This is the second in a series of articles that looks back at the municipal political leaders who helped shape the community. The first can be found by clicking this link.
Fort Frances experienced tremendous growth during its first decade as a town.
The municipality overcame a devastating fire that destroyed the main business section, rising from the ashes with new development on what would become Scott Street.
Power flowed from the dam on the Rainy River, helping to open two mills.
The community opened a new school, public library and hotels.
By the time the 1920s rolled around, the population had nearly doubled.
Leading the town into a new decade was Dr. Archie McTaggart.
Dr. Archie McTaggart, undated. Photo courtesy Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre
The local dentist made his first appearance in the municipal election in 1920, running for mayor against political veteran Herb Williams, who enjoyed six previous terms as head of council.
McTaggart was well-liked, which translated on election day when he earned twice as many votes as Williams.
He was joined on council by four other newcomers.
Political history was made on the school board with the election of Margaret McVey as trustee.
McVey, a former teacher, took advantage of new legislation that gave women the right to run for political office. She ended up being the top vote-getter.
Flora Lloyd was also on the ballot, but in the week before the election, she pulled out of the race and requested that voters not vote for her.
She still picked up 95 votes to finish last among the five candidates, narrowly missing out on being elected by a mere 30 votes.
McTaggart and Williams again challenged for the mayor’s chair in 1921, with the incumbent repeating as the victor on a stronger margin than the year before.
Voters also cast ballots on by-laws affecting a new rink and high school. Both passed, but the rink by-law drew plenty of opposition.
In search of a third straight term as mayor in 1922, McTaggart faced opposition from long-time councillor Alex Thompson, a local contractor.
McTaggart’s popularity remained strong and won re-election by more than 180 votes.
The mayoral race was one of seven residents were asked to decide.
Voters also cast ballots in school board elections for either one- or two-year terms, and three by-laws pertaining to road improvements, an addition to the public school and an assessment on a new rink.
The Fort Frances Times reported that by the time polls closed, some voters had not completed all seven ballots and were not counted.
Similar voting challenges plagued the 1923 election.
No voters’ lists were prepared in advance, leading to several residents being declared ineligible.
McTaggart secured the mayor’s seat for a fourth straight year, defeating Williams for the second time in three years by a margin of over 100 votes.
Voters also strongly supported a referendum to create a municipal board of education.
A rare tie occurred in the race for councillor between Robert Eldridge and Dan Kennahan, each receiving 155 votes for the sixth and final seat.
Kennahan was declared the winner by the town’s returning officer by virtue of having more votes in the larger of the town’s two polling districts.
As 1924 approached, McTaggart decided against running for a fourth term, despite encouragement from some members of the electorate.
This opened the door for William Elliott, Robert Ferguson and John Phillip Wright to seek the seat.
John Phillip Wright, undated. Photo courtesy Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre
Wright topped the polls, earning a majority of the votes cast on election day.
Wright was a former federal employee with the Department of Indian Affairs, enjoying a nearly 50-year career that included his appointment as a federal agent, overseeing First Nations in the Fort Frances area.
Voters enjoyed plenty of choice on the ballot that year, with 14 candidates seeking to become councillor and another 14 vying for a seat on the school board, including two women.
More than 900 ballots were counted, nearly double the number cast in previous elections.
This was owing to legislation that gave women the right to vote, and for the first time in a municipal election.
To accommodate the increase in eligible voters, the town doubled the number of polling stations from two to four.
In the same election, voters gave support to the town assuming control of the Fort Frances Telephone System.
Wright’s term in office lasted just one year, with Elliott returning in 1925 to defeat the incumbent by 81 votes.
Elliott was an original shareholder of the Fort Frances Times and later assumed control as editor and publisher when Joseph Osbourne departed.
William H. Elliott, undated. Photo courtesy Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre
He served as town clerk from 1906 to 1910 and town assessor from 1915 until 1918 before making a run for political office.
Wright successfully won election as a councillor seat in 1921 and again in 1923.
Voter turnout continued to increase, with almost 1,000 votes cast, an increase of over 100 from the year before.
Interest remained strong in 1926 despite only the mayoral race to decide.
Elliott was challenged by Bert Holmes, a two-term councillor, with voters opting to give the incumbent a second term.
Council was filled through acclamation with returning Councillors Larry Frenette, Joseph Parker and Walter Woodward, and political newcomers, W.C. Anderson, William Martin, and W.J. Turgeon.
A long list of candidates filed for election the following year.
A record sixteen candidates registered for the six councillor positions, which helped to swell voter turnout to well over 1,100.
Elliott, in a bid for a third straight term as mayor, faced challenges for mayor from four candidates, including Woodward, John East, Herb Williams and William Phair.
The number of polling stations was increased to reflect an ever-growing population.
Walter Woodward, undated. Photo courtesy Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre
The mayor’s race came down to a two-way race between Elliott and Woodward, with the latter edging the incumbent by just 17 votes.
Woodward, a labourist, had served on town council for four term and two more with the Board of Education.
He was also a member of the Bricklayers Union, serving as local president for three years and secretary for ten. He was later hired by the provincial government to serve as an inspector with the Ministry of Lands and Forests.
Elliott and Woodward again faced each other for a third straight year in the mayoral runoff on January 5th, 1928.
Woodward successfully retained the seat by a margin of 166 votes.
