Heritage nod urged for former gas station

A former gas station noted for its architecture, location and historical value is being recommended for heritage status by the City of Ottawa.

The building in Westboro served as a gas station while cars were in their growth period. Initially owned by Benzolene in 1934, the station was sold to Champlain Oil Products in 1937 for $1. It was later sold and became a used car lot before shutting its doors for good in 2014.

Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Jeff Leiper credits Ottawa Citizen columnist Andrew King with the revived interest in the building.

“Much of the impetus to designate this building is due to the work of city-chronicler and artist Andrew King, who exhaustively researched the Champlain Oil station for his Ottawa Citizen column,” said Leiper in the recommendation, quoting multiple passages from the 2014 article.

“It is a symbol of how our city grew, and gives us pause to think about how we want it to continue to grow,” he added.

Architecture trends at the time of its construction in 1934 suggested that these gas stations should resemble their surroundings. This building, at the corner of Richmond Road and Island Park Drive, was designed to resemble an “English cottage with its steeply pitched gable roof, its round arched doors and windows, and twin chimneys.”

Factoring into the city’s decision to push for heritage status is its historical value as one of the earlier businesses devoted solely to selling gasoline. Prior to the advent of the conventional gas station, car owners purchased their fuel in cans, often from blacksmiths or hardware stores. The first drive-thru station was built in the United States in 1921, and this gas station is one of the few remaining examples.

The city also cites the location on Richmond Road as important, as the gas station is “a reminder of the historical importance of Richmond Road to the development of Ottawa.” The owner of the building, Toronto developer Main & Main, could not be reached for comment.