Thunder Bay lived up to it's name last night; we had a massive thunderstorm which must have resulted in fires somewhere near as there was a number of fire engines running about, sirens blaring.
But today the sun is back- and we have been to visit Old Fort William, a historical rebuild of the trading fort on the Kaministiquia river, just north of Lake Superior. It was the inland headquarters of the North West Company, a rival to the Hudson Bay Company, who traded in furs with the local Indians and other trappers.
This is probably one of the best historical areas that we have ever visited, there are about 50 buildings, and most are manned by young people who know the history, and stay in character while they are talking. We learned how to make barrels and birch bark canoes, how the furs were traded and packed for dispatch to Europe. The only way around was by canoe, even to Montreal, some 1500 miles away.
Each year in the spring they held a rendezvous here, when the traders came up from Montreal and the trappers came in with their furs. The population would soar by over 1000 at that time, including the directors of the company.
They actually make birch canoes here, not only large ones for the Fort itself, but smaller ones for sale. We saw the doctor's surgery, where the Doc's assistant gruesomely described an enema and an amputation. We got to see and smell some of the concoctions that he uses to try to cure the locals of their various ills. Most did not survive.
We learned the value of the furs, which were traded for credits, one for a small fur, two for a beaver, four for a good fox fur etc. The credits could be spent on guns, blankets, food etc.
The doc explains! Note the enema syringe
We got to meet the local Indians, who described their lives around the fort, and they showed us the skins they had trapped and will trade at the fort.They live as a family, maybe eight people, in a teepee like this one. They told us that they got on well with the Europeans.
There must have been 20 different type of skins, very valuable in the 18th century in Europe, where they had virtually wiped out the fur bearing animals. Here there seemed to be an unlimited supply, indeed they are still trapping, though only those species that are not threatened.
We were shown how to load a musket, and allowed to fire one, I stood well away when Anne fired!
On the way back to the hotel, we were stopped by the police, with a blaring siren. It seemed we were driving too slow because we were looking at a map, but I think I was driving at the posted limit, 50kph, Nobody does round here! When he found we were foreigners he was OK, he led us to the street we were looking for.
The trades area, carpenters, tinsmiths, coopers armourer etc work here.
A five day old pot bellied pig on the farm. Not happy! They would produce all their own food, and had numerous animals.
The clerks office.
And their dormitory.
Dovetails on the corner of a log cabin, very strong.
Young's store in Wawa, they sell everything here, including tourist tat. It burned down in 1979, and was rebuilt by the locals on a "barn raising" day. The contents were entirely in keeping with the late 19th century.
Pubic conveniences- labelled Ma and Pa!
They have skiing moose here!
They pray for sunshine at this church.
Rainbow Falls.
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