Kiosk Ghost Town

n 1936 by lumber baron S.J. Staniforth built a mill at Kiosk. The townsite had 75 homes, a school, post office, and a Catholic church.

By 1960, the town could boast approx. 80 homes and approx. 600 residents.

Around 1974, plans for Algonquin Park were in the final stages of development. The plans calls for logging to continue but that there would be no mills allowed. The Kiosk Union fought hard to keep their mill as it was situated inside the park and it was necessary for employment.

The size of the town was definitely in the favour of the residents, many of whom had hoped to retire here, and did not want to move.

The mill stood until Friday the 13th, in July 1973 when it was consumed by fire. Some homes were saved by fact that metal railway cars stood between them and the mill. Some residents believe that there was a conspiracy to burn the mill. The Kiosk Union tried to get severance pay for the workers as well as retrain them, however this failed.

Some residents were able to stay employed by cleaning up the ruins and removing what lumber remained. Other residents held out, hoping they'd receive compensation for their homes.

The government gave them an offer, and a deadline of 1996 to leave the town.

Location: Take highway 17 east, past North Bay. Drive towards Mattawa for approx. 45km and turn on highway 630. It is another 50 km of winding and bumpy road until you reach Algonquin Provincial Park and the site of Kiosk.