446 Lisgar

446 Lisgar was built some time during the first decade of the 20th century. It is listed in the 1909 Might Directory as home to "sergt of police"  Benjamin McCarthy. Goad (1912 sheet 55) portrays #446 as a simple two-storey brick-on-wood house.  Mismatched brickwork confirms that the facade we see here encloses what were originally open verandas.

The hip-roofed neighbour at #440 was shoe-horned in some time after 1933.

Ragsil Court

421 Lisgar Street, Ottawa, built circa 1913

My earliest Goad map dates to 1875 and shows a tiny wooden house at 421 Lisgar, this at a time when the street marked the southern boundary of Ottawa's urban spread. The house appears on Goad's 1912 "reprint", in which year the Might Directory listed it as "vacant", still so in 1913. Might 1914 gives us "Ragsil Court" — the building we see here — with six units including one for the janitor (at the time, one George Johnson).

The style, going by date, is some flavour of the late Edwardian, and a classical last stand at that. Indeed, the Ragsil would have been party to the final huzzah of the limestone foundation in this city — World War One and poured concrete were waiting in the wings.

I want to believe that the leaded window treatments are original. The windows themselves mark the transition from limestone sills to "sandstone" lintels. The uprights in the balcony railings bow outward, alluding to properly turned balusters while the columns suggest an Egyptian* play on the Corinthian order — papyrus and nodding lotuses instead of acanthus? — almost deco — but hey, I'm just guessing.

The name is odd. "Ragsil" is largely search-proof and the few meaningful returns discuss anagrams. And look, Ragsil is an anagram of Lisgar. In fact, it's Lisgar spelled backwards.


*Suez Canal completed - 1869
 Aida (opera) premieres - 1871
 Cleopatra (movie) opens, starring Theda Bara (an anagram for "Arab death") - 1917

401 Lisgar gets a new porch

Built as single, now a threesie plus a hair salon, this corner was without a house until the late 19th Century. The Polk & Woodburn directory for 1890-'91 lists #401 as "private grounds" while Might 1901 indicates a stable. The latter publisher contradicts himself in 1909 (James J. Campbell, clerk, may or may not have lived there). By 1912, Might lists Patrick O'Connor, no occupation.

Goad confirms sheds and a small stable on the lot as of 1888, possibly associated with an adjoining address on Kent. He shows the present configuration (flat roof, brick on wood, sans second-storey sunroom) on his 1912 reprint.

code name "Onyx"...

287 Lisgar, a Dalek brandishes its sword

...finally rising into the air after a decade of back-and-forth about (what else but) height. The initial proposal by (who else but) Claridge was for a 16-floor, 136 unit condo. That figure quickly nudged up to 18 floors, then was hammered back down to 16. In early 2014, a 27-floor design appeared in the Ottawa Citizen but at last word, the height will be 16 floors. Either that or 27.

Construction began a year ago and has reached the thirteenth ("14th"?) floor. Claridge has been close-fisted with details, but appears to be calling the project "Onyx" and is inviting inquiries.

The late Douglas Hardie (Ottawa) was the original architect for this project. Neuf (Montreal) whose name is postered on the site hoarding, seems to have assumed that duty.

The building replaces a charming but sadly neglected walk-up apartment building, Werner Noffke's 1938 "Gilbert Apartments". Chris Ryan has written about the Gilbert here.

This shot from April 2014 managed to make the Gilbert look even worse than it really did at the time. Your welcome.

portrait: 252 Lisgar

The Woodburn Directories suggest a construction date between 1888 and 1890. Dr. Mark G. McElhinney, a dentist, was one of, if not the first resident. Aerial photos show that #252's tall neighbour arrived in the early 60s.

Dr. McElhinney was an avid motoring and sailing enthusiast — his name often appeared in print in that connexion.

Ottawa Journal, May 5 1913

By the time this article appeared, Dr. McElhinney was living and working at 109 Metcalfe. Emmeline McElhinney, widow of (son?) Mark P., continued to reside at the Lisgar Street house.