Lumbering in the Ottawa and Gatineau Valleys
February 2, 2005:
Fur trading was the first major staple industry in the Ottawa Valley.
The second major staple product was lumber for export -- square timber at first, then
sawn lumber then pulpwood (for paper making). Square timber was first rafted down
the Ottawa River to Quebec City by Philomen Wright (PW) in the first decade of the
nineteenth century. Later, the Gilmour company took over major operations along the
Gatineau River.
The lumber industry took place all along the Ottawa River. It's tributaries
on the Ontario side, the Nation, Rideau, Mississippi, Madawaska and Bonnechere
were all important sources. On the Quebec side, the Lievre, Gatineau, Quyon,
Black, Coulonge and Dumoine Rivers were all important for the lumber trade.
The lumber industry had tremendous effects on the native Algonquin
people. The Ottawa and its tributaries were their traditional hunting and trapping
grounds. Competition for hunting by new settlers in the Gatineau Valley and
the Bonnechere and Madawaska Valleys caused great hardship to the Algonquins
and led, in part, to the formation of reserves at Maniwaki and at Golden Lake
under the Indian Act. The white pioneers, before their farms became self-sufficient,
hunted deer and rabbits in the beginning putting great stress on the animal population.
For the white settlers, the lumber industry provided jobs, especially in the
winter time when men who farmed for half the year would head to the shanty
with their teams of horses and make some cash income for their families.
The lumber industry, as well as being an important local employer, also attracted
immigrants to the area. Felix McGrath, married to
Mary Barrett.
Pat McGrath is looking for info regarding Gilmour Lumber Company.
_________
Hi Pat:
You should get your hands on a book called "Hurling Down the Pine"written
by Courtney C. J. Bond.
It's all about lumbering on the Gatineau River and has lots of old maps
and pictures, including one of the housing used by the workers in the area of
Chelsea. It's mostly about the Gilmour company and it's operations in that area,
including Farmer's Rapids.
Real good book. It should be at the Ottawa Public Library. They also have what
is called the "Ottawa Room" - all history and genealogy in the Ottawa area,
in the downtown branch.
I'll try and set up a new page tomorrow on lumbering and Felix McGrath.
Thanks again,
... Al
February 16, 2005:
Hi Al
I was digging through my piles of books yesterday looking for a reference
when I happened on a book I had forgotten about long ago. It's by Charlotte Whitton
(former Mayor of Ottawa) and is titled "One Hundred Years A Felling" the history
of the first hundred years of the Gillies Co. Lots of good stuff for anyone
interested in early lumbering, the Lanark area, the Gillies family or key employees
of the company.
I didn't see it in your reference section or find it with a site search so I thought
I would mention it to you. I checked and its available at most OPL branches.
Regards
Al Craig
February 22, 2005:
Hi again,
3 McGraths came to Old Chelsea from Gaspe to work namely Felix, William and Charles.
I believe they all worked at Gilmour's Mills which I have been told is where
the Quebec Hydro is today on the Gatineau River. William subsequently went to
upper New York state, Charles who was a blacksmith returned to Gaspe and died
in Haldimand East in 1932. Felix remained and brought up his family in Old Chelsea.
Three of his sons left - Dominik for Hamilton, David to Peterboro and George to
New Brunswick and then Timmins.
I would am interested in any information about Gilmour Mills employees, the Island
where it is said he had residences for his employees. (if this is true)
This info was passed to me orally from an Aunt who is now deceased.
Pat
__________________
Pat:
The book "Hurling Down the Pine" by John Hughson and Courtney C.J. Bond, written
for the Historical Society of the Gatineau in 1964, contains photos of the workers
barracks. There are two pictures on page 49.
... Al
February 23, 2005:
Thanks to Taylor Kennedy for the following:
Taken from the Business Directory of 1851, page 263
Principal Lumber Merchants for the Ottawa River and the Tributaries, 1851
Alexander McAuley
David Moore Jr.
