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42-486: Prior to the construction of the dam and power generating station, the Chats Falls was a waterfall with a 10.7 metre (35 feet) drop in the river, and consisted of a series of chutes running from what is now the eastern end of the dam all the way to the westernmost corner of Pontiac Bay ( 45°29′00″N 76°15′15″W  /  45.48333°N 76.25417°W  / 45.48333; -76.25417 ). In their natural state

84-579: A Lieutenant in his newly raised 78th Fraser Highlanders . Apparently changing his name to 'Fraser' so as to escape the authorities, Simon's father went with the regiment to Nova Scotia and fought for the British at the Battle of Louisburg , where he was severely wounded and left. Unable to fight at the Battle of Quebec , he was only well enough to be sent home "as an act of charity to him and his family" in 1761. Simon's two elder brothers were taken into

126-541: A partnership under the name Sir Alexander Mackenzie & Company , but it was nevertheless mostly called the XY Company. The vehement contest with the North West Company for market shares caused instability in the fur-producing regions and decreased revenue for both companies. In order to end the competition, thereby increasing profit, the two companies merged in 1804 with the North West Company absorbing

168-529: A run-of-river generating station and dam began in 1929 and was completed in 1932, destroying the falls and creating Lac des Chats reservoir behind the dam. The powerhouse is in the middle of the Ottawa River on the Ontario/Quebec border. On March 2, 1953, a fire started in the morning, burning for 7 hours and destroying 2 generators and the building's roof. The station went completely down when

210-468: A bakery and established a sawmill, encouraging other entrepreneurs to begin the manufacturing of wooden barrels. In 1782, Simon's father's friend and the guardian of Simon's two elder brothers, Dugald MacTavish, former Lieutenant in the 3rd Foot Guards and the 18th Laird of Dunardry, died. In 1785, Dugald's son and heir, Lachlan, was forced to sell the Dunardry estate, which had for many centuries been

252-610: A burden to Lachlan's son as his own sons showed no interest in the running of the estate. They continued to acknowledge how very grateful they were to Simon, but as the property had ceased to be profitable, they were not eager to take ownership of the estate. As such, Simon's sons, who both died young, had been styled 'of Dunardry', even though they too had no interest in the estate and never lived there. Simon's friend, Lachlan MacTavish, had been succeeded as Chief by his son Dugald MacTavish (1782-1855), of Kilchrist Castle; Sheriff of Campbelltown. Simon's sons were well-known to him and waiving

294-622: A competitive means. North West Company increased its use of rum and other spirits from 10,000 gallons in 1799 to 16,000 in 1803. North West Company's average use of hard liquor 1802-1804 was 14,400 gallons, while the average for the XY Company during the same period was 5,000 gallons. Soon both companies were losing money, important fur trading areas became depleted and relations with the First Nations were impaired. The often close proximity of North West Company's and XY Company's post led to violent interactions between clerks and servants of

336-528: A number of friends and relatives as well as the Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal and the Grey Nuns' Hôpital général . McTavish Street , bordering the westerly side of McGill University was named in his honor, as was McTavish reservoir , just north of the university. His McGillivray nephews organised his funeral, settled his will and built a memorial for him within the grounds of his house on

378-516: Is believed that his ancestors were a branch of the McTavish clan of Dunardary, who had settled in Stratherrick some generations before. As an astute businessman with great vision, McTavish recognized the need for industrialization of Montreal and that need presented opportunities to make more money. In 1802 he purchased the seigneury of Terrebonne where he built two modern flour-mills and

420-575: The Hudson's Bay Company in 1821, when these two companies merged. The HBC operated a small trading post, which closed in 1837. In 1847, the Union Rail Road was established at Chats Falls. Passengers were treated to a horse-drawn railroad trip of 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) through the dense forest skirting the rough waters. While the roof sheltered passengers from rain and sun, the sides were open to mosquitoes, which brought complaints from many of

462-790: The New North West Company , was a joint-stock fur trading enterprise based in Montreal that conducted business chiefly in the Canadian Northwest between 1798 and 1804. It was established in opposition to the North West Company , whose employees called it the Little Company and the Potties. In 1795 some partners withdrew from the North West Company and began to trade on their own through

