Nipigon in Thunder Bay District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

St. Sylvester's Mission Church

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2024

1. St. Sylvester's Mission Church Marker

Inscription.
This Jesuit mission, initially called OPOO-GAN-ASIN (Pipestone) was established in 1852 and the first Mass was celebrated on February 29 in the Hudson’s Bay Company barn. Located on an old fur trade route, the Lake Helen area has often been the scene of great activity, particularly during the construction of the transcontinental railway. Father Joseph Hebert, (NATAINBOW — leader) built the priest’s house in 1878 and Father D. Duranquet, (WAIASHTESTKANG — gives light) directed parishioners in the erection of the church completed two years later. The original bell brought to Lake Helen by Delaronde was blessed by Rev. Joseph Specht SJM Oct. 7, 1880.

Erected by The Red Rock Indian Band with the assistance of the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.

Location. 49° 2.248′ N, 88° 14.961′ W. Marker is in Nipigon, Ontario, in Thunder Bay District. It is on Trans-Canada Highway (Provincial Highway 11) 2 kilometers north of Trans-Canada Highway (Provincial Highway 17), on the right when traveling north. The

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker is located on the church grounds, about 25 meters south of the church, and in front of the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 Trans-Canada Highway, Nipigon ON P0T 2J0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Ontario

and specifically in Northwest Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on Lake Superior’s North Shore,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A solitary path / Un chemin solitaire (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Consolidated School (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); The Old Nipigon CP Railway Station (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); In Tribute to John Salo (approx. 2.7 kilometers away); Lest We Forget (approx. 2.7 kilometers away); Nipigon Service Garage / Palace Theatre (approx. 2.7 kilometers away); The Nipigon River Drives (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); The Taylor House (approx. 2.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nipigon.

More about this marker. Both sides of this marker have the same English inscription.

Also see . . .
1. Saint Sylvester's Church (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Saint Sylvester's Church is a Jesuit Mission on the Red Rock Indian Band on section Lake Helen 53A. Duranquette started building the mission church in 1875; it was completed in 1877. The Church was built using hewn logs cut from the nearby forest. The work was done by the local Indians and the Priest and who ever
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2024

2. St. Sylvester's Mission Church Marker
Looking north across the church grounds; the cemetery is on the right.
was able to donate his time. Also, at the same time the brass bell was erected in the belfry. The bell was donated by the family of Louis Denys Delaronde an Ojibwe-French fur trader from Parmechene. As of 2021, the church is considered a mission of Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Nipigon and is still used during the summer. It is part of the diocese of Thunder Bay.

(Submitted on August 27, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. St. Sylvester Catholic Church.

Excerpt: Jesuit Brothers decided to have this church built along their water route, which served as a rest stop before going to the Jesuit Missions at Gull Bay, White Sand, Nipigon House, Grand Bay and McIntre Bay on Lake Nipigon. The first recorded burial was October 3rd 1880. The graveyard is adjacent to the church and people are still buried there to this day.

(Submitted on August 27, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

St. Sylvester Mission Church Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2024

3. St. Sylvester Mission Church Cemetery

Looking east from the marker.

St. Sylvester's Mission Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 14, 2024

4. St. Sylvester's Mission Church

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 385 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.