Gillies Townsite (Temagami)

In 1873, John Gillies four sons formed the Gillies Brothers logging company. The company owned many mills in Ontario, one of which was to be built in Temagami. In 1928, the brothers won logging rights to approximately 400-500 square kilometres of forest in the White Bear Lake (now called Cassels Lake) area. In 1946, they built a sawmill on the shore of Cassels Lake to tap into the rich supply of surrounding forest.

In the winter, lumber would be hauled by horses from the forests, down to Cassels Lake using the portage trail located betweek Cassels Lake and Blueberry Lake. When the snow melted, the lumber would be floated to the sawmill to be cut.

While the Gillies Brothers put out approximately 11 million feet of wood annually, the company did set aside 2000 acres of forest from being cut, so that the residents could enjoy it.

In 1958 the mill was dismantled and operations ceased

Location: In Temagami (Highway 11), drive behind the railway station and cross the tracks. The site is approximately 4km down the road to your left. An old red barn and mill foundations can still be found, as well as the old townsite.