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Town of Smooth Rock Falls |
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The North’s Biggest Little Town |
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History |
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Contact Us:
Corporation of the Town of Smooth Rock Falls 142 First Avenue Smooth Rock Falls, ON P0L 2B0
Phone: (705) 338-2717 Fax: (705) 338-2584 E-mail: francine.lévesque@townsrf.ca |
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For more on our history, visit the Centre du patrimoine de Smooth Rock Falls Heritage Centre Société historique de Smooth Rock Falls Historical Society P.O. Box 47, 45 Third Avenue, Smooth Rock Falls, ON P0L 2B0 c/o Sheila Jacques: 705-338-2939
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Privately owned by the local mill (Mattagami Pulp & Paper, Abitibi, Malette, and Tembec). The rail line was cleared in 1915 and a year later track was laid and put into use. It was incorporated in 1927. It is approximately 3 miles long and meets up with the main ONR line (previously the CNR). In the early years passengers traveled in boxcars. In 1927, a horse drawn trolley was added. |
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The trolley was a wooden boxcar. It had a door, window and wooden benches that could accommodate 10 passengers. Travelers were conveyed to and from S.R. Falls and the Smooth Rock Falls Junction via this horse drawn trolley that traveled on the rails. It was dubbed the “Toonerville Trolley.” The horse developed a funny gait from walking between the ties. Later a passenger car was purchased. Passenger service terminated on May 1, 1966. This railroad line was still in use until 2006. |
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For Railroad Buffs Mattagami Railroad -- Claim to fame: North America’s Shortest, Chartered, Standard Gauge Railway. |
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For Train Buffs Engine #100 - It stands in town at the intersection of Fourth Street and Hollywood Avenue. Inscription on the plaque: “This 2-6-0 steam locomotive No. 100 serial No. 55116 was designed by the American Locomotive Company and built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1915 for the Greater Winnipeg Water Works. |
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It was obtained by the Mattagami Pulp and Paper Company in the early 1920’s, and operated as a main unit until 1951 when it was replaced by a Diesel Electric Locomotive. It was maintained and operated as an auxiliary unit until 1966. This locomotive was presented to the Town of Smooth Rock Falls by the Mattagami Railroad Company in permanent commemoration of the Centennial of Confederation in Canada in 1967. This plaque was placed by the Town of Smooth Rock Falls in appreciation of the gift and was unveiled by Mayor A. Roberts in the 100th year of Confederation.” |
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For Church Buffs For those who are interested in small town churches, there is Trinity United Church, 45 Third Avenue, Smooth Rock Falls. The main part of the church was built by volunteer labour in 1920. The official opening was held on February 7, 1921. In 1951 a basement was built and the older section placed on the foundation. At this time they added the narthex and steeple. In 1960 a beautiful stained glass window was installed. September 2007: This church was closed and the building transferred to the Smooth Rock Falls Economic Development Corporation. It is now named Centre du patrimoine Smooth Rock Falls Heritage Centre. It houses a small museum operated by the Smooth Rock Falls Historical Society. They have a growing collection of memorabilia, records and artefacts. The building also has a meeting hall in the basement. |
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Canadian Stamp Portrays Abitibi Mill in Smooth Rock Falls |
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The Abitibi Power and Paper Company mill at Smooth Rock Falls was the model for a new Canadian 20-cent postage stamp that went on sale in April 1952. The stamp design was the work of Alan L. Pollack, Toronto advertising artist. The stamp is steel blue in color and shows a pine tree and a paper mill superimposed on a scroll of newsprint. |
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Large Canadian Roadside Attractions |
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A statue of a full-sized moose stands proudly in front of the Moose Motel, 226 Hwy 11.The sculptor is Denys Heppell of Québec http://www.sculpturedenysheppell.com/. This statue was purchased in 1988 by Roland & Ida Cloutier, the then owners of the Moose Motel (1984-1991). Since 1999 the owners of the Moose and the Moose Motel are Jean-Claude Nole and his wife Lorraine (Bourke).
