Lac La Pluie House 1818-1903

Photo by Alan L Brown - July 30, 2006

Plaque Location

The District of Rainy River
The Town of Fort Frances
On the south side of 3rd Street West (Highway 11) just west of Central Avenue

Plaque Text

The Hudson's Bay Company established Lac La Pluie House on this site to compete for furs with the North West Company's Fort Lac La Pluie. After the two companies merged in 1821, only Lac La Pluie House continued in operation. It was renamed Fort Frances in 1830 after a visit by HBC Governor Sir George Simpson and Lady Frances Simpson. The post traded with local Ojibwa for furs, wild rice, and isinglass (obtained from sturgeon). An important supply depot for expeditions traveling to the West and for early settlers in the district, Fort Frances became a Hudson's Bay Company store in 1898 and was destroyed by fire in 1903.