BAY MILLS POINT
In 1877 the Norris Company of St. Catherine's, Ontario purchased lands on the peninsula between Waishkey Bay and the St. Mary's River to establish a lumber mill. It grew to include 121 buildings. 3 churches, boarding houses, a jail, restaurants, hotels, store, school, Post Office, Sash Blind and Door factory and a bakery. The mill cut 30 million board feet of lumber per year and employed 1200 people.
Photo courtesy of:
Brimley/Bay Mills Historical Society
In 1904 fire burned all but one mill. Because of the lack of trees needed for lumber, that mill closed in 1909. Thus, the area became known as "Bay Mills".
Waishkey Bay and Waishkey River were named after Chief Waishkey who moved here from LaPointe, Wisconsin. He settled along the then Red Carp River with his wife and 9 children. Later, the river and bays name became known as Waishkey River and Waishkey Bay. The name has been corrupted several times over the years. Some examples are Whiskey, Wasika and Waiska. Efforts by the family have gotten the name correctly spelled on maps and road signs as of 1999. The oldest known name for the river was the Pississowining. (Meaning unknown at this time).
Waishkey was the oldest brother to Ozhahguscodaywayquay, also known as Susan Johnston, wife of the Irish fur trader John Johnston of Sault Ste. Marie.
Photo courtesy of:
Brimley/Bay Mills Historical Society
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