KAGAWONG—This year’s History Day in Kagawong began with the toe-tapping tunes of the Manitoulin Swing Band, effectively setting the mood for a nostalgic 100-year stroll through Kagawong’s history.
Old movies began to roll on a projector, and the musical accompaniment gave the feeling of the silent movies of the 1920s, some of the movie reels, provided by the Lamb family, were about that old. After giving recognition to the Manitoulin Swing Band, with member Jim Smith introducing his bandmates, some of whom date back to its 1947 origins, museum curator Rick Nelson began his presentation.
“I don’t know how you follow the Manitoulin Swing Band,” Mr. Nelson said. After a brief pause, the face of Ontario Premier Doug Ford sprang onto the screen, much to the surprise of the audience. “Well, let’s find out what the Premier has to say.”
“I want to give a big shout out to the folks from Manitoulin Island as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Kagawong Pulp Mill Power Plant. What a historic milestone, a whole century, it’s really incredible. I want to thank you for your dedication to preserving and protecting our history and supporting jobs and industry in Northern Ontario, because that’s what makes Manitoulin Island the special place it is today,” the Premier said in his pre-recorded video.
“I’ve got 842 slides,” Mr. Nelson began, as he laid out what to expect in the program. He was kidding, of course, though he did intend to cover 100 years in slides, so they did add up. He began with a series of photographs of Kagawong, the town and its streets, before 1925, to provide some perspective. While showing these slides, Mr. Nelson implored the audience to identify any of the people they might know, those who perhaps were grandparents and great grandparents of those in attendance.
“So, around 1925 there was an outfit out of Wisconsin – the pulp and paper mill of Fox River – that decided there was money to be made on Manitoulin Island. They could harvest the spruce on the island, and they hired local contractors to come in and build what is now the Old Mill,” Mr. Nelson said. He then went on to explain the process, accompanied by photographs. “It was one of the most amazing, mechanical engineering jobs of the early 20th century,” he said, as it harnessed the energy of the water from Lake Kagawong, carried to the mill by a .5-kilometre-long barrel-stave (or penstock) to power the machinery. The pulp mill only ran for about five years, he explained. The depression set in, and then the mill went dormant. Eventually, the building was used to provide electricity for all of Manitoulin Island up until 1961 when the same water power drove a power plant turbine and generator. But, as time marched on, the building was abandoned, and dilapidated. In time, it was gutted, the interior being repurposed to be used for card parties, weddings and other events. It was even used, briefly as a recording studio, when an Ojibwe Cultural Foundation festival was taking place in M’Chigeeng. Some professional musicians were contracted to put out an album in time for the festival, and they set up in the Old Mill to get it done. Mr. Nelson learned of this only after the book, Kagawong Old Mill Celebrating 100 Years, was published, but it did give him an opportunity to give the book a plug in the telling of it.
A brief intermission followed, and the hall erupted with laughter and conversation. The packed house of the afternoon was filled with community members quite used to being entertained and edified all at once, and there was anticipation for what was to follow.
Steve Paikin, former TVO host of the Agenda, was asked to lead a panel with three local historians and Rick Nelson resumed his post at the podium to introduce the illustrious guest. After several minutes of introduction, Mr. Paikin interjected, “Rick, this isn’t cutting into our time, is it?” to much laughter and applause. He also stated, “It’s an interesting thing, when I hosted the Agenda for 19 years, for seven and a half of those years, Doug Ford was the premier of Ontario. I tried all the time to get Doug to come on and he never would, but Rick Nelson got him for this?”
Mr. Paikin began by having each panel member introduce themselves. Dianne Fraser, second chair of the Museum Committee, Candy Tracy, historian of the Billings community and the Old Mill, and Lois Linley, an original member of the Kagawong Historical Society.
“What motivated everyone to start an historical society in the first place?” was Mr. Paikin’s first question to the group. “The historical society wasn’t started till ’89, November 30, 1989” Lois Linley explained. And its mission was to make people aware of the riches of the Island. “Was that not happening before you started the society?” Mr. Paikin asked.
“Somewhat, but there wasn’t any real society that got people together,” Ms. Linley said.
