Hungry Hall facts for kids
Hungry Hall was the name given to two different trading posts in Canada. These posts were important places where European fur traders met with Indigenous peoples to exchange goods, mainly furs. They were called "Hungry Hall" because they didn't bring in much profit or many furs, which meant they weren't very successful.
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Hungry Hall on the Saskatchewan River
A North West Company Post
One of the Hungry Hall trading posts was built by the North West Company (NWC), a powerful fur trading company from Canada. In 1790, a trader named William Thorburn started this post. It was located on the right bank of the Saskatchewan River, close to where the town of Nipawin, Saskatchewan is today.
Why it was Built
The main reason the North West Company built this post was to compete with their biggest rival, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The HBC had a trading post nearby called Cumberland House, Saskatchewan. By building Hungry Hall, the NWC hoped to stop Indigenous traders from reaching Cumberland House and instead encourage them to trade their furs with the NWC.
Moving the Post
In 1791, William Thorburn moved the post a little further down the river. The new location was on the left bank, across from a place called Petaigan Creek. Even after moving, the post didn't do very well, which is why it earned the name "Hungry Hall." The Hudson's Bay Company also sent their own trader, Malcomb Ross, to build a competing post right next to it!
Its End and Legacy
The Hungry Hall post on the Saskatchewan River didn't last long. It seems to have closed down in 1794. Today, the exact spot where it stood is likely underwater, beneath Tobin Lake. Interestingly, a version of William Thorburn's name was given to a nearby fast-moving part of the river called Tobin Rapid, and the lake itself might have gotten its name from him too.
Hungry Hall on the Rainy River
A Hudson's Bay Company Post
The second trading post named Hungry Hall was built much later, in 1825, by the Hudson's Bay Company. This post was located on the Rainy River, which forms part of the border between what is now Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota in the United States. It was built near an older trading post called Asp House.
Why it Closed and Reopened
In 1834, the Hudson's Bay Company decided to close this Hungry Hall post. This was part of an agreement they made with another fur trading company, the American Fur Company, to reduce competition in the area.
However, the post wasn't gone forever! In 1863, it reappeared in the company's records, this time as a smaller "outpost." This means it was likely a smaller trading spot connected to a larger main post.
Its Final Closure
The Hungry Hall post on the Rainy River finally closed its doors for good in 1893. This time, the reason was strong competition from American traders. Today, the site where this trading post once stood is part of the Oak Grove Resort. There's even a special historical marker on the riverbank to remember its past. The name "Hungry Hall" was also borrowed by a local Indigenous group, the Rainy River First Nations.
