Logging is and always has been a major source of employment in Wharncliffe. Many logging camps were located up the Mississagi River for those who wanted this type of work. It was in the winter that the local men began their work up at the camps. Teams of horses would be brought up with them to help with the work.

Many of these teams of horses would be carrying with them a mix of vegetables from the local farms. For further means of food, cows were brought up and taken proper care of until they were ready to be eaten. This was a job for the men of the logging camps. Because of the absence of fences around the bush line, many of the cows would attempt an escape, leaving the men trailing after them in pursuit.

Needless to say when spring came and the log drives were finished none of the men would whisper a word of protest at having to pack everything up in order to venture back into civilization. One woman recalls all the kids gathering outside of the their schoolhouse and watching the horses and men as if they were a parade.

Picture: courtesy of Cheryl Beharriell

In the late 1800's and early 1900's people logged to establish ownership of their plots of land. They built their homes and cabins from the logs that were cut. Many also cut logs for money. Land was cleared in the summertime when they were able to slash and burn. If there was a danger of fire, they were not able to work. One major problem they came up against was the removing of the pine stumps from the ground. They were big and very solid. The stumps made it hard to work the land as well as to cut hay or grain with machinery. Luckily, dynamite became available, and soon became indispensable for clearing the fields. By 1915 all of the fields were cleared. This greatly improved the appearance of the land.

The Sawmill

Many people still cut logs to take to the sawmill to make lumber for their own needs, but in the past it was a more common practice. The sawmill in Wharncliffe was built by the Ansley family in the late 1880's and was owned by Fred Ansley. It was built on Ansley's creek where it entered the field west of William Ansley's farm buildings. It was located here mainly because of the water power site. This water power was used for many years, but was changed to steam in 1920 because of the blockage of water caused by beaver dams. At that time a Sawyer Thresher steam engine was hooked up to the drive shaft of the mill.

When the road was cleared for the heavy machinery and equipment to be hauled into Wells in the winter time, a turbine power unit was installed by Charles Ansley of Ansonia.

The sawmill provided local residents with good pine logs and lumber for their houses and barns. The sawmill was well used.

In 1925, the mill was relocated to Ed Ansley's farm near Wilson's creek. At that time a gasoline tractor was used to drive the mill for two years then a diesel engine was used until the mill closed down.

Picture: courtesy of Jane Mundy.

Later on, the road to Thessalon and north up the Mississagi became paved. Because of this a modern sawmill was built at Sherwood and became the local source of supply of lumber.

Picture: courtesy of Jane Mundy.