New Liskeard, Pete’s Dam and Triangle Hill – Lake Temiskaming and the Tri-Town Area (Part 1)
Welcome to the northern terminus of Lake Temiskaming. In this post we examine a little section of Lake Temiskaming, specifically the town of New Liskeard, and it’s rich heritage as well as the natural beauty that surrounds it. No longer is this corner of Ontario reserved for mining, today the area is a hub for endorsement and naturalists alike.
Today New Liskeard and Haileybury have merged form the Municipality of Temiskaming Shores, while nearby Cobalt has not entered into this confederation. Yet historically these three cities were part of the powerful Tri-Town area, even being linked by a streetcar system. As such you visit to New Liskeard should include the other two towns. Thus this post should be read in conjunction with my posts on:
Haileybury and the Devil’s Rock – Lake Temiskaming and the Tri-Town Area (Part 2)
Cobalt – Lake Temiskaming and the Tri-Town Area (Part 3)
Table of Contents
New Liskeard
This quaint town located at the north end of the giant reservoir that is Lake Temiskaming was not established until relatively late in the colonial era, when two Europeans camped here in 1891. The early reports from the area helped spur the construction of a settlement some years later. Unlike most of nearby towns, New Liskeard was founded as a center for agricultural, taking advantage of the rich soil in the Little Claybelt region, where it developed into a prosperous town. As you may have noticed, Agriculture is not typically associated with northern Ontario. On your way in you may have seen the lumber town of Tenogami or mining town such as Cobalt and Kirkland Lake to the north, these are industries usually associated with the north and the fact that Lake Temiskaming eventually becomes the Ottawa river helped spur those towns to an early lead. Yet slow and steady wins the race, agriculture ensured that New Liskeard and the Town of Haleibury (Temiscaming Shores) has largely avoided the boom-and-bust cycles associated with the mining and forestry industries, helping the municipality retain population. In recent years Temiskaming Shores has also become a popular destination for retirees and leisure seekers.
In town you will find a few attraction. The first is a cluster of heritage structures located by the war memorial.
Here you will find a Carnegie Library, one of the many built with private funds across north America. The gothic limestone building with a neoclassical portico dates from 1910 and is probably the finest building in town. Unfortunately it was sold to a private land owner and is no longer used as a library. It is a proud survivor of the Great Fire of 1922 that gutted the city and its surroundings.
Please note that the library is the only designated heritage building in town and one of the last remaining Carnegie libraries in northeastern Ontario, so deep is the destruction of Canada’s architectural heritage stock.
Flanking the memorial opposite to the library is a beaten down residential structure. Although it has seen better days I urge you to take a look into the main doors. The Art Deco interior and glasswork is spectacular and I would love to see the building restored and preserved.
The previously mentioned buildings are located on Lakeshore Boulevard North, a commercial artery with a few shops that meets Whitewood Ave. a second artery with shops. Here you will find an old theater that no longer seems to be in operation but is quite stylish. Whitewood continues north east towards Pete’s Dam and Triangle Hill.
You can follow Whitewood south west, down to the lake, where a pleasant waterfront awaits. In recent years this public park has become the center of the town, due to some investment from the municipality. There is a good quality motel with a new lakefront terrace facing the lake, public art, a boardwalk and a public beach. You will also find plenty of dog walkers!
Enjoy the view before setting off south towards Haileybury or north towards Pete’s Dam and Triangle Hill.
There is one last item that requires attention. In the northern extremity of the city you will find the Little Claybelt Homesteaders Museum. To reach it you will pass by an agricultural college and field after field of crops, a great segway into this little time capsule detailing life in the Claybelt. Its most recognizable feature is a massive statue of a cow, and of course I tried to milk it’s udders!
Lake Temiskaming
Of course, who could forget beautiful Lake Temiskaming. I stayed in a air bnb just outside of New Liskeard and was able to enjoy its charms. The water is a light brown, but it is a clear pleasant colour. Take a dip in the water or just lounge on its wooded shores
Pete’s Dam and the Abandoned Chapel
Although it is a fairly unremarkable hike, Pete’s Dam offers those looking for an outing a chance to picnic by a gentle stream and check out a waterfall.
A short pathway from the piknik area will take you to a second waterfall down the stream.
I did want to mention that I found a really interesting church in the area. Seeming to be of a protestant denomination, the clearly decaying structure looks like what one would find in rural Louisiana. From what I could tell it had been some time since it had been in use.
Triangle Hill
Enjoy Pete’s Dam? Like Pete’s, Triangle Hill is located north-west of the city and you should do both in one swoop. This hike will surely be worth you while as it offers sweeping view of the Temiskaming farmland. At the base of the hill, on hoover road off route 65, you will find a place to park near the base of the trail.
The hike is a simple multi-kilometer look up the mountain and around to come back to your original starting point. After your typical walk though the woods you will begin climbing in elevation.
When you reach the ridge of the mountain you will have a great view of the rich clay-belt farmland below.
As well as some rockfalls along the steep ridge, plummeting towards the rural road.
Further along the ridge you will find further evidence of rockfall as well as several large boulders.
From the top you will get your best view yet of the landscape.
At the top of the mountain you will find a marker with an indication of the way down to complete the loop.
On your way down the hill you will have a chance to take a fork in the road and visit two other lakes before returning to your car. My favorite part of the hike was the fact that I did not see a single person on the trail, a refreshing concept when comparing trail traffic to the rest of Southern Ontario.
