A short walk through the history of New Edinburgh

The diverse architecture in one of Ottawa's oldest neighborhoods

After yesterday's snow and cold, today was surprisingly pleasant spring weather in Ottawa; I made good use of it by walking around in one of the capital's oldest neighborhoods, New Edinburgh. It was founded by Thomas McKay, one of the builders of the Rideau Canal lock system. 

He bought the land at the junction of the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers in 1829 and created a village named after Edinburgh in his native Scotland. The streets in the neighborhood are still named after McKay's family. The area had been initially industrial and was home to several mills using the river's power, but it is now a pleasant neighborhood to explore, mainly because of its architecture. 

Thomas McKay

McKay was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1792 and trained as a mason. After he married Ann Crichton in 1813, the couple immigrated to Montreal in Canada. Colonel John By chose him in the fall of 1826 to conduct the masonry work on the canal's eight entry locks, which would connect Bytown on the Ottawa River to Kingston on Lake Ontario. 

McKay did more than build these beautiful locks that are still worth a visit. A few years after his arrival in what would later become Canada's capital, he began purchasing land, eventually amassing over eleven hundred acres. Soon after, in 1830, he began constructing his hamlet, and McKay urged former canal employees to relocate there. 

Late afternoon today, I was walking past the Minto Bridges into New Edinburgh (note the kayak under the bridge).

The diverse architecture of New Edinburgh

Walking through this old neighborhood, it is a pleasure to see the rich diversity of architectural styles and building types. Examples from each period of New Edinburgh's development still exist. 

Houses constructed during the early part of New Edinburgh's initial settlement were generally wood or stone, reflective of the skills and building practices of the early settlers. Until the mid-1800s, homeowners favored the use of stone or brick over timber, which denoted a lesser status. But with the mills located close by, lumber became the material of choice. 

Architecturally, the houses bear witness to the availability of decorative wood elements produced by machines at the nearby sawmills. If you are ever visiting Ottawa, it's nice to stroll through these old streets and admire the architecture. 

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notes:

https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=8447

https://www.newedinburgh.ca/our-history/

https://ottscot.ca/new-blog-1/2020/11/5/new-edinburgh-ottawas-scottish-village