Infill Housing #21

Of course # 77 Kenora has departed from its life on Kenora St. The bricks, wood, stairs, plaster, stone, windows...all of it was carted away to landfill, after it was demolished on May 4th. As I stood there, taking photos of it's destruction, I asked myself why. Why was I torturing myself by watching this dreaded act? A very old-fashioned phrase popped into my head. I simply felt I was bearing witness to the loss of yet another of Ottawa's heritage homes.

So here, for the record, is how you demolish a house.

7:38 AM

This pumper truck was a welcome addition to the usual house destruction process. It prevented the clouds of dust  that usually result. 

When I saw the staircase I thought of the kids who grew up here and all the times they must have run up and down those stairs.

Note the way the front door arch is echoed in the archway between the living room and dining room.

9:44 AM

By 11:35 it was pretty well gone. 

And so, at the end of the day, with it's mission accomplished, the monster bowed it's head.

Infill Housing #20

It's all over but the crying

Well, this has been like a long drawn-out death, but we're almost at the finish line. Over the last couple of weeks some preliminary water work was done in front of #77. This involved a lot of commotion and non-stop noise. Even with doors and windows closed, the relentless pounding was enough to drive you crazy.

It was a relief to have that work finished. This past week was quiet, until the dreaded excavator was dropped off yesterday. A few of us old-timers went out when it arrived. We all agreed that of the five houses that we've lost on our block so far, this house is the prettiest. It will be destroyed on Monday.

#77, Facing the gallows

I must admit that I was impressed to learn that the new owners have saved a few items from the house. They gave away a claw foot tub, the furnace, and some lovely French doors. I'm glad to know that not everything will end up in landfill. They will be re-using some of the leaded windows themselves and offered the remainder to neighbours. We'll hang ours,  as a remembrance of a time when houses were built  with high quality materials, integrity,  style and craftsmanship.