View of a lock looking upstream at La Colle Falls

Bio/historical note: The Ruins at La Colle Falls - At the turn of the 20th century, the City of Prince Albert undertook an ambitious project to generate hydroelectric energy on the North Saskatchewan River by erecting a large turbine dam. Due to some logistical and engineering problems, the project was abandoned in 1914 only five years after construction first began. The city of Prince Albert nearly went bankrupt trying to pay off the $3 million white elephant. It would take half a century to pay off the debt. Today, all that remains of the massive construction project is a concrete labyrinth on the banks of the river east of Prince Albert. Travel to the site is not advised as the road is not maintained. Those choosing to proceed to the site do so at their own risk, as per the Virtual Prince Albert tourist website: http://www.virtualprincealbert.com/lacolle.htm (accessed March 10, 2010). These particular photographs were taken by an unidentified Engineer working on the project and donated by Prince Albert City Hall to the Prince Albert Historical Society

View of intake at La Colle Falls project

Bio/historical note: The Ruins at La Colle Falls - At the turn of the 20th century, the City of Prince Albert undertook an ambitious project to generate hydroelectric energy on the North Saskatchewan River by erecting a large turbine dam. Due to some logistical and engineering problems, the project was abandoned in 1914 only five years after construction first began. The city of Prince Albert nearly went bankrupt trying to pay off the $3 million white elephant. It would take half a century to pay off the debt. Today, all that remains of the massive construction project is a concrete labyrinth on the banks of the river east of Prince Albert. Travel to the site is not advised as the road is not maintained. Those choosing to proceed to the site do so at their own risk, as per the Virtual Prince Albert tourist website: http://www.virtualprincealbert.com/lacolle.htm (accessed March 10, 2010). These particular photographs were taken by an unidentified Engineer working on the project and donated by Prince Albert City Hall to the Prince Albert Historical Society

Aerial winter view of Prince Albert. Part of airplane, North Saskatchewan River, and railroad bridge are also visible

A view of a ferry apparently caught in ice on the North Saskatchewan River, Prince Albert

View of the ferry on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert being loaded

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge over the North Saskatchewan at Prince Albert

Prince Albert ferry as viewed from the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. High water level, riverboat approaching bridge

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert

Riverboat Northwest on the North Saskatchewan River with unidentified crew members

The riverboat Marquis on the shore of the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert

Prince Albert Ferry on shore of North Saskatchewan Winter during winter. Horse drawn sleigh hauling lumber, unidentified people and dog in foreground

Riverboat "City of Prince Albert" on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Unidentified passengers and crew can be seen on the deck

Unidentified steam powered riverboat on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Unidentified passengers and crew can be seen on the decks

Hudson's Bay Company steamboat on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Decks contain unidentified passengers and crew