How Ottawa Looked Over 100 Years Ago

Once upon a time, in a far, far less congested land, Ottawa boasted a skyline that didn’t play peekaboo with cranes and condo buildings. Yes, dear reader, let’s take a whimsical walk down the memory lane of Ottawa, circa “horse and buggy” era, when the air was presumably filled with the harmonious rhythm of horse hooves rather than the incessant honking of cars. Through the magical power of imagery, we shall embark on a visual tour of Ottawa over 100 years ago. Let's brace ourselves for an onslaught of amber-hued photographs and the startling absence of Starbucks on every corner.

1. Elgin Street (CA. 1890)

Ah, Elgin Street, where the gentlemen sported top hats like they were going out of fashion (spoiler: they were). The streets were bustling with the latest in horse-drawn carriage luxury. There’s not a single double-decker bus in sight to photobomb the scenery, just the good ol’ fashioned trotters, proving that Uber’s business model might’ve flopped back then.

2. Sparks Street (1895)

Sparks Street, where people actually walked for leisure, completely unbothered by the absence of Wi-Fi. Ladies paraded their latest in bonnet fashion while avoiding the horse carriages, which was the original version of “texting and walking.”

3. Parliament Hill (CA. 1890)

The grand ol’ Parliament Hill, looking quite finished without the century of scaffolding to accessorize it. The stone masons were likely the influencers of their day, considering how often they got their work photographed. Also, fewer selfie sticks and more walking sticks.

4. Rideau Street (1876)

Rideau Street, less crowded, more cobblestone, and absolutely zero indication of a Shawarma palace. Shoppers possibly complained about the lack of parking for their carriages, some things never change.

5. Chaudière Falls (1890)

Behold Chaudière Falls, where the rush of water was the soundtrack of the day, not the cacophony of rush-hour traffic. Before the age of smartphones and noise-cancelling headphones, the roar of these falls was the real deal—a natural lullaby for the city, no app required. People probably stood watching, utterly captivated, without the need to Instagram the moment. Ah, the simpler times, when 'streaming' strictly referred to water, not the latest TV series binge.

6. Major's Hill Park (CA. 1890)

In the frosty embrace of winter, Major's Hill Park is a tableau straight out of a Victorian Christmas card. Here we see a family, standing amid a landscape swathed in snow, the bare branches of trees etched against the pale sky like fine lace. Dressed in their winter best, they embody the essence of winter chic, pre-North Face era. One cannot help but marvel at the resilience it took to merely stand in the cold long enough to have a photo taken, without the modern morale booster known as central heating waiting at home.

7. Rideau Canal (CA. 1890)

The Rideau Canal, pre-ice skaters and BeaverTails vendors. Boats were the main users of this watery highway, as skaters would have been regarded with suspicion, being several decades too early for winter leisure.

8. Alexandra Bridge (1899)

The Alexandra Bridge, under construction, and without any Instagrammers trying to capture the #Mood of the Ottawa River. One can only imagine the 'health and safety' meetings being a chorus of "don't fall off" followed by a collective nod. 

9. Aberdeen Pavilion (CA. 1898)

Finally, the Aberdeen Pavilion, or as it might have been known, the “Crystal Palace of the North.” It was a time when people gathered for agricultural shows, not comic cons. Although, the presence of steampunk enthusiasts would probably not have been entirely out of place.

What a journey! As we dust off our woolen overcoats and top hats, we come to realize that the Ottawa of the past was quite the dapper dame, where the absence of modern technology meant a slower pace of life and more direct human connections. It's been a delightful ride through the gas-lit streets of our capital’s past, proving that while Ottawa has always been political, its history is anything but boring. So the next time you're stuck in traffic on the Queensway, just imagine you’re in a horse-drawn carriage instead, leisurely making your way home after a day of avoiding streetcar tracks on Sparks Street. Doesn’t that sound just a tad more romantic?