Allumette Island
Samuel Adams
C.E. (Canada East)
Allumette Island
J.R. Poupore
C.E.
Allumette Island
George Stubbs
C.E.
Aylmer
John Coghlan
C.E.
Aylmer
Michael Coghlan
C.E.
Aylmer
Robert Conroy
C.E.
Aylmer
John Egan
C.E.
Aylmer
D.A. Ingles / (Inglis?)
C.E.
Aylmer
Roderick Ryan
C.E.
Aylmer
James Wadesworth (Wadsworth?)
C.E.
Bytown
Joseph Aumond
C.W. (Canada West)
Bytown
Gilmour & Co.
C.W.
Bytown
Edward McGillvray
C.W.
Bytown
Hon. Thomas McKay
C.W.
Bytown
Daniel McLaughlin
C.W.
Bytown
James Skead
C.W.
Bytown
Joseph Smith
C.W.
Bytown
John Thompson
C.W.
Fort Coulonge
George Bryson
C.E.
Gatineau
Peter Patterson
Quebec
Gatineau
Alonzo Wright
C.E.
Gatineau
Thomas McGoey (Maniwaki area)
C.E.
Gatineau Mills
Hugh Carmichael
C.E.
Hawkesbury Mills
Hamilton Bros.
C.E.
Hull
L.M. Coutleo (Coutlee?)
C.E.
Hull
Samuel Grimes
C.E.
Hull
Benjamin McConnell
C.E.
Hull
Richard McConnell
C.E.
Hull
McConnell & Co.
C.E.
Hull
Rinaldo McConnell
C.E.
Hull
Ruggles & Wright
C.E.
Lanark
John Hall
C.W.
Madawaska River
Thomas B. Hyde
C.W.
Pembroke
J & D Bell
C.W.
Pembroke
A.H. Dunlop
C.W.
Pembroke
Alexander Moffat
C.W.
Pembroke
William Moffat
C.W.
Pembroke
Daniel O'Meara
C.W.
Pembroke
John Supple
C.W.
Perth
Alexander Richey
C.W.
Richmond
William Byers
C.W.
Sand Point
Alexander McDonell
Sand Point
Duncan McDonell
Snows
Samuel McDonell
C.E.
Stafford
Abraham Curry
C.W.
Stafford
Alexander McLaren
C.E.
Templeton
Anthony Cullen
C.E.
Torbolton
James Grierson
C.W.
Torbolton
Andrew Hawley
C.W.
Twsp. Bagot
Duncan McFarlane
C.W.
Twsp. Blithfield
John Donnelly
C.W.
Twsp. Blithfield
Gerrard McCrea
C.W.
Twsp. Eardley
J.W. McLean
C.E.
Twsp. Litchfield
Louis Brossard
C.E.
Twsp. McNabb
Peter Morris & Co.
C.W.
Twsp. McNabb
William Morris
C.W.
Twsp. McNabb
Peter Robertson
C.W.
Twsp. Pakenham
John Browne
C.W.
Twsp. Pakenham
Sanuel Dickson
C.W.
Twsp. Pakenham
William Forbes
C.W.
Twsp. Pakenham
Arthur McArthur
C.W.
Twsp. Pakenham
Alexander Snedden
C.W.
Twsp. Westmeath
C.G. Bellows
C.W.
Twsp. Westmeath
John Dunlop
C.E.
Twsp. Westmeath
Hugh Hamilton
C.W.
Waltham
Hiram Colton
C.E.
February 24, 2005:
Pulp and Paper - Kazabazua in the Gatineau River Valley
The following article is from the Ottawa Citizen. We're still trying
to track down the date. Probable author is Fred Inglis, who took the picture.
The names mentioned in the article are Evan Pritchard, Joe Wiggins and Fred Wilson.
Square timber was exported from this area by Philomen Wright starting about 1805.
Sawn Lumber (boards) were exported to the United States after about 1850. Pulp and
paper were produced in the twentieth century.
Thanks to David Smith for this great photo, dated c. 1950.
See also posting dated May 8, 2005 for more information.
