View of part of the La Colle Falls construction site taken from a cliff above the North Saskatchewan River. Team of horses, buildings and tents

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

Swimming pool built on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert. Two people can be seen walking along the pool's boundary, as well as several swimming across it

View of La Colle Falls project under construction on the North Saskatchewan River at La Colle Falls east of Prince Albert. A group of three unidentified women and one unidentified man can be seen in the foreground viewing the scenery

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

Looking up River Street facing west(?). Intersection of River Street and probably First Avenue West at left, North Saskatchewan River at right

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

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

The riverboats "City of Prince Albert" and the "Alberta" on the North Saskatchewan River at Prince Albert

Canadian Northern Railway Bridge across the North Saskatchewan River with its "traffic wings" open to allow for the passing of an unidentified riverboat

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