Photo seen at a local auction last week. The final destination to Ottawa down the Ottawa River logs-no date

Back History of the Canada Lumber Company

1887 – Peter McLaren sold his lumber mill properties at Carleton Place and upper Mississippi timber limits at a price reported as $900,000. The buyers, the McLarens of Buckingham and Edwards of Rockland, formed the Canada Lumber Company. It doubled the mills capacity, with Alexander H. Edwards (1848-1933) as manager here. Peter McLaren three years later was appointed to the Senate, and died at age 88 at Perth in 1919.

Rafts of logs down the Mississippi to Mills at Carleton Place. Photo-Perth Remembered

Almonte Gazette 1899— From a Herald Extra dated 18^th inst., we learn the particulars of a fatal accident that happened at Carleton Place to a man named William Horricks of the Township of Drummond where his wife was at that time visiting. The deceased was a married man about 35 yeas of age.

The Extra says: “About 11:00 this morning (Tuesday) a terrible accident occurred in the lumber yard of the Canada Lumber Co. in Carleton Place whereby William Horricks, an employee of the company, lost he life. The particulars are as follows: two lorries heavily laden with lumber were running downgrade of the yard. Horricks was in between the piles and wanted to cross the tracks and as soon as the first car passed he rushed out not knowing a second car was coming. When on the track the second car struck him knocking him down and passed over him causing such serious injury that the unfortunate fellow only lived a short time.”

Site of Canada Lumber Co in 1910 in Carleton Place

Almonte Gazette–1925 A drive of logs is being brought down the Mississippi River from its headwaters. The logs are being taken to Arklan, about a mile below Carleton Place. Mr. Baker is in charge of the drive, he having recently purchased the water power at Arklan from Mr. C. A. Burgess of Carleton Place. The logs are causing some temporary inconvenience to residents of the town who have pleasure craft on the river.