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The “Mighty” Mattagami River Mattagami - A word that means “where the waters meet”. The Mattagami River flows from Mattagami Lake in Gouin Twp., Sudbury District. It is a tributary to and entering into the Moose River in Gardiner Twp., District of Cochrane |
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- The River Drive: In past years the Mattagami River was the vehicle used to float millions of logs downstream to the mill in Smooth Rock Falls. Wood would be piled on the river ice waiting for spring breakup. Many tourists stopped at the Mattagami River Bridge in Smooth Rock Falls to photograph the logs that lay like a brown carpet over the river, from shore to shore, as far south as the eye could see. |
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- Canoe Trips: Once a popular river trip for avid canoeists, they would travel north from Smooth Rock Falls to James Bay, approximately 204 miles. Some of the many obstacles were the Fish Rapids, Cypress Falls, Devil Rapids, Long Rapids, etc. |
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The Dam -- Mattagami River |
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In 1916, the Mattagami Pulp and Paper Company began construction on their dam and mill which were completed in 1917. In 1929 the dam was used as a temporary connecting link for the Trans Continental Highway. Transports found it very difficult to negotiate the narrow dam as there was a 90-degree turn at the bottom of the hill on the approach to the dam. This temporary arrangement lasted until 1956 when a Bailey Bridge was constructed over the Mattagami River immediately north of the dam. |
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(The Bailey Bridge was in use until the current Highway 11 Mattagami River Bridge was built. It was officially opened on September 23, 1958.) |
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Prisoners of War – Work Camp During the Second World War, prisoners of war from Camp 23 at Monteith, Ontario were brought to the Smooth Rock Falls area (Jacksonboro). These prisoners would be put to work on labour projects in the bush camps up the Mattagami River. At times there were 60-100 P.O.W.s housed at Jacksonboro and in Abitibi’s various bush camps. In the spring, once the river opened and after the ‘river drive’, they would be sent back to Monteith. Unfortunately there is no longer any trace of buildings at Jacksonboro which is just a few miles south of Smooth Rock Falls by river, or by road. Present day use of Jacksonboro is as a boat launch (boathouses).
Fraserdale Highway There is a plaque at the Moose Motel, on the corner of Highway 11 and Dupont Street. The wording on the plaque: “A major extension into the James Bay area. Highway 807 was officially opened by The Hon. John P. Roberts, Q.C., L.L.D., Prime Minister of Ontario, on July 21, 1966. Built by the Ontario Department of Highways, Hon. Charles S. MacNaughton, Minister, and Financed by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, George E. Gathercole, M.A., L.L.D., Chairman, it provides access to Hydro-electric power developments and other rich natural resources of Ontario’s Northland.” Highway 634 was previously known as Highway 807. It provides access to the remote Hydro projects in the James Bay watershed. It presently serves: On the Mattagami River: Smokey Falls Dam and Harmond Dam Little Long Rapids Generating Station Kipling Dam On the Abitibi River: Island Falls Dam The Abitibi Canyon Generating Station Otter Rapids, 23 miles down stream from Abitibi Canyon The road extends approximately 100 miles north of Smooth Rock Falls. It was expected that this new road would be of great interest to tourists. It was also expected that the road would be extended someday to Moosonee on James Bay.
New Post Falls -- Parliament Twp. The Little Abitibi River was diverted into the New Post River so it would fall into the Abitibi River above the Otter Rapids Dam. It falls into the Abitibi River approximately 10 miles North of Abitibi Canyon and it is in about 1/4 mile east of the Abitibi River. This diversion has created a deep and spectacular waterfall, a sight well worth seeing. Abitibi Canyon is accessible by road from Smooth Rock Falls.
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Homing Pigeon Clubs Clubs from Southern Ontario travel through Smooth Rock Falls on their way north on Highway 634. They release their homing pigeons in the Fraserdale area and from there the pigeons fly back to their homes in the South. |
