Northern Ontario

Last Update: 19/JULY/2008

NOTE: There are/were approxamately 101 Hudson's Bay Co. posts in this province. No attempt is being made at this time to include all of them on this page.

Killarney Trading Post
(unknown dates), Killarney

Little Current Trading Post ? or ?
(unknown dates), Little Current

Fort Laronde
(unknown - 1821), North Bay
A North West Co. trading post on LaVase Island. It was closed in 1821 and the post moved to Garden Island on the Sturgeon River following the merger of the North West and the Hudson's Bay Companies. The fort reportedly burned down sometime after 1821.

Sturgeon River House (Museum)
(unknown dates), Sturgeon Falls
Site of a Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Fort LaCloche
(1790 - unknown), Massey
A North West Co. and then a Hudson's Bay Co. post. The history can be traced at the Massey Area Museum.

Fort St. Joseph (National Historic Site)
(1796 - 1814), St. Joseph Island
Ruins remain here at the southern point of the island. It was built to protect the fur trade and to consolidate British influence in the Upper Great Lakes region. It consisted of a bastioned earthwork, with a large blockhouse barracks, similar to Fort Malden, and a stone magazine, kitchen, two storehouses, Officers' quarters, and guardhouses. The guns were mounted in the river-facing bastions only. The British captured Fort Mackinac, Michigan in July 1812, and then abandoned Fort St. Joseph. The empty fort was burned by American forces in July 1814. The North West Company also had a post here at the time, and it was also destroyed by the Americans. It was the westernmost British outpost in Upper Canada at the time. After Fort Mackinac was returned to the United States, the garrison moved to Drummond Island, until that island was later awarded to the Americans. Penetanguishene was then established further south.

Sault Ste. Marie Fort
(1750 - 1867), Sault Ste. Marie
Originally a French fort which became British after 1762. The blockhouse was built in 1799 and it was used as a trading post by the North West Co. until 1820, followed by the Hudson's Bay Co. (HBC records cover 1818 - 1864). It was destroyed by the Americans in July 1814, but it was later rebuilt.

Fort Népigon
(unknown dates), Nipigon

Old Fort William
(1815 - 1918), Thunder Bay
French forts, including Fort Kaninistiquia, were here in 1678 and 1717. Fort William was the headquarters of the North West Co. and later, the Hudson's Bay Co. (HBC records start in 1817). This is a large reconstruction of 42 structures and a Native Indian encampment. Admission fee. The cities of Fort William and Port Arthur merged in 1970 to form Thunder Bay.

To the west at Kakabeka Falls, the Canadian Militia built Kakabeka Falls Redoubt in 1870 during the Red River Rebellion, mostly as a protection against Fenian Raiders from the U.S..

Fort St. Pierre
(1731 - unknown), Fort Frances
A replica of this fur trade post was once located at Pither's Point Park, but has recently been torn down. There was no actual fort named "Fort Frances". The town name was later changed to Fort Frances by the British settlers, and the post later became known as Fort Frances Post. This fort may have originally been located at Rainey River. The Canadian Militia garrisoned the post in 1870 during the Red River Rebellion.
(additional info courtesy of Ron Hines)

Fort Vermilion
(1800's), Vermilion Bay
A modern replica of a Hudson's Bay Co. post. A North West Co. post was located 50 yards away. An armed conflict between the two posts occurred in 1809.

Fort Hope (2)
(1890 - 1941), Fort Hope
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

Moose Factory
(1673 - 1970), Moosonee
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, also known as Moose Fort, located on Hayes Island (HBC records start in 1730). It was a 100-foot square stockade with four bastions. The French captured it in June 1686 - 1693, and again in 1694 - 1713, naming it variously Fort St. Louis, Fort Monsipi, and Fort Monsoni. There is the blacksmith shop (1740), and the powder magazine, which is the only stone building on the island. Nearby is St. Thomas Church (1860) which was built by the HBC. The Revillon Museum, located nearby, explains the history of "The French Company" (Compagnie du Nord) fur traders, established in 1682 by French ex-HBC employees.

Fort Albany
(1683 - 1713 ?, unknown - 1941), Fort Albany
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, also known as Albany Post and Albany Fort, at the mouth of the Albany River on James Bay. It was originally a strong work with four bastions and 43 guns. The French captured it in June 1686 - October 1689, 1692 - 1693, and possibly again later until 1713, naming it Fort Ste. Anne.

Fort Severn
(1685 - unknown, 1759 - 1941), Fort Severn
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, also known as Severn Post, on the Severn River entrance at the Hudson Bay. It was a log fort with four bastions. It was under French control, known as Fort Ste. Thérèse or Fort Neuve-Savane, from October 1689 - 1693, and 1694 - 1713.

NEED MORE INFO: a fur trade post at Temagami; a 17th-century fur trade post at Wawa; a trading post at Nagagamisis Provincial Park near Hornepayne.
Towns / Villages: Camp Robinson.

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