1980- "International Bridge Opens" The headline of May 21, 1980 reinforces how history tends to repeat itself. "Enlarged International Bridge Opens Today" boasts the Fort Frances Times. "After years of trepidation, consternation and much frustration, the construction of the new International Falls bridge and Customs facility has finally come to an end this afternoon with its opening." The project had begun in 1977, but not without some debate. In 1968 discussions had begun on a new bridge. New sites in the east end and a west end McIrvine site were debated. In 1972 articles promoted a bridge in the East End. Finally in 1977, the two lane addition to the International bridge had begun. Plans included spacious inspection facilities for U.S. and Canadian customs and immigration staffs with the new Fort Frances Customs facility occupying a widened area over water adjacent to the canal. The plans were to complete the work by November of 1978. In 1955 a new customs and immigration area was also on the agenda. The headline reads "Plan to Raze Williams Block; to Use Site for Customs Area; Propose One-Way Traffic Routes." The Williams block located at the corner of Church St. and Central Ave was one of the oldest buildings in Fort Frances at the time. The cement block building was raised by Herbert Williams following the 1905 fire and was used by Watson and Lloyd for many years. The G. McLean Co. Limited had been the last occupant leaving the building vacant. Once the landmark was razed, the construction of an off-the street Customs inspection area began. The new facility was expected to be finished by August of 1955 and was used in connection with the existing facilities located on the bridge. The International Bridge was officially opened on August 1, 1912. Decorated with American and Canadian Flags, a parade moved through both International Falls and Fort Frances. The bridge was originally a singe track railway bridge with a cantilevered single lane for vehicles and pedestrians. A portion of the bridge on the Canadian side had towers and cables so that a portion of the bridge over the canal could be raised and lowered. In 1936, the bridge was planked so that it could carry a double lane of traffic. The cantilevered section was rebuilt in 1973 and a vehicle turnout in the centre was removed. In 1980, "toll increases are not scheduled to go into effect until after the summer tourist season. However "one of the legends of the Northland is that this bridge will be a free bridge when it has been paid for. The legend started in 1912 when the bridge was built. The 1956 headline "After 44 years, Bridge tolls go up" destroyed the myth as the first new cash tolls were announced. The rates included pedestrians with baby carriages, horse drawn rigs, horse with rider, horses, cattle, swine, sheep, and goats as well as the conventional pedestrian, automobile, and bicycle.1981-"Finding Your Way on Scott Street" "Finding Their Way" was the caption on June 3, 1981 of a photograph in the Fort Frances Times. Some may remember the Scott Street rebuild that had "shoppers picking their way through the mud and over planks laid across fresh water connections. One popular route on the north side, while a trench stopped them at the Royal theatre was through the stores, down the alley and into the rear of other stores." By the end of August some sixteen tons of hot asphalt delivered in 80 twenty ton truck loads started rolling in as the three month-long construction project came to an end. The crowning touch of course was the red interlocking brick sidewalks and ornamental lamp standards. Scott Street had not always been the main business section of Fort Frances. Front Street (now Central Avenue) was the site of large hotels as well as other stores in the early 1890's. Church Street also was the site of business as The Herb Williams Store, Christie's Meat Market, Johnson Hardware, the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Watson and Lloyd had set up in that section by the early 1900's. The development of Scott Street as a business section was a result of the disastrous fire of 1905. On June 16th of that year it is said a tipped over lantern at the Well's Hardware store destroyed the main business section on Front Street. The $20,000 fire destroyed Frank Strain's Barber Shop, Charles Nelson's Clothing Store, the Alberton Hotel, Fraleigh's Drug Store, H. Williams General Store and Caspars photography Studio. Ironically a newly purchased steam operated