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Capital History Ottawa

@caphistottawa.bsky.social
636 followers 252 following 208 posts

Remembering a By-gone era. Hobby account; no politics, no agenda. #Ottawa #colourized Feed by Ashley Newall; apt613 alumni; #OttHistory #CdnHistory

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Reposted by Capital History Ottawa
Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
In the lead-up to #Ottawa's 200th anniversary, I'm re-sharing my past stories that cover the early years. After Bytown became Ottawa in 1855, & Queen Victoria named it the capital in 1857, William Notman showed up in 1859-60 to snap the first (known) photo set of Ottawa: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
In the lead-up to #Ottawa's 200th anniversary, I'm re-sharing my past stories that cover the early years. After Bytown became Ottawa in 1855, & Queen Victoria named it the capital in 1857, William Notman showed up in 1859-60 to snap the first (known) photo set of Ottawa: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Colonel John By #colourized #Ottawa200 [colourized using AI - no other changes (original posted for side-by-side comparison)]
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
In the lead-up to #Ottawa's 200th anniversary, I'm re-sharing my past stories that cover the Bytown era (1826-1854). Next up, (John Sr., John Jr., & James) Rochester's Victoria Brewery (Part 1), initially est. 1829, & then re-est. 1847: www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/08/roch...
ashleynewall.ca
Rochester's Victoria Brewery (Ottawa), 1829-1900 (Part 1: 1829-65)
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
W/ this Sat. marking the 200th anniversary of #Ottawa, it seems like a good time to re-up this recent photo essay, in which I time travel through Ottawa history: www.ashleynewall.ca/2026/04/time...
ashleynewall.ca
Time-Travelling Through Ottawa History
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
In the lead-up to #Ottawa's 200th anniversary, I'm re-sharing my past stories that cover the Bytown era (1826-1854). Next up, Nicholas Sparks' house, purportedly the first stone house built in Bytown: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
In the lead-up to #Ottawa's 200th anniversary, I'm re-sharing my past stories that cover the Bytown era (1826-1854). First up, The Pre-History of the Chateau Lafayette (Part 1), incl. the Stony Monday Riot, which occurred #OTD in 1849: www.ashleynewall.ca/2024/04/chat...
ashleynewall.ca
Chateau Lafayette Pre-History, Part 1: 1849-1863
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
New from Archives of Ontario on Youtube: "Ottawa - Canada's Capital (1976)" m.youtube.com/watch?v=o9J_...
m.youtube.com
Ottawa - Canada's capital (1976)
YouTube video by ArchivesOfOntario
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Reposted by Capital History Ottawa
Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
My “Sens Arenas of Yesteryear” blog post (2023) has just been updated w/ all new colourizations. (Prev. colourizations upgraded, + some new ones added.) www.ashleynewall.ca/2023/11/sens...
ashleynewall.ca
Sens Arenas of Yesteryear [Updated]
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
My “Sens Arenas of Yesteryear” blog post (2023) has just been updated w/ all new colourizations. (Prev. colourizations upgraded, + some new ones added.) www.ashleynewall.ca/2023/11/sens...
ashleynewall.ca
Sens Arenas of Yesteryear [Updated]
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
A great new colourization from the Glebe, 1938. From my latest, on my blog: www.ashleynewall.ca/2026/04/time...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Pic 1) Streetcar turning right from Dalhousie onto Rideau St., 1958. Pic 2) Streetcar on Sparks St. at O'Connor, presumably viewing east, undated (but appears 1950s). Pics via Halton County Radial Railway
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
New on my blog: "Time-Travelling Through Ottawa History," a journey through Bytown & Ottawa's past, re-imagined w/ AI. www.ashleynewall.ca/2026/04/time...
ashleynewall.ca
Time-Travelling Through Ottawa History
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Reposted by Capital History Ottawa
Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
New on my blog: www.ashleynewall.ca/2026/04/time...
ashleynewall.ca
Time-Travelling Through Ottawa History
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
New on my blog: www.ashleynewall.ca/2026/04/time...
ashleynewall.ca
Time-Travelling Through Ottawa History
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
APRIL FOOLS! Alas, 1 of my grandfathers was a bus driver, & the other a reluctant lawyer, & both lived in the GTA. (The train/tunnel pic is AI, but pretty much how I presume the scene looked.) You can read my recent article on the Brading beer train & tunnel here: www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/09/brad...
ashleynewall.ca
Brading's Brewery (Ottawa), Part 3: 20th Century & Beer Train Tunnel
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
My Grandad driving the famous Brading beer train in the tunnel under Lebreton Flats (sometime in the 1950s)
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Reposted by Capital History Ottawa
Canadian Geographic @cangeo.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Before Ottawa, there was Bytown — a gritty canal town built on an OG expression of “elbows up.” Look back at the birth of Bytown: bit.ly/3NiiLAE 📸: Archives of Ontario
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
New episode, on Col. John By
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Thanks to Michael Burke's early brewery on "Brewery Hill" (at the formerly extended north end of Bank St.), St. Patty's Day in Bytown in 1828 was a rousing success! From my recent article on the Rochester familly's Victoria Brewery: www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/08/roch...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
With St. Patty's Day just around the corner, a reminder that the Chateau Lafayette was *originally* founded (ie. in 1849) by an Irishman! (Shocking, I know.) Full story: www.ashleynewall.ca/2024/04/chat...
