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The Algonquin Provincial Park Archives and Collections (APPAC or “Archives”) is the repository for artifacts of significance to the natural and cultural history of Algonquin Park and is owned by Government of Ontario, with substantial funding and operating assistance from The Friends of Algonquin Park, a registered Canadian charity.
The Archives is dedicated to the education, interpretation, and conservation of Algonquin Park’s heritage. Their mandate seeks to promote knowledge & awareness, spark curiosity, and inspire visitors to develop a deeper connection with the natural and cultural history that surrounds them.
More blogs posts are coming in the weeks ahead, check back again, or follow our social media for updates.
February 12, 2025
A Romantic Winter in Algonquin Park
Winter in Algonquin Park is a magical and romantic season. Fresh snowfall graces the boughs of evergreen trees. Pillars of ice defy gravity. Wind sweeps across frozen lakes and rivers. Snow crunches underfoot. Birds chirp and wings flutter. Snow crystals glitter across the hills. The sentiments we express today about this enchanting season are in many ways similar to those who enjoyed the snow and ice of 100 years ago.
Even honeymooners visited the winter landscape of Algonquin Park. On January 17, 1922, guests attended the wedding of Mr. Alfred William Eustace vanSomeren and Miss Jessie Rogers Crompton at the Brantford Avenue Church in Brantford, Ontario. A newspaper clipping describes the programme of the event, attendees, and the wedding party’s attire. After a reception at the home of the bride’s father, “the bride donned her travelling costume” and “Mr. and Mrs. vanSomeren left to spend a honeymoon at Algonquin Park”.
Image (Left to Right): Portrait of Jessie Rogers Crompton in her wedding attire holding a bouquet; Alfred vanSomeren’s boutonniere made with a rose, now dried to a yellow/orange colour, and green foliage, contained in an envelope with his handwriting “My Wedding Flower Jan. 17th 1922”; portrait of Alfred vanSomeren at age 21, a few years before his wedding day. APPAC, 2022.4.13-15. Donated by Pam Garratt Dunlop on behalf of the vanSomeren Family.
At this time, visitors travelling to Algonquin Park relied on train service on two rail lines which passed through the Park – one in the north and one in the south. The vanSomerens were destined for a stay at the Highland Inn, the largest and perhaps most well-known of Algonquin Park’s lodges. Coming from southern Ontario, the newlyweds travelled from Toronto with the Grand Trunk Railway System, arriving at Algonquin Park Station, Cache Lake on January 18, 1922.
Image: Ticket stubs from the vanSomeren’s travel on the Grand Trunk Railway System from Toronto, Ontario to Algonquin Park, January 17th and return on January 28th, 1922. APPAC, 2022.4.7, 9, 10. Donated by Pam Garratt Dunlop on behalf of the vanSomeren Family.
Built in 1908 by the Grand Trunk Railway System, the Highland Inn was one of only a few that welcomed guests during winter. As part of their marketing to sell Canadians and Americans on a prospective stay at the lodge and travel on their rail cars, The Grand Trunk Railway System produced promotional booklets such as a 1921-1922 issue titled “Enjoy Winter in Ontario Highlands: Algonquin Park Ontario Canada”. This 15-page booklet uses photographs and poetic descriptions to describe the experiences one could expect during their visit and the benefits they could enjoy from the winter destination.
Image: Cover of “Enjoy Winter in Ontario Highlands: Algonquin Park Ontario Canada”, 1921-1922 by the Grand Trunk Railway System. A previous owner has used pen to identify the individuals pictured. APPAC, 1977.9.1.1, From the Collection of Dr. Duncan A. MacLulich, Donated by M.A. Capstick.
At the time of the booklet, the Highland Inn has been recently renovated and could accommodate 150 people with advertised amenities including plumbing, steam heat, and electric light. Rates of stay, with meals for a week, ranged from $30 - $42 per person depending on the style of the room and number of guests. In addition to sleeping rooms, lounging rooms, and the dining room (where “cuisine is a matter of special attention”), guests could enjoy a writing room, billiard room, and music room.
The vanSomerens’ bill for their stay from January 18 to 28, 1922, totaled $115.70. Their receipt shows the rate for their stay, and additional items they purchased including two lunches (perhaps for snowshoe tramps – see below), playing cards, cigarettes, and telegram service. Today, their bill would equal approximately $2,000. At first glance that price does not seem unreasonable for two adults to stay 10 days with meals included. However, we must remember the time period and that the amount of money spent was quite an extravagant purchase.
