"This work is the result of a long held desire to preserve, and make available to others, the old photographs that record the past history of Ottawa. Words alone can tell us where something happened, when it happened, and can describe things, places and events in our past, but try as they may they cannot conjure up a mental vision with the detail and accuracy of a photograph. The old adage that "one picture is worth a thousand words" is certainly true in trying to tell the story of the past. With those thoughts in mind, it was determined that a photographic sketchbook format would best provide what is desired to be accomplished in this effort.? - John A. Hilliard