Thessalon Woolen Mill, 1897

Description

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Photographs

Description

This is a black and white photo of the Thessalon woollen mill. It is a large two storey brick building located on rocky land, near the water's edge. A few small trees are seen in the foreground of the photo.

Notes

The mill was built in 1897 and operated until 1909. It was located on Algoma Street East, with easy access to the government dock.

In 1919, it was purchased by Robert Mavor who used the building as a base for Thessalon Wood Products.The top floor was then renovated and used as a dance hall, known as Lakeshore Dance Hall, where the Merriday Orchestra played quite often.

In 1926 the building was purchased by George Rhodes who used the building until 1931 to manufacture band saws. The building later burned to the ground.

Inscriptions

Notes affixed to this photo read: "Thessalon Woolen Mill Limited 1897 under the management of the Cronkite Brothers. Four brothers: William, Willet, G.H. (Gib), and Albert. The library has two small woolen blankets made in the woolen mill by Edna (McBain) Leclair."

Information found in local historian J.E. MacDonald's book "This Point of Land" state that the mill ran into financial difficulties and while the "Circumstances that led to the closure weren't fully understood, it is probable that the lack of supply of wool in the area and the limited local market...contributed to its' failure" p.63.

Date of Original