60 McLeod St., Golden Triangle, Ottawa

The condo tower at 60 McLeod was completed in the summer of 1974. This rear view from the east end of Park Lane shows its Brutalist styling to advantage, especially on the garage entrance in the foreground.

Ad from the Ottawa Citizen, August 3 1974 — originally named the "Park Lane Terrace," 60 McLeod is now called the "Chateau Cartier."

The site was once home to the Cartier Street Public School, usually referred to simply as "the Cartier Street School, opened in January of 1906.

Ottawa Citizen 1906-01-16 p1

"The New Cartier street ublic school was opened at noon today by his Excellency Earl Grey. The event was a most pleasing one. As Earl Grey and Lady Sybil entered the building the pupils, who were formed up in the corridor, sang the National Anthem. The formal ceremony took place in the kindergarten room. There was a large attendance of residents of the ward and friends, including Trustees [long list of names, etc.] ... "

Goad 1912 shows the school as a 2-storey brick building with basement, windows on all sides, with ample playground space. The rest of the triangular block #481 was then only lightly built upon. Note that Park Lane had not yet been extended through the block. The three houses on the south side of McLeod stand to this day, including the lovely and unique #6. The George Little house (bottom left) was replaced by a cluster of townhouses no later than 1991 per aerial photos.

This photo, looking NE from the W side of Cartier, is undated, but the children's clothing suggests it was taken shortly after the school was built. A damned fine structure and a great loss. Limestone for days.

During WWII, the building was acquired by the Federal Government to be used as office space and would become the Cartier Street Armoury.

Ottawa Citizen, 1942-09-15 p3

A 1965 aerial photo shows the building less than a decade before it was demolished to make way for the Terrace/Chateau. We can see how the playground space would have served as "ample free parking" for DND employees.