Sawmills and Ice Harvesting on Sarnia Bay

Sawmills and Ice Harvesting on Sarnia Bay

In the middle of the 19th century, there were over 1,000 sawmills operating in Ontario. It had become the normal course of development when settlers began to establish new hamlets and villages. They wanted to build, and that meant they needed a sawmill. George Durand built the first sawmill in Sarnia in 1833. The largest in the town was the Cleveland-Sarnia Sawmill Company. Located on the south edge of Sarnia Bay, the sawmill was at its peak of activity in the 1890s, and it was a common sight in those days to see the bay covered in acres of log rafts waiting to be processed. Almost every week, a tug would appear in the bay, bringing another raft of timber from Lake Huron.
The timber itself came from the Spanish River area of Georgian Bay. Logs would be cut during the winter months along the shores of the Spanish River and branded with each mill’s unique identification. When the spring floods came, the logs would be tossed into the river together to be sorted later, and floated downriver to Lake Huron. At the mouth of the river a boom was stretched and here the logs were herded into one corner, where chutes led to them being directed into each company’s bagging booms. They were then formed into rafts of three or four million board feet.
When a boom held its allotted number of logs, the assembled rafts were then brought down the lake by tugs. The massive log rafts would travel at speeds of one mile per hour or less. The rafts carried lights for navigation, and the tugs were equipped with Madoc whistles, their sound said to resemble the wail of a banshee. So much logging was carried on in Sarnia Bay that, over the years, bark accumulation and silt became so deep that the bay had to be dredged. Logs ultimately travelled from the bay to their final destination in the mill’s saw room.

Much of the northern timber, however, was headed for American mills on the Great Lakes – 300 million feet to Michigan mills in 1894 alone. In 1898, however, an act of the Ontario legislature required that logs cut on Crown lands in Ontario had to be manufactured here as well. This was the death knell of the log rafting business and, as the North developed, the mills moved closer to the source of the lumber. By the end of the first decade of the 20th century, most in southern Ontario had disappeared.


Ice harvesting was another important 19th century business. In the days before electric refrigerators were common, an icebox, also referred to as a cold cabinet, was a common kitchen appliance. A block of ice was placed in the cabinet’s upper compartment. Cold air circulated down and around food storage compartments in the lower area. Hollow walls were insulated to keep in the cold air. It was a fairly simple contraption, but it worked.

 

The ice came from Sarnia Bay, a dicey proposition that was wholly at the mercy of the weather. Typically, the season was short, usually four weeks ranging from late January to mid to late February. From 60 to 120 men might be put to work scraping snow from the ice, then using a sled with a gasoline engine mounted on it that drove a circular saw to cut through the ice. Blocks 12 to 14 inches thick were cut in 22 inch squares, then stored in sheds near the river. Packed with sawdust, they would be stored through the winter and spring until the peak demand period of summer.

Want to Lean More? Register for a Tour!

Pedal Through the Past is a guided cycling tour that brings Sarnia’s history to life! Whether you’re a local or just visiting, this unique experience offers a fun and active way to explore the city’s landmarks, hidden stories, and rich heritage—on two wheels.

Each tour includes historical stops, expert storytelling from our local guide, and a chance to see Sarnia through a new lens. The ride is beginner-friendly, about 2 hours long, with an additional hour at the final stop to socialize and enjoy some light snacks and refreshments.

Register for a tour

Made Possible With Support From: