Nepean Township – historynerd.ca

Second City, Second Metro: An Independent Nepean

Nepean Reeve Aubrey Moodie made no bones about wanting to keep Nepean independent. Image: City of Ottawa Archives, CA031270.

Nepean Reeve Aubrey Moodie attended a session of the Jones Commission to make the case that Nepean should be left well enough alone.

Second City, Second Metro: Annexations Unwelcome at Merivale Gardens

Homeowners in Merivale Gardens were not interested in being swallowed by Ottawa. Image: geoOttawa.

Perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, the Jones Commission heard from another Greenbelt community that independence was preferred.

Second City, Second Metro: “clashes of opinion between urban and rural elements”

Fisher Heights Public School. As it likely had a kindergarten, some in Nepean Township considered it a “frill”. Image: City of Ottawa Archives, CA025528.

In its submission to the Jones Commission, the Nepean Township Public School Board outlined how it had been dealing with the changes brought on by suburbanization.

Second City, Second Metro: Nepean Needs a Hospital

Nepean had eyes on a lot, but not yet a building for its hospital. Image: geoOttawa (1965)

The rapidly-growing Nepean Township needed a hospital and much like Harold Denman, the Nepean Township Hospital Committee made sure its arguments for one were heard.

Second City, Second Metro: Nepean Hydro “provides superior administration by retaining a local interest and identity.”

Nepean Hydro was made possible by years of organization and advocacy and became a reality in 1964. The new utility was not about to voluntarily fold. Image: Hydro Ottawa.

Nepean Hydro, having only been formally a separate utility since 1964, showed little interest in being swallowed whole by Ottawa Hydro as part of the reorganization of local government.

Second City, Second Metro: Harold E. Denman Finds Inspiration in Metropolitan Toronto

Harold Denman was scheduled to offer his input on March 30, 1965 at 4:45pm. Source: Ottawa Citizen, March 23, 1965, 33.

On March 30, 1965, Bell’s Corners resident Harold E. Denman appeared before Murray Jones to offer his thoughts on regional government.

Second City, Second Metro: City View Aims for Change

City View is also known as St. Clair Gardens. Source: detail from Elliott (1991).

Although there were few in Nepean Township looking for change, at least one – City View – was dissatisfied with the status quo in 1965.

Second City, Second Metro: Parkwood Hills is Satisfied with Nepean

The advertising campaign for Minto’s Parkwood Hills began in September 1959. Image: Ottawa Citizen, September 24, 1959, National Home Week Supplement, 3.

Much like Lynwood Village, Crystal Beach, and other new subdivisions in the Township of Nepean, the Parkwood Hills was also by-and-large satisfied with the foregoing arrangement in 1965. No representative of the Parkwood Hills Community Association appeared before Jones.

Second City, Second Metro: The City of Ottawa Will Steamroll Democracy In Nepean

Nepean City Hall as it appeared in 1966 in Bells Corners. Image: City of Ottawa Archives, Item CA025332-W.

Derek O. “Doc” Campfield’s shadow loomed large in Nepean Township. After having purchased land in Lynwood Village in Bells Corners, he quickly became involved in local municipal affairs and became a staunch defender of the rapidly-growing township municipality’s interests.¹For more detail about Campfield and the growth of Nepean, see Bruce S. Elliott. The City Beyond: A History of Nepean, Birthplace of Canada’s Capital, 1792-1990. Nepean: City of Nepean, 1991.

Continue reading Second City, Second Metro: The City of Ottawa Will Steamroll Democracy In Nepean

Notes[+]

Notes
↥1	For more detail about Campfield and the growth of Nepean, see Bruce S. Elliott. The City Beyond: A History of Nepean, Birthplace of Canada’s Capital, 1792-1990. Nepean: City of Nepean, 1991.

Second City, Second Metro: No Change for Bell’s Corners Property Owners’ Association

Bells Corners from above in 1965. Image: geoOttawa.

Next to submit a brief to Commissioner Murray Jones was the Bell’s Corners Property Owners’ Association.

Continue reading Second City, Second Metro: No Change for Bell’s Corners Property Owners’ Association

Second City, Second Metro: All Systems Go in Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach and Crystal Bay. Satisfied with its wagon being hitched to Nepean Township in 1965. Image: Google Maps.

In 1965, Crystal Beach was a new community. Constructed by Minto, marketing for the subdivision commenced in the Winter of 1961 and was advertised alongside the builder’s other major projects of the time: Parkwood Hills (Meadowlands) and Hawthorne Meadows (Smyth & Russell).

Continue reading Second City, Second Metro: All Systems Go in Crystal Beach

Views: Bell’s Corners (1980)

Robertson Road in 1980. Image: City of Ottawa Archives, CA025336.

I first encountered the above image of Bell’s Corners¹I categorically refuse to leave the apostrophe out. in Bruce Elliott’s The City Beyond (1991). Although I don’t count many on my team of consummate fans of crass commercialism in the public realm, I’m willing to stand out and say that I’ve always been a fan of this sort of suburban view. In my mind’s eye, this sort of “messy” collection of signage is the suburban visual-equivalent of the ideal dense and walkable neighbourhoods that I cherish most deeply.

Continue reading Views: Bell’s Corners (1980)

Notes[+]

Notes
↥1	I categorically refuse to leave the apostrophe out.