DISCOVERY OF PIONEER VILLAGE

Passed it many times on Hwy. 61, south of Thunder Bay. Heard about it multiple times. Today, Sunday, June 4, 2023, I did a quick tour of it with my sister, Susanne.

First, we stopped in the “ticket office” in a replica of the Upsala railway station. Each paid $5.00 cash. My eye was drawn to a painting of a vintage automobile sitting in the snow. Wow. One of my reasons for visiting the museum is, in the back of my mind, to find a clue about a missing 1931 McLaughlin-Buick. Last seen in TBay in May 1931. Did I finally find it ̶ at least an image of it?

But first, let me recount the rest of our visit. The ticket lady suggested we visit the classic car garage. We did. Nope. No 1931 McLaughlin-Buick. But lots of other autos, all in pristine shape. It was a busy place. The greeters were super friendly and enthusiastic, but they couldn’t help me. No matter. I got the name of the gent (Russ Wanzuk) you does all the restorations. Maybe he can help.

Sue and I ducked into the blacksmith shop (nobody home but a dummy) and the carpentry shop. A wealth of antique tools and devices!

Scooted past several storefront businesses — all closed to the public. I read recently that these buildings posed a hazard to visitors till major repairs were done. By the way, Founders Pioneer Village has been renamed the Oliver Paipoonage Heritage Park, but the welcome signs are unchanged. And a newpaper ad calls for volunteers to fill a dozen positions, some positions requiring several volunteers on short-term bases.

Past the Upsala station to the Duke Hunt Museum. A long, very long ramp makes the building accessible. One volunteer in charge. Again, as is the case of many small museums, there are treasures to make even a King Tut envious.

My eye was drawn to a display for the PD Railway. Dave Battistel, who has documented in field videos the route from Thunder Bay to Gunflint, is just winding up his video project of the CNR, Kinghorn Division, from Longlac to Port Arthur. Now online in Facebook in “Memories of the Kinghorn”.

In a display case is a small section of a disintegrating railway tie pierced by a spike. The plaque reads: PD tie and spike (Tamarack). Pre 1909, the Tamarack Tree was attacked by the European Larch Fly. Since then, ties had to be made from Jackpine. Folks, file that fact away for an upcoming trivia contest.

We returned to the ticket office, made small donations.

Now, about the painting. The auto in the snow is reminiscent of the 1931 McLaughlin-Buick. Two intrepid pioneer autoists started from Halifax in September 1930 to cross Canada. Okay, quite a project. Particularly when the TransCanada Highway was still a dream, and no roads existed between Hearst and Thunder Bay. Yet they managed to reach Thunder Bay.

Yes, I know. The painted image has fenders. But the first step in restoring a car is to replace the fenders, right? Please don’t rain on my parade just yet.

Stories have been written about this trek, but I am still researching it. Today I tried contacting the artist, Peter Humeniuk. The phone rang but no one picked up. I will try again. And again, if necessary. And I will try to contact Russ Wanzuk, classic car restorer.

The thing about museums, even small ones: You can never appreciate the collections in one visit. You must return again. And again. And again. So, till next time, Pioneer Village, or Oliver Paipoonage Museum, or whatever name you choose to use, we’ll be back.

P.S. I have learned that Peter Humeniuk died on October 7, 2022.