Domtar employees, Gwen Johnson and Bonny Skene, took many Dryden Rotarians on a voyage down memory lane as they shared the 100 year journey of the “Mill” in Dryden through pictures and commentary. 
 
The first Building on the site was a saw mill built by the Gordon Brothers in about 1908 and the first pulp mill construction commenced in 1910. But in 1911, a fire destroyed the partially completed building. The Dryden Timber and Power Company then took over the site.
 
L-R Bonnie Skene and Gwen JohnsonJohnson and Skene shared many of the pictures from their recently published book Dryden Mill: 100 Years and Beyond. The pictures showed how the harvesting of wood by man and horse lasted until after the Second World War.
 
Lean times for the Mill occurred during the early 20s and again after the crash in 1929.
 
As technology advanced, the mill was modernized and experienced about 50 strong years after from 1950 ‘til the turn of the Century. However, as computerization reduced the demand for white paper, paper sales declined.  Between 2003 and 2006, the mill would shut down the wood room, saw mill and #1 paper machine. In 2007, the #2 paper machine, and in 2008, the remaining paper machine, were dismantle. These closures reduced the workforce by about 700 employees.
 
Today the mill continues to make and sell pulp some of which can be found in Charmin products
 
All present received a copy of the commemorative book “Dryden Mill: 100 Years and Beyond”