1909

Lake of the Woods Museum Newsletter
Vol. 19 No. 1 – Winter 2009

January
Harding Rideout was elected Mayor of the Town of Kenora with a stunning majority of 388 votes of the 522 cast. He served as Mayor of the town in 1908 and 1910 as well.

The Central House, a hotel on Matheson Street, opposite the CPR Station, had rates of $1.00 to $1.50 per day.

February
“It is expected that the CPR YMCA will open about the first of [February] just about three years from the time the project for its erection was first started…The basement contains a bowling alley, a billiard room which will be well stocked with billiard and pool tables, a labatory with five shower/baths and a large model room, which will contain models of practically every type of engine and all other appliances used in connection with railroad work.” – M&N, January 1909

March
The Imperial Bank of Canada purchased the property on the northwest corner of Main and Second Streets, then occupied by Gardner and Co. Their intention was to remove the existing building in order to build a new bank.

Through a by-law passed by the Town, 65 street names were changed. This was done in order to avoid duplication and confusion. Some of the changes included Keewatin Street becoming Fifth Avenue South and Argyle Street becoming Eighth Avenue South.

May
At a meeting of the shareholders of the Rainy River Navigation Company Ltd. It was decided that none of the company’s steamboats, including the Keenora, would operate this season. Low water levels at the mouth of the Rainy River was cited as one of the reasons.

Two of the oldest landmarks in Keewatin were swept away by fire when a couple of double homes with their adjoining stables and outbuildings, belonging to the Keewatin Lumbering and Manufacturing Company, were burnt clean to the ground.

The inauguration of a local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose took place in Cronlund’s Hall. The local lodge was started ten days before and already boasted a membership of 70 charter members.

September
The steamboat Na-Ma-Puk hit sand on the Big Traverse, about eight miles from the mouth of the Rainy River. The passengers, eight men and one woman, and crew were transferred to the barge in tow which drifted to shore.

October
Carl G. Linde announced that he had opened up his “Photographic Studio” in the premises formerly occupied by Horn and Taylor.

December
A by-law was introduced at Council to prohibit the retail sale of spirituous,fermented or other manufactured liquors in the town of Kenora.