The Canadian Pacific Railway at North Bay, Ontario in 1884
We’re excited to share a recent find with you — an important pioneer photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) railroad workers in North Bay, Ontario. Penciled on the reverse is a note which says: “Old Time Ry. Men, CPR, North Bay. Taken in March 1884.”
A North Bay, Ontario Furniture Store and Funeral Home
This important early North Bay, Ontario real-photo postcard (RPPC), tells us much about the lifestyle and social mores of North Bayites nearly 100 years ago. The imposing gentleman wearing an overcoat and hat is local businessman Frederick J. Martyn, a building contractor, furniture store owner and undertaker.
Ham Radio Operators and QSL Cards in North Bay, Ontario
Ham radio operators have been sending QSL cards for almost a century, and here are two examples from North Bay, Ontario. QSL stands for “I acknowledge receipt.” The traditional use of the postcard-sized QSL card was to serve as written confirmation of a two-way amateur radio communication or one-way reception of a signal from a radio or television station.
North Bay, Ontario: The New Ontario Brewery
The New Ontario Brewery led a short but eventful life in North Bay. Established in 1905 by a group of businessmen headed up by James Palango, it produced a German-style lager beer. The company prospered, and enough beer was produced to supply both North Bay and surrounding communities. By 1910, the New Ontario had begun to hire “brewery boosters,” traveling salesmen who traveled by horse and buggy to locations as diverse as Cobalt to the north and Kitchener, Kingston, Ottawa and Pembroke.
North Bay, Ontario Mystery Solved: Canada’s Largest Indian Location
A serendipitous purchase has solved a mystery: the former location of Canada’s largest Indian, a roadside attraction which was in North Bay, Ontario. Chief Standing Moose, a spectacular example of roadside Canadiana (technically known as roadside Americana) was 24 feet tall and billed as “Canada’s largest Indian.”
North Bay, Ontario: What Happened to Canada’s Largest Indian?
Somewhere on Lakeshore Drive in North Bay, Ontario stood Chief Standing Moose. This spectacular example of roadside Canadiana (technically known as roadside Americana) was 24 feet tall. He was billed as “Canada’s largest Indian.”
Early Old Home Week Celebrations in Canada
A 1904 patriotic private postcard which shows that Old Home Week and a “Champlain celebration” were held as early as June 1904 in Saint John, New Brunswick. This is the earliest Old Home Week postcard we’ve personally seen.
