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Ghost of Francis Hector Clergue sighted downtown

A ghostly figure who identified himself as Francis Hector Clergue appeared Thursday afternoon at the Ermatinger/Clergue National Historic Site. There was nothing supernatural about the apparition.
FrancisClergue

A ghostly figure who identified himself as Francis Hector Clergue appeared Thursday afternoon at the Ermatinger/Clergue National Historic Site.

There was nothing supernatural about the apparition.

It was a moving, talking holographic image projected on a mannequin professionally crafted to resemble a photograph of the famous Sault industrialist.

The Ghost of Francis Clergue, as the state-of-the-art dummy has been affectionately dubbed by the Ermatinger/Clergue staff, will make his first public appearance at a "house-warming" event scheduled for Thursday, July 25, from noon to 2 p.m.

The Clergue Blockhouse

The Blockhouse was Clergue's home when he first came to the Sault. It was there that he developed the schemes that would develop into an industrial empire including Algoma Steel, Algoma Central Railway, Lake Superior Power Co., Sault Ste. Marie Pulp and Paper Co., Algoma Tube Works Ltd., and the International Transit Co.

When Clergue moved in, only the lower portion of the structure existed. It was an old Hudson's Bay Company powder magazine.

Expansion at St. Mary's Paper

In 1996, the building had to be moved because of an expansion at St. Mary's Paper.

With considerable help from the community, it was transferred to the Ermatinger Heritage Site, where Sault Ste. Marie's Historic Sites Board has spearheaded a $310,000 interior and exterior restoration project.

The public is invited to view the finished renovations at next Thursday's 'house-warming.'

After that, access to the Blockhouse will be by special reservation only.

City Council will be approached next year for funding to allow the building to open during regular visiting hours at the Ermatinger/Clergue National Historic Site.

SooToday photo coverage

The Clergue Blockhouse What Clergue really looked like - image #1 What Clergue really looked like - image #2 What Clergue really looked like - image #3 Staffers Elisa Sturgeon and Rene Cescon Curator Daphne Poirier and staffer Tisha McDougall

Hit the links

To learn more about Francis Clergue, click here. To read about the Blockhouse, click here.

For further information about Clergue's involvement in the industrialization of the Sault, click here.

For details about the collapse of his empire, click here.

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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