The Cookhouse

The Cookhouse

The cookhouse was the center of camp life. Here the single men ate and everyone stopped for a cup of coffee, warmth, and conversation. Being one of the original buildings at the site, the cookhouse was likely constructed in 1927. It included a dining room, kitchen, and a west bedroom where the cook slept. The pantry on the northside was possibly part of the original configuration. A second bedroom was added a few years later The cook prepared meals on a big, cast iron stove and served the food on heavy white crockery dishes. Hot and cold running water was available as a pipe had been directed behind the stove to heat it. Meals were hearty, no-nonsense fare because of the energy required to work the mill. Breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, and hotcakes and supper was meat, vegetables, and homemade bread followed by pies and cake for dessert. The company's first cook was RB McLean’s wife, Cora. She was a fine cook, known for the doughnuts she prepared, a favourite of her husband. Many other cooks, both good and bad followed after her.

Restoration:

The cookhouse was found in very poor condition, and much work has been done simply to keep it from deteriorating. Stabilization of the building included: new posts, beams, and a subfloor; reframing the rear living quarters, the pantry and parts of the kitchen, a temporary metal roof, and repairs to the front porch. Since then the west porch has been reconstructed, the floors were restored, a large tree causing building deformities was removed, the temporary roof was replaced with period-appropriate shingles; rotten boards were replaced on the dining room walls, the kitchen sink was reinstalled and the electric lights were rewired. Furnishing the building is a continuous process using a combination of donated artifacts, purchased objects, and reproductions.