7 July 1960

Evening with Jim Crackel brings out interesting facts on local History.

The presentation was in connection with the dedication of a set of Encyclopedia
Britannica to the High School in the name of Mr. J. A Crackel, one of Rainy 
River's oldest established citizens.  Encyclopedia Britannica of Canada Ltd.
donated the books.  What was supposed to be an interview of Mr. Crackel's life
in Rainy River turned out to be an interesting chapter in the town's own history.
It is printed here for the enjoyment of those unable to attend the Awards night.

"On behalf of the students I wish to thank the Encyclopedia Britannica for their 
gift and add our thanks to Mr. J. A. Crackel for his many years of community 
activities."

Mr. Crackel was born in Shallow Lake and lived in Fort Frances before coming here
by river boat in 1900 with his father to help build the C.N.R. bridge.  Since then 
Mr. Crackel has kept in close contact with the affairs of the town and is well 
acquainted with its history.  In interviewing Mr. Crackel, I realized how little the
students and even some of the adults knew about the early days in rainy River.

Beaver Mills, as the town was then called, was located near the present Customs
offices at the bridge.  This was the scene of the Hughes and Long Sawmill from 
Bemidji, brought overland from the Rapid River in 1896.  This was later sold to
the Cameron family of Kenora and became known as the Rat Portage Lumber Co.  In
1903 the Rainy River Lumber Co.  Was managed by George Parker and J.A. Matieu and
employed about 200 men and produced approximately 300,000 board feet of lumber a day.
In 1903, Mr. Crackel and Gene Karaim worked together at the sorting table.  Other
employees were Albert Bourgeois and George Gruchy, who was on the receiving end of
the gang saw.

In the early stages of Rainy River's development there were a number of hotels: 
Lynches, the Commercial Hotel (recognized only as the mad house), Connors Hotel,
the King Edward (located north of Atkins lumber yard), and Harry Green's Hotel (at
the site of the present Legion building).  Because of the increase in population 
during the summer months, these hotels were full, as well many private homes became
boarding houses for the workers.  During the winter it was almost a ghost town.  At
its peak, the population of Rainy River reached approximately 2,800 - 3,000 people.

In Pinewood in 1898 there was an uprising of the Indians from Brule Island on Lake
of the Woods.  It was considered so serious that American troops were brought up from
Duluth to quell the disturbance.

The homes at this time were houses built for the mill employees, almost entirely of
wood.  Meyer's home, originally the Northern navigation Office, is one of the oldest
houses in town, built with 8" drop siding instead of 6". Due to creosote and faulty
stoves at least ten fires were common each season.

The first school was a log building built on the site of the present day Power Plant.
It was not until 1905 that Alexander School was built and named for Queen Alexander 
the wife of Edward VII.  The first teacher was Miss Hay from Lyons Head, Ont., who 
stayed with the Crackel family.  She was followed by a red head, Miss. Bell, who 
married the son of the local postmaster.  Still later came Mr. Gormanely.  Mr. Crackel
remembers one of his teachers, an elderly lady of 50, who burnt to death during a fire.

The Catholic Church was the first built in Rainy River on the river bank approximately
opposite Martin's (GUS) lumber yard. Its first priest was ST. Amant, who died only 
recently in St. Boniface at the age of 86 years.  It was he who brought the French
settlers from Quebec to populate Pinewood.

In 1896 Rev. Johnson founded the Anglican Sioux Mission between Barwick and Stratton.
In 1903 the Methodist church was built, and is now used as the Rebekah Hall.  The 
Presbyterian Church was built in 1905 at the site of the present United Church.

The first cemetery was located on the Baudette side of the river opposite the Catholic
Church.  In 1904 land was bough for a cemetery here.  This was considered a bad 
investment because it was too large.  The town was expected to expand in that direction
and no one wanted it in the centre of the town.  Beside Rainy River was a healthy part 
of the country.  The cemetery lay unused for six months. It was rumoured that the town
council killed a stranger with an axe one night, to become its first occupant.
It has been used regularly every since.

In 1902 the Rainy River Lumber Co. built a General Store were Percy Parker now lives 
(1st Street) and in 1904 the Robert Block was built containing a jeweler store, a bank,
a dance hall, and Masonic Chambers.  In 1905 McQuarrie and Grimshaw moved their store 
from the river bank to main street (This in now the liquor store (corner of 4th and ??
Ave.)).  In the same year the Binder Block was built on the opposite corner, then called 
"the Busy Corner".  In 1906, Calvert bought out the other drug store and began taking 
Doctors out on the lake in a sailboat (containing an emergency one cylinder gasoline
engine).  The town Hall was built in 1909. The first theatre was The Empire, run by the
Blackmore Bros.  Built in 1909 near the Legion it showed silent movies.  Mr. Crackel 
recalls the first talking picture in 1915 that used record for the sound.  Other 
entertainment was Indian pow-wows, on the river bank, and medicine shows with from 500
to 600 people attending.

Rainy River progress steadily acquiring sidewalks, water works and a telephone exchange.
Mr. Crackel mentioned that his brother Frank was one of the telephone operators at one
time.

Rainy River was not without it's share of crime.  In 1940 three men held up the Bank of 
Nova Scotia and stole $10,000, which was never recovered although one of the posse was
shot in the leg during the chase.  The first jail was built where Frank's Tailor Shop
now stands (corner 5th street and ?? Ave.).  It was built of 2x6's laid flat, and 
boulders beneath the floor discouraged escape.  The boulders are now at the ferry 
landing to prevent erosion.

In 1905, Mr. Crackel's father worked as a car inspector and road repairman for the 
C.N.R. and Mr. Crackel himself was the "callboy" (used to notify running crew when to 
report for work)at the station.  At this time there were 30-35 crews operating east and
25 crews going west.  H.G. Gorman was the first roundhouse foreman.  There were 50 men 
employed in both the roundhouse and the rip tracks.  Since then diesels have cut down 
the traffic from 67 cars per train to about 167.

Friday, Oct. 7th 1910 it hadn't rained for weeks and a bush fire occurred.  This 
quickly spread and burnt out the R.R. lumber Co., the saw mill and the entire area, 
going all the way to Rouseau, Minnesota.  It is reported that 34 were buried in one
grave.  This perhaps marked the first decline of the town. The second was the closing
of the C.N.R shops (early 1960's).

Rainy River has enjoyed many sports.  The present curling rink is the fourth, the first 
being built in 1904 in the fair grounds.  It was burnt and replaced by one near the 
creamery followed by a third built beside the Alexander School (this is the only one 
I remember in the 1950's).

Rainy River has also had a baseball team, and a lacrosse league.  In 1913 there was
an active football team made up of mainly Scotsmen wearing uniforms identical to 
the ones worn by the Sing-Sing prison team.

During the first World War, Mr. Crackel was a sapper with the Canadian Engineers.
He also cooked for 2000 men and claims never to have lost a man.

The Depression had a great effect upon Rainy River.  It was caused by the 25 Nov.
1929 crash of the New York stocks.  But the real responsibility was placed on a
local citizen who painted his own house instead of hiring a painter.

Work was scarce and wages were low.  Tamarack wood was selling for $2.25 a cord 
(128 ft3), butter and tea were 40¢ per pound, and sugar was 22 pounds for 1$.  
Beef sold for 6¢ a pound and pork between 8 and 10¢ per pound.  Dan Ewald 
(local dairyman) was selling milk for 20 quarts per 1$.  In the summer kids went
barefoot by necessity.  Students bought their own books, a slate, reader and 
perhaps two pencils per year. 

Mr. Crackel remarks that, "These were not the good old days.
                        The good old days are now."