Cameron Falls

History

In 1917 the cities of Port Arthur and Fort William (now Thunder Bay), had each unanimously passed a by-law enacting an agreement with the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario to develop additional power sources on the Nipigon River for the twin cities.

The Commission began preliminary work in 1919 at the site of the power station at Cameron Falls. Construction crews hurriedly completed the first unit or generator (Unit 2) in December 1920, and added a second unit (Unit 1) in March of 1921. They temporarily halted construction after completing the second unit. Living accommodations for permanent employees and their families required equal focus. Between 1923 and 1926, they added four additional units (Units 3-6), bringing the plant to maximum capacity. In 1956 they planned a seventh unit, completed in 1958.

The Canadian National Railway built a two-mile long spur at mileage 66.4 (Dorion Sub). Its purpose was to facilitate the dam and power construction from the Cameron Falls station. Once plans for the Alexander Falls generating station went into motion, the railway built a second spur. It branched off to Alexander Landing (Falls) from the main spur). The commission added a six-passenger gas car for transportation between the two power sites and the station. They moved larger equipment, supplies and workers by freight. The commission purchased an engine and flatcars specifically for this purpose.

During 1921 and 22 they built a modern townsite to accommodate over 300 residents. The workers’ community contained over two dozen homes lining a stretch of curving streets. They boasted all modern urban conveniences such as indoor plumbing, running water and electricity. Additional construction crews lived in bunkhouses. Their purpose was to continue with expansion of the plants which took place from 1922 to 26 and again from 1928 to 31, In 1931, work commenced on the Alexander Falls generating station, 1.4 kilometres upstream.

By the end of 1930, Cameron Falls counted no less than 600 residents, mostly construction workers, and single men. They built additional accommodations, thereby providing an urban environment to the small isolated hydro colony. Soon a school, store, hall, and hospital were up and running, along with other services such as a post office. Following completion of the first three units at Alexander Falls in March 1931, they added nearly 50 new homes for the convenience of employees and families who worked at both stations. By the following year 350 permanent residents lived in Cameron Falls. Later on they installed a shortwave broadcast station to break isolation with the outside world. The station not only captured signals, it also broadcast its own programming.

Cameron Falls was bustling yet again from 1949-1954 when the third and largest Hydroelectric generating station was under construction at Pine Portage. Most employees lives in a construction camp at Pine Portage. Others were based at Cameron Falls. They were responsible for facilitating the transition of goods from the rails and then transfer them on to trucks for shipping by road to the construction site. By 1956 the boom had subsided but there were still 337 residents. A mere five years later, in 1961, only 254 residents remained.

With the advent of automation (or Remote Control System), it was possible to operate the three generating stations on the Nipigon River from Thunder Bay. By the late 1960’s, only about 40 employees remained to maintain the three stations, while 150 residents remained at Cameron Falls. The cost of the colony eventually became a major burden on the commission’s purse strings. They decided to relocate the community to Nipigon 27 kilometres south of Cameron Falls. Employees purchased their homes which in turn were moved to Nipigon in 1973. Auctions or salvage took care of the other structures. They tore down whatever remained. By then, Cameron Falls was no more than a distant memory.