Surveys:

David Thompson made a general survey of this whole area from Lake Huron to the Rockies between 1798 and 1837. He first visited Rat Portage in 1797, made maps, meteorological records, distances, courses, latitudes and longitudes. He investigated the west boundary of the lake trying to establish the NW Corner as the boundary between the United States and Canada which at that time had still not been determined.

 

 

Town Surveys

In the beginning surveying was done at the desire and methods of the owners of the property. In 1878 Hudson's Bay Company owners of most of what was then Rat Portage surveyed the land and offered lots to settlers at easy terms. In 1888 Keewatin was surveyed by the Keewatin Lumber and Manufacturing Company. As the towns size increases private real estate owners also did surveying, the standard method being the gridiron pattern. Using this "inappropriate" system resulted in a less attractive town then it probably could have been if the natural features had been considered at the time.

The Steamship Era:

The name of the first steamship that plyed Lake of the Woods is unknown but the year was around 1872/ In 1873 the Government built a boat at Fort Frances and a larger side-wheeler known as The Lady of the Lake. In 1876 the first Private boat was built The Speedwell and it ran to Rat Portage and Northwest Angle. Another Government ship The Lily of the West carried supplies from Rat Portage to Ash Rapids and Bigstone Bay. A number of steamships for the lumber companes in Kenora were supplyingt CPR Construction. Some names such as N Mosher, Lily McAuley. These steamboats served as passenger and freight boats however most were working boats towing lumber, collecting fish from commercial fisherman, and hauling supplies to the Mining Industry in the area. At the height of the steamboat era passengers enjoyed luxurious appointments of dining rooms and salons on some of the larger finer boats. The last two to make regular ventures across the lake were the Agwinde and Keenora. In 1901 the Argyle began operating as a ferry between Rat Portage and Keewatin for tourists. It 1936 it was replaced by the Argyle II which was around until a few years ago.

 

 

 

 

The Storekeepers, Innkeepers, and Politicians