1866 TO 1873
McDougall, Carling and Ferguson Townships were surveyed in 1866 and 1873 respectively and the latter partially in 1869 being completed in 1873.

Following the opening up of these areas, settlement by pioneers from the Old Country Ontario and Quebec advanced rapidly under the Governments Free Land Grant Policy.  The lumbering industry provided employment for the many settlers while preparing the land for farming much of which was unsuitable for this purpose.

Access to the district at that time was by stagecoach from Rosseau and Utterson on the Grand Trunk Railway.  Also by steamer from Collingwood and other bay ports.

1906 - In 1906 the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Toronto to Sudbury line was well advanced to the south of the town of Parry Sound.

1907 - Then in 1907 the Seguin River viaduct approximately 1700 feet in length and 106 feet in height was completed over the town and in the following year in 1908 ‘The Line’ was opened to traffic-Toronto to Sudbury

1908 - A station named Peart about seven miles north of Parry Sound was established at the present site of Canadian Industries dynamite plant in the Township of McDougall to provide services to the adjacent areas and farming community.

1912 - In 1912 strangers to the district including one Mr. F. Lankford (he was at the time 1912 - Forward treasurer of the CXLtd). Approached many of the farmers and others in this area seeking options on their property in the above-mentioned townships including Carling Presbyterian Church.

The purpose was a tight secret some suggesting a large ranching concern was interested, others that a goat farm was to be established but no one knew until the final option had been secured.  Lawyer Edwin Pirie of Parry Sound was delegated to look after all legal matters of the transactions and mutual interests of the parties.

In due course all the required property, about 5,000 acres, many fronting on the ‘Sound’, and compromising parts of each township were secured--some not without considerable negotiating as a result of the secrecy surrounding the proposed project.

Eventually it was announced by officials of the Canadian Explosive Limited that a dynamite and gelatin plant was to be built -- the site chosen being in close proximity to the C.P.R. station which was renamed AMBO and strategically located to serve the world famous Sudbury Nickel Mines and rapidly developing gold and silver mines at Porcupine and Cobalt, yet not overlooking the often discussed continuous construction of the Georgian Bay Canal.

1913 - Immediately following the acquisition of the desired property surveys and plans proceeded rapidly for the erection of the explosives plant including together docks and unloading facilities on the water front and for a village on the fine beach not far to the west of the power house area from which plant steam was supplied for heating purposes.  The docks project was never carried out.

1913-1914 - Plant construction progressed quickly during 1913-14 enabling production of dynamite by the summer of 1914 shortly prior to the outbreak of the war in August.

In the interval and upon request of the C.X.L., AMBO was changed to NOBEL after the Swedish scientist and philanthropist Alfred Bernard Nobel (1833-1896) the inventor of dynamite.  The plant was known as the ‘Nobel Works’ employing around 150 persons and next in size to BELOEIL PLANT.

Following the declaration of war, normal production of this commercial dynamite plant was curtailed and every effort concentrated on the building of a large munitions plant for the production of Cordite.

1915 - The first line was started in December 1914 and by August 1915 upon completion of the Second Cordite and Gun Cotton lines total daily output reached 40,00 lbs. of a size ‘8’ cordite.  Operations continued until in 1917 when the British Cordite Ltd. east of the C.P.R. came into production.

1916 - A shrapnel loading plant was also erected--commencing construction in December 1915; it was completed in early 1916.  In June of the same year operations were discontinued as a result of a disastrous fire and explosion resulting in the death of several persons and serious injury to many others.  The operations were then transferred to--VAUDREUIL--Quebec.

To accommodate the ever increasing number of employees and staff members necessary for the for the operations of their munitions plants of the company (C.X.L.) in 1916 built the ‘New Village’ on the former ‘Wilkinson’ Homestead site about a mile south of their Nobel Works overlooking the waters of the "Sound".

Twenty-six homes of various design and sizes together with a bowling alley, rifle range, large clubhouse and fine recreation centre were built together with docks for pleasure boats.  The "Old Village" on the beach adjacent to the dynamite works was closed up and the homes later sold to tourists for cottages among the many islands and elsewhere.

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