DAM THE NEPIGON 1900 PROPOSAL

 

The Citizen, Ottawa, Canada  April 14, 1900

OBJECTED TO

Dam on Lake Nipigon Vigorously Opposed

A Pulp Mill Scheme

Which Would Destroy the Beauty of a Sportsman’s Paradise

A gentleman interested in the Ontario Colonization and Repatriation Accommodation was in the city yesterday, and his conversation stated that there is a growing opposition to the request of the North Shore Timber Company to the Ontario Legislature for a charter to go into the pulp business on Nepigon River and to construct a dam about 20 yards above the C.P.R. Bridge at Nepigon of sufficient dimension to raise the water twelve to fourteen feet the contention being that the dam would raise Lake Helen up to the first fall at Camp Alexander.

The objections are based on that Nepigon is the finest Trout stream in the world and should be preserved for all times to come as a resource for sportsmen from Canada and foreign parts. 

To do that properly the Nepigon River and lands for an average width of five miles on each side of the river should be set aside as The Nepigon  National Park and no timber cut thereon.

The building of a dam would prevent the fish ascending and descending the stream.  It is said that C.P.R. is strongly opposed to the proposal on the grounds that it would be detrimental to the tourists of all Canada now assuming such large and profitable proportions and which is so beneficial to all Canadians, and Canada Commerce generally to destroy one of the chief points of interest in Canada which unfortunately would be done if the Nepigon were utilized for manufacturing purposes.  Particularly when there are so many other water powers in that vast country available.

In reply to Mr. J.P. ….before the Ontario Legislature rose on Thursday the attorney general said that a new agreement in connection with the Lake Nipigon concession had been a subject of regulation  recently and it was more than possible that would be submitted for ratification this session.

The Sitting Room was down this Hall

 

After the fire of Feb. 11, 1990

Nipigon Historical Museum

looking toward the Sitting Room

NIPIGON HISTORICAL MUSEUM ROOM BY ROOM

 Leading up to our 50th Anniversary year 2023 I will be posting memories of the museum Room by Room.

NIPIGON HISTORICAL MUSEUM

ROOM BY ROOM  MEMORIES

THE SITTING ROOM

THE ROUND TABLE

The Round Table came from the Polly Lake Girl Guide Camp.

From 1972 to the mid 80’s most Board meetings were held around the Round Table in the Sitting Room.

In the early years it was the Museum Board members, the Secretary and Roland and Elvie representing the Nipigon Historical Museum Society (membership of 149) who “looked after” the museum for the first two years until we proved that we could operate  (be open to the Public) for xxx amount of hours  in a “season” 1973 and 1974.  Then the Museum was given a 5000 dollar start up fund from the Province.

Later the meetings were held upstairs in the large Workroom.

Once acquired, E.C. Everett’s Wallpaper Album was its centerpiece until the fire.

The Firemen were able to chop a hole in the roof and get a shower of water into the front rooms, thus saving most items in various conditions.

The rescued album went to the arena ( remember the arena roof had been condemned at that time) so the rink was cold and empty …just right for frozen storage until the conservers could thaw them out  in the entrance halls of the arena.

In 2005 our summer students  took the photographs off the album pages  using Goo Gone to release the tape and glue, then number each photo by the page it was on, scan each photo and then place it in large display albums using photo corners and spacing . So when on facebook you see ECE 15. 2 designated for a photo that means it was the second photo on page 15 of the Wallpaper Album.  They were going to stick the photos altogether on a page just like ECE had done. I nixed that idea.

You can see the Wallpaper Album in the ECE Display case.  The “New” display albums are usually on a table for viewing.

Sometimes the Round Table was just a table.

Like when Jack Stokes brought one of the Directors of the Henry Ford Museum of Dearborne Michigan for a visit.  Roland and Elvie cooked up a super doper dinner: white bean soup, homemade bread and Blueberry pie for desert.

When the Director saw our pottery sherds in the Archaeology Room 1, he offered to have his staff make us a pot to show what it would have looked like. We never did take up that offer.

So now  the Round Table can be seen in some of our Nipigon Narrations, Their Voice in History video Interviews.

Sometimes it has been used for Board Meetings.

Dan Gapen did his book signing at the Round Table.

Currently covered with a cotton crocheted table cloth from the 1930’s.

It is central to our small creation of The Sitting Room with the Black Piano, Jackfish Organ and the Wooden Bowl.

 

 

 

If You Come By Cruise Ship in the Summer of 2023

We can give you a ten minute presentation on some of our permanent exhibits.  This is Logging/Forestry

This is Logging /Forestry

This is Fishing (World Records never broken in over one hundred years) and the Nipigon River

The area history goes back over 5000 years.  This pottery represents 1200 years of occupation at one site on Lake Nipigon.

Copper Culture goes back 3500 years

The railways changed transportation from water to land...1885 they crossed the Nipigon River.  1905 they started building north of Lake Nipigon ...but Nipigon was their engineering office...and our first Museum in 1973-1990

This area represents Nipigon Businesses of the past along with pianos and organs and sewing machines and photo albums.

Another railway area with Tramway wheels and piece of rail from 1880s. We have lots of train photos and CPR trains roll past every day.

 

Nipigon is multicultural...this is for our Finnish population.  Local dairy Hudson's Bay Store, Rocks and Minerals and first Doctor of Nipigon...to care for the workers on the Northern transcontinental Railway north of Lake Nipigon 1905.

This is the Fur Trade exhibit...the reason why occupation of the Nipigon began in 1668 a year after the First Mass was celebrated on the Nipigon shores in June 1667.

You don't have to come by Ship to see our Museum Highway 11/17 crosses the Nipigon River on its spiffy new ultra modern bridge.  The first bridge to cross the Nipigon River was in 1937.
 

Why We Have Chairs At The Nipigon Museum

 

Sometimes after a tour they just want to sit and talk.

Facebook page Nipigon History

 Facebook has changed how I can work with this page re Sharing and stuff.  Not sure how it will be for viewers.  You may have to look down through the posts to find some videos that don't show up in the video list.

We are going to try and get a YouTube channel to put the longer videos and interviews on in the future.

Next year is our 50th Anniversary so may be putting more stuff onto the Facebook page than the Blog but we will see how that goes.

Hope to have a variety of events throughout the Summer/year so that more people have a chance to get to Nipigon throughout the season.

Next year we hope to be back to normal open hours 11- 8pm seven days a week July and August.

Hope you all are staying well and that the price of gas will go down.

Lighthouses

 A young fellow is doing research into the Lighthouses in this area of Superior...any suggestions  for where to look or who he should talk to??