1930s

The Early Days of Fort Frances

*Fort Frances Times and Rainy Lake Herald*

Scott and Portage Avenue in the early days. In the centre of the intersection is the town’s first traffic sign, the pole set over the manhole. Below, is Roy McTaggart in front of his Scott Street store. The picture was taken in the early 1930’s.

The Fort Frances Library

Then and Now

The Fort Frances Public Library was organized in 1898. In 1914, the first public library board was formed and voted to build a new building for the library. Carnegie Building was officially opened on January 14, 1915. In 1967, The Town of Fort Frances constructed an addition to the library .The addition was the Town’s Centennial project.

Fort Frances Times and Rainy Lake Herald

Around Fort Frances in the 1930’s

Fort Frances Times and Rainy Lake Herald

Rainy River in the 1930’s

Main Street, 1930’s

Rat Portage Lumber Company Store on the corner of River Avenue and 4th Street

Logging in Chapple

In 1935, when these pictures were taken, logging was a major part of the development of Chapple. Poles and lumber were in huge demand by the CPR, and later by the CNR. Forestry was a major attraction for the people who came to settle in Chapple, as it provided much needed capital to the land owners. Farmers were able to use their teams during winter for hauling wood, and the lumber camps were a reliable market for farm use.

The Dance Fire of 1938

A disastrous Thanksgiving Day fire in 1938 wiped out 17 people and injured nine more. Dubbed the Dance Fire, it killed 12 people out of a single family.