Barrhaven, Ottawa, Canada

A Nepean Neighbourhood

November 2, 2010: Here is a slick map, created by Taylor Kennedy. He has superimposed a present day map of Barrhaven onto an 1879 map of Nepean Township. The result shows the relationship of the farm locations in 1879 and the evolution of the topography of Barrhaven in 2010. The 1879 Nepean Map can be found online at the McGill University Digital County Atlas Project. Thanks, Taylor! ... Al January 14, 2003: This page was inspired by an exchange of e-mails between Mike Epp, one of the original settlers in the 1960s of Barrhaven, and Taylor Kennedy whose ancestors farmed on Jockvale Road beginning in the 1830's. Barrhaven was created in the 1960's. Since then, many of the original farms have been subdivided and built on. If you go to the main page on this web site (there's a link at the bottom of this page), you'll find a search engine which helps you to find pioneer families (Burnett, Houlahan, Watters, Nesbitt, Clothier and many others) or local areas within or near Barrhaven, such as Fallowfield and Jockvale). Further down on this page (under date of January 17, 2003, there is an article titled "Barrhaven - Growing up in the 1970's" by Mike Epp. >Hello Taylor, > >My name is Mike Epp. I have lived my entire life in Barrhaven. >Growing up here I have always had an interest in the history of the area. I >try my best to recall the locations of the old farmhouses, barns, >foundations and other landmarks in the area, but it was a long time ago. I >recall buying eggs from the Nesbitt family on the corner of Fallowfield and >Greenbank. Anyway, I have looked around the net and have found several >items that you have posted. They are very interesting. I hope you might be able >to >help me a bit or steer me to someone who may help with a few questions. I >actually have dozens of questions, but I won't burden you. All I really >have is the 1879 map and your 1929 map. > >1. The 1929 map indicates the location of the Fallowfield Station. It seems >to be located where the new Strandherd intersects the tracks (near the >McKenna house that was demolished a few years ago). Is this right? Do you >know when the station was demolished? > >2. How old is the Kennedy home on Jockvale that is now the church? > >3. Forced Road was obviously redirected to it's current Jockvale Rd >location. However, I recall many summer days playing on "the old Highway", >as we called it, that ran more parallel to Fallowfield Rd. and intersected >Cedarview one or two hundred yards from the current Fallowfield/ Cedarview >intersection (closer to the School). Perhaps Jockvale was redirected twice. >Any comments? > >4. Wondering why the Jockvale School site is called McKenna Park instead of >Fogarty Park? > >5. The old Mowat farm: was that the Quintan / Quinlan farm indicated on the 1879 map? > >6. The stone house to the right of the Mowat barn: is that the Burnett farm >house? I recall another cattle barn down the hill from this house, where >the park is now. > >7. The old stone house that used to be off of Jockvale (now off of Malvern) >that belonged to Mr. Monk in the 80's (not sure who is there now): Is that >the P.Waters / Watters or the M.Waters house indicated on the 1879 map? > >I could keep going. I would like to learn more about our area and any help >you may provide would really be appreciated. > Thanks, Mike _________________________________________________________ Hello Mike Nice to hear from you and your interest in Barrhaven. I don't live in Carleton, more so by Hamilton Ont., and the buildings disappear faster than I can get back there, thus my knowledge and locations is limited. As you can see I have copied Al Lewis who is more knowledgable in old buildings, names and parks, so he may be able to help you out there and at the same time your information may help him. A win - win situation. The Kennedy house in Barrhaven was built about 1903 - 1905 by Michael Joseph Kennedy who was the grandson of William Kennedy, and was built during their stay in the original farmhouse. I will be sending three "doc" files that has some stories to read. Kennevale in Barrhaven, as many of the streets were named after the early settlers. Jockvale Road also known as the forced road, was originally cut by the Indians. Many men, women, children, Indians and soldiers have travelled that route by foot in the early 1800's. Amazing isn't it? The school in Jockvale has an interesting twist to it. Any story of how school facilities developed in Jockvale must include the account of the Great Madden double-cross. At least Dad's (Michael J. Kennedy) version of it. It seems that the people of the community could not decide on whether to build the new two-room school on the forced road, where most of the people lived, or a half-mile to the east on the so called "upper concession", where