March 3, 2005:
Hi,
Your website mentioned you were trying to find information on the GIlmour
Lumber Company. A fellow named Basil Quaile from Otter Lake, Quebec,
published a small tract on the history of the village in 1976 - the
centennial of Otter Lake. He discusses a local landmark called The Depot,
an old log building (where my family used to stay in the late '50's / early
60's).
If I can trust my memory, Philemon Wright built The Depot about 1839 and it
was later acquired by the Gilmour Lumber Company. Interestingly, in 1872,
Prince Arthur (later Duke of Connaught & Governor General) was hosted by the
Gilmour Lumber Company and he reputedly stayed at The Depot. There is a
photo of him in a hunting party during his visit. Another person in this
photograph is "Bob Farrell, agent for the Gilmour Lumber Company". I
believe this to be the same Robert Farrell who built a nearby farm, which
was acquired by my grandparents about 1940.
(Otter Lake is actually built beside Farm Lake / Lac de la ferme,
named for this farm.) There were actually additional buildings on it -
I think there was a blacksmith shop and (at least according to the tract) the
original Otter Lake Post Office.
I recently did a little research at the National Air Photo Library and
obtained photocopies of a pair of aerial photos of Otter Lake Village / Farm
Lake from 1931 that show The Depot and The Farm, if you squint. I am pretty
certain that a digital version of this would reveal a fair amount of detail,
based on my experience with aerial photos of The Farm from 1928.
Now, if your own research turns up any more on The Depot or The Farm or
Robert Farrell, I would be keen on learning more. I'd also be interested in
knowing more about Prince Arthur's trip to Otter Lake. I made a couple of
casual inquiries but I'm hardly a historian. Maybe you'd be more
successful.
Regards,
Roy Wheeler
March 11, 2005:
Hi. My name is Bill Gambriel. I am a retired History teacher who collects
hammers as a hobby. Recently I obtained a double head log marking hammer with "G"
as the mark. This one is very similar to another log marker that I had - a single
marker with "G". This single one was described as being from the Gilmour & Co. at
Gatineau Mills, P.Q. I am trying to find some information about this company, and
especially an example of their log marking, if possible. Do you have any information
where I could obtain such material? I certainly would appreciate any information
that you might have about this request.
Thanks. Bill Gambriel
___________________
also posted on March 11, 2005:
Bill:
The Gilmour Lumber Company evolved into the large international? company known
as Canadian International Paper (CIP). They still have large mills in the Gatineau area.
The "G" mark used by the Gilmour Company was also used by CIP.
Both the single and double-headed marking hammer were made locally by blacksmiths.
In the book "Hurling Down the Pine", there are pictures of lumbermen making "bark marks"
which were ciphered into the wood of the log after slicing off a section of the bark.
These bark marks were used to help sort the logs of different companies while the logs
were in the river. The "hammer mark" was applied to each end of a log after the ends
were cut with a cross-cut saw. Log piracy was widespread on the rivers. The hammer
mark was about two inches deep in the ends of the logs, and helped to discourage piracy.
The book has a picture of a man using a marking hammer.
... Al
_____________________________
and from David Smith:
Good morning from Sunny Florida Al
I know that the Alan Gilmour family was related to the John Manuel family who
were lumbermen and started the Ottawa Curling Club (see curling). There are some wonderful
portraits of these people in the lobby of the OCC on Oconnor Street. The
Manuels came from Scotland and lived on Vittoria Street site of the Supreme
Court. This family has never been recognized as far as I can tell for their
contribution to the City of Ottawa. I think Glmour was a nephew.
There is a picture of Allan Gilmour, (1816-1895) in the book "Hurling Down the Pine",
page 46. He curled with Prime Minister Alexander MacKenzie.
Hope all is well;
DAS
April 21, 2005:
Good Afternoon All,
I am doing research on the white pine lumber industry in the late 1800’s.
I have located lots of data on volumes of timber but very little information with
regards to lumber prices or logging costs. In your experience have you seen any
such information?
