Doric Columns on Elgin Street, Ottawa

The Queen Mary Apartments, at 413 Elgin, were built in 1913 on a previously vacant lot, in the year prior to Canada's entry into WWI. The ad reproduced here appeared in the Ottawa Citizen on February 25 1914 — we would officially engage the Hun on August 4 of that year.

"Queen Mary" refers to Mary of Teck, wife of King George V. Both George and Mary were much loved by Canadians, especially by Ottawans who fondly remembered the couple's Royal Visit to our city in 1901 when, as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, they proved themselves to be decent human beings and good sports, graced with kindness, respect and an actual shared sense of humour — this in sharp contrast to Victoria's dark, distant demeanour.

As to the columns, Doric. And note that the lowest one, front and centre (of my photo) seems poised to fail outward.