Collins Inlet (ghost town)

Lumbering began in the area of Collins Inlet around the year 1865 when the province of Ontario opened up rights to harvest lumber in the area. In 1868 a small sawmill named the Collins Inlet Lumber Company began operating out of the area. The mill(a)s specialty was producing wood, cut from the La Cloche mountains, to be used for laths, boxes and for ship building.

Lumber was stored in large piles during the winter until spring when the lumber could be floated down the Mahzenazing. Twice each week steamers docked at the inlet to unload mail and supplies. During the winter the site was completely isolated.

The Collins Inlet Lumber Co. was taken over in 1886 by John Bertram. By that time the site had grown to include a boarding house, homes, store and a school. One of Bertram(a)s first tasks was to increase the size of the mill and adding a 100-foot high sawdust burner. The older homes, crudely constructed, were replaced with more modernized cottages.

A boat works and post office were later built at the site.

The Collins Inlet post office saw erratic activity. First opened in 1869, the office closed in 1877 and remained closed until 1883. In 1883 it was reopened and served as a full-time post office until 1938 when it was used solely as a summer office. The post office finally closed for good in 1945

Today, one old building remains if you follow the neatly cut grass lane beside the white cabin which faces the power generating building. The old boarding home is long gone and a grassy field takes its place. Just beyond the main lodge (up the trail) lies the sawdust burner and a gutted out rusting Ford car from the 1960(a)s. Inside the lodge are some old pictures and an aerial picture showing what the entire site once looked like. The fishing is good, kids can fish right from the dock and catch small pike or rock bass. A tiny building may be found near the waterfall.

The City of London, a ship built in 1865, sank off the shore in 1875 and can still be seen in the waters today.

John Bertram died in 1904. His lumber mill continued after his death, until 1918 when it was destroyed by fire. After the fire the machinery was salvaged for the war effort, the town abandoned. The company schooner was scuttled (flooded).

Lumbering activity continued in the area well into the 1930(a)s.

Location: Take highway 637 to Killarney (about 35km). There you can take a boat about 18 miles east or take Pike Road by vehicle. The site is now occupied by the Mahzenazing River Lodge. They provide delicious home cooked meals as well as boat rentals and bear hunting packages. Call 1-800-265-9689.