Many thanks for your assistance.
... Bruce Byford
E-mail: b.byford@arbex.ca
_____________________________
Hello, Mr. Byford:
Thanks for your e-mail.
I'm reading a book called "The Upper Ottawa Valley to 1855", edited by Richard Reid.
It has a lot of information on the white pine and red pine operations, including
fluctuations in lumber prices. This material is a little prior to your interests in
the 1870's but it does contain a lot of interesting information regarding the lumber
industry and the fluctuations in lumber prices.
It contains transcriptions of original correspondence between some of the lumber barons,
account records of some shanties, and sources of some of the papers of the lumber barons --
documents which are held in the Library and Archives collections or at the
Ontario Archives.
Some of the correspondence is with the government regarding allocation of timber
rights in the Ottawa area, the tariffs on lumber, etc.
It also has information regarding the transition from exporting logs to exporting
sawn lumber. A lot of very good information, but as I say, a bit before the 1870's.
I'm also interested in this subject and will keep an eye out for further info.
I believe that a period of recession/stagnation of about 20 years began about 1874.
I'll try and see if I have anything here regarding lumber prices from that time period.
Do you mind if I add your e-mail and e-mail address to our page at
www.bytown.net/lumbering.htm as a contact for other researchers? Please let me know.
Thanks again.
... Al Lewis
___________________
Good Afternoon Al,
Many thanks for your insights. I will definitely take a look at the book.
With respect to the web posting I have no objection.
Regards,
Bruce Byford
April 27, 2005:
Allan Gilmour
Hi Al
I am researching Allan Gilmour owner of the Gilmour Company. I read everything
you had on him at your website, but am still looking for the answer to two questions:
1. Was Allan born in Scotland. I know his family travelled from Scotland to New
Brunswick and then settled in Montreal. I also know he was born in 1816. I am
wondering if he was born before his family left Scotland, or after they landed here
in Canada?
2. Whereabouts did Allan live in Bytown/Ottawa. I assuming he lived here because
he was the founder of the Bytown Curling club, right?
I thought maybe some of your readers would know the answers.
Thank you
Karen Prytula
karenprytula@sympatico.ca
___________________
Karen:
Gilmour Street, downtown, is named after Allan Gilmour, 1806-1895.
According to Courtney Bond (City on the Ottawa) he worked in the lumber
trade for 40 years beginning in 1833. His portrait is in the Ottawa
Curling Club.
... Al
May 8, 2005:
Thanks to Alexa Pritchard for the following:
re an article dated February 24, 2005:
My guess is that it was an article in the Ottawa Journal. I believe the
village was Kazubazua in 1950. When W.A. Kenney opened his new store, about
1952, the post office sent a new sign "Kazabazua". It was a pretty and
prosperous village at the time.
Evan (not Even) Pritchard opened a machine shop in the village after the war
and hired Joe Wiggins for odd jobs. Fred, a skilled carpenter, provided the
handles from his sash and frame shop next door, for the Gilmour logging
hammers manufactured by Evan. I was lucky enough to buy one of these
hammers at a garage sale in the area recently. There should be thousands
more out there somewhere.
... Alexa Pritchard
July 6, 2005:
History of the Gilmour Lumbering operations in Scotland, Canada and the USA
Here's a very interesting web site regarding the Gilmours and their major
contribution to the lumber industries of three countries.
Dear Interested Parties,
Please go to my Gilmour family website for all sorts of information about the
Gilmour family, lumber and shipping interests, and other books related to their
affairs.
http://homepages.luc.edu/~pgilmou/genes.htm
Regards,
Peter Allan Gilmour
Peter Gilmour
Associate Professor of Pastoral Studies
Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
E-mail: PGILMOU@luc.edu
October 24, 2005:
Hi All,
Would anyone know any information/history about Davidson Lumber in Ottawa?
Also what lumber companies were around Rochesterville (Ottawa) in the 1860's + ?
