Abbott's Guide to Ottawa and Vicinity/Parliament Buildings

by George F. Abbott

 

PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS

BARRACKS (PARLIAMENT) HILL, 1826.

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

The first point of interest sought by every stranger in Ottawa is the Parliament Buildings. In the year 1826 there stood on this site (then known as "Barrack's Hill") military barracks erected by Col. By for the use of the engineers engaged in constructing the Rideau Canal. When Ottawa was chosen the Capital of Canada the construction of the Parliament Buildings was commenced, and the corner-stone was laid Sept. 1st, 1860, by the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII. In 1865 the public departments were brought here from Quebec, and the last session of the Parliament of the old province of Canada was held here on June 1st, 1867, the buildings were taken over by the Federal Government.

The Gothic architecture, is well set off by the cream coloured sandstone, obtained from Nepean, near Ottawa, and its varied and beautiful colours are growing richer with time. The ornamental work is of Ohio sandstone, while the red arches are of Potsdam sandstone from St. Lawrence county in New York State. The building is 472 feet long, and covers an area of about 100,000 feet. The main entrance is through the central or Victoria tower, 180 feet in height. The piers which support the tower are ornamented with pillars of polished Arnprior marble. The carving over the main door demands special attention.

Entering the building will be seen a large hall, on the floor of which are inlaid the Arms of the various provinces of the Dominion, as constituted in 1904. It will be noticed that one shield is vacant. This was intended for the arms of one new Province, subsequently it was determined to form two, which are now known as the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It being impossible to insert the arms of one Province to the exclusion of the other, this shield has remained vacant. The stairway to the right leads to the Senate, and the left to the House of Commons. Elevators are to be found through the little archways underneath the staircases. At the head of the stairway to the right is the lobby of the Senate Chamber; just inside the door, at the left, is a portrait of Queen Victoria, who died in 1901, but who had been thirty years on the throne when Parliament first sat in these halls. On the walls here, and in the corridor at each side of the Chamber, are portraits of former speakers and statesmen. The Chambers of the two houses are identical in design, size and shape, being 82 by 45 feet. The galleries of each chamber accommodate about 1,000 persons. In the Senate the stained glass windows would cast a soft and subdued light but for the corrugated glass roof which greatly intensifies the light. The large lower piers of grey Canadian marble are surmounted, above the galleries, by small pillars of dark Arnprior marble. Under the canopy is the Regal Chair, occupied by the Governor General at the opening and closing of Parliament. The Speaker's chair is placed on the dais immediately in front. To his right are the Government seats, and to his left the Opposition Senators. Portraits of King George III. and his consort, Queen Charlotte, painted by Reynolds occupy the south wall. In the corridor to the right of the chamber are swing doors from which a staircase descends to the corner stone. This stone, which is of white marble, bears the following inscription: "This corner stone, intended to receive the Legislature of Canada, was laid by Albert Edward Prince of Wales on the first day of September MDCCCLX." Re-ascending to the corridor, at the end are the private apartments of the Speaker.

The Reading Room will be seen through the glass swing doors at the end of the corridor. Here are on file some 900 Canadian newspapers and periodicals. Passing through the door to the right, in the centre of the Reading Room, will be seen in the corridor (at the left) a tablet to commemorate the first vessel to cross the Atlantic by steam power—The "Royal William"—which was wholly constructed in Canada. Here is the entrance to—

The Library, a polygon of 16 sides, and 120 feet in diameter. The dome is supported by massive buttresses and beautifully constructed flying buttresses. In the interior the height from the floor to the top of the inside of the cupola is 160 feet. The floor is inlaid with Canadian woods, and the book shelves are richly carved in Canadian white pine. In the centre is a white marble statue of Queen Victoria, by Marshall Wood, the English sculptor. The building was completed in 1876. At the time the Government removed to Ottawa the library contained 55,000 volumes; there are now 350,000. The accommodation for books is now entirely inadequate. The collection of books and pamphlets relating to Canada is very complete. When Parliament is not sitting books may be obtained under certain restrictions. During session the library is open continuously at other times, on week days, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT

Leaving the Library and continuing to the right, the Commons chamber is reached. The difference between the Commons and Senate chamber, as regards seating, will be noticed. The members of the Press occupy the gallery above the Speaker's chair. Portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (by Forbes, a Canadian artist) will be seen at the ends of the chamber.

The remaining portions of the building are used chiefly for offices, committee rooms and Ministers and Members private rooms.

The tower, which is open from 10 to 4, is ascended by winding staircases. On the way up will be seen the clock, with its 14 foot pendulum. Each hour is struck with a 50 lb. weight on a bell weighing a ton. The dials are 8 feet in diameter. The long climb is well rewarded by the views from the top, which can hardly be surpassed on the continent. The country for miles around is at one's feet. Here can be seen 20 miles of the Ottawa river, the thread of the Rideau canal, the Gatineau and Rideau rivers, and the Chaudiere Falls, while the majestic scenery to the north and west have a fitting foil in the peaceful and more level land to the east and south. From the highest point of the tower, when either House is in session, a beautiful electric light flashes. This beacon gives the signal for 20 miles around that the representatives of the people are engaged in their legislative labours.

At the north-west angle of the building elevators ascend to the Restaurant—on the top floor—whence a magnificent view of the Ottawa river is to be had. The Chaudiere Falls are clearly seen, with the spray rising behind the bridge over the Ottawa. A stretch of several miles of the river is broken by the Canadian Pacific Railway bridge, while the whole of the city of Hull and vicinity is in clear view. The large dining room is for the use of Members and Senators and their guests, and the officers of the House. In this room are portraits of many of the previous Governor Generals, including the Marquis of Dufferin, the Marquis of Lansdowne and the Earl of Aberdeen; also portraits of the great Conservative chieftain, Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Premier of Canada, the Hon. Alex. Mackenzie, the first Liberal Premier, and some former Speakers and others. A smaller dining room, a smoking room and a ladies reception room are en suite. In these are other portraits of Speakers, and the well known portrait in oils of Jacques Cartier, the discoverer of Canada. The portrait of Hon. T. W. Anglin, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1874 to 1878, is now in the private apartments of the Speaker. His daughter, Miss Margaret Anglin, well known as one of the leading actresses of America, was born in the Speaker's chambers during her father's regime.

At the rear of the building the rock descends almost perpendicularly to the river. The view from the pavilion at the left is magnificent. Anthony Trollope thus describes Ottawa and the Parliament Buildings: "It stands nobly on a magnificent river, with high overhanging rock, and a natural grandeur of position which has perhaps gone far in recommending it to those whose voice in the matter has been potential. Having the world of Canada from whence to choose the site of a new town, the choosers have certainly chosen well. The glory of Ottawa is the set of public buildings erected on the rock which guards as it were the town from the river. . . . I know no modern Gothic purer of its kind, or less sullied with fictitious ornamentation, and I know no site for such a set of buildings so happy as regards both beauty and grandeur."

It was just 23 years ago that Charles Dudley Warner, one of the unquestioned leaders of American thought and taste, wrote: "The situation on the bluffs of the Ottawa river is commanding, and gives fine opportunity for architectural display. The group of Government buildings is surpassingly fine. The Parliament House and the department buildings on three sides of a square are exceedingly effective in color and in the perfection of Gothic detail, especially in the noble towers. There are few groups of buildings anywhere so pleasing to the eye, or that appeal more strongly to one's sense of dignity and beauty."