ashleynewall.ca
Chateau Lafayette Pre-History, Part 1: 1849-1863
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Bowles Lunch maintained consistent interior & exterior design styling / branding across all their outlets. 1915 photos (+ descrip.) here of Toronto King St. location similar to Ottawa locations, esp. Sparks St. outlet. New photo essay on Toronto Queen St. outlet: www.ashleynewall.ca/2026/03/bowl...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
@torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca A new photo essay here (feat. a bunch of Toronto Archives photos) that you folks might enjoy: www.ashleynewall.ca/2026/03/bowl...
ashleynewall.ca
Bowles Lunch Toronto – Queen St. at Bay St., 1915-1957
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
My Bowles Lunch mini photo essay acoutrement blog post has just been updated w/ a few more photos: www.ashleynewall.ca/2021/05/capi...
ashleynewall.ca
Capital History Ottawa (#colourized): Bowles Lunch
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
#OttMusic www.ottawalife.com/article/insi...
ottawalife.com
Inside the Surge: How OMIC Is Rebuilding Ottawa’s Music Scene From the Ground Up - Ottawa Life Magazine
By Melanie Brulée The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition has become the hub for Ottawa’s music community. Today, we represent more than 500 members across the sector, from artists and managers to venue o...
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Reposted by Capital History Ottawa
Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
New on Historical Society of Ottawa website, for 2026 Bytown200 Bicentennial Storytelling Collection series: www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/resources/by...
historicalsocietyottawa.ca
Ashley Newall – Nicholas Sparks’ House - The Historical Society of Ottawa
Imagine spending £95 sterling to purchase 200 acres of what would one day constitute the heart of downtown Ottawa – a swath extending from Wellington Street to present-day Laurier Avenue, from Bronson...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
While no Ottawa Blacks served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Paul Barber Jr. (of mixed race) served in another labour unit in WWI, the Canadian Army Service Corps. Full story: apt613.ca/capital-blac...
apt613.ca
Capital Black History: Newsie, motorcycle enthusiast, and WW1 veteran Paul J. Barber
Ottawa newsie Paul J. Barber (1893–1958) was everybody's favourite kind of person—a character.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Canadian Pacific train #1, the "Canadian", crossing Alexandra / Interprovincial Bridge [July 30, 1966]. This was the last westbound "Canadian" to use #Ottawa's Union Station (before station location moved to Tremblay)...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
New on Historical Society of Ottawa website, for 2026 Bytown200 Bicentennial Storytelling Collection series: www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/resources/by...
historicalsocietyottawa.ca
Ashley Newall – Nicholas Sparks’ House - The Historical Society of Ottawa
Imagine spending £95 sterling to purchase 200 acres of what would one day constitute the heart of downtown Ottawa – a swath extending from Wellington Street to present-day Laurier Avenue, from Bronson...
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City of Ottawa @en.ottawa.ca · 23/02/2026
With #MilanoCortina2026 coming to a close, we are bursting with pride for our incredible #TeamCanada! And a special cheer for our amazing #OttCity athletes, you have made us proud on the world stage. Congrats to Ivanie Blondin, Isabelle Weidemann, Paul Poirier, Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew!
On a purple background with the Olympic theme and rings, "Congratulations to our incredible Team Canada!" is written in white in the centre of the graphic.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Rideau St., viewing east (across Rideau-Sussex), 1954. Bowles Lunch sign visible centre-right. My 2021 article on Bowles: apt613.ca/capital-hist... [Postcard via Ilia Ekchtout]
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Ottawa Road Trips 🇨🇦 @ottawaroadtrips.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Here's a sure sign that spring is on its way: sugar shacks in and around #Ottawa and #Gatineau are opening for the season! Bring on the taffy on snow, pea soup, pancakes and sugar pie, please. ottawaroadtrips.com/2025/02/28/o...
ottawaroadtrips.com
Ottawa-area maple sugarbushes are opening for the 2026 season! - Ottawa Road Trips
Want to visit a sugarbush or a cabane à sucre near Ottawa in 2022? Here are some maple syrup makers in Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais open this spring.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Minor update to my recent Brading's story... Ottawa's Capital Brewery doesn't seem to have been owned by Waterloo's Kuntz Brewery, even though a Kuntz owned Capital. This would explain why Brading's bought the breweries separately; Kuntz in 1930, & Capital in 1944 www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/09/brad...
ashleynewall.ca
Brading's Brewery (Ottawa), Part 3: 20th Century & Beer Train Tunnel
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Thanks so much for filming & sharing that! (Looks like the model they raced against the iceboat in 1907.) The Canada Science & Technology Museum here in O-town has a Russell, but it's not on display. Here's my article on CCM's Russell Motors: www.ashleynewall.ca/2023/02/aemi...
