The Billings House: A photo-history of its architectural development*

The Billings House, one of Ottawa’s oldest dwellings was built for Braddish and Almira Billings, two of Ottawa’s earliest settlers, between the years 1827-29. Five successive generations of the family had lived in the house until 1950, when this well-preserved and architecturally unique building was acquired by the City of Ottawa and subsequently declared a National Historic Monument.

The Billings House was the second home of the pioneer family, their first being a log cabin built on the bank of the Rideau River. Preparations for the new house began in 1813, but erection did not start until 14 years later, with the family taking occupancy in October 1829.

The Billings House is an excellent example of the transition from Georgian to the Neo-classical style of architecture in Upper Canada. Its New England influences in both construction and style reflects the Billings ancestry. The house is a two and a half story frame house built on a stone foundation. The exterior clapboard siding is painted white and the shutters were originally painted green.

As can be expected, over its lifetime the house has had certain modification and additions. It is not always possible to give exact dates of these changes, so some approximate dates will be given. Major additions to the house will be indicated in the text, but several others will be evident in the succession of photographs that accompany this article.

The north wing was added as a kitchen in 1831. The south wing was added in 1870. The cupola was added to the roof some time before 1914. Between 1914 and the mid-twenties extra windows appear to have been added to the cupola. A half storey with a dormer window was erected over the north wing and a portico was added to the front and rear main entrances.

The front portico has slender doric columns supporting the second floor balcony. The rear portico has squared off pillars supporting the balcony. Casement windows and electricity were added in later years, as were three dormers to front and to the rear roofs.

*This photo-history is based on literature supplied by Stephane Bruneau, Acting Education and Interpretation Officer. Photos illustrating the points amde in the article can be found at the Billings Estate Museum website.