Thunder Bay in Thunder Bay District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Pigeon River Road
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 15, 2024
1. The Pigeon River Road Marker
This road was constructed to facilitate the transportation of mail between Thunder Bay and Duluth during the winter months when navigation was closed on Lake Superior. Demands for a reliable year-round mail service arose with the development of the Silver Islet Mine in 1870. A temporary mail trail was opened in 1872 before a 38-mile winter road was constructed from Fort William to the Pigeon River by John Carroll in 1873-74. The poorly built road was used by mail couriers until the completion of the C.P.R. to Thunder Bay in 1882. As the area traversed by the road remained sparsely settled, it was little used and much of it was abandoned when the International, or "Scott", Highway (later No. 61) was constructed in 1913-17.
Erected by The Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Recreation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust, and the Postal Mail and Philately series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.
Location. 48° 18.558′ N, 89° 22.386′ W.
this page online
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 Superiors 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 Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Monument from Norway (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Union of the North West and Hudson's Bay Companies (approx. 4.5 kilometers away); Canadian Car & Foundry
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 15, 2024
2. The Pigeon River Road Marker
Looking northeast; Highway 61 is on the right.
More about this marker. Both sides of this marker have the same English inscription.
Also see . . . Ontario Highway 61 (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: King's Highway 61, commonly referred to as Highway 61 and historically known as the Scott Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The 61-kilometre (38 mi) route connects the Pigeon River Bridge, where it crosses into the United States and becomes Minnesota State Highway 61, with a junction at Highway 11, Highway 17 and the Harbour Expressway in Thunder Bay.(Submitted on November 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)The road that would become Highway 61 was first constructed in 1916. The Pigeon River Timber Company had cleared lands surrounding the towns of Port Arthur [Thunder Bay] and Fort William, but no road existed to connect to locations outside. A narrow wilderness trail reached as far as the Pigeon River, and was chosen as the route for the new road.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
