There are only a few signs of Quintland left in the landscape today [Nov. 2012]. The fence is still there, the nursery and a guardhouse. One of the souvenir shops is now a private home.
The 1935 “Quintuplet Map” issued by the Board of Trade.
In 1935 OHW was promoted by the railways and by the local Board of Trade. Every effort was made to be sure that visitors to the Dionne quintuplets were aware of Norh Bay and OHW. The “Tourist and Fish Committee” of the North Bay Board of Trade sent out 10,000 copies of their special “Quintuplet Maps” which highlighted the Dionne Quints and the Old Home Week activities to tourist information bureaus across the province. (The Nugget, June 28, 1935. The reverse side of the map features advertising in panels approximately 9 x 22.5 cm in size. When the map is folded, the image of the Dionne quintuplets appears on the advertisement for cruises out of Callander on the steamer “Sea Gull” appeared on the bottom. A large two-panel ad by the North Bay Board of Trade advertised the advantages of North Bay as a tourist destination. Temagami Park was also featured in a two-panel ad.
 The Nugget, 26 July 1935. By summer, tourists were beginning to arrive to visit the Quints, and North Bay wanted to capitalize on this. |
An unusual advertising method used to give visitors to the Quints the message that Old Home Week was happening in North Bay only a few miles away was an ox-cart with a large sign to that effect. |
Canadian National included a special reference to the North Bay Old Home Week in its Civic Weekend ad. Fares were advertised as a cent a mile round trip bargain excursion. From Toronto to North Bay the rate was advertised as $4.55. (The Globe, 29 July 1935.) |
The key for promoters of OHW in 1935 was to get the message out that North Bay was in close proximity to the Quints and that anyone visiting the Quints should visit North Bay as well.
Promotions such as draws for a car were used, but they do not appear to stand out as a novelty quite as much as they did in 1925. Both the 159th battalion and the Rorab Shriners held a draw for a Ford v-8 sedan. The battalion car was won by John Smith of Parry Sound; the Rorab car was won by Mrs. E.S. Weisman of McIntyre Street. (“Home Week Autos Find New Homes.” The Nugget, 12 August 1935, 1.)
Starting in 1923 the Ontario government began distributing booklets meant to draw tourists, especially Americans, to come to Ontario to vacation. This was the beginning of the era of motor touring. An overview of the history of tourism in Ontario and the government’s involvement can be viewed at the Archives of Ontario’s online exhibit: Yours to Discover – Tourism in Ontario Through Time.
In the 1920s Ontario was promoted primarily as a Lake-land playground. Separate books for northern Ontario began to be issued in the 1930s. By the 1950s, the lure books consisted mainly of photographs. Other more specialized books such as the one on canoe routes were also issued.
Click on the cover image of the following lure books to view a pdf file of the entire book.
 Lake-land 1923 |
 Ontario 1925 |
 Ontario 1926 |
 Lakeland 1930 |
 Holiday Haunts 1934 |
 Ontario Welcomes 1938 |
 King’s Highways 1939 |
 Variety Vacationland 1954 |
 Northern Ontario 1931 |
 Northern Ontario 1947 |
 Canoe trips in Ontario |