Modern Ottawa residents often take elevators and escalators for granted, but what is their history? The story of grain elevators, as well as elevators and escalators that were once marvels of engineering, is told by Ottawa Name.
History of Grain Elevators in Ottawa
In earlier times, grain elevators were a common sight across Canadian cities, including Ottawa. These structures served as storage and transportation hubs for grains such as wheat, corn, and barley. Ottawa was home to several grain elevators, many of which have since been demolished.
- Dominion Grain Elevator. This wooden grain elevator, built in 1921 by the Dominion Elevator Company, had a capacity of 30,000 bushels. In 1928, the company merged with seven others to form the Canadian Consolidated Grain Company. By 1951, additional facilities were built nearby and remained operational until 1989. Today, the Dominion elevator is recognized as a historical landmark in Manitoba.
- Ogilvie Grain Elevator. Constructed in 1948 by Ogilvie Flour Mills to replace an earlier structure destroyed by fire, this elevator was sold to Manitoba Pool Elevators in 1959. A wooden addition for storing cribs was added nearby. In 1985, the building underwent renovations, and by 1988, three steel bins were added. In 2001, the Ogilvie elevator was sold into private ownership.
- Dubuc Grain Elevator. Built in 1923 by the Saskatchewan Cooperative Elevator Company, this elevator was later sold to a family who leased it to a local farmer. By the 2000s, the structure had deteriorated, and in 2010, a storm caused significant damage. Restoration estimates reached $100,000, but efforts to secure insurance or heritage funding failed, leaving the elevator in disrepair.
The Decline of Grain Elevators
In their heyday, wooden grain elevators symbolized a community’s prosperity. They served as hubs where residents gathered to exchange news and conduct business. These towering structures, often owned by cooperatives like the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, were essential for storing and preparing grain for transport. They also represented the intense agricultural activity of their time.
Over time, as farming practices evolved and smaller farms were replaced by larger operations, the need for centralized grain storage diminished. Many remaining wooden grain elevators are now preserved as heritage sites, reflecting their historical significance.
Despite their decline, grain elevators played a crucial role in Ottawa’s development as an agricultural hub, enabling local farmers to store and transport their harvests while boosting the regional economy. Although most grain elevators in Ottawa are now gone, they remain an enduring part of the city’s history.
History of Ottawa’s First Elevator
Before elevators and escalators, stairs were the only option for reaching upper floors. The introduction of Elisha Otis’s “safety elevator,” showcased dramatically at the 1854 New York Exhibition in the Crystal Palace, was revolutionary.
Archival records make it difficult to determine the precise location of Ottawa’s first public elevator, but evidence suggests it may have been installed at Charles Ogilvy’s department store in 1907, located at 126 Rideau Street. The store’s owner contracted Hamilton-based Otis-Fensom Elevator Company to install a new lift in August 1907.
The innovation was well-received by customers, who could shop for men’s clothing, gloves, and silks on the ground floor, and visit the “Ladies Wear” section upstairs.
By the 1980s, Charles Ogilvy’s department store had declined, and operations ceased entirely by 1992. In 2013, the building was demolished, likely taking Ottawa’s oldest public elevator with it.
History of Ottawa’s First Escalator
In 1892, Jesse W. Reno patented the “Endless Conveyor,” later installed at Coney Island in New York. According to the Ottawa Citizen (September 14, 1950), Ottawa’s first escalator was installed in Metropolitan Department Store, now the Indigo bookstore on Rideau Street. It was advertised as:
“A modern escalator for comfort and shopping convenience.”
The success of the 1950 installation prompted competitors to adopt similar innovations. In 1951, Freiman’s department store introduced Ottawa’s second escalator, initially serving the first three floors and later extended to the fourth and fifth floors.
Freiman’s expanded to a second location at Westgate Mall in 1954, where Ottawa’s third escalator was installed.
- 1950: First escalator installed at Metropolitan Department Store (current Indigo).
- 1951: Second escalator installed at Freiman’s department store (now Hudson’s Bay).
- 1954: Third escalator installed at Freiman’s second location in Westgate Mall.
From grain elevators that stored the agricultural wealth of Ottawa’s past to elevators and escalators that revolutionized how residents navigated multi-storey buildings, these innovations mark significant milestones in the city’s history. While the physical remnants of these developments may be disappearing, their legacy continues to shape Ottawa’s historical and cultural identity.