engine sat idle on a railway car as the Town Council attempted to resolve a dispute with the manufacturer. After the fire, due in part to the high prices asked for Front Street property and related taxes, many businesses began building on Scott Street, thus making it the main business section. There is some debate but it is believed that Scott Street was named for J.C. Scott who had established his jewelry business in 1898 in a little store by the old canal. Later moving to Front Street, the fire of 1905 also destroyed his shop which he relocated to the corner of Scott and Mowatt. The business founded by J.C. Scott remains with us today. In 1910, Mr. George Gledhill took over and in 1948 Dave Brockie took over, moving the business in 1962 to Brockie's Jewelers location now operated by Ted Brockie.1982- Era comes to end with close of Emperor Doors. On January 30th of 1982, the Fort Frances Times headline reads that the Emperor Hotel will close it's doors forever. Built on the corner of Church Street and Central Avenue, the Emporer was once the largest hotel in Fort Frances. The brick venneer building was three stories high and opened in 1907 to join the grand hotels of the day. In the era of King Edward VI, regal hotels such as the Monarch (later the Irwin), the Palace and the Prince Albert graced the central area of Fort Frances, serving travellers and early settlers. Julie Byzewski writes of Jim Harty, Inn Keeper over the first class premises and boasted of finest hot and cold collations (of food) that could be procured, unadulterated liquours, and the finest cigars that money could buy (at ten cents each). Early ads promote Fort Frances' best and most commodious hotel, beautifully situated overlooking the big Mill, everything modern and up to date, large airy rooms, comfortably heated, the home of the comercial traveller, with a bright cheery dining room in connection. John Cousineau recalls in his articles that Harty also took an interest in local affairs, serving as town councillor in 1905 and 1906 and as chairman of the Catholic Board of Education for the 1913-1914 term. Mr James Harty passed away in 1927. The Emporer survived 75 years despite some physical alterations to her appearance. In 1945, her landmark large white wooden balcony was removed, and a fire demolished the third floor in 1953. In 1952 fire destroyed the ten suite Church Street annex of the Emporer Hotel making seven families and bachelors homeless. The third floor of the hotel was never replaced, but the annex had been rebuilt following the fires. By 1981, Mr. Nick Pidmurny, the owner of the Emporer for the past 14 years announced that the hotel was to be razed and it was to become the site of the new tourist reception building. (Perhaps some of us may have more recent memories, some we may want to forget of "Nick's Zoo") By November of 1982, the the new Ontario Travel Information Centre opened for business, and today the area is the site of more construction as the new customs facility rises amongst the shadow of the former Emporer. Fittingly, the latest mural of early Fort Frances recalls the tradition of large hotels serving the community. A grand tribute to former glory days when these landmarks demonstrated the prosperity and promise of our developing community. 1983- Overpass is open! In August of 1983, photos in the Fort Frances Times featured the "Over Pass". The caption of August 31st reads that "after years of complaints, a referendum, planning and construction, the Mill Road overpass became a reality this week as it opened for traffic. What a change of scenery is in store for those who haven't travelled it yet." A change of scenery certainly has taken place in this area over time. The earliest development speculated to be in this location was Fort St. Pierre, LaVerendrye's wintering post built in 1731. By 1873, Mrs. G. Scott, recalls that "Fort Frances at that time was all bush with just a foot path along the banks of the river as far as the Point." By 1925, the Fort Frances Brewery had built their facility here. After changes in operation and the final closing of the building, flames meant an end to the landmark in 1975. From 1960 to 1973, a trip to the Dairy Queen also meant a trip out to the east end of Town, and I recall the much anticipated treats after spending the day at the "Point". Many of us may also recall the first trip on the new "Overpass", the feeling that the community was now more like a city. This however was not the first bridge to