Pat Madden lived. So a referendum was decided upon, to settle the question in a democratic way. Presumably, meetings were held and propaganda issued. On voting day, volunteers were busy picking up voters and carrying them to the polling place. Uncle Dick Tierney was one of those transporting voters favoring the Madden location (Mrs. Madden was his sister). His action led to some coolness in the Tierney-Kennedy relations. Anyhow, when the dust settled and the votes were counted, the forced road location, which Dad favored, led in the vote. Dad and his supporters settled back, confident that they had won the contest. They had, it was true, but Pat Madden was the one responsible for having the plans for the new school drawn up. It was only when construction of the school was well under way, that the "forced-road" group realized that, although the school was being built where they wanted it to be, it was facing to the east, away from the road, with only a long windowless side facing the forced road on the west. You will notice even today you enter from the rear of the building. The 1929 map was completed by Desmond Kennedy who wrote about his life in Jockvale on the farm. Talked about the River Jock, hauling ice from there in the winter for the barn. I am still working on the Watters side so I can't confirm who's house it was. Also I don't know when the Jockvale Station was demolished but I copied a story out of the Ottawa Citizen last year to the City's expectation of running trains again through that point. Sorry I couldn't be much help, but I hope what I sent you will answer some questions. Take care Taylor Kennedy ____________________________________________ Hi Taylor, Lorne and Mike: Thanks for your e-mails. I'll answer you three sometime tomorrow night. This is interesting stuff. Lorne Burnett dropped over last week. He knows a lot about the location of the farms, buildings, etc. Talk to you all later. ... Al _____________________________________________ Hello, Thanks for your reply Taylor. Interesting stuff. I will have to check out the Nepean Museum and have a look at "The Kennedy Story" and whatever else they may have. I guess there are a few Burnetts still in the area. I used to work with Anne Burnett. I recall she had a great deal of knowledge of the area. I wish I had written down everything she had told me. I grew up on Roberta Cres. Our house was the third built in '65. As an adult I used to live on Bridgewater, off of Kennivale! I now reside in Chapman Mills. Our house backs onto the old maple grove behind the old Collins place. Minto tore down their barn buildings this past summer. I was able to have a look around when it was vacant prior to the demolishion. I wish I had a farmer with me to explain one of the barns. It had stairs to the 2nd level where there seemed to be some large boxed off areas with lots of feathers in them. Come to think of it, there were feathers all over. I did not understand this because there was the regular chicken coup building near by. I know that there were cattle grazing in those fields years ago, but I did not see a normal cattle barn. The nice old stone house is still there, all boarded up solid. I am not sure what their plan is. I hope it remains. In the centre of the maple grove I found an old shack that still had very old cut wood in it. There was not longer even a path leading to it. There are rusted-out metal buckets and a large rusted tub. There are inscriptions on the shacks inner walls, dates and numbers. I assumed that at one point they collected and produced maple syrup there. Anyway, I would really appreciate learning more about the area. I would love to find more detailed maps of the area from the 1800's up to 1970. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Thanks, Mike January 17, 2003: Barrhaven - Growing up in the 1970's by Mike Epp Growing up in Barrhaven in the 1970's was a unique experience. We were isolated from the city by the Greenbelt. Yet we were close enough that we could not really be considered small-town folk. However, we were similar in many respects to a small town in that we all knew each other, or we were at least familiar enough with most people to say hello. There was a real sense of community. Our isolation also meant that a lot of recreation took place in the common areas and in the surrounding forests and fields. Yet our proximity to the city meant that the recreational activities that it offered were still often enjoyed. My family moved to Barrhaven in 1965, just as the development began. I was born in 1967, so my memory of the area begins in the early 1970's. Residential Barrhaven by this time was roughly bordered by Fallowfield Road to the North, Larkin to the South, Tripp to the East and Langholm (the top of the hill) to the West. Of course there were also a scattering