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Ottawa Rewind: A Book of Curios and Mysteries
"Ottawa Rewind: A Book of Curios And Mysteries" is as much a mystery as a history book. Whimsical and researched, it is the creative work of a restless and curios mind.
Andrew King is an artist, cartoonist and detective. The detective part doesn’t get mentioned often, but Andrew is a history sleuth, someone who loves to solve historical mysteries. Where exactly is the first house built in Ottawa? Was there really a nuclear reactor once at Tunney’s Pasture? And what in the world happened to Ottawa’s once famous tiki bar at the Talisman Inn?
Andrew has been seeking answers to questions like these since launching the popular website Ottawa Rewind in 2013. In Ottawa Rewind Andrew has set out to find the location of shipwrecks in the Ottawa River, the playboy bunnies that once worked the Riverside Hotel in Vanier and every last Free Mason or Knight Templar symbol built into Canada’s Parliament Buildings.
Andrew King is an artist, cartoonist and detective. The detective part doesn’t get mentioned often, but Andrew is a history sleuth, someone who loves to solve historical mysteries. Where exactly is the first house built in Ottawa? Was there really a nuclear reactor once at Tunney’s Pasture? And what in the world happened to Ottawa’s once famous tiki bar at the Talisman Inn?
Andrew has been seeking answers to questions like these since launching the popular website Ottawa Rewind in 2013. In Ottawa Rewind Andrew has set out to find the location of shipwrecks in the Ottawa River, the playboy bunnies that once worked the Riverside Hotel in Vanier and every last Free Mason or Knight Templar symbol built into Canada’s Parliament Buildings.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
137 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
8 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 18, 2021
I loved this book. So much so that I plan on purchasing the second book. Having lived in Ottawa since 2009, I was fascinated to learn about all these little curiosities and mysteries that are part of the city and surrounding areas.
This book is full of little tidbits of information perfect for when you need to play tour guide to family or friends. It is also a great book to just have on a shelf or on a coffee table for someone to pick up and browse through.
It’s a fairly quick read and I found that the author writes in a way that piques your interest. I found myself wanting to know more about all the little things he talks about in the book. So much so, I will definitely be paying a visit to his website at some point and perhaps even doing some googling of my own!
This book is full of little tidbits of information perfect for when you need to play tour guide to family or friends. It is also a great book to just have on a shelf or on a coffee table for someone to pick up and browse through.
It’s a fairly quick read and I found that the author writes in a way that piques your interest. I found myself wanting to know more about all the little things he talks about in the book. So much so, I will definitely be paying a visit to his website at some point and perhaps even doing some googling of my own!
January 21, 2020
I'm a huge Ottawa history nerd, so I was thrilled to be able to pick this up from the library. I love that King focuses on everything from local mysteries to lost villages and everything in between. I also love his focus on sites lost in plain site - there are definitely some amazing places here that I would love to visit! My only negative to this book is that I would have liked to see a few more stories that were entirely new, since I'm a regular and repeat reader of King's blog!
February 6, 2022
A great collection of local history stories. Originally from an Ottawa Citizen column and King's blog of the same name, reader comments have been added for a delightful extra of personal connection. If you have any connection to the Ottawa area, you'll enjoy this.
January 31, 2022
Endlessly fascinating stories, Andrew's adventurous spirit and dogged determination to solve Ottawa mysteries is extremely admirable.
July 2, 2022
Are you planning a trip to Ottawa this summer or have you visited the Ottawa region in the past? Perhaps you are a fan of odd historical stories or strange, inexplicable phenomenon. If so, why not check out this fascinating book filled with dozens of mysteries and curiosities from the region! Ottawa Rewind: A Book of Curios and Mysteries by Kingston, Ontario native Andrew King is both a mystery and a history book. It is enlightening, mind-blowing and expertly researched. The author is an artist, cartoonist, journalist, but above all else, a historical detective. His adventurous spirit and determination has clearly made him a successful history sleuth. Where exactly is the first house that was built in Ottawa? Is there a sea monster living in the Ottawa River? Are there Knights Templar symbols built into Canada’s Parliament Buildings and what in the world happened to Ottawa’s once famous tiki bar at the Talisman Inn? The author will take you along for the ride as he answers these curiosities and dozens more all from the National Capital Region. After reading this book, I am sure you’ll want to hit the road and discover the remaining traces of some of the strangest aspects of Ottawa’s storied history with your own eyes!
