Mechanicsville (Ottawa)
Encyclopedia
Mechanicsville is a neighbourhood
of Ottawa
, Ontario, Canada. It is located to the west of downtown and bordered by the Ottawa River
to the north, the transitway
railway to the east, Scott Street to the south, and Parkdale Avenue
to the west. East of Mechanicsville is LeBreton Flats
, and Tunney's Pasture
is directly west.
The limits were (Burnside) to the north and running down to the Ottawa River at the Sluce cutting; First street on the east (Stonehurst Avenue); Road allowance and the Canada Central Railway to the North (Scott Street); Fifth Street (Parkdale Avenue) to the west.
The first modest houses were probably built about 1875. They were of wood balloon frame covered with 1x12 inch planks inside and out with wood or other siding, with the foundations projecting four inches beyond the edge of the finished frame to take a brick finish as people became able to afford this luxury.
The area was annexed to the city of Ottawa in 1911. Some sources suggest that the name Mechanicsville arose after this annexation because it became home to blue collar
workers, especially those who worked in the rail yards. In fact, Mechanicsville was known by that name as early as 1879 when it was shown in Belden's Historical Atlas of Carleton County in Nepean Twp., being part of Lot 36 in Concession A, Ottawa Front. Mechanicsville in 1879 was considerably smaller than the present day Ottawa neighbourhood. Its western boundary was then the present-day Parkdale Avenue.
In the 1950s and 1960s, when the Ottawa River Parkway
was being developed by the National Capital Commission
, large sections of the neighbourhood along the river were demolished. While this created park lands, the Parkway has also created a barrier to the waterfront.
In the 1970s and 1980s, expansion of Scott Street, and the development of the Transitway along the old rail line on Scott has served to cut off the area from the area south of Scott, which was at one time, considered part of the Mechanicsville neighbourhood.
The neighbourhood has good bus access and has experienced infilling of town homes in recent years. These include both low and high income housing. In 2007 a serious fire affected some high density housing and the neighbourhood helped the victims of this fire. Prominent landmarks include the Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church
and the Embassy of Indonesia
.
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
of 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...
, Ontario, Canada. It is located to the west of downtown and bordered by the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
to the north, the transitway
Ottawa Rapid Transit
In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the public transit service operated by OC Transpo has two rapid transit systems: the Transitway, a bus rapid transit network, and the O-Train, a diesel-powered light rail transit service operated on one line.-Major routes:...
railway to the east, Scott Street to the south, and Parkdale Avenue
Parkdale Avenue (Ottawa)
Parkdale Avenue is an arterial road located west of downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs in a north-south direction between the Ottawa River Parkway and Carling Avenue in the Hintonburg neighbourhood. It is an extremely busy road providing access to Tunney's Pasture, the Parkdale Market, the...
to the west. East of Mechanicsville is LeBreton Flats
Lebreton Flats
LeBreton Flats is a neighbourhood in Ottawa, Canada. It lies to the west of Centretown neighbourhood, and to the north of Centretown West with "Nanny Goat Hill" as the dividing line...
, and Tunney's Pasture
Tunney's Pasture
Tunney's Pasture is an area within the City of Ottawa, Ontario, that is exclusively developed for Canada's federal government buildings. It is bordered by Scott Street to the south, Parkdale Avenue to the east, the Ottawa River Parkway to the north and Northwestern Avenue to the west...
is directly west.
History
Plan of subdivision was prepared and certified by Robert Sparks, P.L.Surveyor in 1872, it being the property of Mrs T.M. Blasdel & A.H.Baldwin Esq, and certified as a true copy of plan 35A, 7 June 1976by the Assistant Examiner of surveys. The Village of Mechanicsville being part of Lot 36 Concession A of Nepean.The limits were (Burnside) to the north and running down to the Ottawa River at the Sluce cutting; First street on the east (Stonehurst Avenue); Road allowance and the Canada Central Railway to the North (Scott Street); Fifth Street (Parkdale Avenue) to the west.
The first modest houses were probably built about 1875. They were of wood balloon frame covered with 1x12 inch planks inside and out with wood or other siding, with the foundations projecting four inches beyond the edge of the finished frame to take a brick finish as people became able to afford this luxury.
The area was annexed to the city of Ottawa in 1911. Some sources suggest that the name Mechanicsville arose after this annexation because it became home to blue collar
Blue collar
Blue collar can refer to:*Blue-collar worker, a traditional designation of the working class*Blue-collar crime, the types of crimes typically associated with the working class*A census designation...
workers, especially those who worked in the rail yards. In fact, Mechanicsville was known by that name as early as 1879 when it was shown in Belden's Historical Atlas of Carleton County in Nepean Twp., being part of Lot 36 in Concession A, Ottawa Front. Mechanicsville in 1879 was considerably smaller than the present day Ottawa neighbourhood. Its western boundary was then the present-day Parkdale Avenue.
In the 1950s and 1960s, when the Ottawa River Parkway
Ottawa River Parkway
The Ottawa River Parkway is a four-lane scenic parkway along the Ottawa River in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs from Carling Avenue near Connaught Avenue, to Booth Street at the Canadian War Museum. It is maintained by the National Capital Commission. The speed limit is , enforced by the Royal...
was being developed by the National Capital Commission
National Capital Commission
The National Capital Commission , is a Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in Canada's National Capital Region, including Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.The NCC was created in 1959, replacing the Federal District Commission , which had been...
, large sections of the neighbourhood along the river were demolished. While this created park lands, the Parkway has also created a barrier to the waterfront.
In the 1970s and 1980s, expansion of Scott Street, and the development of the Transitway along the old rail line on Scott has served to cut off the area from the area south of Scott, which was at one time, considered part of the Mechanicsville neighbourhood.
Area character
The area is mostly residential, of wood-frame/wood siding 1900s era on grid streets. Along Parkdale Avenue, there are several newer highrise apartment buildings. To the east is an older industrial area along Bayview.The neighbourhood has good bus access and has experienced infilling of town homes in recent years. These include both low and high income housing. In 2007 a serious fire affected some high density housing and the neighbourhood helped the victims of this fire. Prominent landmarks include the Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church
Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church
Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church is a Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia church in Ottawa, Canada. The church is located at 99 Stonehurst Avenue in the Mechanicsville area of Ottawa...
and the Embassy of Indonesia
Embassy of Indonesia in Ottawa
The Embassy of Indonesia in Ottawa is the diplomatic mission of Indonesia in the Canadian capital of Ottawa. It is located on Parkdale Avenue, just south of the Ottawa River in the Mechanicsville neighbourhood. The embassy moved to this location in the mid 1990s. Diplomatic relations between Canada...
.