John Thomson 1837-1920
Born in Edinburgh, Thomson emigrated in 1854 to New Jersey, there completing his apprenticeship as a paper-maker. He moved in 1860 to Saint John, N.B., where he devised an improved method for the chemical manufacture of wood pulp. Thomson then joined the firm of Angus, Logan and Company, at whose plant in Windsor Mills in 1864 he supervised Canada's first commercial production of wood pulp. In 1872 he, his brother James and J.W. Rooklidge established the Newburgh Paper Mills. The following year, John built a paper mill at Napanee Mills (Strathcona), and in 1879-80 the brothers jointly erected the Thomson Mills near Newburgh which operated under various owners until dismantled in 1932.
Erected by The Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.
Location. 44° 19.45′ N, 76° 52.547′ W. Marker is in Newburgh, Ontario, in Lennox and Addington County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (County Road 27) and Factory Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. The marker is located at the southeast corner of the
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Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario and specifically in Southeastern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 21 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth (a few steps from this marker); Napanee River Watershed (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); "... a living river by the door..." (about 120 meters away); County of Lennox and Addington Court House and Campus (approx. 10 kilometers away); The First Steamship on Lake Ontario (approx. 18.4 kilometers away); Early Latter-day Saints in Upper Canada (approx. 18.4 kilometers away); Escape of the Royal George 1812 (approx. 20.5 kilometers away).
More about this marker. Both sides of this marker have the same English inscription.
Also see . . . John Thomson's Silver Tea Urn.
Excerpt: A shapeless ball of hardened pulpwood is all that remains from an 1862 experiment by John Thomson to create a pulp suitable for making paper. At this time, most paper was made from rags. For two years, John Thomson's trials had been unsuccessful, until one day his small boiler burst, and as he gathered the fragments of his experiment,(Submitted on August 30, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)he realized he had created suitable paper pulp. John Thomson's pulp wood ball marked the beginning of pulp based paper making in Canada.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 20242. John Thomson 1837-1920 MarkerLooking southwest from Factory Street; Main Street is in the background.While on route to Ottawa to patent his process, John took a contract installing a pulp works at Windsor, Quebec, with Angus Logan & Company, and never filed his patent. Although John Thomson never patented his process, he is credited with being the first in Canada to make paper from chemical wood pulp.
In 1872, John and his brother James built a new mill in Newburgh. The area around Newburgh was ideal for papermaking, having a large supply of trees for pulp. The best waterpower on the Napanee River was at Newburgh. At Newburgh, the Napanee River doubled, dividing into two branches which enclosed an island of about seven acres. The double river afforded thirteen good water privileges for industry within one third of a mile.
The Thomson mill was built on the island. Mill equipment, floated by barge to Napanee, was then carted to Newburgh. John built a second mill along the river at Napanee Mills in 1873 for the Napanee Paper Company. After the Newburgh Mill was purchased by The Napanee Paper Company in 1878, the Thomson Brothers built another mill at Thomsonville, upstream from Newburgh at Camden East.
John Thomson retired as the superintendent of the Napanee Paper Mills in 1878. He was presented with a silver plated tea urn from his
employees, engraved to commemorate his service. He remained active with the Thomsonville Mill until 1884 when he retired from the paper industry.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 20243. Newburgh Community Hall (northwest elevation)The marker is between the flag pole and the street sign.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 30, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
