Spruce Falls (Saskatchewan) facts for kids

Spruce Falls was the local name for a small waterfall in northeastern Saskatchewan, close to the Manitoba border. It was located where the Swan River flows into Duck Lake.

The Swan River is about 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) long. It acts as a channel that carries water from Birch Lake into Sisipuk (Duck) Lake. Eventually, this water makes its way into the larger Churchill River. The Swan River system collects water from many lakes, including Mari Lake, Barrier Lake, and Birch Burntwood Lake.

In 1928, Spruce Falls became an important place. A temporary power plant was built there. This plant helped supply electricity for a big construction project at Island Falls, Saskatchewan. This project was building a hydroelectric power plant on the Churchill River.

What Was Spruce Falls?

Spruce Falls was a natural waterfall where the Swan River met Duck Lake. It was a beautiful spot in the wilderness of Saskatchewan. The area is known for its many lakes and rivers, which are all connected.

Powering a Big Project

The temporary power plant at Spruce Falls was essential for building the much larger hydroelectric plant at Island Falls. Think of it like a smaller, temporary workshop that helps build a huge factory. The Island Falls project needed a lot of electricity to power its tools and machines.

How the Temporary Power Plant Worked

The temporary power plant at Spruce Falls was a building made of wood, located right on the shore of Sisipuk Lake. Inside, it had two small machines that made electricity. These machines were called generators. They were connected to special turbines that used the force of the water to spin.

The electricity produced by these generators was at 600 volts. This power then went to a set of transformers. These transformers were placed a little distance away from the main building and had safety devices to protect them from lightning. The transformers' job was to increase the voltage to 26,400 volts. This higher voltage made it easier to send the electricity over long distances to Island Falls.

At Island Falls, another station lowered the voltage back down to 600 volts. This power was then used for electric locomotives. These locomotives were like electric trains that moved earth, concrete, and other building materials around the construction site.

The End of the Temporary Plant

Work on the Spruce Falls temporary power plant started on October 4, 1928. It began making electricity on March 20, 1929. It kept running without stopping until June 5, 1930. On that day, the first big generator at the main Island Falls plant started working.

Once the Island Falls plant was ready, the Spruce Falls plant was taken apart. Even though there was a lot of snow and the ice was weak, the two small generators were moved to Island Falls. They were installed there permanently in 1933.

During its time, the Spruce Falls plant provided a lot of electricity for the construction work. It played a very important role in building the larger Island Falls power plant.