October, 2007 - Glebe Report

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22 Glebe Report October 12, 2007 HISTORY Noffke’s Glebe – A scenic splendour 517 O’Connor Street (above and lower opposite page.) Noffke’s own home was at 20 Clemow Avenue BY DAVID CASEY The first red and orange leaves have begun their dance along the avenues of the Glebe. A brisk autumn gust of wind, and your cheeks and nose begin to show a ruddy glow with the anticipation of colder days. Have you ever stopped to think about the countless seasons that have been witnessed by the houses around you? The Glebe is a neighbourhood with an extraordinary past, full of ambitious park projects, beautiful boulevards and of course, bounded and defined by the Rideau Canal. Many architects have left their impression on our neighbourhood, but none has had as much impact as one man who created dozens of houses and apartments in some of the most scenic locales. He embraced countless architectural styles and philosophies in the process. His name is Werner Ernest Noffke (1878-1965). He was by trade an architect, but through decades of patient practice and determination, Noffke became far more than that; he became a sculptor on a grand scale – carving and moulding the character of the Glebe. Ever ambitious, at the tender age of fourteen Noffke realized that architecture was to be his lifelong passion; he purchased a suit and began an apprenticeship with a local architect, Adam Harvey, in 1892. The young student, ever eager to learn and grow, embarked on a five year term with another architect, Moses C. Edey, whose best known work was the Daly Building on Sussex at Rideau which has since been demolished. By the beginning of the 20th century, Noffke had amassed a wealth of knowledge and skill. Having apprenticed for nearly a decade, he launched his own practice and he never looked back. His career and reputation grew rapidly as each building was carefully and lovingly crafted and well received by the public. Contributing to his success was his untameable energy and outgoing nature which drew him into countless organizations and groups: he was a devout churchman; he was the president of the Ottawa chapter of the Ontario Association of Architects in 1910- 11; he was a proud member of the Governor General’s Foot Guards and attained the rank of major; he commanded the armed guard of honour for the first Dominion of Parliament in 1914. Through these opportunities, he was able to meet and befriend some of the most important politicians, industrialists and developers in Ottawa and thereby attract their business. With such a powerful clientele, Noffke was able to select the most appealing and prestigious sites for his buildings. Thus, his role in the founding of the Glebe, as we know it, was cemented! Noffke was a gifted architect with a strong sense of proportion and scale; during the spring of his career he was a master of historically traditional architecture. He drew on established styles of Ottawa architecture while integrating his own flair in order to please his patrons. As his career advanced and his name became increasingly known to the public, he heeded the echoes of change in innovative architecture from Europe and the US. By 1914, his buildings began showing the influences of the more modern and horizontal “Prairie School,” made famous by legendary architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. It was during this time that the Ottawa Improvement Commission (the predecessor of the National Capital Commission) had built and landscaped Queen Elizabeth Driveway along the south and eastern border of the Glebe. Additionally, they drained and landscaped Central Park as an extension of Patterson's Creek. Ottawa’s elite flocked to these supremely desirable locations to have custom houses built and Noffke was more than willing to oblige. These were the areas of the Glebe most intensively developed by Noffke. These opportunities arose from his relations with the firm of Clemow-Powell (later to be known as Clemora Realty Ltd.), who developed many of these lots. In fact, Noffke built William F. Powell’s magnificent home on the south side of Central Park, with a Glebe Avenue address. In the same year, Ernest C. Powell built his home on Allen Place overlooking the park and Noffke built his own home on Clemow Avenue, EDWARDS PAINTING CONTACT ROB EDWARDS 613-233-4775 “NO PROJECT TOO SMALL NO CHALLENGE TOO BIG” QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP VERY COMPETITIVE RATES! 16 Pretoria Avenue (613) 565-0588 PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE FOR YOUR PET ♥ Vaccinations ♥ Dental Care ♥ Medical & Surgical Care ♥ Nutritional Counseling OUR BUSINESS HOURS Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 8:00am - 7:00pm Fridays 8:00am - 6:00pm & Saturdays 9:00am - 12:00pm
HISTORY Glebe Report October 12, 2007 23 while brick magnate C. Frederick Hodgins had his house built overlooking Patterson’s Creek on O’Connor at Linden Terrace. Hungry to experience and experiment with as much architecture as possible, Noffke was also aware of the development of the “Chicago School” of architecture and used this as inspiration for some of his commercial buildings. Despite his eye for modern architectural development, he was always eager to revisit more traditional styles as a challenge and an exercise. In order to fully appreciate these hugely varying interests, he embarked on a pilgrimage that ended in the south western US. During his six months abroad, he managed to obtain a licence to practice architecture, open an office in Los Angeles and study with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin. His return to Ottawa heralded the summer of his lengthy career: business was booming, the commissions were rolling in and his creativity was boundless. He bounced from Spanish Colonial Revivalism to Tudor and Gothic, among other styles. During the 1920s after his return from the southwest and before the onset of the Great Depression, Noffke was the preeminent architect of the affluent and influential, who desired historically dignified homes in the best and most scenic locations. When the depression finally struck Ottawa, the demand for expansive (and expensive) houses dried up. Noffke then turned to doing larger buildings for churches and government institutions; his adaptability allowed him to embrace more modern and cost efficient architectural styles and his business continued. However, for the most part, the result of the depression was that his business was forced to continue outside the boundaries of the Glebe. During the seminal years of the growth of our neighbourhood, a man walked along the raw and developing landscape and imagined perfectly proportioned and fastidiously detailed homes. He foresaw couples and families enjoying pleasant strolls along boulevards and avenues, and children playing in the parks. By drawing on years of experience and an uncanny ability to picture the manicured park landscape complemented by an array of traditional homes, Noffke nimbly moulded a neighbourhood of eclectic and scenic splendour. Powell House at 85 Glebe Avenue David Casey was born, raised and resides in the Glebe. He earned his B.A. Hon from Carleton in Art History and is now a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty. Carsharing for Ottawa The only good car is a shared car 24/7 access to small Toyotas for trips as short as 1/2-hr. Reserve by web/phone. Gas & collision insurance included. La seule bonne auto. c est celle qu on partage www.vrtucar.com 613-798-1900
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Page 3 and 4: NEWS Glebe Report October 12, 2007
Page 5 and 6: LETTERS Glebe Report October 12, 20
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October, 2007 - Glebe Report

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