In February, 1917, it was noted in the International Press and Border Budget that “Editor Osborne sells Times.”
Perhaps this is a clue to the now sporadic inventory of Fort Frances Times issues now available to document the period of time prior to 1918.
Ah . . . the challenge of counting down 100 years of history continues.
Mr. Osborne provides a look at early life in the area in his autobiography. In January, 1896, Mr. Osborne purchased the newspaper being produced at Rainy Lake City, located on an island on the Minnesota side of Rainy Lake.
Osborne describes, “To get to Rainy Lake City (a typical mining camp), I had to go to Winnipeg, on to St. Paul, thence to Duluth and Tower in Minnesota, and from Tower by team over ice and snow 150 miles. . . .
“This was some trip in those early days and I was tired, cold, and hungry when I reached my destination.”
Life on Black Bay of Rainy Lake had its challenges and Osborne notes, “I put in the balance of the winter in there but as spring advanced, the little town ran short of provisions and we lived for three weeks on cornmeal and jackfish.
“About this time, the ice began to break up in the Rainy Lake, so I took a canoe to Fort Frances, 14 miles distant across and down the lake, to get food.
“Here we also found a scarcity of provisions, so we waited for the boat from Rat Portage (now Kenora), 150 miles away. The boat finally did arrive and when they unloaded the freight, it consisted of one bag of flour and a couple hundred barrels of beer.
“With a little more cornmeal, a dozen eggs, and a few canned goods, my companion and I paddled our canoe back to Rainy Lake City.
“Towards the first of June, seeing that the little American Mine was closed down and people going away,” Osborne found himself moving the paper and plant by barge to Koochiching (later International Falls).
Establishing his newspaper as the Rainy Lake Herald, he found a home in Fort Frances, as none were available in Koochiching. He brought his family from Rat Portage on the Edna Brydges and travelled back and forth between Koochiching and Fort Frances across the Rainy River each day by canoe and
in winter by canoe and on the ice.
In 1897, the promise of the railway coming to Fort Frances lured Osborne to move the paper and plant across the river, establishing the Fort Frances Times and adding “and Rainy Lake Herald” for good measure.
In 1911, a fire caused by lightning destroyed the $25,000 plant. Osborne rebuilt at 288 Scott St. in 1912 and included the Bazaar, Book and Stationery Store.
By 1916, a breakdown in health led to an end of his newspaper career at Fort Frances. A syndicate of five local business men purchased the Times in 1917 and established the plant at 109-111 Church St.
Mr. Osborne also served as the second mayor of the town and for eight years was an active member of the town council. He was a captain with the
141st Bull Moose battalion during World War I.
Mr. J.A. Osborne was noted for having been rated one of the greatest community boosters. Recalling his role with council, he assisted in securing an agreement with the province and E.W. Backus for timber limits for the proposed paper mill and power agreements.
He notes the building of the $25,000 town hall, lobbying to include the fire department, which was later called “Osborne’s white elephant.” He also advocated for the telephone and electric service, and sidewalks.
The establishment of the Fort Frances Times by J.A. Osborne marks one of our century-old businesses in Fort Frances. Let’s celebrate! The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce is making plans for the annual trade show in May and will be recognizing a century of business.
One hundred years! One hundred ideas! One hundred volunteers! 2003 should be a year for celebrating community—let’s make it one to remember. Contact centennial co-ordinator Marla Simpson at 274-7891 for more details.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
