| -8- 7. The Methodology: Chronological Steps to Discovery June 10, 1975 During preliminary investigations on the Seine River by canoe in preparation for studies related to the establishment of a regional park-waterway, dumping infractions were noted immediately south of John Bruce Road in south St. Vital. This infraction led to discussions with Mr. Joe Bruce and from this it was revealed he was a great-grandson of Louis Riel Sr., related by marriage through Julie Lagimodiere, wife of Louis Riel. He relayed to me, descriptions by his grandparents, who, having stood on the Seine River banks (sometimes referred to in early maps as German Creek) just south of what is now known as John Bruce Road, and of having been able to see the mill to the north. The mill, according to Mr. Bruce, must have been quite large as it contained two sets of grinding stones, now located at the Mus�e de St. Boniface. He also fondly recalls the log cabin home of his grand-parents which was located north of John Bruce Road and occupied by them until the early 1940�s. In 1946 it was ordered demolished by the City of St. Vital, who at that time wasted little sympathy on historically significant buildings. According to Mr. Bruce, the areas adjacent to the old mill and millpond, which backed up for a considerable distance upstream to the south, were favourite picnic sites and fishing ponds for local area inhabitants in the mid 1800�s. (See (Map Sketch) Map No. 8 Item �K� in Legend). -9- June 15,1975 Armed with this piece of information and a curious frame of mind, the next step, logically was to investigate any available historic maps of the 1870�s in order to establish and confirm early River Lot land ownership (See Map No. 2 and 3B). This was done with the welcome co-operation of Mr. Marius Benoist, curator of the Mus�e de St. Boniface. A current map illustrating street patterns and present course of the Seine River (See Map 3A Overlay) in the areas north and south of John Bruce Road was rendered on to a transparency and superimposed over the historic map of 1873 (See Map No. 3B) and the site location and ownership of river lots were confirmed in present day terms. Until this time Mr. Benoist admitted he had never been able to confirm the exact location of Riel�s holdings, but as a result of my findings, he then, was convinced of the relative accuracy of the old river lot surveys and the configuration of the river channel which has been subject to considerable meander over time. -10- June 18,1975 Subsequent to this tentative confirmation, an examination of topographic/hydrological maps was begun, (See Map No. 4B) seeking out unnatural and/or man-made features in the Riel family Lots 50 and 51. It was in this examination that an unnatural channel was revealed in the contours at the second bend of the river north of John Bruce bridge. The geometric alignments and uniformity of channel contours and width were indicative of man�s work. This information was relayed to Mr. Benoist, who concurred with the findings to date. This channel was believed to be a river diversion and dam created to facilitate the operation of a mill. August 5, 1975 The occasion of my first field trip to the site (see Map No. 4A) revealed what appeared to be a well preserved man-made dam surrounding (on three sides) a large, level rectangular area measuring approximately 30 ft. x 60 ft. This clear area supported no vegetation. Mr. Alec MacKay, a historic researcher on western mills, later suggested that the early millers often laid down lime under the mill floor to eradicate rodents, which could explain the sterility. -11- The tree growth around this level area, estimated to be in the 50 to 75 year age range was in a very uniform rectangular planting pattern, the southern row in alignment with the unnatural channel which was interpreted to be the plunge or surge basin (1) for an overshot mill water wheel (2). This basin contained very well defined �hard� contours and uniform concavity, further indication of man�s works. The earthen dam reached a height (6 to 7 ft.) close to the surrounding terrain and it was assumed that the lower stone foundations of the south and east sides of the mill could have formed a part of the dam and diversion into the water wheel. It was interesting to note several very old trees lying in the old channel, a few feet to the south of the level rectangular clearing. The remains of these trees, estimated to be over 75 years of age, had been cut off about 8 feet above the old channel bottom, i.e., just below the level of the surrounding prairie grade, as though cut off from a boat at some early date in order to increase river flow and reduce obstruction. Leading away from the plunge basin, then taking a rather abrupt turn to the northwest towards the ancestral (and present) channel, appeared to be a tailrace (3). -12- Following along this �slot�, I discovered huge rough poured concrete boulders deeply imbedded in, or lying loosely among the upper channel banks, just below prairie level at several locations. These boulders utilized an unsorted aggregate of native stone and gravel with a sand and lime cementum unlike any in use today. Mr. Alec McKay, a former chemist and assayer, confirmed on a later field trip that this type of concrete and concrete mortar would, in his estimation, date back 75 to 100 years. These large concrete boulders could well have formed a portion of the mill foundations or served to stabilize the upper banks during peak flow. Continuing further to the north-west, up onto the prairie grade along the channel rim, revealed a grove of trees surrounding what appeared to be very old homesite or outbuildings, reduced to broken remnants scattered over a 100 sq. ft. area. Several sand and limestone bricks of early vintage, in addition to an abundance of wooden flooring, wall and roof materials were unearthed at this site believed to be Site F or H (See Map No. 8). September 22, 1975 Accompanied by Mr. Benoist, curator, Mus�e de St. Boniface� -13- THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE -14- �evidence of building sites unearthed. What appeared to be traces of very old wagon ruts leading down to the dam and mill site were seen. What was felt by all to be an old grave depression measuring approximately 3 ft. x 6 ft. was stumbled upon (See Map No. 4A). Archeological and acquisitional advice and a degree of confirmation were expressed by Mr. McFarland. He left, indicating a willingness to render further co-operation to expedite preservation, research and restoration. Subsequent to this, representatives of the City of Winnipeg departments concerned with the engineering aspects of the Seine River were contacted to solicit their comments - Mr. Al Stevens, Engineer, Water and Waste Disposal Division and Mr. Tony Kuluk, Engineer, Rivers and Streams Board. They were requested to visit the site and express their opinions as to the validity of my findings to date. The dam, tailrace, old and current river channels were examined and their findings were affirmative. October 17, 1975. A letter was received from the St. Vital Community Committee fully concurring with recommendations outlined in our letter of September 22, 1975. -15- October 29, 1975 A letter was directed to the committee on Environment from Mr. R. P. Darke, Director of Environmental Planning with recommendation for acceptance of our proposal in full. November 17, 1975 The proposals are to be placed before the Committee on Environment by this writer, Mr. Torry, District Planner, and Mr. E. Letinsky, Chairman, Seine River Task Force. (Handwritten annotation: Approved and sent on to Finance Committee) The success of this proposal will rest on the sanction of this and other Committees of Council in the months to come. |