Image: The Highland Inn bill issued to Mr. and Mrs. vanSomeren for their stay from January 18 to 28, 1922. The paper is stamped Paid. APPAC, 2022.4.11. Donated by Pam Garratt Dunlop on behalf of the vanSomeren Family.
A stay at the Highland Inn was advertised as having all the first-class comforts of hotel service while providing the atmosphere and familiarity of the home. The booklet describes and promotes the benefits of visiting Algonquin Park made possible by staying with their lodge. Emphasis is placed on guests’ enjoyment of a wide range of winter sports for which Canada is well known, and the proposed health benefits of the climate and wilderness. At the time, clean air, thought to be purified by pine and balsam forests, was advised as treatment for tuberculosis patients and widely promoted for encouraging people to experience the outdoors. Promotion for the Highland Inn made sure to state that no cases of tuberculosis would be received, likely hoping to instill a sense of safety in prospective visitors.
Guests interested in wildlife, photography, and social camaraderie found inspiration to visit through descriptions of wildlife encounters, animal tracks, group outings, and social activities. A “testimony” from a Toronto businessman shares how it had been one of his most enjoyable and beneficial holidays, far better in bringing him “back to normal” than travelling to southern destinations: “Not forty-eight hours had passed before I felt the wonderous effect of the air: the scent of the balsam, pine, spruce and hemlock” … I have commenced to show the results of my holiday in ruddy cheeks, sound sleep and increased weight. I could not believe that a week here could possibly work such changes in my health and outlook.”
Image: Guests stand outside the Highland Inn in winter clothing with snowshoes, skis, and poles. “The Return From The Tramp”, in “Enjoy Winter in Ontario Highlands: Algonquin Park Ontario Canada”, 1921-1922. APPAC, 1977.9.1.1, From the Collection of Dr. Duncan A. MacLulich, Donated by M.A. Capstick.
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What winter experiences did the vanSomerens and other guests enjoy during their stay? Both men and women participated in three hour or longer snowshoe tramps wearing sweaters, wool caps, and stocking-filled moccasins. For prospective guests concerned about the cold temperatures, the booklet claimed that “no matter how cold it is, the man with a sweater never suffers discomfort”. Lunch could be enjoyed back at the Inn, or picnic lunches in the forest could be arranged by the hotel manager. Snowshoe excursions even took place at night, and are romantically described in the booklet:
“But at night, with the moonlight that is found alone in the north, the trails across the lakes and around the island beckon irresistibly. The dead silence, the undimmed glamor of the moon, the crisp crunch of the snow under the raquette, the tingle of the frost in the veins, the merry shouts of the line before and behind, are delights to be dreamt of long after the holiday is over.”
Image: A line of guests on snowshoes and skis making their way back to the Highland Inn across the frozen surface of Cache Lake. “Cache Lake – Highland Inn in distance”, in “Enjoy Winter in Ontario Highlands: Algonquin Park Ontario Canada”, 1921-1922. APPAC, 1977.9.1.1, From the Collection of Dr. Duncan A. MacLulich, Donated by M.A. Capstick.
Back at the hotel, thrill seekers could enjoy a toboggan slide with a grade of nearly 150 metres (500 feet) and a total run of about 400 metres (1/4 mile). Cross-country skiers could enjoy several trails designed for various skill levels, including a trail down the slopes of Skymount, known today as the hilltop visited by the Track and Tower Trail. A ski jump was also available, a mere five minutes’ walk from the hotel grounds.
Image: View of the Highland Inn, Winter 1915. The toboggan slide is visible on the far right. At the bottom of the hill below the hotel is Algonquin Park Station and the railroad tracks. APPAC, 1995.1.9, Collection of Harry and Adele Ebbs.
A section of Cache Lake was cleared for ice skating, and guests were requested to bring their own skates. The outfitting store at the Highland Inn provided snowshoes and skis for rental or purchase. A line of winter clothing, including sweaters, coats, moccasins, and toques, was also available for sale.
Ice-fishing was promoted as a recreational activity, a practice that is prohibited in Algonquin Park today as part of its fisheries management. The businessman’s “testimony” describes his success and the large catches which were once permitted in the Park: “We had excellent luck fishing for lake trout through the ice and our trips resulted in thirty-five beauties. It was a novel experience for me, and how good the fried fish, bacon, etc., tasted on the edge of the lake with a big blazing fire to sit beside!”
