THE WESLEMKOON ALLIGATOR
The accompanying photo is of the alligator, The Weslemkoon (meaning bank beaver), that was employed to tow logs on Lake Weslemkoon during the 1890’s. It is a photograph taken during a picnic as the craft was travelling from Weslemkoon down the Mississippi branch of the Madawaska River past McArthur’s Mills to the Conroy Marsh. The photo was taken just below McArthur’s Mills. I discovered the photo while doing some research for my book “the Algonquin Centennial Series” which celebrated Algonquin Park’s 100th anniversary. It had been submitted by Mrs. Frank Slater.
Seeing this photo inspired Henry Taylor to call and tell me all about this boat. Henry loves to chuckle when he says that there aren’t many people around who can dispute his stories. And his daughter-in-law Betty likes to say that his stories are always consistent.
And so, here is the story of the Weslemkoon, according to Henry Taylor.
The Weslemkoon was built on the ice in 1897 so that it would be ready for the spring break-up. The loggers drew the timber by horse. Henry’s older brother Jim was 16 years old when this took place. To start the drive the Weslemkoon winched itself across the road at McArthur’s Mills and proceeded to drive logs down the Mississippi to the Conroy Marsh which was in flood at the time.
At Loney’s Chute the men used two big block and tackles, in addition to the boat’s own winch and skidded the Weslemkoon over the steep portage. Men had to cut limbs off the trees that were overhanging the river or they would hit the pilot house and smokestack.
At Loney’s Chutes the logs were boomed and towed across the Conroy some 10 miles to the Palmer Dam. If it was necessary to reverse the boat a cable was run under the boat between the two keels and hooked to a tree. When activated the winch pulled the boat backwards.
The Weslemkoon last worked the Mississippi in 1917 for the Rathburn Company. McCrae then purchased it for use in Algonquin Park.
On a much smaller scale Henry went on to describe how his father would paddle his birch bark canoe to the saw mill at McArthur’s and trade a bear skin for lumber. Henry’s dad would make a raft of the lumber, put the canoe on the raft and float home. With much work a birch bark canoe could be constructed in 3-4 days and it would outlast a canvas covered canoe if good care was exercised. You can’t build the same canoe today for, as Henry says, you can’t find a tree with one piece of birch bark that will make a canoe.
AND FINALLY….Macho Man – Stateside
A would be knife thief shoplifted 5 kitchen knives and stuffed them in his belt under his shirt. Confronted by security a scuffle broke out.
“Ooooh, oooh, ouch, ouch”.
He was rushed to hospital for emergency care.
Later he was charged with attempting to steal the knives and practicing surgery without a licence.