What is the history of 275 First Ave?
We recently purchased 275 First Ave. We are interested to know more about the history of our house. We know that Carleton College owned the property between 1948 and 1959 and used it as additional teaching space and for offices while they were at the women's college at First and Lyon. It was also the site of AMJ Electronics College from 1959 until the early 80's. We don't know what date the house was built or who the original owners were. Also, we don't know much about when other homes on the street werebuilt. Do you have any information to help us out?
thanks,
Neil
Hi Neil:
The two easiest ways to check on your house's history are either through the land registry office in the court house down on Elgin, or through Might's City of Ottawa Directories, which were published annually. The downtown library or the City Archives would have the Directories on microfilm.
I have a few old Directories, and I can tell you that no house at 275 First Ave was listed in the 1912 Directory. At the time, there were five houses west of Lyon on the north side of First at 293,295,297,299 and 301.
In the 1914 Directory, a vacant house is listed at 275 First Ave There are now occupied houses listed at 271, 273, 277, 293, 295, 295, 299, 301 & 303 First Avenue. The Directories were usually published in the June-July timeframe each year. The 1914 Directory was published on July 28th, so your house was likely occupied sometime after that.
In the 1917 Directory, Mr. Harry Ritchie was listed as living at 275 First Ave. I do not have Directories for 1913, 1915 or 1916. Mr. Ritchie was President and Manager of the Ottawa Typewriter Company located at 191 Queen Street.
If you go to the land registry office, you will have to know the legal description of your property as indicated on the deed. They should have a complete record of anyone involved in the sale or mortgaging of the property. The deed is actually for the property (not the house), but there will be a jump in price indicating the presence of a house on the land.
Note of caution: the deed identifies the owner. Mr. Ritchie may have been a renter, and therefore will not be mentioned at all on land registry documents.
I hope this is helpful enough to get you started. If you discover more information on your house, I'd be delighted to add a copy to the Glebe Historical Society Archives.
Ian