Ferguson Highway
Encyclopedia
The Ferguson Highway was a 260 mi (418.4 km) long gravel trunk road
in Ontario
, Canada
. Built between 1925-1927 from the city of North Bay
to the town of Cochrane
, it was created to connect the growing agricultural and mining communities of Northern Ontario
with other areas further south.
Several sections of rebuilt local roads were incorporated into the Ferguson Highway, with the final link being completed through the thick forest of Temagami. The highway was officially opened on July 2, 1927, and was named in honour of Premier
George Howard Ferguson
. It quickly became an important access route to settlements and tourist areas in Northern Ontario. Throughout the following 30 years, the Ferguson Highway was extensively bypassed by the current routing of Highway 11.
The Muskoka Road
Construction of the Muskoka Road began at a portage site at the mouth of the Severn River
where a harbour known as Washago was established. In 1858, work began on a trail north towards the survey line of the Peterson Road. Thomas J. McMurray established Bracebridge
in the spring of 1861 at the northernmost point of the Muskoka Road where it intersected the Peterson Road.
The road was completed as far as Utterson in 1862.
Over the next decade, work progressed on the northward extension of the Muskoka Road through Vernon Lake, Huntsville
and the unsurveyed territory north to Emsdale, eventually reaching Burk's Falls in 1878. Between 1881 and 1887, the route was pushed to Sundridge, where an existing road connected to South River
, at which point work concentrated on opening up access roads to nearby railway stations and resources. It would take a quarter-century for construction to resume on the road. In 1912, work began south from North Bay towards Powassan. Upon the completion of that section, the remaining 20 miles (32.2 km) between Powassan and South River was built. In 1916, it became possile for the first time to drive from Toronto
to North Bay without travelling through Pembroke
.
Onwards to Cochrane
In June 1923, Howard Ferguson campaigned to victory, with one of his pledges being the construction of a trunk road
from North Bay to the farmland of New Liskeard and the mineral resources of Kirkland Lake and Cochrane. By then, a gravel road
had already been constructed between Latchford
and New Liskeard. This road started as a connection between the communities of Latchford and Cobalt
, the latter of which was already connected with nearby Haileybury. In 1912, following the passing of the Northern and Northwestern Development Act, which allocated funding towards the development of trunk roads, it was gravelled north of Cobalt and extended to New Liskeard.
After Ferguson's victory, construction began immediately on two sections. The first section was a 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) gravel road built south from Latchford to Temagami; the second was a 240 kilometres (149.1 mi) road, mostly gravelled, built north from New Liskeard to Cochrane via Earlton, Englehart
, Dane
, Swastika
, Matheson, Monteith and Porquis Junction. Both were complete by 1925. The Latchford–Cobalt section was also given a gravel surface that year. In 1926, the final 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) south of Temagami to North Bay way opened to traffic, having taken the longest to construct through the impenetrable Temagami Forest.
The fully gravelled North Bay to Cochrane Trunk Road was ceremoniously opened by William Finlayson, the Minister of Lands and Forests, on July 2, 1927,Myers gives July 1 as the ceremony date, but both Shragge and the historical plaque commemorating the route indicate July 2.
and named in honour of Ferguson. The route was later assumed as an extension of Highway 11 throughout June 1937,
following the amalgamation of the Department of Northern Development into the Department of Highways on April 1.
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Built between 1925-1927 from the city of North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
to the town of Cochrane
Cochrane, Ontario
Cochrane is a town in northern Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Kapuskasing, northeast of Timmins, south of Moosonee, and north of Iroquois Falls. It is about a one-hour drive from Timmins, the major city of the region. It is the seat of Cochrane District...
, it was created to connect the growing agricultural and mining communities of Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
with other areas further south.
Several sections of rebuilt local roads were incorporated into the Ferguson Highway, with the final link being completed through the thick forest of Temagami. The highway was officially opened on July 2, 1927, and was named in honour of Premier
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
George Howard Ferguson
Howard Ferguson
George Howard Ferguson, PC was a Conservative politician and the ninth Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1923 to 1930.-Background:He was the son of Charles Frederick Ferguson who served in the Canadian House of Commons...
. It quickly became an important access route to settlements and tourist areas in Northern Ontario. Throughout the following 30 years, the Ferguson Highway was extensively bypassed by the current routing of Highway 11.
