Osaquan

Osaquan began back in 1909 when David Low Mather moved his Indian Lake Lumber mill from Gull River (near Haliburton) to Camp Lake. At Camp Lake he built a planning mill and blacksmith shop. For the employees, a blacksmith shop, bunk house, cookhouse and company store were built.

A spur line was built to connect with the Canadian Pacific Railway at mile 1148.6.

Indian Lake Lumber did see a few catastrophes such as the planning mill burning in 1911. Then, in 1913, the main dam used to float logs to the mill, burst and flooded the area.

Things were going well until 1914 and the First World War began, at this time many of the employees of the Indian Lake Lumber Company had enlisted in the war. A year later the mill burned to the ground.

In 1921 a school was built as the nearest community was that of Ignace over half an hour away.

By 1925 the mine replaced their horses with tractors. Despite upgrading to newer technology, the employees did not have vehicles. Those who lived on site at the bunk house were charged $30 a month for room and board.

The company expanded operations when they were granted a commercial fishing licence and began catching from Lake Mameigwess. This required docks to be built and an ice house to store the fish.

Osaquan's demise began in 1930. It wasn't just the Great Depression that did the community in, it was another forest fire. As families were sent to Ignace for safety, the men fought the fires. They managed to save the town but the mill burned once again. Mather rebuilt the mill but the financial costs in doing so took their toll and in 1931 the mill closed.

The mill was sold in 1936 and all remaining structures were destroyed.

Directions: Osaquan can be found in the District of Kenora. It is past Ignace on the Trans Canada Highway.