Burwash

Burwash Prison can be found along highway 69. The site once housed up to 670 prisoners and contained a 20 bed hospital, church, a school and a staff townsite.

It was a complete town, fully self sufficient. There was a post office, skating rink, cemetery, hospital, barber shop and church.

1914-1917

On September 14, 1914, the Ontario Government passed an Order in Council to establish the Burwash Industrial Farm. Four days later, the new Superintendant Clarance Fletcher Neelands, Sgt. Norman Sydney Oliver and nine inmates arrived at the Burwash Station. They set up camp and soon thereafter began constructing the first permanent building known as Camp Spruce.

Travel to Burwash was primarily by train as there were no roads leading to the site. Highway 69 wouldn't be built until the 1950's

With the First World War, came recession. With recession came crime. The population of inmates grew to 180.

By 1915, a small log camp had been built on the banks of the Wanapitei River and by fall, work had begun on the main camp. It was completed on January 31, 1916.

The population continued to grow as the Guelph Reformatory was turned into a veteran's hospital and rehabilitation center. The 200 prisoners were transferred to Burwash. The population was soon over 350 men.

By 1917, a steam powered sawmill (on Mill Lake), shingle and 'sticker' mill were in operations. The mill produced one million feet of lumber at its peak, annually.

1930's

In 1933, a road built by the inmates connected the Wanapitei River with Estaire. This road now connected Burwash with other roads to Wanup, Sudbury and Coniston. Burwash was no longer a remote isolated area. In a few years, cars were making it possible for people to visit Burwash and for staff to go shopping in Sudbury.

1960's

The new $2.6 million Camp Bison was officially opened in a ceremony on June 8, 1960. It accomodated 210 inmates. The name of the camp came from the numerous wildlife that had been known to roam the property.

Today

Today Burwash is supposedly a restricted area, and is barely used. This is now a training ground for the Department of National Defense.

There isn't much to see. If you turn right just before the lake, onto the rust colored pathway it will take you to where the troops camp out otherwise if you continue on down the road you come to a fork in the road. Go right to end up at a large dirt pile, where I assume the structures once stood.

If you continue straight from the fork in the road you eventually end up at the railway tracks and a small railway building. Interestingly enough, across from the tracks is an old gate and a path which leads to Camp Bison. The walk is approx 3.5 miles, but can be accessed by 4x4.