Photo Friday: Echo-Bank House

It pays to wander the side streets in Ottawa. You never know what you're going to find.

Just south of the Bank Street bridge that traverses the Rideau Canal is a small road that I had never noticed before I went for a walk, last summer, with Lori, while we were waiting for some work to be done on my bike at The Cyclery.

On that walk, I took photos of four Ottawa landmarks: the Mayfair Theatre, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Craham Station No. 10 (now the Ottawa South Community Association Community Centre), and now, February's Where In Ottawa location.

All of these spots have been used for Where In Ottawa.

Congratulations to Christophe Ledent, who correctly identified the Echo-Bank House, on Echo Drive. Here are the clues, explained.

1. Name changer: this Gothic Revival house was originally owned by George Hay, a prominent hardware merchant and president of the Bank of Ottawa, who is also credited with proposing the change of Bytown to the City of Ottawa.
2. By George, it's Ottawa: and, yes, if George Hay did have something to do with it, our town's name became what it is today. Mr. Hay is also credited with designing Ottawa's coat of arms.
3. Cuban connection: from 1966 to 1977, the Echo-Bank House was home to the Cuban Embassy, in fact, in April of 1972, the RCMP were called to the embassy to remove a bomb that had been placed there.

So there you have it. Another piece of Ottawa history in a photo challenge.

Chris also won last month's challenge: who is going to beat him next month? The next Where In Ottawa is on March 3.