Nicholson

In 1898 James McNiece Austin, a general merchant from Chapleau and George B.Nicholson a C.P.R. engineer teamed up to form what would become Northern Ontario's largest lumber firm. With Austin's funds and Nicholson's knowledge of the area's timber berths, and managerial skills, the two men sealed an agreement to produce ties under contract for the C.P.R. With a contract at hand, thanks largely in part to Nicholson, the two men hired local French Canadians to produce axe hewed ties.