Shirley's Bay, 1960 by reflectionsofnature

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Shirley's Bay, 1960

This is a posting aimed more at local PBase users. I acquired this photo from the National Air Photo Library here in Ottawa. This shows what the Shirley's Bay cottage area looked like in 1960. The area around the Hilda Road bird feeders was once a residential neighborhood full of houses! I knew there were houses there in the past, but I didn't know that there were so many, as this photo shows! All the houses in this photo except for two have since been destroyed!

This land was expropriated by the federal government shortly after this photo was taken in 1960 to make protected public greenspace around our growing city. The landowners were allowed to remain, but whenever a landowner decided to sell the federal government was obligated to buy the house at fair market value. The government then destroyed the house so the land could be returned to nature. Similar situations existed elsewhere in the city and within the boundaries in Gatineau Park, but in the case of Gatineau Park the situation is still very much ongoing, and the government, over the years, hasn't consistently lived up to its obligation to buy back the land in Gatineau Park, which has caused a lot of ongoing debate since as far back as I can remember.

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Guest		03-Jul-2023 04:51
I have scores of photos of the cottages and year-round homes at Shirley's Bay, dating back to about 1956. Our house was opposite the bird-feeders on Hilda Road. Many year-round residents and cottage owners were reluctant to leave. Many moved up to Dunrobin or beyond. There were many very nice families there and we lived an idyllic life. At least the area was not turned into high-end condos or townhouses, and is enjoyed by so many of the public, including walkers, bird-watchers, etc. That is the solace of being expropriated.

C Smith		12-Jun-2021 14:41
Thanks for posting this. My parents were very active with the international hostelling association and they houseparented at the Shirley's Bay hostel for 2 or 3 summers in the early 70s. An idyllic site for us kids - canoeing, swimming, beachcombing! All the houses / cottages were occupied and there was always a lot going on. There also used to be a Dairy Queen in the strip mall on the south side of Carling, east of Moodie Drive, and we'd ride our bikes up there and back for treats on allowance day. Great memories!

Guest		30-Apr-2021 14:23
Are the any pics of the actual buildings etc where they stood etc ?

Guest		09-May-2015 02:12
With regard to the previous post, I see that the proper address of the Shirleys Bay property I referred to was Lot 34, Riverdown Drive.

Guest		09-May-2015 01:57
Thank you for this photo of Shirley's Bay in 1960. I was delighted to find it. My parents owned a cottage at Shirley's Bay in 1959, and I have recently been reading some documents that indicate it was located at Lot 34 Riverdown Avenue. There was also a garage that belonged to the cottage on a gravel street, not far from the cottage and closer to the Ottawa River. The cottage was furnished and there was a beautiful cedar chest in the master bedroom, which we still have. I did not know that the NCC had expropriated the buildings over the years, and after my parents sold the cottage I lost touch with Shirley's Bay. I am hoping to find copies of the deeds and other information relating to Shirley's Bay and this property in the Registry Office soon.

larose forest photos		22-Feb-2011 03:36
When I first started going to Shirleys Bay in about the mid-70's I can remember seeing lots of houses there. There was even, for a time, a youth hostel facility. But I don't remember as many as this photo shows. I guess one of the last ones was removed last year after the fire there. There is still the sailing club (or whatever it's called) and one more house down a side street. But it is otherwise becoming increasingly difficult to remember all the mailboxes on Range Rd. and all the house. This is a great idea, showing what the area once looked like. More!!

Jim Coffman		27-Dec-2010 15:15
That is a amazing story and image,Chris!

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