Image: A man and woman ice-fishing. “Catching Trout Through the Ice”, in “Enjoy Winter in Ontario Highlands: Algonquin Park Ontario Canada”, 1921-1922. APPAC, 1977.9.1.1, From the Collection of Dr. Duncan A. MacLulich, Donated by M.A. Capstick.
At the end of their honeymoon, the vanSomerens made the return journey, this time to the newlyweds’ home in Hamilton, Ontario. A newspaper piece announces the newcomer, Mrs. A. E. W. vanSomeren, being at home for the first time since her marriage. “A large number of callers bade this young bride welcome to the city”. I’m sure she had many stories to tell from her adventures in Algonquin Park; memories that the Grand Trunk Railway System romantically describes:
“Days spent in snowshoe tramps through primitive forests where every leaf and bough bears its weight of glistening crystals, in the breathless flight of the toboggan or ski, and in the ring of steel against the icy covering of some lake, together with evenings spent in social converse in the cosy warmth of an old-fashioned log fire – these slip away unnoticed; but those who have once experienced them return to their avocations with renewed energies with hardened muscles, and a grateful memory of the Park.”
Documents and photographs are two pieces of the puzzle that help us better understand the Park’s history. As the Algonquin Provincial Park Archives & Collections (APPAC) continues to collect and research these items, the stories become richer and fuller. We are able to understand more about the experiences of the vanSomerens and others who visited Algonquin Park.
Interested in visiting Algonquin Park to make your own winter memories? Learn more about visiting Algonquin Park in winter. Also check out Algonquin Park’s Winter in the Wild Festival on February 15, 2025 to celebrate the winter season.
Learn More
Learn more about the Algonquin Provincial Park Archives & Collections
- Explore the online database of photographs, archival records, and artifacts.
- Contact the Collections Coordinator to schedule a research appointment or discuss a donation.
- Read more by purchasing historical publications in The Friends of Algonquin Park’s bookstore.
- Support the Archives with a financial donation via The Friends of Algonquin Park, a Canadian registered charity, to assist us in protecting Algonquin Park's cultural heritage for future generations.
February 3, 2025
Sharing the Collection
When visiting the exhibits at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre or walking the trail at the Algonquin Logging Museum, you see a selection of the artifacts, photographs and records that are held by the Algonquin Provincial Park Archives & Collections (APPAC; “Archives”). But you may wonder, what happens with the remainder of the collection?
Image: Close up of a two-man chainsaw on display at Station 16 of the Algonquin Logging Museum trail. Historical images from APPAC are used to illustrate the interpretive panels.
The majority of the Archives’ artifacts and archival records are catalogued, labelled, and placed in collection storage. This secured space is carefully monitored to ensure the items are preserved for many generations to come.
With only a small portion on display at any one time, the challenge then becomes, how can the Archives share its collection with the public?
One of APPAC’s main goals is to digitize and share the holdings online. The Friends of Algonquin Park funds and hosts the Archives’ online collection database. Researchers can search the list of holdings and explore resources they can access during scheduled visits. Staff are also working on digitizing as much of the collection as possible so anyone can view photographs, see artifacts, and read archival items from their own homes.
Image: A photograph record (1995.1.9) in APPAC’s online database. Researchers can search the archival, artifact, library, and photograph collections.
Small items are relatively easy for staff and volunteers to digitize in-house. A photo studio on-site is used to photograph three-dimensional objects while flatbed scanners with transparency units can tackle small to medium paper documents, photographic prints, and negatives. To date, the majority of the photographic collection is digitized and viewable online.
Larger items and more unique mediums prove more difficult to digitize and can require out-sourcing. The APPAC is currently exploring options for digitizing its historical motion picture collection and has already begun to digitize portions of its cartographic collection.
In February 2024, The Friends of Algonquin Park funded the digitization of 12 of the Archives’ oldest and most fragile maps. These maps were transported to and from Toronto, Ontario where they were digitized at high resolutions on a large overhead scanner. The scanner hovers over the surface of a document creating a contactless process which is crucial for historical items in quite fragile conditions.
Images: Preparing a large format map from APPAC for high resolution scanning. Digitization funded by The Friends of Algonquin Park.
Images: High-resolution scanning of maps from APPAC. Note the bright lights (see below).
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Help us scan more fragile maps and documents. Make a charitable donation to assist us in protecting Algonquin Park's cultural heritage for future generations. |
After looking at these images, are you worried about the bright lights shining on the historical documents?
