14
In 1942, Bowater Pulp and Paper Company started cutting pulpwood in Bay d'Espoir. Their camps were similar to Island Timber Company but Bowater camps were in better condition. Prior to the early 1950's, log camps were used in practically all Bowater's woods operations. Actual construction of camps was carried out by men employed by contractors. Living conditions vastly improved. Camp layouts differed from one camp to another, but typically they consisted of a barn, a cookhouse, bunkhouses and one or two small utility sheds. Each bunkhouse housed about 20 men. Camp buildings were log styled with moss stuffed or ‘stogged' in between the logs for insulation. The roofs of the camps were covered with felt, not like earlier Island Timber Company camps that were mossed over. In spite of their crude construction, these camp buildings were generally quite comfortable and could be used for several years if necessary.15
The downfall of the camps was the improved highway system. When the men could get from home to the cutting site in a small amount of time, the camps were not used as often or by as many men. When the camps were finally shut down, each camp building was sold to the contractor that built them for $1.00 to do with what they wanted. Some were torn down, others were moved away. |
 |
 |
 |