View of a lock entrance at the La Colle Falls construction 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

View of the riverboat King George V on the North Saskatchewan River between the La Colle Falls construction project and Prince Albert. Log building in foreground, fences

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 unidentified workmen posing on dam structure at La Colle Falls construction site, 1913

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

Riverboat "Alberta" docked along the North Saskatchewan River, presumably at Prince Albert. Unidnetified passenger and crew on decks

Fleet freighter on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert

View of the Prince Albert Ferry crossing the North Saskatchewan River with a load of people and wagons

Ferry and dredge in the Prince Albert area, presumably crossing the North Saskatchewan River

Prince Albert Ferry crossing the North Saskatchewan River on ferry cables. Horses and unidentified persons on board. Ice chunks evident on the banks. Tannery building in background, as well as other unidentified building and windmill

The steamboat "Alberta" on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert, unidentified passengers and crew on deck

Unidentified riverboat on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert, unidentified passengers and crew on upper deck

Riverboat Alberta on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Unidentified passengers and crew on board

Remains of the riverboat Marquis on the shore of the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Writing on face reads: "Relic of Northwest Rebellion, The Steamer Marquis, Prince Albert, Sask."

View of the steamboat "Pathfinder" carrying unidentified passengers and crew on the North Saskatchewan River

View of River Street facing east, North Saskatchewan River at left