You’re right to be concerned about light damage, but in this case the risk assessment shows us this task is actually beneficial! Exposing the map under bright light for a minimal amount of time then allows us to store that map in dark storage for an even longer amount of time. How so? Researchers and staff are able to view the maps through APPAC’s online database and access the data on the maps without needing to pull them from storage. Fewer hands handling the maps means they’ll last for many more generations to enjoy.
Image: Map of Algonquin National Park of Ontario in the District of Nipissing, dated c. 1905 to 1911 by Minister and Park boundary. APPAC, Q.1.1.4.
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Image: A close-up shows the fragile condition of the linen-backed paper map, with flaking and missing pieces. Digitizing the map at a high resolution allows the content to be accessed while leaving it in safe storage. APPAC, Q.1.1.4.
Of course, digitization is only one way APPAC shares its collections:
- Researchers are able to request items to view during scheduled in-person visits.
- Researchers, authors, and producers share the results of their archival research and the history of Algonquin Park through the articles, books, and documentaries they create.
- Displays make items viewable to the public. Holdings from APPAC can be viewed in various, far-reaching areas of the Park, including the Outside-In exhibit at Achray.
- Other heritage institutions can request items to loan for their own exhibits and programs.
- Staff present stories and objects from the Archives at programs and special events including Loggers Day and Meet the Researcher Day.
Image: APPAC table at Meet the Researcher Day, August 2024, East Beach Pavilion, Algonquin Park. Staff and volunteers interpret stories and objects from APPAC at interpretive events.
The artifact and archival collections are also only two of the five collections that make up APPAC. A taxidermy collection is used for research and public programming. An educational collection of models and prop objects are used for display and hands-on programming. Finally, the library’s collection of books, articles, and audiovisual materials is fully listed in the online database and available during scheduled research visits.
The APPAC continues to work on preserving and sharing its collection through digitization and other projects. If you would like to make a charitable donation to The Friends of Algonquin Park to support APPAC’s endeavours, please see the information in the resources section. We appreciate your contributions and hope you enjoy exploring our online resources!
Learn More
Learn more about the Algonquin Provincial Park Archives & Collections
- Explore the online database of photographs, archival records, and artifacts.
- Contact the Collections Coordinator to schedule a research appointment or discuss a donation.
- Read more by purchasing historical publications in The Friends of Algonquin Park’s bookstore.
- Support the Archives with a financial donation via The Friends of Algonquin Park, a Canadian registered charity, to assist us in protecting Algonquin Park's cultural heritage for future generations.
To explore high resolution copies of the digitized maps mentioned in this article, see:
- Q.11.13.2, Plan of the Township of Canisbay, 1882.
- 2018.9.1, Map of Algonquin National Park of Ontario, 1893.
- Q.2.1.1, Map of Algonquin National Park of Ontario, 1900.
- Q.1.1.4, Map of Algonquin National Park of Ontario in the District of Nipissing, c. 1905-1911.
- Q.1.3.5, Map of Algonquin National Park of Ontario in the District of Nipissing, 1914.
- Q.1.3.6, Map of Algonquin National Park of Ontario, 1917.
- Q.1.3.7, Map of The Algonquin National Park of Ontario in the District of Nipissing, 1919.
- Q.1.4.2, Map of Algonquin National Park in the District of Nipissing, 1921.
- Q.7.4.1, Algonquin Provincial (Ontario) Park, brochure and map, 1926.
- Q.1.4.7, 19B Map of the Algonquin National Park of Ontario in the District Nipissing, 1928.
- 2010.1.3, Map of Part of Algonquin Provincial Park of Ontario, 1937.
- Q.10.1.7, Map of Algonquin Provincial Park Showing Canoe Routes in Colour and Hotel Leases, c. late 1930s.
January 21, 2025
Greetings from the Collections Coordinator
Welcome to the inaugural post of the Algonquin Provincial Park Archives & Collections’ (APPAC) Blog. We hope to use this series to highlight on-going archival work, share stories represented in the collections, and encourage readers to reflect on Algonquin Park’s cultural history.
Among the more than 25,000 holdings, APPAC cares for physical objects, journals, reports, maps, photographs, negatives and more! The collection grows each year with donations generously offered by descendants, leaseholders, visitors, and historians.
Donation offers are carefully reviewed against our collecting policy to ensure the donation is a match with our mandate and that we can properly care for the items. Like most heritage institutions, we are grateful for the time of our Collections Committee members who meet regularly for this task. The decision on which items should be accepted or denied to a museum or archival collection must never be made by one individual. The discussion arising from multiple perspectives highlights how a donation may or may not support our collection, as well as sheds new light on the history behind these objects.
