September, 1981 -- On Sunday, September
27th, MacMillan Bloedel Industries Limited, Hudson Bay Division,
will mark the 20th anniversary of "Aspenite" in Hudson Bay.
To celebrate the production of that first panel
on September 23, 1961, the firm will hold an Open House on September
27th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. All area residents are invited to take
advantage of the plant tours and join staff members for coffee and
donuts during the Open House.
Wizewood -- Wizewood Ltd., a private company
made up largely of Prince Albert businessmen, was incorporated on
March 5, 1959. That year a site just south of Hudson Bay was chosen
and construction was underway. By the spring of 1961 the plant was
nearing completion and on September 23rd the first successful test
run on the new product was tried.
The new waferboard was made under a process developed by
Dr. James A. Clarke, which produced a waterproof board, stronger
and more attractive than ordinary particle board.
The all purpose building board was introduced under the trade name Aspenite for the first time afforded an opportunity for economic utilization of Saskatchewan's aspen which until then had been considered as a "weed" tree.
Fire -- On January 2, 1965, a fire of unknown origin raced through the central part of the plant causing over a million dollars damage.
Fire destroyed the dry wafer storage areas, the blending, metering and filtering machines and conveyers, administration offices, parts rooms and equipment in these areas.
The plant at that time employed more than 70 people and had progressed to a two shift per day production schedule.
MB Purchase -- In April of 1965, the Wizewood
plant once again made headlines, as on April 14th, MacMillan Bloedel
and Powell River purchased the plant. At that time 60 men were employed
in the plant with another 40 to 50 logging in the bush. John Ross
was appointed Manager.
Three years later in January 1968, MacMillan Bloedel announced a
multi-million dollar expansion which would more than double the capacity
of the plant, to make it the largest particle board complex in Canada.
In a report on the expansion, it was stated the expanded plant
would create another 80 jobs in manufacturing and 60 in the woods to
bring total employment up to 290.
Since the establishment of the waferboard plant
in 1961, Hudson Bay's economy has benefited considerably. Aside
from providing jobs for a large number of local residents, the mill
stimulated a considerable building boom in Town and saw the establishment
of many new businesses.
The current slump in the building products market
is not a new development, as it was noted that periodic layoffs
were necessary to reduce plant inventories as far back as 1962.
The management and staff at the Hudson Bay Division
of MacMillan Bloedel extend a cordial invitation to all district
resident to join them in celebrating the 20th Anniversary during
Open House on September 27th.
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