The early development of South River was based on the harvesting of the forests. The Fraser Lumber Company took out squared timber on the South River from Laurier Township and into what became Algonquin Park starting in the 1860s. They cleared the river, established water control dams, and log chutes around rapids. J. R. Booth and others cut in Machar township and shared the maintenance of the river.
Everett Kirton in his History of Northern Parry Sound District (1962) provides some history of early South River. His description of the surveyors arriving in the bush to survey the railway corridor evokes remarkable images of the time. He states that "The surveyors’ supplies and equipment were hauled by teams and sleighs from Rosseau to Bummer’s Roost (on the Nipissing Colonization Road 20 kilometres to the east) thence by dog team and toboggans over low lying land across to South River, crossing Dette and Eagle Lakes."
Mr. Kirton also records that South River separated from Machar Township and was incorporated in 1907, with the W. J. Ard as the first Reeve. One of the first businesses was the South River Mercantile Company partly owned by Ard.
The First Settlers
Robert Carter and his wife were the first settlers in the area in 1881 and opened a general store in 1885. There were early hotels, a bank, a butcher shop and a jeweller.
The South River was harnessed to drive a sawmill and grist mill. By 1908 hydroelectric power was being generated for use a few hours a day in the area.
The South River Lumber Company was established early in South River and shipped lumber on the Grand Trunk Railway. This company also cut lumber for other logging operations that did not have a sawmill, especially the large Turner Company.
The largest employer in South River for decades was the Standard Chemical Company. This was one of the six plants in Ontario built to meet the need for wood alcohol, other distillates and charcoal in those early years.
When there were not enough local workers A. F. Cooper, the Woods Manager, brought in Italian and Finish workers who became jobbers cutting their cordwood. The Finish workers ran their own camps and were early leaders in the labour movement. A strike in 1934 brought better wages and working conditions.
Standard Chemical established a standard-gauge railway to haul its cordwood. When the distillate and charcoal business waned the company established a highly productive and separate lumber operation in the town. Mr. Cooper brought in his son, Orlo, to expand the railway to bring in the necessary logs. The railway eventually went 40 kilometres east to Round Lake then south along the south arm of the South River to Winifred Lake in Algonquin Park.
They purchased two 50-ton Climax engines and a Barnhart steam log loader for the railway. They later purchased a 70-ton Shay locomotive.
During the second world war German prisoners of war were used at Camp 10 to cut logs. When truck transportation became economical in 1946, the rails were pulled up and a road built on the railbed for hauling logs and transporting people and supplies. The Shay locomotive was sold to the Abitibi Power and Paper Company were it was used into the 1970s. It was later donated to the town of Iroquois Falls where it was restored and placed beside the train station as a centerpiece of the town’s museum.
(Written by Doug Mackey)
