Heritage
CENTRE
/MUSEUM
SRF
THE 1920s
According to a census in 1921, the township of Kendrey had a population of 674, and the township of Haggart had a population of 85.
1920
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH
In 1920 the main part of the building was constructed by volunteer labour that came from all religious denominations. John McKenzie was the main carpenter, Tom Moore Sr. and Tom "Ted" Richmond were the leaders in the building of the church; supervisor was William "Bill" Clippa. The Minister was the newly ordained Rev. Norman Rawson. The official opening was held February 7, 1921.
1924
SRF DISTRICT BOARD OF TRADE
The Smooth Rock Falls and District Board of Trade came into being on March 24th. They carried on a variety of work such as colonization, improving of mail service, education and development of roads. In the late 1920’s their priority in road development was the highway between Cochrane and Kapuskasing.
1925
TRUNK ROAD
Work started on the trunk road from North Bay which would eventually link Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario.
DELL HANSEN
Dell Hansen (of Timmins) teaches the class at the old Smooth Rock Falls school.
1927
ROYAL BANK
On July 20, 1927 the Royal Bank opened a branch in Smooth Rock Falls. It was situated in a portion of the old main office building up at the Mill (Abitibi). First manager: Ross A. Edwards, 1927-1930.
1928
BUILDING THE ROAD
The road between Kapuskasing and Smooth Rock Falls has been graded as far as Strickland. This leaves only eight miles to complete between Smooth Rock and Strickland.
1929
SRF INCORPORATION
TOWN OF SRF 1928-1930
Townsite sketched from Abitibi drawings courtesy of Malette Kraft Pulp & Power.
Sketched by Carl P. Lloyd in Feb. 1991 (not to scale).
April 30, 1929 is the date of original incorporation of the town of SRF. The population of the townsite was 1,031.
ELECTIONS
On May 30, 1929 nominations were held. 12 people were nominated, 6 declined. On May 31, 1929 the following were elected by acclamation:
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Mayor: Claude Bolton;
Councillors (6) = Louis J. Gagnon; Elior Houle; Joseph Eugene (Alphonse) Lacombe; William Albert “Bert” Plant; Horace Edwin Ruwald; Charles Valiquette.
Acting Town Clerk: William Horace “Bill” Killaby.
FERGUSON HIGHWAY
Official opening of the Ferguson Highway [later called Hwy 11], Driftwood to Smooth Rock Falls, took place on Saturday, July 20, 1929. Completion of this portion was the final link in a trunk road, connecting Cochrane, Smooth Rock Falls and Kapuskasing. The ceremony was held at the Driftwood River.
BY-LAW #35
On Nov 15, 1929 by-law #35 was passed to prohibit sleigh riding and driving of dog teams on the sidewalks.
THE CONNECTING LINK
“Temporary” arrangements were made with Dept. of Highways to use the mill’s dam as a connecting link on the Trans Canada highway system. This temporary arrangement lasted 27 years.
TEMPORARY STREET LIGHTING SCHEME
Certain veranda lights of houses recommended as being properly located, to be placed on a meter and allowance to all those burning lights for this purpose, be made on the basis of this meter reading. This method of street lighting was chosen as the cost of a permanent street lighting system was considered too big a cost for the present. This method of street lighting often proved to be ineffective as occupants of these "selected" houses often forgot to turn their lights on or to replace burned out light bulbs.Poles were placed for the lighting of the street to the Roman Catholic Church. That same year there was also a request for street lights for French town.
COLQUHOUN TOWNSHIP
B: 1892, Poland
D: July 28, 1975, Cochrane, ON.
He is buried in the SRF Cemetery.
Joe came to Canada in the 1920s. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 305, S.R. Falls.
"BIG JOE" JOZEF WIERBOWSKI
FIRST COUNCIL MEETING
On June 5, 1929 the first council meeting of the Corporation of the Town of Smooth Rock Falls was held in the old Separate School building. (Area of 141 Fifth Street).