HISTORY
The Machine Shop is a historical venue built by Francis H. Clergue.
1623
Etienne Brule arrives in the Sault. This initiates contact between Indigenous peoples in Sault Ste. Marie and European newcomers. Over the years, this will result in the introduction of new clothes, objects, foods, diseases, social practices, religions and languages, as well as the displacement of Indigenous communities and repurposing of the land. The French refer to the Indigenous communities and repurposing of the land. The French refer to the Indigenous peoples living in this area as “Saulteurs,” or “People of the Falls.”
1783
A trading post is established by the Northwest Company. The site consisted of Chief Factor’s house, a powder magazine, a barrack and storage houses for furs bound for Montreal.
1798
The first canal connecting lakes Superior and Huron is completed. A replica of this “bateau lock” is currently located north of the Algoma Conservatory of Music building.
1802
On the south side of the lock, a water-power sawmill with two saws was constructed. Government records show that 14 men were employed directly by the Northwest Company that year.
1814
During the war of 1812, an armed force of 150 United States soldiers attacked Sault Ste. Marie, destroying all buildings and structures, including the locks. A particularly serious loss was the destruction of the sawmill, the only one in the entire North West.
1819
The Northwest Company constructs the lower stone story of the Blockhouse for use as powder magazine. In 1895, Francis H. Clergue adds the second story in order to convert it from a powder magazine to living accommodations. It is currently the second oldest stone building northwest of Toronto.
1894
Francis H. Clergue arrives in the Sault by steamship. He establishes the Lake Superior Power Company and the Sault Ste. Marie Pulp and Paper Company Limited. He adds a wooden upper story to the old North West Company blockhouse and spends the majority of his time there.
1895
Sault Ste. Marie Pulp & Paper Company incorporated as subsidiary of the Lake Superior Power Company as a condition of a timber grant obtained by Clergue in 1894; grounded pulp mill built a special “dry” pulp machinery invented and installed; machinery produced by Algoma Iron Works, a branch of the pulp and paper company.
1899
Intimidated by the potential competition offered by the Sault mill, Clergue’s competitors cut their prices by 25% in an attempt to force him out of business. Clergue fought back by producing a superior product: pulp with reduced water content. Clergue and his engineering department developed a machine to extract much of the water content making it lighter and less costly to ship. When none of the existing paper machine manufactures would produce the machinery to his specifications, he erected his own machine shop and foundry to create the machines he needed. These two operations produced all of the machinery used in the pulp mill.
1899
Intimidated by the potential competition offered by the Sault mill, Clergue’s competitors cut their prices by 25% in an attempt to force him out of business. Clergue fought back by producing a superior product: pulp with reduced water content. Clergue and his engineering department developed a machine to extract much of the water content making it lighter and less costly to ship. When none of the existing paper machine manufactures would produce the machinery to his specifications, he erected his own machine shop and foundry to create the machines he needed. These two operations produced all of the machinery used in the pulp mill.
1928
In 1917, the Lake Superior Paper Company amalgamated with the Spanish River Pulp & Paper Mills. They operated the mill until the Abitibi Power and Paper Company purchased it in 1928. Abitibi introduced the production of directory and catalog specialty papers, along with newsprint. In the following half century, the mill solidified its position as a major paper producer in Canada.
1984
In 1984, a change in ownership and product occurred. Dan Alexander, and American investor purchased the mill from Abitibi renaming it St. Mary’s Paper Inc. Modifications to PM3 and PM4 and the installation of two Supercalenders made the production of SCB grades possible. In 1988, the construction of a new paper machine, PM5 was completed, giving the mill the capacity of producing SCA grades. In addition, new Tampella grinders were also installed to meet the increase demand for pulp.