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...
"The next two floors are devoted to billiard rooms, with panels of leather and painted fabric, the stripping and cap moulds in walnut."
The Ottawa Sparks St. Bowles Lunch location also had a 'Bowles Billiard Academy' (ie. a billiard room, on the 2nd floor)
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...
@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...
When I was booking Lunenburg Pub, I insisted drummers use rocket sticks
One of the new photos raised my eyebrows - did any of us know that Scott's Chicken Villa was originally a restaurant AND TAVERN?!
[Pic on Sparks St. Mall (@ former Bowles location), 1967 - colourized]
My Bowles Lunch mini photo essay acoutrement blog post has just been updated w/ a few more photos: www.ashleynewall.ca/2021/05/capi...
New on Historical Society of Ottawa website, for 2026 Bytown200 Bicentennial Storytelling Collection series:
www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/resources/by...
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...
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...
Makes sense, & jibes w/ the bl & wh version I've got on file.
I grabbed the image off FB - can't remember where, nor if noted that was colourized.
Pic 1: same scene in 1960
In boathouse zone, NCC is currently building a "multi-level wooden platform" called "East Wharf". In 19th century, zone was home to at least 2-3 breweries, incl (OG) Dominion, & possibly Rochester Sr.'s (later Victoria).
Pic 2: artist's rendering of upcoming "East Wharf"
This pic intersects w/ many articles I've written, however of most interest to me is mysterious boathouse & docks, which seem to have developed shortly after Ketchum's Boathouse (formerly behind Royal Canadian Mint) disappeared. My 2022 story on Ketchum's/Ratty's Boathouse: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
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)...
I've got an eye on july 12 - summersets are local, & awesome
Direct link to my full 2022 article on apt613: apt613.ca/capital-hist...
New on Historical Society of Ottawa website, for 2026 Bytown200 Bicentennial Storytelling Collection series:
www.historicalsocietyottawa.ca/resources/by...
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.
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!
I'm planning on going to the Laff tomorrow morning at least for 1st period of the hockey game (+ peameal sandwich), in case you're so inclined
As goatees go, that one was indeed pretty famous.
After Bowles sold in 1957, both Ottawa locations became Scott's Restaurants, & then the Sparks St. location (pic'd, ca. 1961) became a Scott's Chicken Villa (ie. KFC).
Another photo / postcard of same: Rideau St., viewing east, 1954.
[Postcard via Ilia Ekchtout]
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]
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...
Interesting 1910 ad for Capital, intimating some connection to Waterloo's Kuntz Brewery, while not confirming direct connection.
(I'm going to have to pony up for an ancestry dot ca membership to get to the bottom of how closely related the 2 factions actually were.)
(i.e. Capital appears to have been owned by a different/separate faction of the Kuntz familly.)
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...
Btw, feel free to use any images from my blog post if & as needed for your vid - I always aim for lg file sizes, & 1906 ad + 1907 race pic appear to be same model
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...