In 2024, we continued to receive generous offers to strengthen and develop our collection, including a series of original c. 1890s photographic prints of the Gilmour Lumber Company’s tramway in Dorset, Ontario.
Image: Section of the flume of the Gilmour Tramway, c. 1894 - 1896. A phone line is visible running along the Gilmour Tramway. Workers would need to communicate along the line if there was a jam. APPAC, 2024.33.3, In memory of Patrick O'Neill and Michael Joseph O'Neill.
When the Gilmour Lumber Co. expanded their logging operations to Algonquin Park, they needed a way to transport logs from their timber limits on Canoe Lake to their mill in Trenton, Ontario. To do so meant moving Algonquin pine from the Muskoka River Watershed over a great height of land (30 metres or 100 feet!) to the Gull River Watershed. Their solution? The Gilmour Tramway, a series of jackladders, chutes, and dams, which carried logs up and then down to be floated to St. Nora Lake. From that point the typical river drive could continue.
Did it work? Yes. Was it a success? No… for many reasons. The number of logs cut far outweighed the capacity and desired time for them to run the tramway and be transported down to Trenton. Many logs were lost or stolen along the way, and for those that made it, the quality was greatly reduced from sitting in the water (up to 14 months!). Finally, we can imagine the immense cost of labour and resources needed to run such an endeavour.
The tramway operated from 1894 - 1896 to ship the logs cut in two seasons. The system was abandoned in favour of building a sawmill along the newly constructed Ottawa Arnprior & Parry Sound (OA&PS) railway. The railway’s route through Algonquin Park included proximity to the Gilmour Lumber Co.’s limits on Canoe Lake. The result was the creation of the Gilmour Mill and the resulting town of Mowat. You can read more about the town of Mowat in “Algonquin Park's Mowat: Little Town of Big Dreams” by Mary I. Garland.
This story highlights an important section of the APPAC’s collecting policy. Although our scope focuses on objects, photographs, and archival records which originate from inside Algonquin Park, we also make sure to consider donations that might come from outside of the Park’s boundary when they directly show or reflect upon how the Park came to be. Although located west of the Park, these images depict the efforts and struggles of the Gilmour Tramway which resulted in significant changes to the Park itself.
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The Archives’ staff and volunteers care for a vast array of photographs, artifacts, and records which share the stories of the people who paddled these waters, lived among these forests, and worked days and nights to create the Park we know today.
Although established in 1893, Algonquin Park’s history extends well before this origin through its link to the history of this land. For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples travelled and lived throughout this region, and their descendants continue to use these lands for their traditional values. With the arrival of the lumbermen in the 1800s, the landscape was forever altered.
Algonquin Park’s history continues to be made each and every day. We hope you will continue to explore the Park’s cultural history, both past and present, through this blog series and extend the conversation through resources suggested below!
Learn More
Learn more about the Algonquin Provincial Park Archives & Collections.
- Explore the online database of photographs, archival records, and artifacts.
- Contact the Collections Coordinator to schedule a research appointment or discuss a donation.
- Read more by purchasing historical publications in The Friends of Algonquin Park’s bookstore.
- Support the Archives with a financial donation via The Friends of Algonquin Park, a Canadian registered charity, to assist us in protecting Algonquin Park's cultural heritage for future generations.
Interested in Donating an Artifact, Photograph, or Archival Record?
APPAC’s Collections Committee meets four times a year to review donation offers. This review ensures the item supports the mandate of the APPAC and that the APPAC has the resources to properly care for the donation. Each donation is carefully considered against a set of conditions of acquisition.
The Archives only collects items from within the geographical boundaries of Algonquin Park, or those items which help to show the growth and development of the Park. If accepted, donations are catalogued and stored in archival storage and made available to the public through the online database and during in-person research appointments. Donated items may be considered for display in future exhibits if they support the interpretation of the stories being told.
If you think your donation qualifies, please contact the Collections Coordinator to discuss your item. We are grateful for your support in preserving the Park’s history!
Contact the Algonquin Park Archives and Collections
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Collections Coordinator Phone: (613) 637-2828 ext. 227 |
Related Information
Reserve your developed or backcountry campsite for your next visit.
Share your passion for Algonquin Park by becoming a member or donor.
Special regulations for Algonquin's special fishery.