ELGIN AND THE CANAL

Quick facts

Story kiosk location

  • Northeast corner of Elgin and Catherine

Important dates

  • 1865 – Henry Westbrook sells his tavern on the east side of the canal and leaves Ottawa

Audiofile

  • No

Who lived here?

  • Looking towards the canal, imagine it to be the 1860s. To the south you’d find an early Black-owned business, Henry J. Westbrook’s tavern. Although he left Ottawa in 1865 his Irish Catholic wife Hannah stayed on and sold it for $100.