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504-739: The North-Western Territory , the XY Company built posts in the immediate vicinity of those of the North West Company; depots near Fort Chipewyan , the posts at the Great Slave Lake , Fort Liard on the Mackenzie River , and at Great Bear Lake . In the Peace River are the XY Company estqablished four posts. It also had depots at Île-à-la-Crosse and Green Lake . The rivalry between North West Company and XY Company led to an increased use of hard liquor as

546-714: The Nor’Westers’ request for the right to bring in goods via Hudson Bay , so at a great cost of £45,000 McTavish sent two expeditions to establish footholds for the NWC. These actions did not bring the desired effect and the NWC also failed in receiving a charter from the British government, leaving just one alternative — an attempt to purchase a majority of the shares in the HBC. During his time in Britain, Simon McTavish had befriended

588-465: The British soldiers at Detroit and Niagara. By the end of the war, he was able to put together a group of business investors and trapper/explorers to create the North West Company . With the Frobisher brothers he owned 37.5% of the company's shares and upon the death of Benjamin Frobisher in 1787 McTavish became the man in charge of the business. A restructuring of the company a few months later saw

630-480: The Chats Falls were a tourist attraction. In the years leading up to World War One it was fairly common to see large steam boats (paddle wheelers) heading up river with their decks full of sightseers. In 1786, a homestead was built on what is known today as Indian Point on the northern end of Pontiac Bay. In 1800 this property was taken over by the XY Company , followed by the North West Company in 1804, and then

672-731: The Chief of the Clan MacTavish had fallen on hard times and was forced to sell their seat, Dunardry, McTavish bought it back for the clan and gave his eldest son employment in Montreal. In 1751, Simon McTavish was born at Stratherrick in the Scottish Highlands , the son of John McTavish (1701–1774), tacksman of Garthbeg, who bore the arms of the McTavishes of Garthbeg. His mother, Mary Fraser (1716–1770) of Garthmore,

714-611: The Clan, also entered the fur-trade, working for the HBC and becoming Governor of Rupert's Land and Assiniboia . The Chiefs of Clan MacTavish remained in Canada , and the present 27th Chief was born at Montreal in 1951. In October, 1793, Simon McTavish married Marie-Marguerite Chaboillez (b.1775), daughter of Charles Chaboillez , a founding member of the Beaver Club . Directly after

756-477: The Great Lakes Region and into Manitoba . Most of the trade at Grand Portage went through Montreal . In 1775–76, McTavish had the great fortune to winter at Detroit, well stocked with trade goods for the next season, he made an expedition with George McBeath . The American Continental Army occupied Montreal that winter, preventing the Montreal traders from getting their goods to Grand Portage in

798-599: The XY Company contested the North West Company dominance in the Canadian Northwest. Its robust financial support made it possible to open competing fur trading posts on the Red River , at Rainy Lake and Bas de la Rivière Winnipic and many other sites in close vicinity to already existing North West Company posts. In 1801 the XY Company had posts on the Saskatchewan , in 1803 on the Great Bear Lake , and

840-511: The XY Company. The XY Company becoming a part owner receiving 25 of the reconstructed North West Company's 100 shares. Yet, McTavish, Frobisher & Company continued as the only agent of the North West Company, and Alexander McKenzie was barred from any engagement in the fur trade. Increased profitability after the merger was reached, among other measures, by lowering the salaries of the clerks. Simon McTavish (fur trader) Simon McTavish ( c. 1750 – 6 July 1804), of Montreal

882-456: The ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacTavish . As mentioned, Lachlan had grown up with Simon's brothers and he and Simon had become good friends over the course of Simon's many trips to Britain . Since the sale of Dunardry, Simon had pledged to his friend that he would assist him in buying back the estate, as soon as he "could with conveniency spare the money". Two years after Simon learnt of

