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Dutchie's Hole

Close to 41 Robinson Avenue

Written by Bytown Museum on 03/Dec/2009

A photograph of Dutchie's Hole in Sandy Hill

Today, Dutchie's Hole is home to a summer wading pool, dog park and cycling trails. If you're lucky, you can catch sight of turtles, great blue herons and flocks of ducks nearby. Years ago, Dutchie's was a community swimming hole along the Rideau River, and it wasn't the only one in Ottawa.

Along the Rideau, there were also swimming holes at Bathing Island, Brantwood Beach and Brighton Beach. It cost a dime to get into Brighton – those who couldn't afford it snuck in. Locals will remember that the water was so murky at Brighton, you couldn't see much of anything underwater.

The City of Ottawa kept the name Dutchie's Hole for their present-day wading pool, but we haven’t managed to uncover the origin of the name. If you know it, tell us!

Did you spend your summer days at one of the city's old swimming holes? Share your pictures and stories with us.


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When i was growing up in sandyhill it was the best years of my life!Swimming at duchie's with my brother's and sister's back in the 1960's bring back fond memorie's,my sister's are no longer here but i still walk the street's there for a smell that trigger's fun time's and laughter,it's funny how thing's do change but memorie's will alway's fill my heart with happy time's by living in a wonderful place like sandy hill,walking through stathcona park with my grankid's now and telling them storie's of where we went swimming and of course the wonderful brick school at the top of the hill on osgoode where i went as a child Osgoode Street Public School,i remember when they built the gym in the top floor of the school,when you were down stairs in class you could here all the other classes when they had gym running around.Going home after school i would walk down osgoode to goulburn st that was one of the many homes i lived in sandyhill.I feel like part of me still live's there and i will alwa

Barbara Becchina, Wednesday, April 13, 2011

I remember as a child, I used to visit Ida Crouch and her husband, I think his name was Ernie on Clegg Street I believe. After cake, me and my two brothers Barry and Allan would walk down Clegg St. to Brantwood Beach. There used to be a refreshment hut that was always cool and in the shade away from the hot sun. It is favourite memory of mune from the early fifties.

Roger Way, Friday, March 04, 2011

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Neighbourhood

When development began in earnest in Sandy Hill in the 1860s, the area was a desolate place where for 30 years the trees had been logged to build houses and warm the growing communities ... read more