Jackson Transportation Building
10 Rideau Street
Written by Bytown Museum
on
03/Dec/2009
Most Rideau Centre shoppers don’t realize they are shopping in a historic building. Known as the Transportation Building, it was commissioned in 1916 for C. Jackson Booth (son of Lumber King J.R. Booth) and designed by Ottawa architect J. Albert Ewart.
The building took its name from its proximity to the Union Train Station, newly built at the time. When Ottawa’s city hall was destroyed by fire in 1931, the Transportation Building became Ottawa’s temporary city hall. This “temporary” location lasted until 1958, when the Green Island city hall was completed.
So, the next time you’re at the intersection of Rideau and Sussex, take a look up before you head into the Rideau Centre for your shopping fix.
