14

Robert West from Thornhill, Ontario, arrived in Liskeard about 1894. He built a home on William Murray's land, which later became the settlement's first post office (1896).

15

First school
1896
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Temiskaming Shores Public Library Archives
Ernest Sawford- Dye

16

Despite the tiny population, the settlement did have children - John Armstrong's family and the Brooks family who lived near Liskeard. They determined that it was necessary to build a school and to that end, a small frame schoolhouse was erected in the fall of 1895, which would serve the small community as a school, interdenominational church, town hall, and library. The first schoolteacher was hired in August 1895 with five students attending classes that fall.

The year 1896 brought a slight increase in population both in the town site of Liskeard and in the surrounding townships. There was also growth in the commercial sector as a general store had been opened in 1895 by a Mr. Eastman, taken over by Mr. Monaghan, and eventually sold to John Wilson, a newcomer in 1896.

17

The McCamus and McKelvie saw mill
1896
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Temiskaming Shores Public Library Archives

18

Angus McKelvie and Thomas McCamus also arrived that year, noticed that the area needed a sawmill and pooled their resources to open one on the north bank of the Wabi River.

19

Angus Alexander McKelvie
Circa 1883
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Temiskaming Shores Public Library Archives

20

Initially, most of the timber used at the mill was obtained from area farmers who were clearing their land. The farmers would cut and de-limb the timber and bring it to the river by horse power then float it down the river to the sawmill.

21

McCamus and McKelvie Sawmill
1897
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Temiskaming Shores Public Library Archives

22

Once more settlers started to arrive, there was a great demand for pre-cut lumber which could be used for building homes and barns, particularly for those settlers who were interested in living in the town site rather than homesteading a farm.

23

Logging on the Wabi River
Circa 1890's
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Temiskaming Shores Public Library Archives

24

Except for the McKelvie and McCamus mill, the only other sawmill in operation in the area was one in Haileybury owned by C.C. Farr which burned down in 1898.

25

Employees of the McCamus and McKelvie saw mill
Circa 1902
New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Temiskaming Shores Public Library Archives

26

Over the next few years, the business expanded to manufacture doors, sashes, and windows. The McCamus-McKelvie Sawmill operated until 1918, when the partners sold the business to Hill, Clark and Francis Construction.

27

Steamer "City of Haileybury"
1900
Lake Temiskaming, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
National Archives of Canada