January 4, 2020
I first heard of Andrew King on Twitter, and quickly realized I liked his witt and take on things. When I heard he had written a book, Ottawa Rewind, which contained a bunch of interesting tid-bits about Ottawa, that sounded like my kind of read!
Ottawa Rewind is a collection of 38 time capsules that take various forms ranging from plausible explanations of mysteries to undeniable conclusions and resolutions. It’s a very informative read on the city of Ottawa and its surroundings, and certainly peeks our curiosity at the stories behind buildings, people, and places.
A few suggestions if a newer edition is published or a sequel is written. Some of the stories are a bit choppy and could use better photo/visual evidence organization to avoid flipping back and forth between main text and supporting evidence. As well, some of the stories of places that still exist could have used a few more visuals. All in all, a very entertaining and informative read. Makes me want to explore Ottawa even more!
Ottawa Rewind is a collection of 38 time capsules that take various forms ranging from plausible explanations of mysteries to undeniable conclusions and resolutions. It’s a very informative read on the city of Ottawa and its surroundings, and certainly peeks our curiosity at the stories behind buildings, people, and places.
A few suggestions if a newer edition is published or a sequel is written. Some of the stories are a bit choppy and could use better photo/visual evidence organization to avoid flipping back and forth between main text and supporting evidence. As well, some of the stories of places that still exist could have used a few more visuals. All in all, a very entertaining and informative read. Makes me want to explore Ottawa even more!
May 27, 2022
Solid 3.5 stars
I live in Ottawa, and I am a fan of neat little historical or scientific facts. I got this book for my birthday and put off reading it until recently. I like how much variety there was in the types of mysteries looked at - everything from shipwrecks to monsters, to architecture to bars and motels. I loved the old images - postcards, bills etc. - but I wish the new images had been printed sharply and clearly - they're a bit too fuzzy to make out proper detail, especially in black and white.
The sea monster, the witch of plum hollow, the sundials, the pinhey knight... there are a lot of favourites to choose from! I guess my only other complaint would be that some seemed a bit too short. I wanted more from the story after I received a little taste. My other suggestion is a map of Ottawa with a little pin indicating where each mystery/curio is located in case someone wants to do their own little walkabout and read about each story in the actual location of each subject.
I live in Ottawa, and I am a fan of neat little historical or scientific facts. I got this book for my birthday and put off reading it until recently. I like how much variety there was in the types of mysteries looked at - everything from shipwrecks to monsters, to architecture to bars and motels. I loved the old images - postcards, bills etc. - but I wish the new images had been printed sharply and clearly - they're a bit too fuzzy to make out proper detail, especially in black and white.
The sea monster, the witch of plum hollow, the sundials, the pinhey knight... there are a lot of favourites to choose from! I guess my only other complaint would be that some seemed a bit too short. I wanted more from the story after I received a little taste. My other suggestion is a map of Ottawa with a little pin indicating where each mystery/curio is located in case someone wants to do their own little walkabout and read about each story in the actual location of each subject.
March 6, 2020
Interesting bits of history around the Ottawa area. Would have rated it higher, if editing had been stronger.
May 2, 2020
Excellent book for anyone interested in local history! The stories are short and highlight relevant facts and curiosities. Nice, easy read.
June 3, 2021
Great book to learn about the stranger things that have happened in Canada’s Capital.
April 22, 2022
Interesting read. I wish a few of the images had been printed in colour, as you can't always make out what is being shown.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews