Lake of the Woods Milling Company has a rich history in Manitoba, Canada. The company was founded in 1909 by a group of investors who saw an opportunity to capitalize on the region's abundant timber resources.
The company's early success was largely due to its strategic location on the shores of Lake of the Woods, which provided a reliable source of timber and access to the lake's transportation routes. This proximity allowed the company to transport its products to markets in the United States and Canada.
The company's founders were innovative and forward-thinking, recognizing the importance of investing in new technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. They implemented a number of modern milling techniques, which helped the company to become one of the largest and most successful in the region.
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History
Lake of the Woods Milling Company was founded on May 21, 1887, to capitalize on a new railway and the growing western grain production.
The company was formed by a team from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) board, including George Stephen, William Cornelius Van Horne, and James Ross, with headquarters in Montreal and milling operations in Keewatin, Ontario.
The location provided transportation via the CPR, access to raw product, and water-power from the Winnipeg River.
James Parkyn operated the company until 1895, having previously owned Mount Royal Mills in Montreal.
The first mill was completed in 1888, with a construction budget of $300,000 and overseen by vice-president John Mather.
Its peak production turned 62,000 bushels of wheat into 10,000 barrels of flour daily.
The flour was marketed under the name Five Roses, which became a world-famous brand.
In 1913, Lake of the Woods released the first edition of the Five Roses Cook Book, which is still in production today.
The company's assets were purchased by Ogilvie Flour Mills Company in 1954, leading to the mill's eventual closure in 1967.
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