ottawa ended in 1959. A parade commemorated the final run of the streetcars, which were replaced by buses. The tracks, overhead cables, and posts were removed.

This surviving post serves as one of the last reminders of the Bank Street streetcar line, which became a catalyst for the development of the Glebe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Photo: The Royal Electric Car, Duchess of Cornwall and York, 1901
City of Ottawa Archives | CA000166

Photo: Ottawa Electric Railway open streetcar No. 10, circa 1900
City of Ottawa Archives | CA001509

Photo: Ottawa Electric Railway Co. streetcar No. 11, 1871-1893
City of Ottawa Archives | CA001510

Photo: View of last streetcar parade, Confederation Square, May 4, 1959
City of Ottawa Archives | CA001550

Photo: Streetcar Sweeper No. 2 in front of the Ottawa Electric Street Railway building, circa 1891
City of Ottawa Archives | CA001552

Photo: Ottawa Electric Railway Sweeper No. 18 with plow, 1913
City of Ottawa Archives | CA001563

Photo: Sparks Street-Christmas Streetcar Parade, circa 1896
City of Ottawa Archives | CA002988

Photo: Clearing the Bank Street streetcar rails of snow, between Rosebery and Pretoria avenues, January 1943
City of Ottawa Archives | CA015080

Photo: Streetcar for Bank Street Line being freed from ice and snow, January 1943
City of Ottawa Archives | CA015084

The sidewheel steamer, the G.B. Greene was built by the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company in 1896 in Quyon Quebec. Named after the company’s Secretary-Treasurer, it was designed to tow log booms on Lac Deschênes. In 1897, the boat was retrofitted to hold 250 passengers on two decks.

Known as the “Queen of the River”, the G.B. Greene ran excursion trips from Aylmer to Chats Falls and later between Britannia and Fitzroy Harbour.

In 1916, the G.B. Greene burned to the water’s edge in Quyon killing four crewmen. The boat was rebuilt for the 1917 excursion season. From 1918 to 1929, it once again towed log booms on Lac Deschênes. She was removed from service in 1942.

Mr. Bill White gifted the anchor of the G.B. Greene to the City of Ottawa. It was dedicated to Britannia Park by His Worship, Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Ron Kolbus and Members of Council on August 27, 1999.

Location: 45.36461133979107, -75.80060308087413

In the mid-19^th century, fresh, pure, drinking water was difficult to obtain in Ottawa. Residents could either purchase it from water carriers who hauled it up from the Ottawa River, or fetch it from their local public well. This made life difficult for the citizenry, and there was a demand for readily available fresh water. In response, the City of Ottawa financed the construction of wells and drinking fountains throughout the streets of Ottawa. These wells and fountains were usually at prominent intersections and designed for use by both people and animals. Many were handsomely designed in cast iron or stone and became integral parts of the streetscape.

By 1874, construction started on the municipality’s first waterworks, and soon many houses and commercial and public buildings were connected to the water and sewer systems. A network of fire hydrants was also installed. The completion of the waterworks and sewer systems by the early 20^th century made Ottawa's public wells and drinking fountains less critical to the daily lives of its people. Gradually, the wells and drinking fountains were abandoned, although some remained to provide water for horses.

The York Street Millennium Fountain was inspired by a fountain at the intersection of George and Sussex streets. This fountain, located on the site of a public well dating from the 1840s, was likely built in the 1890s. It featured a small basin with a cup on a chain for the public that faced Sussex Street and a large trough for horses that faced George Street. Flanking it was a handsome row of trees, while at the fountain’s centre was a gas lamp which lit it and a nearby cab stand. The York Street Millennium Fountain serves as a reminder of the era when water, our most precious commodity, was not freely available to all. It also commemorates the important role the City of Ottawa played in supplying fresh water to its citizenry.

This fountain was officially unveiled on  August 11, 2000.

Photo: The Office and Museum of the Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada building (northeast corner of Sussex Drive and George Street), 1916
City of Ottawa Archives | CA000072

Photo: Detailed view of old cab stand and drinking fountain, 1916
City of Ottawa Archives | CA000072