22) Ross's Sawmill

Ross's Sawmill

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David Ross came to the area in 1877. His father- in-law Joseph Whitehead had surveyed the new rail line right of way through Whitemouth, and took the contract to build the line east to Cross Lake on the way to Kenora (Rat Portage).

At first Joseph Whitehead operated a sawmill in St. Boniface and shipped the materials he needed for building the railway from Winnipeg. He had brought Manitoba’s first railway steam engine, towing it by barge from Minnesota. Mired in financial over-expenditures, Whitehead was forced to give up the contract in 1880. But Joseph Whitehead and David Ross had decided to stay in Manitoba, even if they lost the railway construction contract. Ross began buying timber rights, his first being 120 sq. miles of tamarack, jack pine and black spruce in the Whitemouth valley. He built a sawmill, powered by a large steam engine, along the river, employing dozens of men in the forest and mill. He supplied railway ties, bridge and trestle material for the construction of the C.P.R. from Kenora to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The “Countess of Dufferin” made a trip each day to carry flat cars of railway ties to Winnipeg. The operations at the sawmill were quite extensive and there is a small island that still has metal chains on it where the ropes were tied to, to stop the logs from flowing down the river.

His wife, Dr. Charlotte Whitehead Ross arrived in 1881, and began her medical practice. She was the first female doctor west of Montreal at that time! David had built a log house on the property. In 1886 he built a large frame house for his growing family. It was in use until 1950, when it was demolished. Dave and Charlotte built the first school, and church (Presbyterian) in 1881. They also hired the first teacher, Miss Sarah Ayr. David died in 1912, and Charlotte moved to Winnipeg. Both are buried at Brookside cemetery.

Additional Details

Civic Number: 273 Railway Ave.,    l   Amenities on Site: Dock; Porta Potty during summer months; beach; benches   l    Building on Site: No