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Page 3, News, Tuesday, August 6, 1991 Neys Provincial Park Park reflects area's history by Rob Cotton The News This weekend's Nostalgia Days celebration at Neys Provincial Park will bring some interesting historical facts to light as well as be fun and entertaining. A Spirit Campfire, held on Friday night, will be visited by some ghosts of the past. To reflect.the varied history of the area prisoners of war, voyageurs and loggers will gather with campers around the fire to sing songs and tell tall tales. On Saturday campers and visitors will be able to partici- pate in traditional games such as a bucksaw competition and watermelon seed spitting con- test. A voyageur encampment will be set up where people can enjoy some pea soup and ban- nock after a hard round of play. There will also be a musket firing demonstration from Fort St. Joseph. On Saturday evening the volunteer dance group, Les Frivolents Du Nord- Ouest from Old Fort William, will sing, dance and give campers the opportunity to learn some traditional dances. David. Verbiwski of the Park's Visitor Services Pro- gram, said one of the more interesting aspects of the park's history is the Prisoner of War Camp that was situated where the campgrounds are now. "Visitors are very interested in this because not many of them realized there were pris- oner of war camps here during the Second World War," he THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TERRACE BAY G Tenders Quotations for the supply and installation of the following items; 2 display cases, office cupboards for the Terrace Bay Tourist Information Center. Quotations for the above project will be received by: Susan Johnson Township of Terrace Bay P.O Box: 1207 POT 2WO 807-825-9721 807-825-9576(Fax) Up until 5:00 p.m. local time, Friday, August 16, 1991 Specifications for the above items are available by contacting the Terrace Bay Tourist Centre Office at 807-825-9721 The lowest or any quotation will not necessarily be accepted. said. "They really didn't expect German prisoners to be held here and are even surprised to find out that Japanese Canadi- ans were held here." On Sunday, during the Nos- talgia Days weekend, Paul Mengleberg, who was a prison- -er of war, will speak about life in the camps. Members of the Park staff regularly conduct a hike through what is left of the pris- oner's camp every Monday night. They wander through what is left of foundations and old cobblestone walkways. The camp was bulldozed under in 1958. Verbiwski recounted one of many stories about the camp. Each of the prisoners was given a sugar ration in a small tin at the beginning of the week. About a month before Christmas the guards noticed that each prisoners ration of sugar was gone by Tuesday or Wednesday. When they inquired, one of the cooks, a prisoner, told them the sugar was being saved for Christmas baking - an explanation that satisfied the guards. However, about a week later the guards were awoken by loud singing - in German. Upon investigation they found eight intoxicated Ger- mans. They also found forty gallons of home made whiskey the prisoners had made using the sugar, and enough fruit mash to make another forty gallons of whiskey. URGENTLY NEEDED! Sitter for five year old. Single mother following shift # 2. Interested persons please call Lisa at 825-9782 x itil Rosa Brown and David Verbiwski, staff members at Neys Provincial Park, try their hand at using at bucksaw. A bucksaw sawing contest will be one of events at Neys Nostalgia Days this weekend. While the Prisoner of War Camps may stand out the Park informs visitors of the areas history starting about 4,000 years ago with native history. Evidence that natives were on the Coldwell Peninsula, where the Park is situated, comes in the form of the Puskawsa Pits. These huge pits have been dug out of the cobblestone and Verbiwski said no one is really sure what they were used for. "Some people have a theory that the pits were used by Hydraulic Hammers available to fit any size of machine. Ee John and Julie Depola would like to announce the birth of their daughter = Ashley Heleena Marie, Born on June 24 at Port Aurthur General weighing 6lbs. 11 oz. Joe and Violet Depola and Janis Russell of of Terrace Bay Superior, Wisc. young men to sit in and medi- tate during rituals to become a man while others think they were used for storing fish," he said. Historically, a lot of activi- ty has gone on in the area where the Park is located. It has been assumed that the voyageurs made use of the large beach at the Park as a nat- ural landing site during their travels to Fort William. Later on, the Pigeon River Lumber Company logged the Little Pic River area, west of the Park. "Some of the old rings used to hold the booms until the tugs where ready for them can still be seen," Verbiwski said. During the fishing boom, from 1905 - 1945, Port Cold- well, on the east side of the peninsula, was one of the largest fishing centres on the North Shore. All of this and more can be explored at Neys Provincial Park and it will be brought to life during Nostalgia Days, Aug 9 -11. Shopping? Site Seeing? Fishing? Find comfort at Paradise Motel * Very clean rooms at Budget rates * Close to all major attractions * Variety of family restaurants within one block * Picnic Area *Reservations - phone ahead (807) 475-8628 Rhonda & Steve O'Brien (mgr.) 221 W. Arthur Street (Highway 11 - 17B) Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E5P/