Thanks
Shannon McKnight
_____________________
Hi Shannon:
Thanks for your e-mail regarding the Davidson Lumber Company.
Many of the lumber barons lived in Rochesterville and their mills were at
Chaudiere Falls, which was walking distance.
I'll have a look and see if I have anything here on the Davidson Company.
There is a village called Davidson on the Quebec side. It's had (maybe still
does have), a sawmill. Likely related to the Davidson family who lived in
Rochesterville. If I'm not mistaken, Rochesterville was east of Bronson Avenue,
north of Carling Avenue and may have extended west to the Civic Hospital area.
The old Department of Mines buildings are at Booth and Carling. Neighbouring
Rochester Street was named after John Rochester.
Do you mind if I add your e-mail to our page at www.bytown.net/lumbering.htm?
Maybe someone will have some further information for us.
Please let me know.
Thanks again for this,
... Al Lewis
November 4, 2005:
Cathy Cummings is researching Joshua Ellard ("King of the Gatineau") and the
B. Hall Lumber Company. Does anyone have any info regarding the Hall Company?
December 10, 2005:
The following is part of an e-mail from Mr. Emerson McCallum who worked on the
Ottawa River, west of Fitzroy Harbour. His original message, dated today was
concerned with the lighthouses on the Ottawa River.
In my reply to him, I mentioned the existence of a large, steel, rusted barge which
has apparently been abandoned at Morris Island. Here is his reply: (... Al)
_______________________________________
Good morning Mr. Lewis,
Yes you may use the note I sent you if you like.
Concerning the steel barge you mentioned. I do not know if this is the same thing
or not but when I worked on the river they had what they referred to as “The Scow”.
It was a fairly large, metal hulled, flat bottom barge on which there was a kitchen
(for the cook to prepare meals), a dining room and some bunk-beds. This scow was
used by the men who worked on the sweep. They when along the shore and recovered any
logs or pulpwood which had gotten away from the boom while being towed etc. These
logs would sometimes be quite far up on shore and had to be hauled back down to the
river and collected in a crib which was then emptied into a boom to be taken to either
Gillies or Eddy.
Since the Ottawa River is very wide on Chat lake, this would have meant a lot of time
wasted in travelling from the main boom camp near Castleford to whatever they were
cleaning, so rather than do that, the sweep crew would tow the scow to various
locations along the river and use that as their headquarters while sweeping that
section of the shore.
The Ottawa River was divided into sections by the ICO (Ottawa Improvement Company,
later the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company). I know there was the Mountain Camp
Section (Bryson power house to Chenaux Dam), Chenaux Boom (Chenaux Dam to Fitzroy Bridge),
and Quyon Section (Fitzroy Bridge to below Quyon). Any many more. Each section had
their own main camp for sorting and towing and sweep crew for cleaning up and repairs,
which would have the “scow”.
Hope this makes sense to you Al
... Emerson
__________________________
The Scow
Hello, Emerson: (if I may)
Thanks for your reply.
I'm going to look into this a bit on the weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to get a
picture of the scow one of these days and maybe you will recognize it as being the
one you know. It is definitely flat-bottomed. We're getting snow here today, maybe
enough to prevent getting a good picture of the scow.
I have a picture dated about 1880. It's titled "Cookery of J. R. Booth on the Ottawa River".
It shows a large square-timbered raft and about 20 men on the cook-house of J.R. Booth's
raft. It shows a roofed-over area for cooking. This would be a predecessor of the
steel scow. Interesting. I think that it was rowed.
Thanks again.
... Al
Here's the picture of the J.R. Booth cookery raft from the National Archives Digital
Collection.
Source: William James Topley / Library and Archives Canada / C-008405
March 12, 2006:
The following is continued from the John Rochester page, contributed by Dave Lemkay:
With reference to the squared timber crib with the cookery upon it, this was a crib -
each was 26 feet wide and was but one of up to many - records show up to even 200 cribs -
that would be pinned together to be floated to Quebec City. This particular crib was
called the "Camboose" and the hearth for cooking was a sand-filled enclosure where
beans were cooked in the hot sand (as in the shanty) The crib(s) would occasionally
be rowed with long "sweeps" but only in slow-moving waters of the Ottawa. Banded
together, they would also be sailed with masts and sheets or tarps. The cribs would
be attached in trains of 5 or 6 and run though the slides at rapids in the river.
