The Prominent Business Houses of Rat Portage

Lake of the Woods Museum Newsletter
Vol. 18 No. 4 – Fall 2008

In 1888, “The New West”, a publication from Winnipeg, Manitoba, published the following account entitled Prominent Business Houses of Rat Portage.

QUEEN’S HOTEL
Rigney Bros., Proprietors, Rat Portage–One of the best known hotels in Rat Portage is the Queen’s, situated on Main Street, directly facing the Lake of the Woods, one of the finest bodies of water on the American continent. The hotel commands a magnificent view of the Lake and surrounding scenery. The hotel building is three stories in height. On the first floor is the office, dining-room, bar and billiard-room, while on the second and third floors are the parlours and sleeping rooms. There are thirty-six handsomely furnished sleeping rooms, while the parlours are fitted up in good style. The bar is supplied with the best wines, liquors and cigars to be found in the market. The billiard-room is one of the favourite resorts of the city. The propietors of the house are Messrs. P. and T. Rigney. Both gentlemen are highly esteemed as energetic and enterprising business men.

BAKER & CO.
“The One Price Cash Store”, Rat Portage–The importance of Rat Portage as a centre of the wholesale or jobbing trade can scarcely be over-estimated, as the increasing of the annual transactions at this place abundantly demonstrated.

Prominenet among the leading houses in this line is Baker & Co., proprietors of “The One Price Cash Store”. Mr. William L. Baker, of this firm, came to the North-West in 1879 with a thorough practical business training, and with fifteen years experience of commercial routine. He established the business in that year, and its career has been steadily prosperous. Always a strenuous advocate of the cash system as the only correct basis of trade between the retailer and the consumer, Mr. Baker made the cash system a vital principle of his business and has rigidly adhered to it ever since. The result has fully demonstrated the correctness of his theory. His firm has the confidence of the entire purchasing community, and is a household word all over the Rainy River District.

The premises occupied are spacious and commodious, well arranged, and heavily stocked in all the varied departments of a general store. The stock is always fresh, thorough, has frequent importations, and is turned over six to seven times in the course of the year. Flour, feed, oats, hay, salt, apples, potatoes, coal oil, etc., are all purchased by the firm in carload lots, and the stock of groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, crockery and glassware, etc., is wherever practicable, bought direct from the manufacturers or producers. The house is, in fact, a complete medium of exchange between producer and consumer, and at the lowest possible cost to the consumer.

Messrs. Baker & Co. have always been identified with all measures best calculated to advance Rat Portage’s prosperity.

W.D. COATE
Drugs, Fancy Goods and Stationery, Rat Portage and Keewatin–This well-established and popular drug store does not date farther back than 1882, in which comparatively brief period it has become known for its complete stock of medicines, so that nowhere can a physician’s prescription be compounded more safely. The attentive business habits of Mr. Coate and his assistant also ensures the promptest attention. As usually pertains to such establishments, perfumeries, fancy goods, toilet articles, books and stationary are to be found here to suit all tastes and at cheap rates. Mr. Coate is therefore being constantly visited by appreciative customers. He carries a stock of about $2,500, while the annual business amounts to $8,000 or $10,000, Mr. Coate’s business and social qualities rendering him a general favourite in the community. Mr. Coate owns and operates an establishment of the same description at Keewatin, three miles west of this place.

KOBOLD AND COMPANY
Wholesale and Retail Butchers, Second Street, Rat Portage–It is necessary that man should eat to live, and meat may be said to be an indispensible article of food. Meat stores are therefore an absolute necessity in every community. Among the prominent establishments of this description in the city is that of Kobold & Co., whose store is situated on Second Street. This firm started business here in 1880, and has done a large trade from its inception, and it is increasing rapidly. The premises…are well adapted for the business, being commodious and well arranged, fitted up with every appliance and facility. The quality of meats sold by this firm is the very best to be procured, and the reputation they have gained in this respect is undoubtedly the secret of the great success with which they are meeting. Fowl and game of all kinds in season are kept on hand in large variety, and everything is sold at the most reasonable prices. Mr. Kobold has a large circle of acquaintances, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

J.W. HUMBLE
Wholesale and Retail Wines, Liquors and Cigars, Main Street, Rat Portage–Prominent among the honorable and substantial business houses of this city is that of Mr. J.W. Humble, dealer in wines and liquors, who has been established in business here since 1885, during which time he has built up a large and lucrative trade, which extends to all parts of the surrounding country. The premises occupied are fitted up in a neat and attractive style, and a large and complete stock of imported and domestic wines, brandies, whiskies and cigars is carried. In addition to a prosperous local patronage, the house enjoys an extensive outside trade. Mr. Humble’s honorable business principles have won the esteem of the trade, and he is popularly considered a leading merchant in his line.

