Chisholm, Alberta
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Chisholm or Chisholm Mills is a hamlet located at in north central Alberta. It is located about 56km south east of the town of Slave Lake. The hamlet is located on the Athabasca River and is serviced by both road and rail.
The current population of the hamlet is estimated at 16.[citation needed] 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 Athabaska River in the spring. Lumber and boxes were shipped to locations throughout Canada and the United States by the Northern Alberta Railway. (Today the NAR is part of the CNR). During second world war there was also a camp for German prisoners, (navy perhaps submariners?). 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.
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