A large rafting spot was at Pembroke, another at the mouth of the Bonnechere near Renfrew.
The cribs and rafts were in fact both the vehicle and the cargo, of course, floating
the pine to Quebec, but also carrying hardwoods (that wouldn't float) to market).
There is a very interesting book entitled "Registered Timber Marks of Eastern Canada -
from 1870 to 1984" This shows every timber mark from that era with complete reference
of history and location of the companies. Some Upper Ottawa Valley libraries have a
copy on hand... I was able to donate these on behalf of the Canadian Forest Service
back in the 1980s. For more history on our forest heritage please check the web site
of the Canadian Forestry Association at: http://www.canadianforestry.com
... Dave Lemkay
August 11, 2006:
After reading the legend of Big Joe Mufferaw (Montferrand) over the years,
Sidney and I finally caught up with him this week in Mattawa, Ontario. This
was Sidney's first trip north. In the photo, top to bottom: Joe, Al and Sidney.
August 13, 2006:
The following plaque is located at the junction of the Mattawa River
and the Ottawa River.
August 24, 2006:
See some nice photos of the McCool Lumber Camp during the 1930's.
Shelley McCool is researching the Francis McCool family from Ireland to the Pembroke and Petawawa area.
James McCool had lumber and shipping interests across the Ottawa River at Fort William, Quebec.
October 31, 2007:
The Quebec Heritage Society has some photos of logging on the Gatineau River
between 1890 and 1980. See also the construction of the Paughan / Paugan Dam at Low, Quebec.
November 24, 2007:
Thanks to Cathy Duchene for the following terrific photographs!
Cecil Chabot / Sharbot, Gillies Lumber Company, Algonquin Park, 1937
January 5, 2008:
Hello:
I stumbled across your messages on the Internet re the history of Ottawa Valley
lumbering, and the Felix McGrath family, in particular. I am wondering whether any of
you may know of McGrath family connections or descendants in the Grosse Pointe area
of Michigan, USA? I come by asking this in a rather circuitous manner which I will
attempt to explain.
I collect antique model canoes, 'salesman's samples' if you like. Recently, I acquired
a very old piece made by John S. Stephenson, of Peterborough area fame, likely made
back in the 1870's or '80's. It is of some historical interest, as old JS was one of
the pioneers of modern cedar hull canoe building, beginning in the latter 1850's.
Stephenson sold much of his canoe rights and patents about 1884, and moved to the
Ottawa area, where he is said to have worked for the JR Booth lumber interests. In
the 1890's, he apparently returned to Peterborough.
Now for the McGrath connection.
My little canoe is said to have come out of the estate of a chap named McGrath, who
lived in the Grosse Pointe area of Michigan. This Mr. McGrath seems to have been
closely connected with the lumbering industry, as I am told that within his estate
there were a large number of old logging photos, samples of wooden trusses and
other logging memorabilia. Much of it appears to date back to the late 1800's.
There seems to be a connection to lumbering activities in Oregon, and possibly elsewhere.
My search is to try to find some plausible explanation for a connection between
JS Stephenson and Mr. McGrath, who somehow wound up owning one of Stephenson's canoe
models. Of course, it could have been acquired in other, unexplainable ways but,
since there are only a handful of these models known to exist, it could well be
coincidental to their having met at some point through lumbering business connections.
You folks seem to have done quite a bit of research, so I thought I'd throw out the
question for your possible interest and conjecture as to how a McGrath in Grosse
Pointe, MI, might have encountered old John S. Stephenson.
I thank you for your thoughts and hope you don't mind the imposition of my question.
One never learns unless one asks.
Kind regards.
