Merivale Public School

I only had one clue left.

It was a giveaway clue, something about this not being the time to slack off. But I didn't need that clue. And while this month's Where In Ottawa challenge took longer to solve than any other image, an easy clue wasn't necessary.

November's location was the old Merivale Public School, Nepean Township's thirteenth school.

   
Here are the clues, explained:

1. It's how they used to do things—you know, like, old school. This one-room school has been around since at least 1845.
2. Unlucky number—this was school number 13 in Nepean Township.
3. Risen from the ashes—the stone school that exists today, on Slack Road (see where I was going with the final, untold clue?), replaced an earlier, wooden school, which burned to the ground.
4. Oranges & Buddhists—after the school's closure, in 1955, it became an Orange Hall and, later, a meeting hall for the Buddhist Society of Ottawa.
5. Class dismissed in 1955—as I said, the school closed its doors that year; a modern Merivale Public School opened next door.
6. Good Mr. Boyce—a teacher by the name of John Boyce was so popular that in 1859 the community built him a log cabin next to the school. It no longer exists.

Congratulations to James Peltzer, who solved this month's challenge. A paperback copy of my novel, Songsaengnim: A Korea Diary, is on its way.

I have learned one thing this past week: I should have a pocketful of clues before I start a Where In Ottawa challenge. But I also think that starting next month, I'm only going to run the challenge for a week. Where In Ottawa starts on the first Monday of each month, meaning that next month, it will start on December 1. If next month's location isn't identified by December 7, at midnight, the challenge will end. On the following Wordless Wednesday, I'll reveal the location.

There will only be a maximum of six clues, from December 2–7, or until it is solved, whichever date comes first.

Think you know Ottawa? Now, you'll only have a week to prove it.