Storekeepers:

The first business establistment in Rat Portage (Kenora) was the Hudson's Bay Company which had an outpost on Old Fort Island in 1836. It later became First Street South and Main in Rat Portage. In 1869 the HBC gave its vastland holdings to the goverment. In 1918 the HBC closed operations and Kenora and sold it to H Graham for dry goods and Ladies mens clothing. They lived above the store and rented the rest to the School Board. This building was sold to Arthur Pitt in 1926.

Storekeepers of the past.

Drygoods or clothing - Carmichael, Rogers, McLeod, Rice, Gardner, Betty Stragge	Groceries: McQuarrie, Campobell, Warrens, Morrison and Stinson
Jewelry: Ferguson, Rioch	Bakery: Philbin, Patterson
Drugs: Johnson's Pharmacy and Woods Drug Store (Johnson)	Meats: Gibson and Hook
Hardware: A.T. Fife, Holmes, Jacob Hose, Canniff, Lindstrom, and Nilson	Liquor: Humble, J H Hensey, Wm McVeigh
Photography: H Wright, Linde	Furniture: Horn and Taylor, Rideout and Davidson (also undertakers) Barnes, Delamere and Tiley

It's 1883 Rat Portage. Ads in "The Argus" (a paper from those days). Some of the ads of that time period were as such.

HOTELS: The Queen's - Rat Portage - Lake of the Woods. -

The Palace Hotel - "The Great Summer Resort." This hotel is situated on Main Street, and commands a fine veiw of the Bay. It is a new hotel and plastered and throught. The Queens is especially suiteable for the accommodation of toutists and visitors and every preparation is being made for the comfort and convenience. The Queen's" cannot be excelled in the nORTHWEST. a more beautiful summer resort in Rat Portage cannot be in which to spend the wummer months nor a better hotel than the Queen's at which to be put up. JAMES GORE - PROPRIETOR.

Rideout House Rat Portage - The Great Summer Resort . This ???? hotel has lately changed hands and is being fittedup in First Class style with all the latest conveniences. THE BEST TABLE IN THE NORTHWEST Choice Brands. Wines, Liquors, Cigars. Watt Flager - Propietor.

 

Early Kenora