Fossmill: Mill and Railway History

You can get to know Fossmill through its history as a settlement and lumber-processing community. Located on the north bank of the Wasi River, the community brings together an early depot site, a sawmill, and a historic railway line that is no longer in operation. Each period tells its own story: from the settlement’s beginnings to the lumber industry and the end of mill operations.

From Depot Site to Mill Town

The settlement of Fossmill was established at a depot site in 1891. In 1915, William Foster founded a sawmill with lumber yards and rail sidings in the southeast of Chisholm Township. The operation was first called “Fosters Mill” and later simply “Fossmill.” The name of the operation thus reflects lumber processing, while the settlement’s history goes back further to the depot site.

After the Canadian Northern Railway, later CN, laid tracks in 1915, a small prefabrication station and a siding were added in Fossmill. Fasset also expanded the operation with a lath and post mill. These milestones in the community’s history show how settlement, railway, and lumber processing all played a role in Fossmill.

The Historic Fossmill Railway

The Fossmill Railway was built in 1928 by the Fassett Lumber Company. Its historic route ran 20 km south from the town of Fossmill, on the Canadian National Railway’s northern line, to Manitou Lake in Algonquin Park. It was a railway connection of its time; the line is no longer in operation.

In August 1934, the mill in Fossmill burned to the ground, ending mill operations. The railway was not dismantled until the 1940s. The fire and dismantling therefore mark two distinct points in time: the mill closed before the railway line was removed.

The Wasi River and Traces of the Settlement

Fossmill is located on the north bank of the Wasi River. As the glacier retreated, an outlet from glacial Lake Algonquin was exposed by the river at Fossmill. The community’s location and this geological history give the landscape a distinct historical context.

The former settlement can also still be recognized by a few traces: several foundations can be found in the forest within the former community. Fossmill also had a Roman Catholic church, known as Fossmill Roman Catholic Church, and a school designated S.S. No.4B. These names add to the picture of the former community without making claims about present-day facilities.

More Topics in Nipissing District

The broader destination of Nipissing District offers other distinct historical and landscape-related topics. At Marten River Provincial Park, the Winter Camp is a recreated logging camp featuring historic logging equipment, a museum, and a theatre. The park has three interconnected hiking trails: the Transition Trail is 4.2 km long, the Old Growth Trail is 3.5 km long, and the Pine Marten Trail is 0.8 km long. This makes the Pine Marten Trail the shortest of the three.

Another regional history topic is the historic Ghost Road, considered the first settlement road in Nipissing District. Sections of the road form part of the Trans Canada Trail and are used by hikers, cyclists, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Alongside Fossmill’s mill and railway history, Nipissing District also offers hiking trails, a recreated logging camp, and a historic road route as distinct topics.

Discover more destinations: Temagami, Algonquin Park, Mattawa, North Bay, West Nipissing, Corbeil, South Algonquin, Sturgeon Falls.

Go to the broader travel overview: Nipissing District.