... Roger Young
PS: I lived in Ottawa for 30 years before moving to the Kawartha and Haliburton
areas, and much enjoyed travels through the upper Ottawa Valley towns on both sides
of the river. Good luck in your genealogical pursuits.
________________________
Good morning Mr. Young.
Thanks for your interesting e-mail regarding your model canoe, lumbering, etc.
interests.
I run the web site at www.bytown.net . With your permission, I'd like to add your
e-mail to our web site at www.bytown.net/lumbering.htm . Please let me know if this
is OK with you.
We may hear from someone who sees a connection or can help in some way.
In 1823, there were both Stevenson / Stephenson and McGrath families who arrived in
the western part of the Ottawa area, in Huntley and Ramsay Townships (Almonte area).
These families were part of an organized migration from County Cork in Ireland to the
Ottawa area. Many of these families were connected to another group who came from
County Cork to the Peterborough area two years later, in 1825. There may well have
been connections among these families.
A lot of families migrated from the Ottawa area to Michigan to work in the lumber
industry, usually second generation of Irish migrants to this area, in search of
work and farmland for growing families. Detroit was often their first destination
and from there many went to different parts of Michigan although some of the lumbermen
crossed over from Sault St. Marie, Ontario into northern Michigan and Wisconsin.
This is interesting and hopefully we can find out more information.
By the way, according to The Peter Robinson Settlers, 1823 1825 by Carol Bennett,
the name Stevenson or Stephenson was also spelled "Stinson , Stanson, or
Stenson" in the early days and here is a record from Bytown in 1834:
15 Aug 1834 (PR)
Marriage of Walter Stanson / Stenson / Stinson (ML# 553) , native of the
parish of Kilfintinan (Kilfinerty?), County Clare, and Catherine Dwire / Dwyer,
native of the parish of Caher, County Tipperary.
Thanks again for this.
... Al Lewis
January 9, 2008:
The following is an excerpt from a posting by Elizabeth Bond regarding the
McQuestion Lighthouse near Chalk River on the Ottawa River:
The following was taken from Tamarack Magazine: Exploration of Valley History,
Issue IV. Gerald Nadeau, born in the 1930s, tells Amy Mark and Neal Watts that:
"Living by the Ottawa River is my first memory. We lived on a small farm. It was
just a small clearing with a log house and two stables. McQuestion Point, where
we lived, was a stopping place by the river. Teams of lumbermen used to come to
the old house. I think there's only three logs left of it now. There were quite
a few of these places used for overnight stops, what you would call keepovers.
From Sheenborough up to our old house was one day's trip so people would come
that far and stay the first night. Then they'd go as far as the Swisha, which
was another day.
All of these places were ports for travelling lumbermen. There was
no hydro, telephone, or radio at the old house. The only furnishings in the
house were six chairs at a table, a box stove for night firing, a cook stove, a
cupboard, three beds, two or three water pails, and some pots and pans. We just
lived season to season; nothing ever made you hurry, so it wasn't important if
it was eight o'clock, nine o'clock, or ten o'clock.
The closest house was about a mile and a half away and the roads
were never ploughed. In those conditions, if you were able to do anything like
chop wood, get water, or any of those other chores, you did them willingly.
We used to look after McLeod's lighthouse which was on an island
[McQuestion's Point]. The island was a beautiful spot. It was best in the
springtime-the whole island would just be covered with dandelions as thick as
they could grow and the grass would be cut down because of the cows grazing on
it. You'd hear the ice come down the mountains. The gather of ice would melt in
the spring and it would just keep flowing down the mountain until finally it got
so heavy that it would break away with whatever trees would come with it and it
would tumble down onto the ice on the river. It would almost be like thunder.
Every second spring, you'd hear it and the next day if you went to the river
you'd see all the trees out on the ice where the big icicles had broken.