of farmhouses and a few other homes on Jockvale, Greenbank, Fallowfield and Woodroffe. There were no shopping malls or grocery stores until the late 1970's. There was the McIntosh Grocery Store on Greenbank Road near Fallowfield. Mr. McIntosh was a very friendly, tall, white-haired man who was active in the community and was well liked. It was a big deal when the Mac's Milk strip-mall opened around the corner, bringing F+M Pizza and Lotus Chinese food to Barrhaven! Unfortunately, Mr. McIntosh lost business from this competition. There was no Walter Baker Centre, but we had two very active baseball diamonds as well as the ice rink, all located on the Barrhaven Public School grounds. Of course, street hockey was also a very popular athletic activity .The school was the focal point for many of the communities events such as the Barrhaven Field Day, the Winter Carnival and of course softball and baseball, which were both extremely popular at the time. The school grounds were also the location for the regular evening visits by the Nepean Bookmobile. It was essentially a library on wheels and it was always popular. Barrhaven Public School also marked the last checkpoint before entrance into the greatest playground a child could ask for. This consisted of acres of land containing forests, fields, cliffs, ponds and a few small â€œjunk yardsâ€� containing many treasures. Cattle could still be seen grazing in these fields until the mid 1970's. All that remains of the main forest in that area is the small patch behind Barrhaven Public School. The forest used to take up much of the North-West section of the Walter Baker Centre property. Fields surrounded the forest on three sides. There was a small frog pond on the West, where "soakers"� and disease were of no concern to us children as we hunted for frog eggs and other fun messy stuff. There were rumours of older kids finding Indian arrowheads in the area, which were likely untrue but they certainly aided in our interest in the area. I have since learned that nearby Forced Road (Jockvale) was an old Indian trail prior to the settling of the area in the 1800's, so who knows. The cliffs provided another source of adventure with small crevasses to explore and they provided a view for â€œmilesâ€� of the fields, forests and farmland toward the Rideau. The cliffs also gave us "mountaineering"� experience through climbing its faces at various points. In the winter the daredevils among us would jump to the deep snow below, sometimes ending in bruises from the odd hidden rock below. What remains of the cliffs is now hidden behind Jockvale Public School by 25 years of tree and brush growth. The fields above the ridge where Fable and the Mowat Farm Park are were great for exploring and adventure for a number of reasons. One reason was the rumour that Farmer Mowat had a salt gun and that he would use to shoot trespassers. I am sure that this was just a rumour, but it did keep us on our toes and very few would dare wander too close to their farmhouse, barn and garage. The other reason the area was popular was the number and variety of abandoned husbandry and vehicles. Of greatest interest was an armored military vehicle that we referred to as "the ammunitions carrier"�. The imaginative play and exploration in this area was memorable. The main summer event for the community was the Barrhaven Field Day. In its early years it was nothing like it's recent carnation. It had no fancy rides or high pressure/high priced carnival games. There were pony rides, potato-sack races, three-legged races, balance-an-egg-on-a-spoon races, beanbag tosses, bobbing for apples, bicycle decorating contests, etc. For the other racing enthusiasts there were a variety of bicycle races and the popular Soapbox Derby races down Larkin hill. There were always a good variety of these homemade go-carts, made in a variety of shapes with plywood and wagon wheels. Many were painted with stripes and numbers and they were the pride and joy of the youths who created them (often with their Dad's help!). Remarkably, no one was ever really hurt. The Field Day was completely organized and run by members of the community. This is just a sampling of a typical Barrhaven child's life in the 1970"s. I could go on, but I think this in enough to paint a pretty good picture. There were also the adventures on "the Old Highway"� area west of the community. There were the Movie Nights. There were the bicycle rides "way out"� into the country, far away from Barrhaven, to places like Strandherd Rd., or to the distant town of Fallowfield. While attending school outside of Barrhaven the "city folk"� would often ask" What do you guys do out there? It must have been so boring growing up there!"