1900’s - Logging at Pigeon Lake
“In 1906, a logging operation was established by A.J. Rowley, who relocated his mill from Ponoka to the North East end of Pigeon Lake at Mulhurst. Timber was then hauled to the hamlet of Millet for planing and finishing. Another sawmill was later built on the south west side of the lake by Messrs. Fergusen and Mullen and then in the mid 1920’s, yet another logging operation was built on the South East end of the lake near the reservation. Logs would be piled on the shore and then pulled to the mills by a paddle-wheeler boat.”
Excerpt from Pigeon Lake, Alberta…A Brief History published by Crystal Springs.
At the height of production, the Rowley Mill cut and dressed twenty thousand board feet of lumber per day with a crew of twenty workers at the mill and another sixty to seventy workers in the bush felling trees. The Rowley Mill closed in approximately 1927.
The logging industry was booming at Pigeon Lake and most mills were located right next to the lake. This was ideal as a mode of transport either for floating logs across the lake, loading onto boats or onto wagons to take to building sites. The logging operations were observed to thin the tree population around Pigeon Lake while also affecting the shoreline with the constant usage and development.
“The area was wooded with birch, white and black poplar but very few spruce or pine. We understand the trees were logged out in the early 1900’s.” - 57 Lakeshore Drive Property
Excerpt from “The History of Sundance Beach at Pigeon Lake” Compiled by Nadia Halkier.
"Lumberjacks hauling lumber from Pigeon Lake to Millet, Alberta.", [ca. early 1900s], (CU1107813) by Unknown. Courtesy of Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.”
"Sawmill of Dan Campbell at Pigeon Lake, Alberta.", 1905, (CU1138809) by Unknown. Courtesy of Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.
"Piegeon Lake Sawing Company cutting logs, near Pigeon Lake, Alberta.", 1907, (CU1199841) by Unknown. Courtesy of Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.”
"Hauling logs at north end of Pigeon Lake, Alberta.", [ca. 1913], (CU1107690) by Unknown. Courtesy of Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.
"Logs on Pigeon Lake, Alberta.", n.d., (CU1108009) by Unknown. Courtesy of Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.”
