While browsing online for historical information, retired teacher and historian James Kostuchuk stumbled across an auction site based in Britain offering Titanic memorabilia. One listing caught his attention: a third-class ticket carried by a victim of the disaster, valued at $90,000. But what stood out wasn’t the price — it was the name.
"His middle name was Portage, which I thought was a really unusual middle name," notes Kostuchuk. "It turns out he was born here, and the family named him after the city before returning to England."
Two Portage passengers, divided by class
Kostuchuk says the man was one of two individuals with ties to Portage la Prairie who were aboard the Titanic. Unlike the wealthy Fortune family from Winnipeg travelling first class, this local namesake had modest means and was en route to Des Moines, Iowa to attend Bible college.
"He had a fair amount of money on him, presumably for his schooling, but still travelled third class because his family wasn't wealthy," adds Kostuchuk.
Meanwhile, first-class passenger Mrs. Fortune became known for more than just her wealth. She lost both her husband and son in the tragedy and was among the first to report that the ship's band continued playing "Nearer, My God, to Thee" as the Titanic went down.
"There was also a claim, later denied by the family, that Bruce Ismay boarded her lifeboat disguised as a woman to escape," says Kostuchuk.
Pocket treasures and Portage’s Titanic exhibit
Among the personal effects recovered from the Portage-born passenger were money and another ticket, all carefully itemized by recovery crews and later passed to his family.
"Back then, you had to carry your money on you. There were no international bank transfers, so it was quite common," notes Kostuchuk.
He also recalls a local connection to Titanic artifacts through former Portage resident Steve Santini. Santini once displayed over 100 authentic items in a 3,500-square-foot Titanic exhibit inside the Portage Mall.
"He had everything from a deck chair to a cup and saucer, and even a pocket watch that had stopped at the moment its owner entered the water," continues Kostuchuk.
Portage held a Titanic fundraiser in 1912
Following the disaster, the City of Portage la Prairie responded with compassion. A fundraiser was held on May 2, 1912, at what is now Trinity United Church, with tickets sold at $0.25 apiece.
"That was a lot of money at the time. A farmhand in Manitoba earned around $25 a month, so this was a meaningful contribution," adds Kostuchuk.
He later uncovered a ticket to that original fundraiser while sorting documents at the Fort la Reine Museum.
A story that continues to resonate
Kostuchuk says the Titanic's place in collective memory goes beyond history books.
"The Titanic was seen as a metaphor for man's hubris," says Kostuchuk. "Of all the shipwrecks of the 20th century, the Titanic continues to resonate. And somehow, Portage la Prairie is part of that story."
He believes the ship's legacy is slowly fading as its remains are now being eroded by microbes at the bottom of the Atlantic. Still, the fascination lives on.
"It reminded me that Portage was also the site of Canada's first commercial aircraft crash investigation. Both events show how accidents shaped safety protocols and how souvenir hunters once destroyed evidence before proper investigations could begin," notes Kostuchuk.
"Maybe the Titanic, like all great stories, needs to finally be put to rest," he adds, noting the ship is disintegrating over time, and will eventually disappear. "But until then, it’s remarkable that even in Portage, echoes of it remain."