Mitchell Mill Historical Background

Thomas' dad Thomas Sr. began the mill north of Second Lake and west of First Lake. The Mitchell's lived in Berkley Ontario a small town south of Owen Sound. Thomas Sr. (b 1855), an English immigrant, was an experienced mill operator and knew quite well that a mill by the planned CPR line could be lucrative. With the knowledge that CPR was expanding to Parry Sound he built the Mitchell Mill in 1898. When Thomas Jr. was ready, around 1920, the operations of the Foley mill would be his and he would have to move from Berkley to southern Foley.

Thomas M. lived just south of the mill towards Second Lake (Lots 8 and 9, Con. 2 Foley) initially living with the Fitzsimmons brothers, Robert and David, both labourers and with the Boyds. The Boyds would eventually farm just west of the mill and the Fitzsimmons would farm just north of Second Lake.

Charlotte, or usually called Lottie, and Thomas had their spring wedding on April 6, 1922.

Usually it was the Mitchell Mill that supplied the necessary wood materials to Foley for any road or bridge repairs from Rosseau Road to Blackstone. In the spring of 1928, the now Mitchell-McDonald Mill, wanting to improve their efficiency, applied and obtained permission to put rails for tramways from across Rosseau Road to their mill. The tramway extended from the road down to Second Lake and Third Lake. Logs were moved up the tramway using either horses or cars.

Thomas Jr's respect in the community increased and was elected to the Foley Council and board of Health for 1930. He became the census enumerator for Foley in 1931. When the depression deepened Thomas was commissioned to investigate into and contract the supplies for families receiving relief from