be erected on Colonization Road East. Carl Schubring recalls that "Our Bridges Have Disappeared" in his popular columns of 1990 & 1991. He recalls that three bridges were part of Colonization Road East from First Street to the CNR right-of-way. In the early days their waterways drained the east end of town. The first bridge was between First and Second Streets. It was said that the operator of the Ranier Bridge liftbridge, who lived at Second St. on the creek, travelled to and from work by boat which he parked beside his home. The second bridge was located approximately where the channel marker is erected on the bank of the Rainy River. Schubring notes that traces of a third bridge were still notable in wet springs and falls. To early residents there was a fourth bridge in Fort Frances as the corner of Central Ave. and Third St. West. The creek, often referred to as the Hudson Bay Creek, drained the northern area of Fort Frances. Culverts, installed beneath the railway tracks, carried a steady flow of water until Fifth and Sixth Streets were opened up, water and sewer lines installed and finally the storm sewer system which lowered the water table in the area. The bridge over McIrvine Creek, originally in McIrvine, still drains the western and northern area of Fort Frances during the Rainy seasons.1984- The Past Comes Back to Haunt In 1984, the unearthing of the Hudson's Bay Company Cemetery became a source of intrigue and speculation. The October event did well to fuel Halloween spirits as the Toronto papers actually wrote of "Early Graves near Fort Frances looted by Kids"...visions of skulls being carried on sticks certainly put us in the spotlight. Now for the real story- The grave site of the Hudson's Bay Company Cemetery was accidently unearthed during work on Boise Cascade's parking lot on Third Street West. By 1903, the Hudson Bay Company had left the site below the falls on the lower Rainy River. Recollections of evidence of the cemetery being unearthed had long been part of the community story, Teresa Van Drunen writes that the late Edward Alexander Calder, recalled that "while digging the basement for the former Cathcart house built by W.F. Johnson, a local hardware store keeper, Mr. Calder discovered 18 skulls." In 1818, the Hudson Bay Company re-established this site abandoned by the XY Company. It was at this Hudson Hill site that the memorable visit of Sir George and Lady Frances Simpson in 1830 led to the renaming of the Lac La Pluie House to Fort Frances. With the decline of the Fur Trade, the site became a Hudson's Bay Company Store in 1898 and was destroyed by fire in 1903. In 1912, the Fort Frances Paper Mill had overtaken the site of the Hudson Bay Company. One hundred and twenty five men were employed to build the foundation for the mill. The construction site was located between Central Avenue and the river. 2,250 piles ten inches apart were used in the foundation, two million bricks and 6,000 yards of masonry were part of the project. The 1984 archaeology excavation became a look back in time. The remains of 13 burials were the source of a study by Tanya Rochelle Peckmann of the University of Manitoba. The forensic osteology study gives insight into the people who had lost their lives in the early 1800's In 1998, the remains of the Hudson Bay Cemetery were re-interred and are marked with a stone near the Lady Frances Collum Barium located in front of the Mortuary at the Fort Frances Cemetery. Also a Ontario Heritage Foundation Plaque was erected at the Hudson Bay Company site to honour "Lac la Pluie House". 1985- "Pioneering Business comes to end of an Era" In 1985 an era came to an end as Captain Bill Lloyd family pulled his last tug from the upper river. Since 1905, the Lloyd family had been providing transportation all over Rainy Lake. Monica Zimmer writes in the July 31st edition Fort Frances Times that "significantly the boat was named "The Rainy Lake". The 20 ton steel boat had been built by Maffey Steel Boats, formerly the once local Russel Brothers company. The "Rainy Lake" was the last of a long line of boats serving the area before road and airplanes existed. Bruce Lloyd arrived in Fort Frances on April 10, 1903, one day befor the town became incorporated. As one of the town's earliest businessmen, he operated a general store with A.H. Watson, under the name of Watson and Lloyd. Located on Church Street, the business was one of the first to see the recreational and vacationing possibilities of Rainy