Harvey Glatt’s estate sale gives Ottawans a chance to own part of the music mogul’s legacy

Pieces of Ottawa rich music history were up for grabs at the estate sale of the late music industry leader, Harvey Glatt. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

A home filled with love, history and music was put in the spotlight today as the family of an Ottawa music mogul put his items on offer in an estate sale.

Harvey Glatt and his wife Louise were pivotal in helping the music culture scene blossom in the capital, and their home served as time capsule with signed posters, beautiful furniture and art.

Harvey Glatt quietly passed away on August 20 at the age of 91, leaving behind a decade’s long musical legacy.

For Phillipe Gagne, the estate sale offered a chance to own pieces of Ottawa’s history.

“It’s nice. It feels like I’m in touch with my city, you know? And that I own a piece of the tapestry of the city,” Gange said.

Gagne went to the estate sale hours before it began and managed to pick up a jacket with the words ‘Radio- Making Waves’ emblazoned on the back.

“I feel lucky,” he says. “I’m just really surprised it didn’t go, sooner, because I think it’s really, really cool.”

A legendary figure in the Ottawa music scene, Harvey Glatt wore many different hats. He opened Treble Clef, the city’s first stand-alone music store, which eventually grew to a 15-store chain.

His obituary states that on his own, he booked big names to play in the capital, “including the first appearance in Ottawa of Bob Dylan.”

By the mid-60’s, he was a silent partner in Cafe Le Hibou, an iconic coffee house that drew big names.

In 1977, he opened the radio station Chez 106.1.

He was also a promoter and manager representing the likes of Bruce Cockburn and James Leroy.

Marley Barzen, the owner of Estates by Marlene who ran the estate sale, says there were countless interesting items for people to pick out at the sale, including signed posters for Cream, Roy Orbison and Bruce Cockburn.

The large signed Bruce Cockburn poster has a note that reads “Harvey and Louise – Thanks for all your support – given when most needed! All the best, Bruce Cockburn.”

“It’s amazing, you can tell they’ve had such a rich life,” says Annie Stranberg, who is visiting her first estate sale. “It was really special just to be in there.”

“I think we have a great music scene here,” says Mira Ellefi. “I think we have a lot of music history here, and to have the opportunity to have a closer look into it through, Harvey Glatt’s world is really awesome.”

Barzen says there are more than 1000 pieces up for sale over two days and hundreds of people lined up to view the items in the home on Saturday, it’s final day.

While the Harvey Glatt estate sale brought in special attention, Barzen says estate sales are becoming more popular.

“I think just the revolution of social media has made estate sales much more popular,” she explains. “Also the rise of second-hand shopping has made it so that that a newer generation, who is very sustainably minded, is going to be a new kind of consumer that comes to your estate sales.”

Merle Adam says she came on Saturday because she knew the Glatts and had been to the home in the past. She came to see the legacy and pay tribute.

“They brought the world into their home. All of it,” she says. “They had more than just their lives in mind the whole time. They had projects would benefit other people.”

Maddi Stratis, a musician, says she lined up at 8:30 in the morning, when the doors opened at 10 am. It was Stratis’s first estate sale, and she says she loves mid-century modern furniture and picked out a set of plates that provide a special connection to the city.

“To bring something like this home, I’m never going to get rid of them.”

Saturday was the last day for the in person estate sale at the home, but Brazen says it will now be moved online to the company’s Instagram page from Tuesday to Friday.

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