Oral histories from Lowertown residents
By Nancy Miller Chenier
Nancy Scott Colton’s personal link to Lowertown began in the late 1990s, when she bought a heritage house on Bolton Street – but her Scott family connection goes back to the early 1850s, when Richard W. Scott, her great-grandfather set up his law office on George Street. R.W. Scott, later Sir Richard, laid the foundations for Nancy’s future link with this founding part of the Ottawa community. Although her mother shopped regularly in the Byward Market until her death and at one time, her sister had a retail shop on Sussex, the family generally resided in other parts of the city.
When Nancy moved into her early 1900s house, she had only a general idea of Sir Richard’s association with Lowertown. Through his work as a local lawyer, mayor, and later as a provincial and federal politician, many Lowertown residents saw him as a defender of their separate Catholic schools and French language rights. One of the favourite family stories about R.W. Scott relates to his desire to defuse the strong Catholic-Protestant animosity of the period. When Mayor in 1853, he heard that the route for the annual July 12 Orangeman Parade was through Irish and French Catholic Lowertown. After some negotiations to try to avoid bloodshed, he agreed to ride at the head of the parade, thinking that his Catholic presence would forestall riots. History indicates that his effort averted violence but lost him his next election as mayor.
Nancy carries on the family tradition by defending the heritage character of our neighbourhood. She did some restoration when she bought her house located in the Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District and participates in the activities of the Lowertown Community Association’s Heritage Committee. Concerned about the loss of significant buildings valued by community, she adds her voice to the ongoing efforts to prevent demolition by neglect or by greed.
For Nancy, the pedestrian quality of the neighbourhood is an important issue. During her years of employment, she crossed the Alexandra Bridge regularly on foot to go to work. Walking across the bridge reminded her of another story about her great-grandfather’s role in Queen Victoria’s choice of Ottawa as Canada’s capital. As the story goes, Sir Richard had shown Governor General Head and his wife the beauties of Ottawa from a location in today’s Major’s Hill Park. Lady Head painted a watercolour of that scene, which helped sway the Queen’s decision.
Nancy continues to value the ability to walk to services – pharmacy, dry cleaner, corner store, and other small retailers – in her Dalhousie Street neighbourhood. Her biggest lament is the loss of a variety of fresh food outlets in the Byward Market.
Like many other Lowertown residents who grew up in Ottawa, Nancy Scott Colton has some wonderful stories about the enterprising people who shaped our city and built our history. And now this Colton on Bolton is preserving our built heritage for future generations.