Lake. At one time Watson and Lloyd had 150 canoes which he outfitted with tents, groceries and other camping equipment. In 1924, Mr. Lloyd sponsored the first Canadian booth at the Chicago Outdoor show earning credit as one of the moving forces in the growth of tourism in Northwestern Ontario. In 1930 when the business with Watson was dissolved, Bruce Lloyd opened Lloyd's Tourist Emporium in the Rainy Lake hotel. In the 1940's with son Captain Wm. A. Lloyd, Bruce operated a boat line that included daily excursions to the Cascades in the "Cascadia" or charter service in the "Belle Isle". In 1948 Lloyd's built a new store at the current location of Brockie's Jewelers. In 1954, Bruce entered semi-retirement but erected a small office on Church St. Captain Bill operated the business as Lloyd's Tug and Barge and Lloyd's boat house on the river was a landmark for many years.1986- "Organizations contribute to Community Life" On December 3, 1986, the 75th Anniversary of the local Rebekah lodge was celebrated. The Rebekah lodge was a fraternal club working alongside the Independent Order of Oddfellows, I.O.O.F. Cascade lode No. 351. The local Cascade Lodge charter was granted on July 20th, 1905 with Jesse Eldridge, William Floyd, W.G. Johnson, Charles J. Holland, R.J.F. Marsh, WA. Baker and J.A. Tierney listed as members and officers. The Rebecah Lodge was founded in 1849 with the local Redwing Rebekah lodge being the first one instituted in the district on December 14, 1911. Dorothy Reford writes in the Fort Frances Times that, " The list of names of charter members and initiates reads like the "who's who" of early Fort Frances: Baker, Breckon, Biddeson, Woodward, Hastie, Marsh, Warner, McVey, Brennan and Knauff." The Rebekah's were involved in a number of community projects over their history. In 1917 the purchase of quilts and raising of money for the orphanage was their project. The orphanage building still stands on the corner of Central and Third west. Dances at the Point Park Pavillion, Balls in the opera room at the old Town Hall were favorite entertainments of the organization. Another organization making the news of 1986, was the Canadian Red Cross, after approximately four years the local branch was again operating. Committees included blood donor, homemakers, seniors, and water safety. The Fort Frances Museum collection reveals that in 1916, Miss F.G. (Gertie) Watson was honoured for services on behalf of the Sick and Wounded, Certificates of membership for 1918 bear the names of Mr and Mrs Jas Paul and note that Nora Mathieu served as President and Florence Tibetts as secretary. During the same time period a number of musicale were presented for the benefit of the Red Cross at the Town Hall. The Programs included piano duets, solos and vocal performances as well as a play on "The Making of Canada's Flag, " As part of Fort Frances contribution to the war effort, an ambulance was presented to the armed forces bearing the lettering "presented by the Fort Frances, Ont. Branch of the C.R.C.S."1987- "Mighty Hallett comes ashore to stay" In July 2nd of 1987, the Logging Tug Boat "Hallett" was officially launched at a tourist attraction at it's new home beached in Pither's Point Park. The Hallett had been officially retired in 1974 from the logging operations of the Ontario & Minnesota Pulp and Paper Company. Noted in the Rainier Chronicle.."The Summer before last the mighty Boise tug Hallett towed 50,000 cords of pulp logs down Rainy Lake and then... her era ended." "She was affectionately called the queen of the Fort Frances Logging fleet"- comprised of lesser tugs and ‘gators and bugs and wannigans that carried the forest to the mills. The first captain of the Hallett was Billy Martin who came to Fort Frances as a boy in 1905. After working in the logging camps he put his experience and knowledge of Rainy Lake to work towing for the Ontario-Minnesota Pulp and Paper Company in 1931. Her last captain, was interviewed in 1994- recalling the "Treasured memories of the tugboats"- George Tucker described a days work on the Hallett, "Twelve hours a day- 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from 6 p.m. to midnight- Tucker stood behind the captain's wheel, steering the Hallett through icy waters pulling between 3,500 and 4,000 cords of wood. In the 1930's Bill Kirk recalls working "for a buck a day", making 90 bucks that one summer helping Captain Tucker run the engines. "Cramped quarters" seemed to a common complaint as Tucker