Duane Hicks
From the birch bark canoes of the indigenous peoples to the logging boats that hauled wood from the forest to the mill to the high-speed bass boats of today, watercraft always have played a major role in the lives of Borderland residents.
The Fort Frances Museum and a local group of volunteers are planning a “Canada 150” transportation exhibit focusing on modes of travel from local history, including boats.
Volunteers Caren and Eric Fagerdahl are putting out a call to district residents for their photographs of boats and memories–even just a couple of sentences–about them to be used in the exhibit “so people will take the time to read them.”
“Eric’s done a lot of research about the Russel Bros. and the McComb Bros., and we’ll have a little bit about Rainy Lake Boatworks,” Caren Fagerdahl noted.
“We’re also looking for pictures and stories about cruisers–the big wooden cruisers I remember from the ’50s,” she added, referring to the large pleasure craft that were a sort of predecessor to house boats.
“There were quite a few of them at some point,” said Eric Fagerdahl. “They were called cabin cruisers.”
“My dad has two–one after the other–and a lot of the families I grew up had them, as well,” his wife noted.
More generally speaking, Eric Fagerdahl said they would like whatever boat photos and memories people have.
“We have so many families that are in Fort Frances that been here for 100 years,” he remarked. “It could pleasure craft boats, it could be family boats, it could be just a little runabout that was something the family adored.
“That would be fine, as well.”
The exhibit also will feature sections on the working boats, like the “Hallett,” birch bark canoes, cedar canvas canoes, and hopefully even a section on boating today, involving businesses like Badiuk’s Powersports.
“In a nutshell, we’re doing a shout-out to people: help us,” Eric Fagerdahl said.
“We want to tell the history and I think many people’s families would love to tell their family histories, as well,” he enthused.
To submit a photo of a boat (or a plane, train, or classic automobile for that matter) or tell a story, drop by the Fort Frances Museum on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Please submit your photos and stories before Feb. 15.
As well, you can e-mail photos (and any information related to them) to museumc@fortfrances.ca
The “Canada 150” transportation exhibit is expected to open in April and run through September.
The Fagerdahls and other volunteers want to hold a series of evenings where residents will get together and share memories.
An evening will be dedicated to boats, another to planes, and others for trains and automobiles.
“What it will do is re-spark people’s interest in boats and they’ll start talking again,” Eric Fagerdahl reasoned.
“I think it could be a lot of fun,” he added, noting he and his wife already are aware of individuals who are excited.
“People who are coming will already have an insight as to what we’re talking about,” Fagerdahl said.
“Some might just come to listen–and that’s even better–but we want to be able to talk about the boats we’re going to showcase and invite those people that know something about those boats to come,” he explained, adding he hopes the evenings will be recorded on video for posterity.
Caren Fagerdahl, meanwhile, noted some of the boat photos they have are accompanied by no information–and perhaps other boat enthusiasts could help fill in those knowledge gaps.
Several boat-related activities are in the works for this July, including voyageur canoe rides and possibly a boat show.
The Fagerdahls also are hoping to tie “Canada 150” activities into some sort of fundraising for the logging tug boat, “Owandem,” which was donated to the Fort Frances Museum by the late Arden Erickson Barnes of Ranier, Mn. and arrived here just before Christmas.
It now is at the Public Works yard, where it’s being stored until money is found to refurbish it.
One idea they’re considering is getting boat owners to bring all sorts of vessels, put them in the river at the same time, and have a drone take an aerial photograph of the unique spectacle.
This exclusive photo then would be sold to participants–or anyone else who wanted it–to raise funds for the “Owandem.”
“When we were involved in kayaking and canoeing, we did that in Atikokan–we were a part of it–and it was just such a fun idea,” Caren Fagerdahl said.
