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Historical photos from the Chapleau Public Library
and from various other donors

1949. The fist sawmill of A. & L. Lafreni�re near Racine Lake. Photo and text provided by Mario Lafreni�re.

In the month of October 1949, Atchez (father), Lucien and Andr� Lafreni�re (brothers) accompanied by Edouard Pilote, Ars�ne Gagn� (Father of Roger Gagn� of Chapleau) and of Paul Tremblay arrived in Racine Lake in order to establish a sawmill to salvage timber from a forest fire. Edouard Demers came in a few weeks later.

After building a small temporary sawmill to produce lumber to build the main mill and buildings, Lucien Lafreni�re got the first job as sawyer.

As lumber was produced, the necessary buildings were built to face the fast approaching winter. Edouard Demers was put in charge of the priority building, the "cookery". The men spent their first winter in a half tent - half wood bunkhouse.