About Us

North Shore Milling Co. – Reclaiming Northern Ontario’s Historic Timber

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North Shore Milling Co. is seizing the opportunity to recover a long-lost resource and bring a valuable part of Northern Ontario’s history back into the present. With a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and historical preservation, we are dedicated to reclaiming high-quality, old-growth timber that has been resting beneath the region’s waterways for over a century.

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A Legacy of Log Driving and Forgotten Timber

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Beginning in the early 20th century, log driving became the backbone of North America’s early timber industry. Lumbermen harnessed the power of large rivers and tributaries to transport massive sawlogs from remote forest regions to sawmills, floating millions of cubic meters of wood across vast waterways. The final log drive in North America took place on November 15th, 1976, marking the end of an era that saw an immeasurable volume of high-quality timber pass through Northern Ontario’s river systems. While most of these logs made it to their destination, many sank to the riverbeds, becoming submerged relics of a bygone industry.

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Reclaiming an Untapped Resource

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North Shore Milling Co. has taken on the mission of recovering this invaluable timber, long forgotten beneath the waterways of Northern Ontario. In key river systems, millions of cubic meters of old-growth wood remain hidden beneath the surface—logs that were once part of dense, slow-growing forests from the 19th and early 20th centuries. These trees, having matured under natural conditions, developed tight grain patterns, superior density, and deep, rich coloration that is simply unmatched by today’s fast-grown lumber.

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Unlike contemporary lumber, which often comes from rapid-growth commercial forests, our recovered timber is a rare and finite resource—the last remaining supply of old-growth fir and other premium species in North America. These logs have been perfectly preserved by the cold, oxygen-limited environments of Northern Ontario’s lakes and rivers, making them structurally sound and highly sought after for fine woodworking, architectural projects, and high-end construction.

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Sustainable Resource Acquisition & Reclaimed Excellence

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At North Shore Milling Co., sustainability is at the heart of our mission. By recovering and repurposing long-lost timber, we are actively reducing reliance on contemporary deforestation and helping preserve the world’s remaining old-growth forests. Rather than contributing to further depletion of natural resources, our efforts give new life to historic wood that would otherwise remain unused, ensuring that this exceptional material continues to serve a meaningful purpose in modern construction and fine craftsmanship.

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Every log we reclaim is a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of past generations, as well as a step forward in responsible resource management. By prioritizing the retrieval and reuse of these forgotten timbers, we are offering an environmentally responsible alternative to conventional logging, providing builders, designers, and craftsmen with a material that embodies both rich history and sustainable innovation.

By reintroducing these historic logs into modern projects, North Shore Milling Co. is not just supplying high-quality wood—we are preserving a piece of Northern Ontario’s logging heritage while championing a smarter, more sustainable approach to wood sourcing that benefits both industry and environment alike.