Down the Merivale Road ~ W.W. Campbell

Reading Time: 6 minutes

(Note: I added a few updates at the bottom of the post) Recently, I met Jennifer, who is the coordinator sustainable transportation at Envirocentre, at an Open House about the Nepean Trail, organised by Councillor Egli. You can not talk about the Nepean Trail without mentioning Merivale Road and all its shortcomings.

Jennifer, who once collected data regarding clam stock, brought various exotic and domesticated animals to long-term care facilities, raised funds to improve local parks and is a board member of the Historical Society in Ottawa (to name but a few roles), mentioned she had a poem about Merivale Road from the late William Wilfred Campbell (1860-1918), who was a clergyman, writer, poet and civil servant.

I asked Jennifer if she could share that poem with me and she did. Meanwhile I read up on W.W. Campbell.

W.W.Campbell

Campbell was born in Newmarket in Upper Canada. After a number of positions in Ontario, New Brunswick and New England, he ended up with his family in Ottawa in 1891, where he was promised a job. By that time he was well known as a poet. You may know ‘Indian Summer’, apparently ‘among the most beloved of Canadian poems‘.

Indian Summer

Lord Grey

In Ottawa the promised job did not materialize for Campbell, but in May 1891 Sir John A. Macdonald hired Campbell as a temporary clerk for $1.50 per day in the Department of Railways and Canals. Campbell also hung out with people such as Lord Grey (of Grey Cup fame), who’s ideas for a national capital commission in Ottawa would be adopted much later.

Kilmorie House near Merivale Road

in 1915 the poet moved his family to the outskirts of Ottawa, about 3 miles outside the city limits of (then) Ottawa, off a rural road called Merivale Road. He bought a stone house on a couple of acres on 21 Withrow Ave. (see photo above) and named it Kilmorie. It is more or less across from Emerald Plaza at the other side of Merivale, a block or two in.

Coincidentally, I pass that property often on my bike, to avoid Baseline towards Algonquin College and beyond or to ride one of our Nepean loops. I always wondered what the story behind that hidden house is and now I know. Thanks to Jennifer. I owe her a coffee.

Down The Merivale Road

At morning down the Merivale Road

When all the world is June,

Of woods and fields the blest abode

And meadow larks atune,

Under the maples in the sun

The world is fair and sweet;

For miles the fields and meadows run,

A paradise complete.

In fields where daisies blink their eyes,

And molten sunlight sifts,

The buttercup unto the skies

Its golden chalice lifts.

And out beyond the valley, where

The mighty river lies,

Dim, blue and misty, vast and fair,

The lone Laurentians rise.

~ William Wilfred Campbell

Reading his poem, it is helps to imagine how Merivale Road looked like a 100 years ago. Perhaps you have to go out to rural Eastern Ontario to find something similar today. I can imagine some road off Highway 7 somewhere.

The Merivale Road Parody

Of course, today’s Merivale Road is so awful that the poem begged for a parody, which Jennifer shared with me too. The author is unknown, but here is today’s modified poem. If you know who wrote the parody, let me know.

Up the Merivale Road

At morning up the Merivale Road

When workers all commute,

There’s dust and noise and transport load

Where car and bus pollute.

Under the wires, screened from sun,

The road is lost in smog.

For miles the roadwork barriers run,

A traffic-jamming bog.

But on beyond the frantic roar

When Merivale flows like glass,

Bleak and gray – or green once more,

What then will come to pass?

The fields are gone, but not the skies,

There’s room still for a tree,

And daisies still could blink their eyes

It’s up to you and me.

An urban landscape needn’t be

A thing devoid of cheer.

With vigilance and dignity

We’ll come back, clean and fair.

~ anonymous, 1980

And wouldn’t you know. Coincidentally, the property is currently (2016) on the market for $ 2,599,000. As the real estate agent writes about Kilmorie, a single family farm home from 1840:

Attention Developers! Potential for 14 lots, all approximately 50 x 100. Rare find within the greenbelt. Drawing has not yet been approved. Huge potential. No offers until March 3rd, 2016

Which basically means if you look on the drawing below (realtor.ca screen grab) that W.W. Campbell’s house might be torn down. So go and take a look at the house before it is torn down. Unless the garage goes and the house stays…..

Update 15 November 2019: The real estate developer, Theberge Developments, who bought the lands, was able to convince city council (except Jeff Leiper) to allow for the development while saving the house. The house itself (built of stone) will require about half a million dollars in improvements. As the zoning in that area calls for low rise homes, the homes will likely be bungalows of two storey homes. Here’s hoping the homes will contain some elements of the Kilmorie House such as some natural stone, roof lines and additions without becoming corny carbon copies of the home.

Kilmorie promises “quintessential cure for what ails you”

“Want to upgrade not only your surroundings indoors, but also outdoors? Kilmorie by Theberge is the quintessential cure for what ails you, delivered in the incredibly convenient Skyline/City View area. Literally a stone’s throw away from Merivale Avenue, you’ll be hard-pressed to run out of places to shop, places to dine, and places to enjoy some well-earned free time. In addition, it’s never been easier to commute downtown and back, as Kilmorie is situated close to the intersections of Merivale and Baseline as well as within reach of easy access to OC Transpo services.

Looking to stay active and get fit? Consider swinging by the Running Room for a new pair of shoes and going for a jog down Merivale or to one of several nearby parks – there’s always something new to see along the way. If you’re looking for a bargain or simply have an appreciation for things from yesteryear, there are several well-stocked thrift stores around – the perfect place to get started on a new craft or hobby while minimizing your environmental impact by making use of what’s already out there!

Another great part about living in the Merivale area is the sheer number of high-quality restaurants, unique shopping opportunities, and handy services readily available. Whether you need your eyes checked, the car washed, or simply want to treat a special someone to a scrumptious dinner at a nearby sushi restaurant the possibilities are endless!

Simply put, Kilmorie by Theberge offers a streamlined, vibrant lifestyle with plenty to see and do.” (Source: Theberge website)