�. I could only smile. Boring? No way! Unique? Absolutely! Mike Epp January, 2003 January 24, 2003: Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I have being doing a lot of reading on your site Al. The research work that you all have done is incredible. I have a number of questions, some from my first e-mail. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. I wish there was something I could contribute, but I don't think I know anything that you don't. Taylor: have you transcribed the entire "Kennedy Story"? I would love to read it. The 1879 map shows a school at the Jockvale School site. Was there another school there prior to the building of the existing one in the early 1900's? The 1929 map indicates the location of the Fallowfield Station. It seems to be have been located where the new Strandherd intersects the train tracks (near the McKenna house that was demolished a few years ago). Is this right? Do you know when the station was last used/demolished? Lorne: Forced Road was obviously redirected to it's current Jockvale Rd location. However, I recall many summer days playing on "the old Highway", as we called it. This abandoned road ran more parallel to Fallowfield Rd. and intersected Cedarview one or two hundred yards from the current Fallowfield/ Cedarview intersection (closer to the School), not at the Cederview/Fallowfield intersection like on the 1879 map. Was Jockvale was redirected twice? Anyone know why the Jockvale School site is called McKenna Park instead of Fogarty Park since he donated the land? The old Mowat farm: was that the Quintan / Quinlan farm indicated on the 1879 map? I just drove by the other day and it is a Bed and Breakfast now. It has also been renovated with new brick, etc. Or, was it torn down and this new house built? Lorne: The stone house to the right of the Mowat barn: is that the old Burnett farm house in the 1879 map? I recall there was another cattle barn down the hill from this house, where the park is now. The old stone house that used to be off of Jockvale (now off of Malvern) that belonged to Mr. Monk in the 80's (not sure who is there now): Is that the P.Waters / Watters or the M.Waters house indicated on the 1879 map? Curious about the Larkin property. Anyone know who owned it between the Larkin family and Mr.Barr? I know that Mr. Madden had a cheese factory at keystone corners in the early 1900's. Was this on the Larkin property? When did Mr.Barr buy the property? Anyone know the Barr story? This is it for now. Sorry for all the questions. I know it takes time to answer and that you are all busy. Al, if it is OK with you, I am going to put together a section for the Barrhaven page that has links and excerpts to your other pages containing interesting information about the area and it's pioneer families. Let me know if you think that is a good idea. Take care, Mike ______________________________ Also posted on January 24, 2003: (Thanks to Lorne Burnett) HI MIKE I WILL TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS NO 1 I STAND TO BE CORRECTED BUT I THINK THE OLD SCHOOL WAS IN THE SAME SPOT MY MOTHER STARTED TO SCHOOL IN THE PRESENT SCHOOL THE YEAR IT WAS BUILT 1906 THE RAILROAD STATION WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE TRACKS FROM THE MCKENNA HOUSE I MET PEOPLE COMING FROM OTTAWA BY TRAIN IN 1940 OR 41 THAT WAS THE LAST IT WAS USED JOCKVALE ROAD USED TO MEET FALLOWFIELD AT THE CEDARVIEW / FALLOWFIELD INTERSECTION IT HAS BEEN MOVED BACK TWICE THE MCKENNA PARK NAME WAS JUST PLACED THERE LATELY, NO CONNECTION THE OLD MOWAT FARM WAS AN ORIGINAL QUINLAN FARM THE HOUSE NORTH OF THE BARN IS THE ORIGNAL IT IS THE BED & BREAKFAST THE STONE HOUSE TO THE RIGHT OF THE BARN WAS ALSO A QUINLAN HOME THE BURNETTS HOME WAS IN THE VICINTY OF KANE SHERWAY FABLE THE STONE HOUSE OF SHERWAY NOT MALVERN BELONGED TO THE MONK FAMILY, PURCHASED FROM THE KEALEY FAMILY IN ABOUT 1950 THE KEALEYS PURCHASED FROM THE WATERS / WATTERS MR BARR BOUGHT IN ABOUT 1957. HIS PLANS WAS TO PUT A RACE TRACK THERE BUT IT DID NOT WORK OUT SO MR BARR STARTED A SUBDIVISON. HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL LORNE January 24, 2003: (Thanks to Taylor Kennedy for the following .. I'm still trying to load up a copy of the map) ... Al Hey Guys This attached file is an 'Excel' file. It's a map of Nepean,1879 farm map that I did on EXCEL. I know, it's an accounting program but like our ancestors, you make do with what you have. I have plotted the locations of the Parks, Forests and Plaques dedicated to the early pioneers. In the Legend are the cross streets. Hope you can all retreive it. Received a hard copy from cousin Paul Kennedy, son of Desmond Kennedy, author of "The Kennedy Story". Taylor Kennedy February 17, 2005: The newly-created Barrhaven Business Improvement Association has just set up their web site. They also have a good map of the Barrhaven area (Fallowfield, Jockvale, Heart's Desire and the Jock River area).

