27

Mill Construction
1907
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society A.N.D Collection

28

The English businessmen who started the company town brought with them their ideas on social order and the segregation of individuals of various classes or religions.

During the winter of 1906 the men continued cutting saw logs. Thousands were delivered to the saw mill. Road and housing construction began in May. Then in July, the saw mill was destroyed by fire, but was quickly replaced and work continued. On Sept 1, George Hicks arrived in town to take over the teaching duties at the school. "I came to open the school which had a registration of 15 children. For four years all denominations came to this school, and though equipment was scanty, the rooms not always warm and often poorly lighted, everyone worked harmoniously," Hicks later wrote, "From this little school on Station Road went forth many young people to make a mark in the world".

29

Woodroom
1910
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society A.N.D Collection

30

Mill Construction
Early 1900s
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society A.N.D Collection
Sir Vincent Jones

31

Mill Construction
Early 1900s
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society
Sir Vincent Jones

32

Mill Construction
Early 1900s
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society
Sir Vincent Jones

33

The Exploits River at the site of the new inland town which the Harmsworth are building, tumbles over a series of rapids and jagged falls forming the picturesque Grand Falls. There is a total difference of level of 112 feet between the upper and lower reaches, and the idea is to develop 20,000 horse power, which will be utilized in the paper industry which is now being initiated there. A hydraulic plant is being rapidly constructed to utilize this power, convert it into electrical energy, and use it for purposes indicated. A short distance above the edge of the falls a concrete dam 882 feet long on the crest, with wings, making a total length of dam about 1,600 feet is now being built. The dam will be 20 feet high, 6 feet wide on top, and about 22 feet wide at the base. To construct it about 19,000 barrels of cement, and in addition about 8,000 cubic yards of sand, and 13,000 cubic yards of rock will be required. In the construction of the dam a large amount of temporary cofferdams are required to block of the various channels and enable the work to be done under dry conditions.

This operation is being carried out under the direction of Mr. W. Dorrity, a foreman, who has acquired a large experience in similar work in the Eastern States. The coffer dams consist of crib work ballasted with rock and faced on the upstream side with matched sheathing three inches thick. The cribs area built on shore, and floated into position, which operation is difficulty by reason of the uneven rock bottom and rapid current. Substantial progress has been made and the channel nearest the north bank has been nearly closed.

34

Construction 3rd Penstock and Frame
1936
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society A.N.D Collection
Daily Mail

35

Mill Construction
Early 1900s
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society
Sir Vincent Jones

36

Mill Construction
Early 1900s
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society A.N.D Collection
Sir Vincent Jones

37

The water is taken from the river into a basin called the forebay by means of eight grates 12 feet high and eight feet wide. From the forebay to the power house, the water will flow through a steel tube 15 feet in diameter and 2000 feet long. The excavation for the forebay and penstock will amount to about 25,000 cubic yards of rock, which work is now being rapidly performed by large gangs of men under Messrs. John Healey and E. McHale. Steam drills made by the Sullivan Machine Co. are used on this work and are giving very satisfactory results. The power house is on a flat about 40 feet above the river and is to be a building about 270 feet long and 60 feet wide. At the northern end are the electrical machines, and the remainder of the building is taken up by turbines and direct connected pulp wood grinders.

38

Construction of 3rd Penstock at Grand Falls Mill
1936
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society A.N.D Collection
E.I. Bishop photo

39

Machine Room
1910
Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada

Credits:
Grand Falls Windsor Heritage Society A.N.D Collection

40

There will be four turbines in the generator room and eight in the grinder room, each paid off the latter furnishing power to six grinders. Work on the excavation for the power house is being prosecuted by a large force of men controlled by Mr. R. J. Kennedy. From the grinders, the mechanical pulp is conveyed to the paper mills, there to be mixed with a proportion of sulphite pulp which is manufactured in buildings closely connected with the paper mill.

This part of the plant lies on a bench at the elevation of about 70 feet higher than the power house. The buildings extend from west to east about 650 feet and from north to south about 550 feet, covering an area of nearly three acres. At the extreme eastern end is the paper storage building, the first concrete of which was placed by lady MacGregor on Monday, June 3. This building is 210 feet long and 60 feet wide. The walls are built of concrete. Next to it and further to the west is the train shed, also now under construction. The building will have a roof of reinforced concrete with a span of 39 feet. The work on the forms for the concrete is being done by foreman, Balsam, under the direction of carpenter foreman Loud. The excavation and placing of the concrete is being done by Mr. D. Butler. Beside the permanent work outlined above, a large amount of time and money has been spent on the erection of a plant for construction purposes. The principal item of this is a cableway with a span of 900 feet, constructed across the river, immediately above the dam to be used in placing of the concrete. Two gates gyratory rock crushers have been installed, also two cube concrete mixers, and a large equipment of boilers and derricks. The plant has been erected by foreman Loon and Willett superintendent of construction is Mr. H. F. Lincoln, whose energy and large and varied experience, augur well for the successful completion of Mr. Geo. F. Hardy, the well-known New York mill architect, and hydraulic engineer, and the work is being carried out in charge of Mr. W. Scott, the company's resident engineer.

The mill continued for the next 100 years.