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924-481: The animosity that arose between Simon McTavish and Alexander McKenzie this agreement was superseded in 1798 when new partners were admitted and others retired. After the Jay Treaty of 1794 , Britain evacuated its military posts at Michilimackinac and Detroit which meant that Canadian firms operating on United States territory had to leave, either to dissolved or to compete with the North West Company north of

966-436: The cables were damaged. Two of the eight generating units were brought back into operation the following day and another four units brought on-line the following week. In all, $ 2 million in damage was done. The power station has 8 turbines (4 managed by Ontario Power Generation and 4 managed by Hydro-Québec) with a head of 16.16 meter (53 feet), generating a total of 79 MW. XY Company The XY Company , also known as

1008-404: The care of their father's friend, Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry, Chief of the Clan MacTavish , and in 1764, at the age of thirteen, young Simon was sent to New York with his sister and her husband, Hugh Fraser (1730-1814) of Brightmoney, Captain in the 78th Fraser Highlanders . Having found an apprenticeship with a Scots merchant at New York , McTavish recognized the opportunities offered by

1050-570: The chief of Clan MacTavish , and on the chief's death, Simon brought one of the sons into the North West Company. In 1799, McTavish did something that gave him great personal satisfaction: the acquisition of the Dunardary estate in North Knapdale , Argyll , which had been the ancestral home for the heads of the McTavish (MacTavish) clan for several hundred years. Although Simon's own family had been closely associated with clan Fraser, it

1092-486: The companies. In August 1802, a clerk of the XY Company shot and killed a clerk of the North West Company after the latter attempted to steal his furs. The killer was indicted for murder in Montreal, but he was set free as the court had doubt about its jurisdiction ; the act having taken place at Fort de l'Isle on the North Saskatchewan River . In 1803, Alexander Mackenzie reorganized the company as

1134-458: The customary cost, Simon took Dugald's second son ( John George MacTavish ) into the North West Company , where he became a member of the Beaver Club . When the NWC later merged with the Hudson's Bay Company , John continued to work for them and was considered one of their top traders. John later changed the spelling of his name to 'McTavish' in order to match that of his benefactor's, Simon's. John's elder brother, William MacTavish , 21st Chief of

1176-421: The death in 1796 of his "poor old friend Dunardry" (Lachlan), he lived up to his word and paid £6,000 to restore his clan's honour and bring Dunardry back to the rightful Chiefs. Though in name Simon had become 'of Dunardry', there was no personal gain attached to this for Simon and he viewed the purchase as a "hobby-horse". Unfortunately, Simon's magnanimous gesture by the purchase of Dunardry became something of

1218-472: The firm of Forsyth , Richardson & Company which already was engaged in the trade around Lake Superior . At the same time, an agreement was made between on the one hand McTavish , Frobisher & Company and on the other hand Alexander Mackenzie as agent and attorney of Angus Shaw , Roderick McKenzie , Cuthbert Grant , Alexander McLeod and William Thornburn , to begin independent trading operations in 1799 and continue with these until 1805. Due to

1260-615: The fur trade. By 1769, he was working for himself and in 1772 he went into partnership with William Edgar (1736-1820) at Detroit . In the Niagara Region , it was said he started trading in deerskins and muskrats , and only later became involved with the more valuable furs. Over the next few years, McTavish prospered in the trading of furs, and in 1773, with a new partner, James Bannerman, he extended his operations to Grand Portage on Lake Superior . At that important fur trade rendezvous, while other American traders concentrated on

1302-588: The international border, west of Lake Superior . The XY Company was founded in 1798 when the Forsyth, Richardson & Company (which was a subsidiary of the London firm of Phyn, Ellis & Company) and Leith, Jamieson & Company of Detroit united in order to increase its competitive advantage against the North West Company. It was invigorated when John Ogilvy and John Mure entered the company in 1800 and Alexander Mackenzie joined in 1802. From its beginning,

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1344-451: The marriage, they moved to London , where McTavish hoped to live permanently, but his new wife became depressed there and they returned to Montreal in the spring of 1795. The McTavishes had six children, four of whom lived to adulthood, but only one married. A monument stands to their four surviving children at Chiswick Parish Church: Simon McTavish died in Montreal in 1804, leaving an estate of £125,000. In his will he bequeathed funds to

