Timber Rafting on the Ottawa Plaque

In Arnprior, Ontario, to get to the plaque commemorating timber rafting on the Ottawa River go to the conjunction of Riverview Drive and McLean Avenue, go west on narrow and unpaved Leo Lavoie Road and keep to the right to almost the end, then make your way from there to the furthest point west where the Madawaska River flows into the Ottawa River. There stands the plaque.

TIMBER RAFTING ON THE OTTAWA

The rafting of square timber down the Ottawa River, begun in 1806, reached its peak during 1861-91 and ended in 1909. Pine "sticks" from one to two feet square and 40 to 50 feet long were floated down tributary rivers such as the Petawawa, Madawaska, Bonnechere and Mississippi to rafting points on the Ottawa. There "cribs" were made up, containing 20 to 40 pieces of timber, and as many as 200 cribs were taken in turn assembled into a raft. These rafts could be taken apart for passage down rapids or the timber slides which by-passed them. Arriving at Quebec City as much as two months later, they were dismantled and the timber loaded for shipment overseas.

Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario