Nipissing, Historic Waterway, Wilderness Playground
by Noel, Francoise
CAD $28.99
Historian Françoise Noël explores the history of the Nipissing Passageway (from Mattawa to Georgian Bay), beginning in 1615 with Champlain’s voyage, and continuing to the efforts in the late 19th and early 20th century to create a "sportsman’s paradise". Efforts to lure American motorists led to the building of cottages in the area, and the creation of towns to support these communities.
Ontario Sailor Magazine –
Nipissing University history professor Francoise Noel took some time off to research the history of tourism in the area of Lake Nipissing, which is located northeast of Georgian Bay and drains into the Great Lakes basin through the French River. She says the project was sparked by the effect the birth in 1934 of the Dionne quintuplets had on tourism in the area. The author researched the birth extensively and unearthed provincial road maps and other tourism literature that lists details of the Dionne births like the location of the nursery where people could visit, the home town of the doctor who gave birth to the five babies and other details that were designed to bring tourists into northern Ontario. From 1935 to 1943, the trip to Quintland was the most popular motor trip, with over 3 million making the pilgrimage. The research includes the importance of fishing and hunting as a way to draw tourists to nearby towns like North Bay from the 1870s to the early 1950s and the importance of the railways during these early years of travel. Later, the car opened up the area to wilderness seekers and those who wanted to see some pretty remarkable babies.