1386-536: The recognized illegitimate son and eventual heir of General Gabriel Christie , by his mistress Rachel Plenderleath. Simon McTavish was related to many of the most important persons in the Canadian fur trade: William McGillivray , Simon McGillivray and Duncan McGillivray were his nephews; Simon Fraser , John Fraser (his London agent) and Donald McTavish were his cousins; Angus Shaw and John MacDonald of Garth were his nephews-in-law. Through his wife, MacDonald

1428-457: The river travelers. In 1853, James Poole, editor of The Carleton Place Herald , wrote about the Chats Falls horse railway : "Certainly this is one of the last things you dare to hope for in the heart of the wilderness far away from either a road or a cow-path - and you must almost doubt whether it is a reality, or like the palace of Aladdin, you are not under the mysterious influence of some kind genii for your present position." Construction on

1470-593: The same year posts were established on the Peace and the Swan rivers. When the North West Company in 1802 moved its rendezvous from Grand Portage to Kaministiquia , the XY Company followed in 1804. The company then also had a trading fort at Qu'Appelle River and a winter post at Fishing Lake . The XY Company also had a post at Fort Charlotte, by the Pigeon River at the upper end of the portage from Lake Superior. In

1512-414: The shrewd McTavish gain control of eleven of the company's twenty shares. Most important, he was managing partner of a new Montreal firm, McTavish, Frobisher and Company, which imported the North West Company's goods and forwarded its furs to the London market, taking commissions on all transactions. The vertical integration of the business was extended in 1792, when the firm of McTavish, Fraser and Company

1554-583: The slopes of Mount Royal . They built a twenty-foot column enclosed by a walled mausoleum , that once occupied a prominent place in Montreal 's iconography. In 1942, rather than repair the monument that had greatly suffered the effects of time due to a lack of maintenance, it was replaced it with a 5-foot granite block. By McTavish's will , he instructed that all of his children were to be taken to England for their education, and Mrs McTavish accompanied them in 1806. At London , in 1808, she took for her second husband Major William Smith Plenderleath (1780-1845),

1596-555: The south and west, McTavish understood that he would have access to fur pelts that were found in much greater quantity and were of better quality in the colder climate north west of the Great Lakes . Although at the time the Hudson's Bay Company controlled the prime north-westerly areas for fur trapping, there was still a relatively lucrative route from Montreal westward via the Ottawa River and out across Georgian Bay and

1638-541: The summer of 1776. This enabled McTavish, with little competition, to obtain furs which he valued at £15,000 and took to England to sell in a high market. In the meantime, the Americans had withdrawn from Quebec , and McTavish transferred his operations to Montreal. He continued to trade on his own through the Revolutionary War, supplying goods both at Grand Portage and Detroit, and speculating in rum for

1680-646: Was a Scottish -born fur trader and the chief founding partner of the North West Company . He was a member of the Beaver Club and was known as the Marquis for his pre-eminent position in the fur trade and his refined style of living. Both McTavish Street and the McTavish Reservoir in Montreal are named for him. His home and monument in the Golden Square Mile were longstanding landmarks in Montreal. Renowned for his generosity, when

1722-673: Was descended through Simon Fraser of Dunchea and the Frasers of Foyers , from an illegitimate son of the 1st Lord Lovat . McTavish's father had fought as an officer with the Jacobite armies at the Battles of Culloden and Falkirk Muir , and he was one of the few who were specifically named as to not receive a pardon from George II after the Jacobites were defeated. In 1757, General Simon Fraser of Lovat appointed John McTavish

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1764-554: Was established in London itself, to procure the trade goods at source and sell the furs. From his headquarters in Montreal, over the next sixteen years McTavish built a business empire that stretched from the Labrador coast to the Rocky Mountains and in the process made himself a wealthy man. As the fur trade expanded across Rupert's Land , the HBC's financial dominance allowed them to take the advantage. The HBC had rejected

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