First City Hall (Ottawa)
Encyclopedia
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
was built in 1849 on Elgin Street between Queen and Albert Streets.
Originally known as the West Ward Market Building on Elgin Street, the building was one of two markets in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, then called Bytown
Bytown
Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...
. The market did not last, facing competition from the Byward Market
Byward Market
ByWard Market is a district in Lower Town located east of the government & business district, surrounding the market buildings and open-air market on George, York, ByWard and William Streets.The district is bordered on the west by Sussex Drive, on the...
in the Lower Town and closed in that same year.
The site was then donated to Bytown by town councillor Nicholas Sparks in 1849 for conversion to a town hall. The first meeting of the Ottawa Horticultural Society
Ottawa Horticultural Society
The Ottawa Horticultural Society was founded in 1892. It is a non-profit organization that exists to promote gardening and horticulture in Ottawa. This is done through a series of presentations, flower shows and workshops...
was held here on March 9, 1854.
Inadequate to the needs of the growing community, it was replaced in 1877 by the Second City Hall
Second City Hall (Ottawa)
Ottawa, Ontario's second city hall was built in 1877 on Elgin Street between Queen and Albert Streets and next to Ottawa's First City Hall.Built by architects Horsey and Sheard of Ottawa, the Second Empire French and Italian Style had one tall tower and three smaller ones...
, built next to this site.
The wooden building, with a bell tower, had two floors with the first floor as a fire hall/police station and upper floor as town offices.
See also
- Second City Hall (Ottawa)Second City Hall (Ottawa)Ottawa, Ontario's second city hall was built in 1877 on Elgin Street between Queen and Albert Streets and next to Ottawa's First City Hall.Built by architects Horsey and Sheard of Ottawa, the Second Empire French and Italian Style had one tall tower and three smaller ones...
, city hall from 1877–1931 - Transportation Building (Ottawa)Transportation Building (Ottawa)The Transportation Building in Ottawa, Canada is a historic Gothic revival/Chicago school office tower. The building stands at the intersection of Sussex Drive and Rideau Street. It was built by C. Jackson Booth, son of lumber baron J.R. Booth in 1916. It was across the street from Union...
, 1931 the building became Ottawa's temporary city hall - John G. Diefenbaker Building served as Ottawa's city hall from 1958 to 2000
- Ottawa City HallOttawa City HallThe current Ottawa City Hall is the city hall of Ottawa, Canada. The downtown complex consists of two connected buildings: a modern wing located on Laurier Avenue and a 19th century heritage wing located on Elgin Street...
, city hall since 2001