My second day in Sault Ste. Marie found me revisiting somewhere I had been before and also checking out the hiking trails somewhere new.
The Sault Ste. Marie canal (on the Canadian side of the St. Mary’s River) is a National Historic Site. Built in 1895, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal was the world’s longest lock, the first to operate using electricity and the last link in an all-Canadian navigational chain from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior. The lock is 77 metres long by 15.5 metres wide with a minimum 3 metres draft. Today this lock operates for recreational and pleasure craft and the Soo Locks (on the American side of the river) handles all the freighter ships.
This emergency swing dam was made in Montréal in 1895. It is the only structure of its type to have been used in an emergency situation. In 1909, a ship crashed into one of the lock gates causing a rush of water from Lake Superior to flood into the canal. The Emergency Swing Dam was swung across the canal, greatly reducing the flow of water and enabling the workers to regain control of the situation. Only nine emergency swing dams were constructed worldwide and it is now the only Emergency Swing Dam of its kind remaining in the world.
This elegant family home was completed in 1897 to provide on-site living accommodations for the canal’s Superintending Engineer (who was expected to be on call 24 hours a day) and family. A total of seven families resided in this home from 1897 to 1981.
Completed in 1896, the office building was fabricated of red sandstone, excavated during the canal’s construction. Its purposes were to house all administrative functions for the canal and to convey a strong federal government presence in Sault Ste. Marie with its distinct architectural style.
Completed in 1906, the Canalman’s Shelter provided a workspace for the crewmen of the canal.
These six small buildings were constructed in 1895 to enclose the lock gate and sluice valve screw machines. Today the downstream end of the recreational lock is still operated by the original machinery from 1895 - only the electric motors were upgraded when the canal transitioned from direct current to alternating current in 1943.
The Attikamek and Whitefish Island Trails take you from the canal to south St. Mary’s Island and Whitefish Island. Here you can lose yourself in the wonder of quiet woods and wetlands as you wind your way to the St. Mary’s rapids. A part of the trail also takes you underneath the International Bridge, the border crossing to the United States, built in 1962.
Whitefish Island Reserve is a territory of the Batchawana First Nation. Two treaties, the 1850 Robinson Huron and the 1859 Pennefather, specifically retained Whitefish Island and the small islands used as fishing stations for its benefit and use. The location of the 22 acres island was significant to the Anishinaabe, both as a place for fishing and as a travel route between Lakes Huron and Superior. There was continuous occupation of the island until 1905 when the Anishinaabe families living on the island were removed because of the land expropriations and the Indian Burial Ground grave sites were relocated to areas in Sault Ste. Marie. In 1980 Batchawana First Nation issued a land claim with the Federal Government seeking return of the island to reserve status. After a long battle the island was returned to the Batchawana First Nation in 1998.
Today I also went to Hiawatha Highlands Conservation Area, located northeast of the city. The highlands offer magnificent scenery including breathtaking waterfalls and 35 kms of nature trails. Within the conservation area, Crystal Creek races downhill for about 40 metres in a sloped, narrow spillway to finally fall into a still, dark pool. Add to all that the gorgeous colours at this time of year and I could have spent hours here!
Lower down on Crystal Creek is Minne-Ha-Ha Falls, the name taken from Hiawatha’s bride. It means ‘laughing water’.
My Aunt and Uncle decided that I needed a Thanksgiving dinner so they cooked up an amazing one for me!! Rack of lamb, roast potatoes and squash…with homemade pumpkin pie (and the filling did NOT come from a can!) and homemade ice cream!!
And it just keeps getting better because I was sent on my way with a small pumpkin pie for my travels.
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