Chisholm, Alberta
Encyclopedia
Chisholm, also known as Chisholm Mills, is a hamlet
in Alberta
, Canada
within the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) east of the Athabasca River
, approximately 56 kilometres (34.8 mi) southeast of the Town of Slave Lake
. The hamlet is serviced by both road (approximately 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) west of Highway 44) and rail (Canadian National Railway
).
by the Northern Alberta Railway (NAR). Today, the NAR is part of the Canadian National Railway (CNR).
During World War II
, there was also a camp for German prisoners. Located across the river from the sawmill site, it was serviced by a cable ferry
. The ferry survived the 2001 fire, but it is unknown what of the camp still remains. There is also a large gravel pit located near Chisholm and gravel from this pit was used as ballast for the railway. In the summer of 2001, a major forest fire destroyed several houses and thousands of acres of timber in the immediate vicinity of Chisholm. Later investigation determined that the fire was caused by a CNR train.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
within the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) east of the Athabasca River
Athabasca River
The Athabasca River originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada...
, approximately 56 kilometres (34.8 mi) southeast of the Town of Slave Lake
Slave Lake, Alberta
Slave Lake is a town in northern Alberta, Canada, in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88....
. The hamlet is serviced by both road (approximately 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) west of Highway 44) and rail (Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
).
History
However, during the 1930s, Chisholm was the site of an important sawmill and box factory. It took its name from the American mill owner. There were several lumber camps in the surrounding area. Logs harvested during the winter were floated down the Athabasca River in the spring. Lumber and boxes were shipped to locations throughout Canada and the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the Northern Alberta Railway (NAR). Today, the NAR is part of the Canadian National Railway (CNR).
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, there was also a camp for German prisoners. Located across the river from the sawmill site, it was serviced by a cable ferry
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
. The ferry survived the 2001 fire, but it is unknown what of the camp still remains. There is also a large gravel pit located near Chisholm and gravel from this pit was used as ballast for the railway. In the summer of 2001, a major forest fire destroyed several houses and thousands of acres of timber in the immediate vicinity of Chisholm. Later investigation determined that the fire was caused by a CNR train.