noted " you had to have companionship because you were cooped up on that little boat- if you had a grouchy old bugger, it wouldn't be too good". On July 22 of 1987, the Fort Frances Times notes that the "Boise Fleet was down to one tugboat". The modernization of logging practices, and environmental concerns had led to the demise of the river and lake logging drives. His diaries of the years spent on the Hallett are now part of the Fort Frances Museum's Collection. The Fort Frances Jaycees were instrumental in working out a fine retirement role for the Hallett with plans for her to become a museum telling the story of the logging era. Originally a downtown home was sought for the Hallett on the corner of Scott and Mowatt. In 1983, the Hallett was placed at Pither's Point Park. Instrumental in the restoration of the Hallett was "Boat Builder Art Busch". Profiled in a July 29th article of the 1987 Times, Mr. Busch noted as "a shipwright and welder..was personally involved in the construction of many area boats, including the Hallett." In 1927, Mr. Busch started working for Russell Brothers who manufactured boats and marine engines in Fort Frances. He moved with the company in 1937 to Owen Sound. The Hallett was on of the many boats built by the company in Owen Sound. The 60 foot, 57 ton boat was transported by pieces by railway flat car and reassembled to be launched for the pulp and paper mill. Mr. Busch had returned to Fort Frances in 1947 to establish his own business. As the Hallett restoration project was underway Mr. Busch spent many hours at the site.1988- "FORT LANDMARKS" On August 19th of 1988 the Fort Frances Times Headline read "Fort Landmark destroyed by inferno". Michael A. Dumont wrote... "a Fort Frances landmark was totally destroyed in an early morning blaze Saturday. Herrem Woodworkers Ltd. buildings, in the 800 block of Victoria Avenue were completely burned by the blaze..." Mr. Harold Herrem has submitted the story of "The Woodworking Plant at 808-812 Victoria Avenue 1913-1918" to the Centennial History Book Committee. His story is as follows... "That structure was conceived and built by John East and Archie Steele in 1913. It was designed for the manufacture of not only boxes, but also millwork such as mouldings, cabinets, window and door frames. However the market at that time didn't produce enough demand and the business went broke very soon. John East then took over as sole owner. He built a one story addition at the back and rented it to a laundry. That tenant installed a large boiler to provide hot water and steam for his operation. Many years later that boiler was adapted by John Herrem to burn shavings and provide heat for a dry kiln to remove moisture from thousands of pairs of Pine skis. John Herrem worked as a shopman for John East until one cold morning in 1922 when he had a serious accident and lost all the fingers on his right hand on a jointer. John East operated the millwork plant successfully until the demand for millwork deteriorated and he was forced into receivership. In 1938, John Herrem in partnership with his son, Harold, bought the property and commenced manufacturing Norway Pine Skis in lengths from 3 1/2 feet to 7 1/2 feet. John Herrem invented a machine that would turn out 500 pairs ready for steaming and bending to shape in an 8 hour day. In the summer of 1946 a total of 27,000 pairs were manufactured and sold. Over the years a total of 175,000 pairs were produced and shipped by C.N.R. to destinations all across Canada from Vancouver B.C. to Moncton N.B. The ski business was ideal for providing jobs for students and over a period of 23 years more than 300 lads had work there. In 1946 a two storey addition was built which resulted in a total of 7,000 square feet of manufacturing space. In addition to skis, the plant made windows, screen and combination doors, beehives, clothes horses, cabinets, sleighs, Swede saw frames, water skis, doll furniture and toy building blocks with the copyrighted name "Tulla". The business was incorporated in 1948 under the name of Herrem Woodworkers, Ltd. John Herrem retired in 1950 and Harold took over. He had plenty of work for his wife, Irene, and his son Peter and daughter Paula. In 1977, the company was sold to Tom Kiddle who had been the foreman for many years. In 1987, Tom sold it to Jim Armstrong. Unfortunately the building was totally destroyed by fire in the early morning of August 27, 1988. Now the property contains two modern apartment buildings.'1989- "Link