Old Ottawa South , Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Echo-Bank House
⎯⎯⎯
Maison Echo-Bank

c. 1867

Echo-Bank House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert Rusaw, June 28, 2025

1. Echo-Bank House Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In 1855 Bytown became the City of Ottawa. This Gothic Revival house was the home of Colonel George Hay, who suggested the new name and designed the city's Coat of Arms.

Bytown est officiellemen devenue Ottawa en 1855. La Maison de style Néo-Gothique a servi de résidence au Colonel George Hay, qui a suggéré le nom Ottawa et concu les Armoires de la Ville.

Erected by City of Ottawa.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ottawa Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 45° 23.817′ N, 75° 40.799′ W. Marker is in Ottawa, Ontario. It is in Old Ottawa South. It is on Echo Drive, on the right when traveling north. The marker is mounted to the wrought iron fence in front of the house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Echo Drive, Ottawa ON K1S 5P2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the

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Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lansdowne (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Billings House (approx. one kilometer away); A Gift of Tulips/Le don de tulipes (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); The Occupation/L'occupation (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); "My Name Is Juliana"/« Je m'appelle Juliana » (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); Crown Princess Juliana/Juliana, princesse héritière (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); Posters and Pins/Affiches et épinglettes (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); Ottawa's Princess/La princesse d'Ottawa (approx. 1.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ottawa.

Also see . . . Hay House (Canada’s Historic Places). Excerpt:

Hay House was built in circa 1865. The original owner, Colonel George Hay, was one of Ottawa's first Aldermen, a prominent hardware merchant, president of the Bank of Ottawa, board member of several local institutions
Photographed by Robert Rusaw, June 28, 2025

2. Echo-Bank House / Maison Echo-Bank
and a militia officer during the Fenian Raids. Hay is credited with suggesting the name "Ottawa" for the former Bytown, and designing the first Coat of Arms for the City of Ottawa in this house.

The design of the house represents a mid-19th century transition from the classically inspired Georgian style, with a symmetrical massing and stone quoins to a more romantic style with Gothic Revival elements, including a steeply-pitched gable roof, coursed rubble stone walls, a pointed-arch window and decorative verge boards under the high gable of the projecting middle bay.

Though now surrounded by the modern city of Ottawa, Hay House is reminiscent of its original character as a suburban estate mansion. Its exterior appearance maintains a strong historical integrity and it retains a modest trapezoidal side-yard on the west side of the residence. It also preserves its original view shed, overlooking the Rideau Canal.

(Submitted on August 12, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2025, by Robert Rusaw of Massena, New York. This page has been viewed 82 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2025, by Robert Rusaw of Massena, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Echo-Bank House⎯⎯⎯Maison Echo-Bank

c. 1867

Echo-Bank House
⎯⎯⎯
Maison Echo-Bank