History
Although it was named for the man who campaigned to premiership on the promise of building the road, the Ferguson Highway was an inevitable extension of the Muskoka Colonization Road that came to be known as part of it.The Muskoka Road
Construction of the Muskoka Road began at a portage site at the mouth of the Severn River
Severn River (central Ontario)
The Severn River is a river in central Ontario, Canada. Its headwaters are located at the north end of Lake Couchiching. It drains Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe...
where a harbour known as Washago was established. In 1858, work began on a trail north towards the survey line of the Peterson Road. Thomas J. McMurray established Bracebridge
Bracebridge, Ontario
Bracebridge is a town and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario, Canada.The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls . It was first incorporated in 1875...
in the spring of 1861 at the northernmost point of the Muskoka Road where it intersected the Peterson Road.
The road was completed as far as Utterson in 1862.
Over the next decade, work progressed on the northward extension of the Muskoka Road through Vernon Lake, Huntsville
Huntsville, Ontario
Huntsville is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located north of Toronto and south of North Bay....
and the unsurveyed territory north to Emsdale, eventually reaching Burk's Falls in 1878. Between 1881 and 1887, the route was pushed to Sundridge, where an existing road connected to South River
South River, Ontario
South River is a village located on Highway 11 near Algonquin Park in the Parry Sound District of Ontario, Canada. It is about a half hour drive south of North Bay or a three hour drive north of Toronto. South River claims to be the second busiest entrance to the Algonquin Park...
, at which point work concentrated on opening up access roads to nearby railway stations and resources. It would take a quarter-century for construction to resume on the road. In 1912, work began south from North Bay towards Powassan. Upon the completion of that section, the remaining 20 miles (32.2 km) between Powassan and South River was built. In 1916, it became possile for the first time to drive from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to North Bay without travelling through Pembroke
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
.
Onwards to Cochrane
In June 1923, Howard Ferguson campaigned to victory, with one of his pledges being the construction of a trunk road
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
from North Bay to the farmland of New Liskeard and the mineral resources of Kirkland Lake and Cochrane. By then, a gravel road
Gravel road
A gravel road is a type of unpaved road surfaced with gravel that has been brought to the site from a quarry or stream bed. They are common in less-developed nations, and also in the rural areas of developed nations such as Canada and the United States. In New Zealand, they are known as 'metal roads'...
had already been constructed between Latchford
Latchford, Ontario
Latchford is a Single-tier municipality town in Timiskaming District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is located on Bay Lake on the Montreal River near the town of Cobalt and the municipality of Temagami, and is 20 kilometres from the city of Temiskaming Shores. The population of the town in...
and New Liskeard. This road started as a connection between the communities of Latchford and Cobalt
Cobalt, Ontario
Cobalt is a town in the district of Timiskaming, province of Ontario, Canada, with a population of 1,223 In 2001 Cobalt was named "Ontario's Most Historic Town" by a panel of judges on the TV Ontario program Studio 2, and in 2002 the area was designated a National Historic Site.-History:Silver was...
, the latter of which was already connected with nearby Haileybury. In 1912, following the passing of the Northern and Northwestern Development Act, which allocated funding towards the development of trunk roads, it was gravelled north of Cobalt and extended to New Liskeard.
After Ferguson's victory, construction began immediately on two sections. The first section was a 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) gravel road built south from Latchford to Temagami; the second was a 240 kilometres (149.1 mi) road, mostly gravelled, built north from New Liskeard to Cochrane via Earlton, Englehart
Englehart
Englehart is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located on the Englehart River in the Timiskaming District.-History:...
, Dane
Dane, Ontario
Dane is an unincorporated community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the Unorganized, West Part division of Timiskaming District.The community is spread along Highway 650 and along Highway 112 at the intersection of these two roads....
, Swastika
Swastika, Ontario
Swastika is a small community founded in 1908 around a mining site in Northern Ontario, Canada, and today within the municipal boundaries of Kirkland Lake, Ontario....
, Matheson, Monteith and Porquis Junction. Both were complete by 1925. The Latchford–Cobalt section was also given a gravel surface that year. In 1926, the final 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) south of Temagami to North Bay way opened to traffic, having taken the longest to construct through the impenetrable Temagami Forest.
The fully gravelled North Bay to Cochrane Trunk Road was ceremoniously opened by William Finlayson, the Minister of Lands and Forests, on July 2, 1927,Myers gives July 1 as the ceremony date, but both Shragge and the historical plaque commemorating the route indicate July 2.
and named in honour of Ferguson. The route was later assumed as an extension of Highway 11 throughout June 1937,
following the amalgamation of the Department of Northern Development into the Department of Highways on April 1.