Recherche

Champagne Bath

321 King Edward Avenue

Écrit par le Musée Bytown le 03-déc.-2009

A photograph of Champagne Bath in Lowertown

In the early 1900s, the municipal government sought to “better” the working classes by providing bathing facilities like the Champagne Bath. Personal cleanliness had come to be seen as a necessity, not only for public health but also as a symbol of good character. If Ottawa's poorer citizens could not adequately bathe themselves at home, the city was expected to provide the service for them.

Public baths were only one of the many solutions proposed by urban reformers at the turn of the 19th century as they sought to ease the many problems presented by unprecedented urban growth and congested and dirty city slums.

The Champagne Bath (named for sitting mayor Napoléon Champagne) opened in 1924 and also housed a library, with the intention of educating the poor. The bathing facility included separate entrances for men and women, on either side of the main entrance. Not long after its opening, the bath was turned into a public swimming pool, much like the Plant Bath that was opened the same year and named for former Ottawa mayor Frank Plant.


Ajoutez un commentaire Commentaires sur l'histoire

I loved this place. With no hot water at home sat. morning was pure bliss.Mr.Charbonneau ran the place and was very even handed keeping order like a kindly uncle,un-like parents, who yelled a lot.I think we had to pay a nickel for a bar of soap and trunks.
I earned my life-saving bronze under their tutelidge,for which I am still grateful.You had to step into a foot bath before you entered the pool to prevent foot infections.I never got sick or infected in all the time I was there.It was 1942 ane I was 8 years old.I can't remember where we placed our clothes,especially in winter.Their was always more kids in the winter though as summer time was for the black bridge (rly trestle)on king edward and the wooden bridge at Porters Island.My sisters had to walk over ST.Patricks bridge and follow the tracks to Flat Rock where they had life guards.The boys had both bridges to themselves and didn't have to worry about sisters telling on you at supper time.I love'd summer time,no school

Robert M., 5 novembre 2011

Ajoutez un commentaire

Musée Bytown

Quartier

Depuis ses débuts en 1826, Bytown (la jeune ville d’Ottawa) est divisée géographiquement, avec la Haute ville à l’ouest du canal Rideau et la Basse ville à l’est. La Basse ville, délimitée à ... lire la suite