February 10, 2008: Hello All, A few years ago I wrote to you looking for pictures of Barrhaven in the early years but no one seemed to have any. Anyway, I was looking at your website again and wanted to write to ask if you had any other information about Barrhaven (not just pictures). All of the stories are SO interesting! Unfortunately for me, I wasn't born until the late 1980's and only experienced the later years of our community, but since then Barrhaven has changed into a small city and doesn't have that "community feel" it once had. I tried writing to the Nepean Museum twice, but haven't had any luck in speaking to anyone there. I figured since it was a smaller museum someone might have replied to my emails... I guess I was wrong. Anyway, I'm not sure if any of you have any other information or historical stuff to share, but I'd love to know more and hear about what this great town once was! Check your albums for pictures too! :) I always love seeing pictures! Even if they're just backgrounds! Thanks again! Cheers, ... Tim ________________________________ Thanks to Taylor Kennedy for the following reply to Tim: Tim If I can make a suggestion. Check the digital maps from McGill University and outline the boundaries of Barrhaven on that map. Make a note of all the family surnames and post requests on Roots Web message board and Family Tree Maker message boards for those surnames. Check with Nepean Library for a book written by a Craig ancestor. It was all about life in that area. I don't know the name of the book but it is out of print and they may have a copy. If not check with the National Archives there in Ottawa. Also the National Archives should house pictures of the split up of farmlands for construction of Barrhaven as well as early postal stations, train stations etc. Pictures of the railroad coming through that area and them men and women of the timeframe. And if you come across Kennedy information, please feel free to contact me. Take care ... Taylor Kennedy PS You can also check land patents at the National Archives as to the original settlers, who thay were with in the military, where they came from etc. Also the history of St. Patricks Church, Fallowfield. The Rectory may have information also. June 6, 2008: The earliest part of Barrhaven to be settled is Chapman Mills. ... Al November 16, 2009:



The Development Continues Here is an article from the Ottawa Citizen, dated November 16, 2009, page C3. This shows some work soon to be done in the Jockvale area of Barrhaven. The project is named after some well-known pioneer families, Foster, Kennedy and Burnett. February 20, 2010: The Longfields Subdivision in Barrhaven, Nepean Township, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Here is a newspaper clipping from the Ottawa Citizen. Unfortunately the date was cut off my copy of the original. Lois Long was interested in local history and heritage for many years and she researched many of the original Nepean pioneer families. September 19, 2010: (revised on October 26, 2010) Hi Al, thank you for posting the EMC article on your web page. It turns out that the writer had made an error in describing the dimensions of the LED screen when he wrote the article. I asked him to correct it, which he did for the online version but it had already been printed in the paper version. Would you mind including a link to the correct online version, or posting that version instead? Iâ€™ll include below the link and Iâ€™ll paste in the online version as well. http://www.emcbarrhaven.ca/20100916/News/Winner+named+for+Marketplace+art+contest Thanks, Cheryl Pagurek Source for the following 1879 map of the Half-Moon Bay area is http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/Countyatlas/images/maps/townshipmaps/car-m-nepean.jpg October 25, 2010: Attend the unveiling of a plaque on the pioneer Madden family farm at the Berrigan Street entrance to the Strandherd Park and Ride. This plaque will be a reminder of the Hedgerow of Butternut and Walnut Trees just off Berrigan Street in Barrhaven. This event will take place at noon on Wednesday, October 27, 2010. November 8, 2010: After travelling across Canada, to Afghanistan and back, "Notes from Home"� a hand-made book containing signatures, drawings, photos and kind wishes to the soldiers in Afghanistan from over 80,000 Canadians will be making one last stop where it all began before being donated to the Canadian War Museum. This book will be available to be signed at the Barrhaven Legion, November 9, 2010, at 6:00 P.M. April 30, 2020: Source for the next text block is Carleton Saga by Harry and Olive Walker, page 125. E-mail Taylor Kennedy, Mike Epp, Lorne Burnett, Tim Greer and Al Lewis



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