Mission accomplished, we resisted the desire to immediately return to our own toasty home. Our idea was to go take a walk near some water and perhaps take some pictures. We ended up at the entrance to the Lemieux Island water plant. We had stopped there before, and discovered that the area has a gorgeous view of the city and river, but I noticed a little detail this time that I hadn't before.
Tucked against the slope of the river's shore opposite the parking lot are the ruins of an old building. Based on the shape of the windows we conclude it was once a small church, but we don't actually know for sure. (Google was no help either, but then, if someone cared, it probably would not be in this state.) Time and nature have done their job exceedingly well, and the building is far beyond any possibility of repair.The fence around it has warning signs that the structure is unstable, stating the blatantly obvious.
I carefully make my way around the structure along the fence. The far end has completely collapsed, and does not give any more clues about the building's purpose. The rotting boiler for the heating system is visible through a hole in one wall. I t is covered in large patches of brown and white scabs of corrosion.
The photographer is not to be stumped by the seven foot high chain link fence, and manages this shot right through the fence and a half round window situated behind the black lean-to shed.
This is a spot we will definitely return to. I particularly love these abandoned old structures when contrasted against the very young green of spring.
Years ago we used to pass by this overgrown field on our daily commute. In winter we could see that there was an abandoned and decaying farmhouse hidden behind the young trees. In summer you could not see it because of the dense foliage. We referred to it as the "ghost farm". We made a point of checking the place out one day in spring, for the exact purpose of photographing it against the young green buds.
Time had done even more advanced work on this structure, bushes and small trees were growing through the destroyed floor. Really only the walls were still standing.
Inside you can see the slots where the beams to support the upper level floor were supposed to go. There was some evidence that at some point there was a fire, explaining the advanced decay with virtually intact walls.
This building was removed some years later, or perhaps it finally collapsed, I don't know. It is no longer visible from the road, even in winter. In it's good days it probably looked a lot like this.
After we finished examining the collapsed "church" today, we took a walk in the park adjacent to the water plant. A decommissioned railway bridge connects Ottawa to Lemieux Island, and then a second bridge connects the island to Gatineau on the Quebec side of the river.
Behind it is the modest downtown Ottawa skyline with the parliament buildings on the left. The bridge is closed, but apparently pedestrians and some cyclists do use it, although we did not see any today. The fact that the bridge is officially not in use is a real shame. Light commuter rail could be crossing here, removing pressure of the other bridges. Hello, Mr. Mayor, are you listening? Probably not.
A little graffiti, but very much still standing.
View towards Ottawa. The spaces between the railroad ties are open to the water below.
View towards the second bridge and Gatineau. Some graffiti artist also got the point. What a waste.
Leaving Lemieux Island, we crossed the Ottawa Parkway onto Bayswater road, and right at the corner we found this closed building. At least I hope it is closed, there are quite a few broken windows.
The sign above the large brown garage doors says this building belongs to the sewer works. Well Mr. Mayor, what are you doing with this?
We were actually not looking for a theme, but it looks like it got thrown in our laps.
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