13) Seven Sisters Falls Townsite
Seven Sisters Falls Townsite
Listen to recorded audio by clicking the audio button on the left.
Originally the Seven Sisters Falls area was settled by immigrants, mostly from eastern Europe as early as 1905. The area languished until 1927, but when word that a large electric power development was coming things changed. The Northwestern Power Company, a division of the Winnipeg Electric Street Railway Company built a rail line to the power site from the CPR tracks at Whitemouth. This was a distance of about twelve miles, completed in late 1928. Seven Sisters, alternatively called "Tin Town" or "Upper Seven Sisters" in the 1940s and 50s grew as a collection of mostly tar paper shacks with tin roofs housing construction workers and their families. It could have been called a "boom town" during first construction from 1928 to 1931. There were at least three stores, a pool hall, a shoe maker and a barber shop. "Rerick's Hall" was built by Joe Rerick in 1928 as a dance hall, pool hall with a restaurant and general store. There was a player piano in the dance hall, and a stage. In the 1930s movies were shown, attracting large audiences. This hall is the present-day Dunlop’s Tourist Hotel. After the first construction, during the "dirty thirties", the town stabilized; most homes were rebuilt; shacks became houses and the present layout emerged. After the Second World War, construction of the tail race and second half of the powerhouse proceeded, and "Tin Town" again prospered. There was a store, barber shop and pool room at the east end of town owned by Walter Ledowsky, a photography shop owned by Rudy Welz, two shoe maker shops, owned by Dan Harris and Nick Reyko, a butcher shop owned by August Kluge and a confectionery shop owned by Bill Drein (Drain). There was a Chinese restaurant located beside the Tourist Hotel. In 1948, Olga Campbell had a restaurant built by a local contractor, Charlie Hill. This restaurant became known as The Village Inn, and was an extremely popular stop for tourists, as well as the local people, especially the teenagers. This was our "Mel's Diner" of the television show Happy Days. It was sold in 1970, fell on hard times and was demolished.
In 1945, a building was moved to a site on the east end of town, on South Street, called and "The Friendly Fellows". The hall was founded by a group of community minded people headed by Jack Craig. Numerous socials, bingos and dances were held in the building until membership dwindled. Around 1975 the building fell into disuse. It was torn down in 1993.
On May 17, 1968, the Seven Sisters Falls Wildlife Association grew out of the Friendly Fellows club. By November, the clubs split, with the wildlife association later building a clubhouse three miles east of town.
There was a Texaco station called Emil's Garage in town. Before 1939, Emil Welz had timber sales in the area, and a trucking business. He lived just west of the Tourist Hotel. About 1943, he moved a small garage beside the house, replacing it with a larger one in 1946. He was in business until the early 1980's. The house and garage are still here. The site of the Esso gas station was originally a house, later made into a store by John Wiebe. The gas station and general store evolved through four owners to its present state. Hydro came to town in 1944, telephone service in 1952.
In the centre of the Townsite, was the Seven Sisters Falls School S.D. #2218. (North of this Sign). The Seven Sisters Falls School was opened in September of 1929, in the existing main building you see today. The school was private, operated by the Winnipeg Electric Company, mostly for employee's children. By 1940, there were two rooms teaching from grades 1 to 6, and 7 to 11. As many as 50 pupils attended some years. It ceased operation in 1966 and became part of the Agassiz School Division. Pupils were then bussed to Whitemouth for school. At one point following the school closure, the building was used as a community club. The building is still owned by Manitoba Hydro and is used as a training and conference centre.
Among the teachers who worked at Seven Sisters Falls School through the years were James Dark (1930), William R. Lee (1933), Gordon Jorgenson (1940), and Gertude G. Cousins (1945-1967).
The building located directly beside this sign is the current Seven Sisters Falls Community Club. The facility includes a club house and curling rink with many renovations happening over the last few years. To the North is an outdoor skating rink maintained by volunteers in the area. You will also find a beautiful mural painted by local artist Annie Bergen and local community members.
Additional Details
Civic Number: 69 Townsite Road l Amenities on Site: Curling Rink; Community Centre; Outdoor Rink l Building on Site: Yes
Dunlop's Tourist Hotel
Post Office & Store (1947) *Photo courtesy of the Manitoba
Historical Society Website*