Through Mr. Paikin’s questions and the panel’s answers, the audience learned there was never a consideration to tear the building down. Many families thought it would make a great community centre. “In the 1990s an industrious group of people had decided to renovate and repurpose the building as a community hall,” Diane Fraser explained. “So, they put in new windows and new doors, and it was used as a hall. By the time our historical committee came into being, that had already been done.” The plan was to divide the space so that historical information could be provided, dividers were built and used not only to divide the space but to post historical facts. “We also left enough space so that we could have a new exhibit each year, because, if you’re going to have people come back you need to change things up,” Ms. Fraser said.
Ms. Linley spoke of the initial challenges for the historical society, in terms of setting up the museum. The main building was still used jointly with the community for other events. Concerning the post office, “Our first step was to move it log by log and reassemble it.” It had been the former Spring Bay pioneer Post Office donated to the Kagawong Historical Society in 1992. It was relocated to Kagawong by the Historical Society in October 1993. Once used as a homestead, it was moved to the Old Mill Heritage Site in 2008.
“Candy, what do you think of the job Rick Nelson does now?” Mr. Paikin asked.
“He’s terrific,” was Ms. Tracy’s immediate response. The History Day in Kagawong was the brainchild of Mr. Nelson. Started in 2009, it has grown from a small audience in the museum to downstairs in the Park Centre, moving upstairs as the audience grew annually, and now needing two presentations, afternoon and evening, as the popularity of the event continues to increase its numbers.
“In the midst of all the efforts, to make all of this happen, you must sit back and say to yourself, ‘Aha, we’ve got it now,’” Mr. Paikin said.
“No,” Ms. Linley answered, emphatically, to audience laughter. “Because history is ongoing.”
Memorable displays were touched upon – the teddy bears at Christmas and the wedding gown display that went on for years. The Governor General Award nomination in 2023 was also mentioned. “We were very surprised and honoured by the nomination.” Ms. Fraser said. “It was validation for all the volunteers through the years, and, though we didn’t win, we were shortlisted and that’s from all across Canada.” The audience applauded.
“A hundred years in the rear-view mirror, what’s still to come?” Mr. Paikin asked.
“There’s a lot of history that still needs to be discovered,” Ms. Linley said.
“I’m hoping to see the era of the hydro line crews of the 1950s highlighted. There were so many hydro crew families in Kagawong,” said Ms. Tracy.
“We want to finish the Mariners Park we’ve begun,” said Ms. Fraser. “The marine history is also so important here.”
In the evening event, thank you gifts were given out to members of the Manitoulin Swing Band and the guest panel. Michael Hunt, councillor for Billings Township and chair of the Billings Museum Committee also presented Steve Paikin, host of the panel, with a canvas photo of the Old Mill Heritage building.
Dianne Fraser paid tribute to Mr. Nelson and in doing so said, “Rick, as part of the committee and a Star Trek and Star Wars fan, helped take the history of Billings Township and Manitoulin Island where no one had gone before in this Old Mill building. A few examples: Recreating the Lester B. Pearson Library with artifacts from the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa, The Daniel Dodge Story, The Wreck of the North Wind, Harbour Island and Berry Boats to name a few.”
“Rick’s interest and respect for Veterans is shown by the Military Room and as Chair of the Kagawong Cenotaph Board. In 2024, the Billings Museum Committee with Rick at the lead, displayed the Banners of Billings Veterans on hydro poles throughout the Village of Kagawong.”
“Thank you, Rick. “Live long and prosper, may the force be with you. Rick, please come forward to receive tokens of the Billings Museum Committee’s appreciation for all you have done to share the rich heritage of Billings, Manitoulin and beyond.”
Mr. Nelson was presented with a Craig Jackson framed photograph of the Old Mill Heritage Building. The audience showed their appreciation, and the band played on.
History Day in Kagawong is so much more than its title reveals. History is brought to life, is revered, in some cases laughed about, but most importantly, is remembered. Check out the Old Mill Heritage Museum, open seven days a week June through September, 10 am to 5 pm and, while there, be sure to pick up the book ‘Kagawong Old Mill Celebrating 100 Years.’
by Margery Frisch