McCRANEY

NAME: McCRANEY COUNTY: ONTARIO ROADS: 2WD GRID: CLIMATE: Snow in winter BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring summer or fall

COMMENTS: REMAINS:

Early Algonquin Park was filled with rail lines and mill towns. One of those sites was on the shore of Rain Lake. During the early 1900s, the community, which was known as McCraney, consisted of a large sawmill, a combined church and school, and the park’s only Orange Lodge. There was also a train station, boarding house and private homes. In 1896, the Canada Atlantic Railway was built along the shore of the lake. The McCraney station continued to operate even after milling operations ceased around 1945. The reason was Rain Lake began to attract fishermen. A small lodge and a number of cottages were built. But that was not to last. Finally, the rails were lifted in 1959 and the cottages were demolished.

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