The lighthouse had a globe about 20 inches high and it burned about
two quarts of oil in twelve hours. Each evening you had to clean out the lamp
glasses, trim the wick and check the wick for length. The wick was about two
inches wide and there were two of them in the globe which was housed in a
square glass enclosure. The two wick adjusters were side by side. If one fire
went out then you always had the second one. You had to light it and then turn
the wicks up until the globe got warm and then you'd turn it down so that there
was no smoke from it. The coal oil had to be carried down in the spring. It took
three 45 gallon containers to fill the tanks in it. They used to give us twelve
dollars a month for looking after the lighthouse. You had to go down every
morning and blow the light out. I never went alone, because I was too young and
the lightstand was quite high. You'd have to get up on something to reach it.
The lighthouse was put there because the river is quite narrow in
that spot. It was built some time after the 1850s for boats towing logs. The
first big boats on the river were steam driven.
There used to be a big red river boat, an old tow boat, thirty-five feet long
with the engine taken out of it. It had been set adrift and had become wedged
between the lighthouse island and the river shore. It stayed there until it had
rotted away. The sides would be about three feet high and they got warm by the
sun beating against them. The pike would lay against the side and sometimes
you'd see eight or ten fish all beside the boat. Some of the pike were up to
five feet long. We used to catch one fish each spring and that was enough for
one week, as much fish as you wanted to eat."
~~~
On a seperate occasion, I learned that: "The lighthouse was situated on
McQuestion's Point because it was such a narrow point in the river. The Marine
Co. used to oversee the management of the lighthouse, and would pay a family
$12.00 a month for keeping it, on 12 month leases. Each year, they would take
four huge 45 gallon drums of coal oil down to the lighthouse on sleighs. The
Marine Co. would also send a big wick and a huge pair of scissors; tar; a
broom; paint for the boat; spare lamp glass; a shovel; a box of rags that you
would go through first to see if there was anything you could wear; and a
strong sharp axe that young Gerald was forever aching to get his hands on
because he was always busy chopping stones."
Please find attached a photo of the lighthouse taken last year. Also, the
community museum in Deep River--The School House Museum--is operated by the
McQuestion descendants, and they might have more information for you. I hope
you find this information helpful,
Elizabeth Bond
February 3, 2008:
The Log-Driving Song, sung by Charlie Gardner and friends, describes the early
log drives on the Upper Ottawa River / Pontiac area.
March 8, 2008:
Marriage of a Timber Baron
This marriage registration was found on National Archives of Canada Microfilm C2905,
Page 197, Register of Saint Andrews East (Presbyterian), Saint Andre d'Argenteuil MG8,
G27, Vol 8.
1837
Daniel McLachlin of Bytown, Upper Canada, Timber merchant and Maria Harrington of
St. Andrews, Argenteuil, were married by License on the fifth day of January in the
year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven by me Arch' Henderson,
Minister in the presence of these witnesses,
John Harrington M. Davis, George W. Davis. Signed by Daniel McLachlin, Maria Harrington,
Arch' Henderson Minister
This microfilm covers a lot of early baptisms and marriages from 1818 in the Lachute,
Quebec area. The McLachlin family is not connected to my Byers, Burtch, Banning,
Kier line but may be of interest to other researchers.
...Barb Byers Bradley
April 29, 2008:
We usually associate the logging and timber trade with the PreCambrian Shield areas
to the north and west of the city of Ottawa. However, beginning in the early 1800's,
Glengarry Scots and French Canadians operated a profitable logging industry as the
following photo shows. The Scotch River is a tributary of the Nation River which flows
into the Ottawa River ar Plantaganet. The Scotch River was written about in 1901 by
Ralph Connor in his book The Man from Glengarry.
Loggers on the Scotch River, 1890's
Photo Source: Reflections of the South Nation Watershed, page 31
E-mail Pat McGrath, Taylor Kennedy, David Smith, Roy Wheeler, Bill Gambriel, Bruce Byford, Alexa Pritchard, Peter Gilmour, Shannon McKnight, Cathy Cummings, Emerson McCallum, Dave Lemkay, Cathy Duchene, Roger Young, Elizabeth Bond, Barb Byers Bradley and Al Lewis
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