Fort Frances in Rainy River District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Lac La Pluie House
⎯⎯⎯
La Maison du lac la Pluie

1818-1903

Lac La Pluie House (<i>marker north side • English</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

1. Lac La Pluie House (marker north side • English)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] The Hudson's Bay Company established Lac La Pluie House on this site to compete for furs with the North West Company's Fort Lac La Pluie. After the two companies merged in 1821, only Lac La Pluie House continued in operation. It was renamed Fort Frances in 1830 after a visit by HBC Governor Sir George Simpson and Lady Frances Simpson. The post traded with local Ojibwa for furs, wild rice, and isinglass (obtained from sturgeon). An important supply depot for expeditions travelling to the West and for early settlers in the district, Fort Frances became a Hudson's Bay Company store in 1898 and was destroyed by fire in 1903.

[Français] La Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson ouvre ici la Maison du La Pluie dans le but de rivaliser avec la Compagnie du Nord-Ouest qui exerce le commerce des fourrures a son Fort du lac la Pluie. Après la fusion des deux compangies, en 1821, seule la Maison du lac la Pluie reste ouverte. En 1830, elle est rebaptisé Fort Frances après une visite du gouverneur de la compagnie, Sir George Simpson, et de Lady Frances Simpson. Le poste négocie avec les Ojibwa la fourrure, le riz sauvage et l'ichtyocolle (tirée de l'esturgeon). Important point de ravitaillement pour les expéditions se dirigeant vers l'Ouest et pour les premiers colons de la région, le fort Frances devient, in 1898, l’un des magasins de la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson. Il est détruit par un incendie en 1903.

Erected by Ontario

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Heritage Foundation / Fondation du patrimoine ontarien.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.

Location. 48° 36.742′ N, 93° 24.296′ W. Marker is in Fort Frances, Ontario, in Rainy River District. It is at the intersection of 3rd Street West (Trans-Canada Highway) (Provincial Highway 11) and Cornwall Avenue, on the right when traveling east on 3rd Street West (Trans-Canada Highway). The marker is located near the southeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165 3rd Street West, Fort Frances ON P9A 3A3, 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,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself

La Maison du lac la Pluie (<i>marker south side • Français</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

2. La Maison du lac la Pluie (marker south side • Français)

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 walking distance of this marker: Lady Frances Ramsay Simpson (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Old Fort Frances Cemetery Reinterment Site (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Fort Frances Canal 1878 (approx. half a kilometer away); Bronko Nagurski (approx. one kilometer away in the U.S.); Route of the Voyageurs (approx. one kilometer away in the U.S.); Welcome to Smokey Bear Park (approx. 1.1 kilometers away in the U.S.); Steamboats on the Rainy River / Welcome to Minnesota (approx. 1.2 kilometers away in the U.S.); The Village of Koochiching & International Falls (approx. 1.2 kilometers away in the U.S.). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Frances.

Also see . . . Fort Lac la Pluie (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Fort Lac la Pluie was a fur trade depot established by the North West Company sometime between 1775 and 1787. It was located on a high bank on the west side of modern Fort Frances, Ontario across from International Falls, Minnesota
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

3. Lac La Pluie House / La Maison du lac la Pluie Marker
Looking south across 3rd Street West; the marker is beside the tallest pine tree.
on the Rainy River downstream (west) of some rapids (Chaudière portage) where the river flows out of Rainy Lake.
The place was a depot rather than a trading post and served two purposes. By this time the trade had reached the rich Lake Athabasca country which was too far to reach from Montreal in one season. Each May, when the ice broke up, boats with trade goods would head west from Montreal and winterers with canoe-loads of fur would head east. They would meet at Grand Portage on Lake Superior, exchange goods and head back before the freezup. To further save time goods and furs would be shuttled between Grand Portage and Lac la Pluie. Second, it was a source of food. The voyageurs had no time to hunt and it was difficult to haul food from Montreal. Rainy Lake produced wild rice and fish.

(Submitted on November 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Lac La Pluie House / La Maison du lac la Pluie Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2024

4. Lac La Pluie House / La Maison du lac la Pluie Marker

Looking northeast; 3rd Street West is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 152 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Lac La Pluie House⎯⎯⎯La Maison du lac la Pluie

1818-1903

Lac La Pluie House
⎯⎯⎯
La Maison du lac la Pluie