The Fort William Fire Brigade in 1894, outside of the Town Hall/Fire Hall building. The handwriting at the bottom of the photograph reads: "Fort William Fire Brigade - 1894-." The cut-off bottom left corner reads "Allan Fraser."
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series Number: 128
Accession Number: 1991-1#19
An article in the "Daily Times-Journal", the day after the fire in 1903, explaining that plans for a new Town Hall were already in the works.
The text reads:
"WORK STARTED ON NEW TOWN HALL, Council in Special Session Employs Architect Aylesworth to Prepare the Plans.
The council met in special session last night. There were present Councillors Ollis, Wilson, McKellar and Gray and Acting Mayor Cooper. The meeting was called to consider the rebuilding of the town hall and to devise the course to pursue for immediate work. The first and most important business was a resolution to employ Architect Aylesworth to prepare plans for a new town hall to cost from $10,000 to $50,000. Several sets of plans will be prepared. One will include town offices, fire hall, public hall, etc., all in one building; another will show a town hall on a lot entirely by itself. The matter was gone into thoroughly by the council, and the people can be assured that all possible care will be taken to build a hall that will be a credit to the community.
The offer of the Bell Telephone Company to supply free telephones for all town offices until the municipal system is repaired was held over for further consideration.
A telegram was received yesterday afternoon from the International Telephone Co., stating that a switch board and other apparatus will be shipped at once, and it is expected that all installation will be complete in 30 days. A building will be started at once for telephone use. This will be of solid brick and detached from all other municipal buildings.
This shows the progressiveness of the people of Fort William. Nothing can throw them off their feet. The burning of the town hall and the temporary inconvenience of the telephone system only spurs them on to greater exertion. A joint meeting of the town council and the board of trade will be called to consider the advisability of securing another site for the new town hall. The Times-Journal received the following telegram from Mayor Dyke this morning, dated at Hamilton:
'I extend deepest sympathy to citizens in loss of the town hall. While it is a great calamity, the town's progress will not be held back. We will build bigger and better. Will be home Friday to help gather up the tangled ends and start afresh."
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series Number: 198
TBA 5751-15
The McKellar brothers wrote this letter in 1913 to authorize their donation to the City.
A transcript of the letter reads:
"Fort William, June 30th, 1913.
To His Worship, Mayor Graham and Councillors of the City of Fort William, Dear Sirs:
We, the McKellar Brothers, have been instructed by Miss Annie McIntyre to present to the City of Fort William the two cannon that stood like 'Watch Dogs' in front of the Hudson's Bay Post on the Kaministikwia River since the days of the Fur Traders troubles and before the advent of Railroads or Steamboats into Canada, with the understanding that they will be properly preserved for the benefit of the City.
These valuable relics passed to Miss McIntyre from her father, Mr. John McIntyre commonly known as 'Governor McIntyre', who was last in charge of the old Hudson's Bay Post of the Kaministikwia River, and to whom the cannon were presented by the Company. Mr. McIntyre had them removed and placed in front of his new home as sentinels until he died.
When the Home was broken up in 1906 Miss McIntyre placed them in our charge until she would want them. She has decided that this City shall retain them in perpetuity as a valuable memento of the great Fur Traders in Fort William.
Yours Faithfully,
Peter McKellar
Donald McKellar"
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series Number: 198 TBA 5751-15
The Lake Superior Regiment, August 19, 1914. At this time, members of the regiment were in active service, local duty. Many of these soldiers would later fight overseas.
The picture is taken in front of Fort William City Hall. City Clerk Alexander McNaughton and Mayor S.C. Young are also standing on the front steps.
The text in the left hand corner reads "Fryer, Fort William" and to the bottom right of the picture is the date: "August 19th, 1914"
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series Number: 128
Accession Number: 1991-1#94
A photograph taken in 1949 at a winter carnival outside City Hall. The role of the City Hall building as a centre for community shows clearly.
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series Number: 128
Accession Number: 1991-1#126
This photograph was taken in 1951 in the Fort William City Hall during the Royal Visit of Princess Elizabeth. Note the portraits, which display the decor of the City Hall, as well as the Council Chairs to the left, which are currently on display at the City Archives.
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series Number: 4
Accession Number: 1990-17#93
A garden in front of the Fort William City Hall. Note how the City Hall building is more closely aligned with St. Andrew's Church, as the front lawn is more extensive now than it was when this building was in existence.
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series Number: 128
Accession Number: 1991-1#107
This aerial photograph was taken in 1949. The City Hall can be seen circled at the bottom of the page.
City of Thunder Bay Archives Series: 92
TBA 1
Accession Number: 1397-149G
The 1919 Fire Insurance Maps for Fort William show the location of the City Hall, indicated with a circle at the top left corner here.
Following is the Symbols Key to reading the map.
1919, Fire Insurance Map #3, Fort William
This photograph was taken across the street from the second City Hall, when there was a park located opposite the building. Behind the tree on the far right side, the Cenotaph can be seen in its original location: on the right-hand corner of the lawn.
Contact Us
Connect
