Algonquin Park Ranger Mark Robinson

#OTD (Wed, Nov 15) 1916 in England on military duty: "Went to London. Put up at the Strand Palace Hotel, a rather swell place but a good clean place to stay. Home-like & every comfort. Spent afternoon wandering around old historical spots in London." @csnrec.bsky.social @canwarmuseum.bsky.social

#OTD (Mon, Nov 15) 1909 at #HeadLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Assisted D.H. MacLaren from Head Lake to Algonquin Park station. Crossed lake at dark, 6:30 p.m. I took 4 deer, 4 bags of dunnage, & 3 men & equipment across lake to station in a canoe at one load." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Mon, Nov 14) 1921 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Joe Lake almost all frozen over yesterday. I patrolled east along railway & ponds. Saw where beaver were breaking the ice." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Wed, Nov 14) 1917 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "We got one buck. I shot it under most trying circumstances; the sun shining right along my rifle barrel from muzzle to my eye. However, I dropped him in his tracks, having broke his neck." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Fri, Nov 14) 1913 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark, ON, Canada: "Set mink trap. Got 2 live muskrats. All of us burning & lugging up piles of rubbish. Snow flurries at noon. Telephone linemen putting up wires for long distance phone this afternoon." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Thu, Nov 14) 1912 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Saw number of brown merganser ducks this morning. About four inches of snow on ground this morning. Visited traps. Results nil. Saw a northern shrike [IMG]." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Tue, Nov 13) 1923 at #CacheLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Pine grosbeaks & snow buntings moving south. We are busy investigating thieving of Headquarters. This has been one of the finest days on record, and we are going out as much as possible." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Mon, Nov 13) 1916 on military service in England: "Col. MacLaren & I went out for a walk across Wey Valley to Linchmere, where we saw some very fine Guernsey bulls at the Stock Farm. Many of the prize cattle of Great Britain are from this farm." @csnrec.bsky.social

#OTD (Thu, Nov 13) 1913 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Morning wet. Afternoon, we burnt log heaps. Evening made a double door mink trap." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Sat, Nov 13) 1909 in #AlgonquinPark: "I went to Drummer Lake Creek. Examined wolf baits. Found pineapple fungi. Returned & went to Sim’s Pit, then to Canoe Lake, then to Rainbow Lake ponds, then down Potter Creek. Saw a fine woodcock on beaver dam." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Tue, Nov 10) 1925 NE of #AlgonquinPark: "Andy & I spent the evening with [Col. Kenney's hunt club near Daventry]. We told tales of the woods and late war until a late hour. Wolves howling tonight." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Thu, Nov 10) 1921 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "I patrolled to Source Lake & Sims Creek south. Snow at evening. Temp. 32˚ [0˚C] at 6 p.m. Put away canoe & took sleigh and brought in live beaver traps." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social [IMG may lack accuracy!]

#OTD (Mon, Nov 10) 1913 at #AlgonquinPark HQ: "Fixing up furnace room at Sup’t’s house. I went with W. Lewis to Delano Lake to bring in net set there to get trout for scientific purposes, after which I assisted in putting up furnace pipes at Sup’t Bartlett’s residence." @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Wed, Nov 10) 1909 at #CacheLake, #AlgonquinPark: "During forenoon, Mr. Bartlett got telegram to let prisoner go; he leaving on 11 a.m. train for Pembroke. I walked down to Canoe Lake." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Sun, Nov 8) 1925 at #TraverseLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Morning stormy…at noon the sun came out and all looked grand with the trees shrouded in snow. Frank drew in wood with dog team." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Mon, Nov 8) 1920 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Very fine, much like September weather. We went around traps. Got two beaver, one muskrat & one house cat which we left behind. Blue heron, merganser, loons, vesper & tree sparrows, robins here." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Thu, Nov 8) 1917 at #AlgonquinPark: "Mr. Colson & I went to Buck Lake to hunt. We got 5 deer. I shot 3 of them. Sup’t shipped out fifty deer to Toronto tonight, averaging 110 lbs. a piece." [NOTE: Deer shipped as wartime source of meat.] @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Sun, Nov 8) 1908 at #BoundaryLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Had dinner with MacLaren party & enjoyed a couple of hours’ talk with all hands, where we started back to Headquarters... trusty friends, good sportsmen, who are a credit to their country." @nichecanada.bsky.social @csnrec.bsky.social

#OTD (Sat, Nov 7) 1925 at #AlgonquinPark: "I moved to Agnone this morning where I found Frank awaiting me. After lunch we went to Lac Traverse, Frank cutting out a good number of trees from portage brought down by recent snow." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Thu, Nov 7) 1918 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "We received a premature report that peace had been concluded and an armistice signed, consequently a celebration, etc., this evening. We all met at the Algonquin Hotel." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Tue, Nov 7) 1916 on military service in #England: "Rain, rain, every day there is rain. How grand would one good Canadian autumn day seem. As our men haven’t had very good food, I am endeavouring to have things made right & a very disagreeable job it is." @csnrec.bsky.social

#OTD (Fri, Nov 7) 1913 at #AlgonquinPark: "Made a tin-lined box trap for live animals & set same up railroad ditch, then I went around Cache Lake with canoe for a couple of hours. Saw a prairie horned lark. Rather late for this section at this date." @nichecanada.bsky.social @csnrec.bsky.social

#OTD (Sat, Nov 7) 1908 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Mr. Nadon got a horse & wagon & hauled in wood all day. I piled up the same in woodshed & made an attempt at bread baking. Nuff said. Bread no good." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

The Algonquin Diaries: Reflections of an Early-20th-Century Park Ranger Algonquin Park Ranger Mark Robinson’s diaries (1907–1936) detail social, environmental, and moral changes, offering rare insights into early conservation, policy, and wilderness life.

Our editor, @peterastevens.bsky.social, sat down with Gregory Klages of the @rgrmarkrobinson.bsky.social project in "The Algonquin Diaries: Reflections of an Early-20th-Century Park Ranger."

niche-canada.org/2025/11/05/t...

#envhist #cdnhist #parkhistory

#OTD (Fri, Nov 6) 1925, back in #AlgonquinPark after medical leave: "I walked from Radiant to Agnone & met Frank Robichaud. Enjoyed his company, a hot dinner & supper. I went to Radiant on evening train. A fine moose came out to rail track & disappeared." @nichecanada.bsky.social @csnrec.bsky.social

#OTD (Sun, Nov 6) 1921 at #AlgonquinPark: "18˚ of frost [-10˚C]. Joe Lake frozen over from road to dam, the earliest I have seen. Robin here, also white-throat sparrow, blue heron. I patrolled to Source Lake and returned." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Thu, Nov 6) 1919 at #AlgonquinPark: "Morning dull, clearing into a most glorious day. Arthur & I went to Otterslide Lake camp & repaired same, taking a new stove there. We put in a stock of wood. Made table, shelves. We remained overnight." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social

#OTD (Mon, Nov 6) 1916 on military service in #England: "The church where the smith’s daughter sang in the choir stands out near the little village of Bramshott. It is said that Gray’s "Elegy" was written there. The Anchor Inn in Liphook is a hustle of note." @csnrec.bsky.social

#OTD (Sat, Nov 6) 1909 at #JoeLake, #AlgonquinPark: "Most beautiful morning. Foxes and deer on veranda of shelter house this morning." @csnrec.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social