Dated February 27,1970
Dear Sir,
Some years ago I cut a clipping out of the Vancouver paper asking for pictures anecdotes towards a book
being written on the early history of Athabasca Landing. I put this clipping away intending to write and
add to your book project, but the clipping was lost and only found a few days ago.
My father, Ed Nagle, of fur traders Hislop and Nagle, were in Athabasca in 1883.1 have a picture of my
mother and father leaving by skiff in September 25,1884 for Fort Resolution. They were married in
Edmonton, September 19 by the Rev. Father Lacombe. I was born at Hay River, April 10,1898,
travelling up and down the rivers before I was eight years old. Later in 1911 my father with two river
men travelled to Fort Resolution and back. Dad stayed in Athabasca and went as far as Morinville in a
boxcar with 19 men. The roadbed had been just laid. We were off the track more than a dozen times in
that distance. We paid the Cn $ 5.00 apiece for the ride. We were put off at Morinville and took a
democrat to Edmonton.
th

The old Athabasca Landing Trail. The first stopping place 25 miles out of Edmonton was at the crossing
of the Sturgeon, no bridge at that time; the water and mud up to the horses' bellies as the stopping
place was on the north side of the river. I believe it was run by a widow and her sister. The halfway
house at Egge's, 50 mile station, a large rambling log two-storey building. There always seemed to be
numbers of freighters and travelers. The barnyard filled with freight wagons and their large barn full of
horses. The next stop was at Lewis'. 75 mile station, this was usually a dinner stop and the next stop
Athabasca Landing. I remember the long hill leading into town.
I don't remember too many people. Mr.Gagnon owned a hotel, I believe The Athabasca, the other at
the end of the road on the east side on a corner with bar I believe was called the C? Paul Deseault, the
Days, Mr. Walker who ran the trading post for Revillon Furs. I met Mr. Walker and his daughter Pmaried
to Bill Davis of the Prince Albert Herald where I was operating to Options for "Cominco" of Trail from
Prince Albert. Dad and Mr. Walker were old friends.
It might be interesting to you that Ed Nagle staked the first claims (8) on Pine Point in 1898. The receipt
for the recording of these claims, dated July 9,1899. At that time lead was worth 3 cents a pound ,silver
very few oz. per ton and no gold assays. The claims were let revert back. In 1926 I went on exploration
or looking over the geological possibilities down the McKenzie. In 1927 I looked over the original claims
staked by Ed Nagle in 1898. In 1928, May, I staked 16 claims around the original claims and in 1928,
March, took a crew of 32 men in from McMurray to Pine Point. Punch Dickens flew us in. Punch and I
lived on the same street (15 south of Jasper and went to school together.
th)

The Pelican Rapids ? gas well. A company was organized by Ed Nagle, 1910. The pipe for the project was
ordered from England but the first world war came along and the pipe order was cancelled.
Athabasca was quite a lively place when the H.B.Co, Hislop and Nagle, the RC mission and other private
parties were building scows and York boats. I remember well the rapids down river. It seemed never

ending for 100 miles. The Grand Rapids, Pelican and Boiler rapids, the last the Cascade not far from Fort
McMurray.
I knew the Deseaults. They lived quite close. Joe and I played hockey together. Mr. O'Coffer, a hotel
keeper at McMurray married Paul's sister.
All the work on exploration was by canoe going east from Fitzgerald, Athabasca Lake, Fond du Lac River,
Walliston Lake, the ?? and Reindeer Lake and river. The Churchill River, the Sturgeon River to
Cumberland Lake, the Saskatchewan River to La Pas, Manitoba. This took us from May until October
28 , 1928.
th

1926- the area between Great Slave Lake and Lake Athabasca to the ?? River
1927- Great Slave Lake and east to Fort Reliance, Artillary (?) Lakel929Pine Point and Yellowknife
1930-Great Bear Lake and staking with Gilbert LaB(?); 1931-Pine Point-when we closed down the
operation, staking 540 claims. Doing 30000 feet of churn (?) drilling besides building a fairly good
camp.This summer I hope to take a trip to Pine Point and while in Edmonton take a trip to Athabasca
Landing.
I would like to meet any old timers that are left in the area.
Sincerely,
E.H. Ted Nagle