HUB HOTEL
George Drewry, proprietor, Main Street, Rat Portage–Few lines of business contribute to the general sum of trade and commerce in Canada than the hotel business. Among the houses that have recently attained prominence in this city can be mentioned the ably-conducted and popular Hub Hotel. Although established only a comparatively short time -1883- this house already enjoys a degree of prosperity and public favour not always vouchsafed to much longer established houses. The secret of this is not difficult to discover. Being familiar with the wants and requirements of the public, and being a man of superior ability and of push and perseverance, he has, by close personal attention and the exercise of sound judgement, built a large and prosperous trade, and has established a high reputation in the community, a like for capacity and strict integrity in his dealings. In connection with the house is the finest restaurant in the city, while the bar is stocked with the choicest wines, liquors and cigars.

M. NICHOLSON
Merchant Tailor and Gents’ Furnishings, corner Circle and Main Streets, Rat Portage–Among the leading tailoring establishments in Rat Portage must be reckoned that of M. Nicholson. Started in 1882, this business has grown monthly until now it has reached large proportions, giving employment to twelve people. Mr. Nicholson has now a reputation for splendid fitting and good work, while his stock always embraces every variety of cloth to suit the taste and the pockets of his customers. He has at present on hand a magnificent assortment of the choicest French, English, and Scotch tweeds to be found in the city, and fresh arrivals of the latest goods are always being received, so that the recent colours and patterns in suitings, trouserings, and overcoatings are always to be found at this establishment. As a cutter, Mr. Nicholson is everywhere recognized as one of the best, and he never fails to give a perfect fit, which is the great essential in the tailoring business. Mr. Nicholson is doing a fine business. He also carries a fine line of gents’ furnishings, such as ties, underwear, hats, caps, etc.

JOHN GARDNER & CO.
Wholesale and Retail Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots and Shoes, and Groceries, Main Street, Rat Portage–An important branch of commercial activity, and one deserving of prominent mention in this historical review of the great northern leading industries, is the general store trade, and in this connection it is a pleasure to speak of that enterprising and successful concern of John Gardner & Co., dealers in dry goods, such as woollens, linens, and dress goods of all descriptions, clothing, boots and shoes, gents’ furnishings, groceries, provisions, etc. The members of the firm are John, Frank and William Gardner. Mr. Frank Gardner is one of the old pioneer merchants of the Northwest, being the first white trader locating in this country, starting business at Keewatin in 1876, moving his business to this city in 1879. Mr. Frank Gardner is the builder of the large passenger and towing steamboat, the “Algoma”, which is now owned by Mr. John Gardner, the senior member of the above firm. All of these gentlemen are held in the highest estimation in commercial life for their many sterling qualities and strict integrity, and justly merit the success attained by their ability, energy, and perseverance.

HILLIARD HOUSE
Louis Hilliard, proprietor, Main Street, Rat Portage–Among the many good hotels which stand prominent in the Northwest, there is no more popular house than the Hilliard House, situated on Main Street, in the centre of the business portion of the city. This house was opened by the present proprietor, Mr. Hilliard, in 1883, and has done a very large business since that time. It is a large structure, three storeys in height, and has thirty-eight good, commodious and well-furnished sleeping rooms. In connection with the house is a fine sample room, where the best brands of wines, liquors and cigars are always kept on hand. The office, reading-room and dining-room are on the first floor and furnished in first-class style, while two storeys above are devoted to parlours and sleeping-rooms, all elegantly furnished and fitted up with a view to comfort as well as appearances. Mr. Hilliard is a gentleman of extensive experience in hotel business, and in this commodious house has given unmistakable proofs of being the accomplished host. Having been engaged in the hotel business all his life, he thoroughly understands how to conduct such an establishment in first-class style, as will be apparent to any one stopping at his house. He was formerly proprietor of a hotel at Whitemouth. Mr. Hilliard personally superintends the management of the hotel, neglecting nothing which can add to the pleasure and comfort of his guests.