in Historic Boundary Waterway" On May 31, 1989, the Fort Frances Times announces the "Waterway to Minaki study released." The feasibility study for a proposed recreation waterway between Atikokan and Minaki was promoted to enchance the image of the area, and later became named the Historic Boundary Waterway. The designation is a fitting tribute to a waterway that has served the community for centuries. The eighty miles of the Rainy River and 350 square miles of Rainy Lake is perhaps the key link in this historic traverse. Formed by the receding waters of Glacial Lake Aggassiz, both Rainy Lake and Rainy River became important sites for habitation. The earliest peoples arrived prior to 6,000 BC and the earliest known sign of early civilization in Fort Frances was a burial mound located at the present site of Pither's Point Park dating from the Laurel Culture of 200 BC to 800 AD. Following the routes long established by these first cultures, Jacques de Noyons became the first explorer credited with discovering Rainy Lake and Rainy River. By the late 1700's exploration had led to the fur trade bringing thousands of Voyageurs along the waterway in earnest. After the decline of the fur trade, the lure of gold brought men into the area, when the prospects proved to be dim, the prospectors became lumberjacks. By 1890, 21 steamboats plied the waters, bringing passengers, goods and supplies to the community. As other forms of transportation began to replace the early boats, travel along the lake and river declined. Excursions and recreational pursuits led to the promotion of the waterway for the tourism industry. In 1967, Charles F. Schubring writes in the Fort Frances Times of " The Most Beautiful River in the Northwest". Setting out on August 6th of that year he recalls the words John J. Bigsby wrote in "The Shoe and the Canoe" of 1850- "The lapluie seems made for a pleasure excursion all is serenity and beauty". At the end of the trip Schubring writes that "the trip served it's purpose. It convinced many... that the beauties of Rainy River should not be ignored any longer and that the still beautiful river should be made navigable", the value of which became realized by the 1989 committee forming the Historic Boundary Waterway.1989-"Link in Historic Boundary Waterway" On May 31, 1989, the Fort Frances Times announces the "Waterway to Minaki study released." The feasibility study for a proposed recreation waterway between Atikokan and Minaki was promoted to enchance the image of the area, and later became named the Historic Boundary Waterway. The designation is a fitting tribute to a waterway that has served the community for centuries. The eighty miles of the Rainy River and 350 square miles of Rainy Lake is perhaps the key link in this historic traverse. Formed by the receding waters of Glacial Lake Aggassiz, both Rainy Lake and Rainy River became important sites for habitation. The earliest peoples arrived prior to 6,000 BC and the earliest known sign of early civilization in Fort Frances was a burial mound located at the present site of Pither's Point Park dating from the Laurel Culture of 200 BC to 800 AD. Following the routes long established by these first cultures, Jacques de Noyons became the first explorer credited with discovering Rainy Lake and Rainy River. By the late 1700's exploration had led to the fur trade bringing thousands of Voyageurs along the waterway in earnest. After the fur trades decline the lure of gold brought men into the area, when the prospects proved to be dim, the prospectors became lumberjacks. By 1890, 21 steamboats plied the waters, bringing passengers, goods and supplies to the community. As other forms of transportation began to replace the early boats, travel along the lake and river declined. Excursions and recreation pursuits and the promotion of tourism were promoted. In 1967, Charles F. Schubring writes in the Fort Frances Times of " The Most Beautiful River in the Northwest". Setting out on August 6th, of that year he recalls the words of John J. Bigsby wrote in "The Shoe and the Canoe" of 1850. "The lapluie seems made for a pleasure excursion all is serenity and beauty". At the end of the trip Schubring writes that "the trip served it's purpose. It conviced many... that the beauties of Rainy River should not be ignored any longer and that the still beautiful river should be made navigable", the value of which became realized by the 1989 committee forming the Historic Boundary Waterway.