ashleynewall.ca
“Aemilius Jarvis driving a car” – Famous Photo Explained
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Here's a Black yachting history story I wrote a few years ago for U.S. sailing publication Scuttlebutt. (It doesn't cover any Ottawa history, but there's a major Ontario history element.) www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2023/02/08/b...
sailingscuttlebutt.com
Black Yachting History: McLaughlin & Jarvis
Every February, Black History Month in the United States provides the opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the achievements of African Americans in the
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
2025 follow-up to my 2024 apt613 article on #WWI vet, long-time newsie (@ Bank & Sparks), & motorcycle enthusiast Paul J. Barber. (Article format is pics & quick-hit newspaper clips.) #Ottawa #BlackHistory www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/02/capi...
ashleynewall.ca
Capital Black History: Newsie & WWI Veteran Paul J. Barber (Part 2)
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Per Globe & Mail, "Ottawa’s original grand downtown train station under consideration for city’s high speed rail hub" My prev. apt613 article on such matters: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
apt613.ca
Capital History: Ottawa's Union Station
Step back in time with Ashley Newall's colourized photos of Ottawa's railway station through the years.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Per Globe & Mail, "Ottawa’s original grand downtown train station under consideration for city’s high speed rail hub" My prev. apt613 article on such matters: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
apt613.ca
Capital History: Ottawa's Union Station
Step back in time with Ashley Newall's colourized photos of Ottawa's railway station through the years.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
My recent O'Keefe's blog post has been updated w/ a bunch of newly discovered pics & ads, including this gem from 1958. Full collection here: www.ashleynewall.ca/2025/10/okee...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
125 years ago today, Winston Churchill gave a lecture on the Boer War at #Ottawa's Russell Theatre. Afterwards, he cancelled his next tour stop & holed up at the Russell House Hotel. Full story: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
apt613.ca
Capital History: Young Winston Churchill's Christmas Vacation, Ottawa 1900
Sir Winston Churchill first appeared in Ottawa in December 1900 on a speaking tour, spinning the tale of his escape from the Boers, a highly publicized escapade that had just launched his political ca...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
125 years ago today, Winston Churchill gave a lecture on the Boer War at #Ottawa's Russell Theatre. Afterwards, he cancelled his next tour stop & holed up at the Russell House Hotel. Full story: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
apt613.ca
Capital History: Young Winston Churchill's Christmas Vacation, Ottawa 1900
Sir Winston Churchill first appeared in Ottawa in December 1900 on a speaking tour, spinning the tale of his escape from the Boers, a highly publicized escapade that had just launched his political ca...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
My de facto bio of Senator William H. Dennis - who founded the Int'l Fishermen's Cup (for which the #Bluenose was built) - has been getting some hits lately. As it happens, article recently updated: www.ashleynewall.ca/2021/03/sen-...
ashleynewall.ca
Sen. William H. Dennis: Partial Biography via 1920s Magazine Clips - Fishermen's Cup & Halifax Herald
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
At the foot of the locks, on or near location of 19th century wharf known alternately as Steamboat Landing, Fitzgibbon's Wharf, Canal Wharf, & ultimately Stirling's Wharf (then-home to George Stirling's (OG) Dominion Brewery).
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
New article on apt613 referencing my old/2022 article on apt613 about Henry Brading's Union Brewery (in the 19th century). Article re: Paul Weber's upcoming (sold out) launch party for his new album, "Ghost Beer Train"! apt613.ca/paul-webers-...
apt613.ca
Paul Weber’s new album reveals some of Ottawa’s long lost history
Local musician Paul Weber and his new album Ghost Beer Train showcase a hidden history, with Ottawa-Gatineau at its core.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Just happened across this Scott's Restaurant pic whilst searching for something else. Formerly on Rideau a couple doors east of Union Station, & prev. a Bowles Lunch. The other #Ottawa Bowles (on Sparks St.) ultimately became a Scott's Chicken Villa (KFC). Full story: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
NE corner of Rideau @ Sussex, 1957. Tamblyn Drugs, F.W. Woolworth Co., & Freiman's. (New, lighter v. than originally posted.)
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Note the horse-drawn tram in the pic. Chances are photog Topley asked the conductor to park it for the shot, + hid the horses behind the tree stump (since they would've inherently moved, & consequently blurred). Horse-drawn tram service in Ottawa began in 1866.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
At the time, the plant was producing 12 million gallons of beer per year. The new wort tanks would increase that to 18 million gallons.
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
2 new pics added to my recent Brading's Brewery story... 1) A giant crane lifts one of two 7000 gallon "wort tanks" to the top of O'Keefe's Ottawa brewery (prev. Brading's-Capital, present-day SW corner of Albert & Preston) as part of a three-year, $1 million expansion program. [Dec. 12, 1962]
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Capital History Ottawa @caphistottawa.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Interesting 1960 pic of Alexandra / Interprovincial Bridge. What's interesting is structure in area of former Stirling's Wharf / Canal Wharf / Fitzgibbon's Landing / Steamboat Landing, where George Stirling had his Dominion Brewery, & where John Rochester Sr. may have (briefly) had his 1829 brewery.
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