Norma Gillespie is researching her Gillespie ancestors, who originally came from Screeby, Co. Tyrone (but very near the border with Co. Fermanagh; and in the McCabe List, William Gillespie gave his townland and county of origin as Screeby, Fermanagh). William Gillespie was in Upper Canada, in the Bytown [Ottawa] area, by 1829, at which point … Continue reading Gillespie family history
Category: Local History
An Irish Coachman Fatally Shot
by his employer. On 26 June 1879, in Montclair, New Jersey. I'll be presenting a lecture on the case this Sunday, 13 March 2016: The Banker, the Busybody, and the Irish Coachman: A Montclair Murder Case. Admission free of charge, but donation strongly recommended.
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Carleton Tavern history
I was very interested to read Dave Allston's 80 years of history at the Carleton Tavern (Kitchissippi Times). The Moran family that he references is none other than my own: The Morans immediately converted the house back into a grocery store. Thomas Moran and his family resided upstairs, while a series of shopkeepers operated the … Continue reading Carleton Tavern history
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“A unique musical culture:” the Ottawa Valley
I'm a jolly good fellow, Patt Gregg is my name, I came from the Chapeau, that village of fame. For singing and dancing and all kinds of fun, the boys from the Chapeau cannot be outdone. -- Chapeau Boys From the logging shanties and the dance halls of the Ottawa Valley: "a unique musical culture." … Continue reading “A unique musical culture:” the Ottawa Valley
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Ottawa Passé & Présent/Ottawa Past & Present
Ottawa Passé & Présent/Ottawa Past & Present is a remarkable website: an interactive blog which juxtaposes photographs from Ottawa's past with photographs from the Ottawa of today. Here, for example, is 96 to 102 Wellington Street, in 1938 and in 2014. Use your mouse to move the slider to the right to reveal the photograph … Continue reading Ottawa Passé & Présent/Ottawa Past & Present
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Interview with Robin Averill of The Gaelic Hour
Yesterday morning I spoke with Robin Averill of The Gaelic Hour. Great chat, and some Ottawa Valley music too. Podcast is here, and also below:
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Mid-Century Modern Ottawa
Floor plans and photographs of mid-century modern houses in Ottawa.
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“Lost Ottawa” Facebook group
If you're on Facebook and you're interested in Ottawa local history, you should definitely subscribe to "Lost Ottawa," which bills itself as "a Facebook research community devoted to images of Ottawa and the Outouais up to the year 2000." I have to say that, much as I enjoy seeing "Lost Ottawa" images turn up in … Continue reading “Lost Ottawa” Facebook group
