History of Webbwood
Webbwood, Ontario Canada is located in the present day township of the Sable-Spanish River, Sudbury District.
Originally, it was part of Hallam Township. Hallam was incorporated into a township January 1, 1893.
The earliest settler to the area was Andrew Webb who arrived there in 1883.
According to some members of my family, who settled there in 1908 and subsequently purchased
some of Andrew Webb's land, Webbwood was given its name by CPR engineers who stopped in the early
settlement to load on some of Webb's wood to fire up their engines. The story goes on to say that
Andrew Webb kept a supply of wood on hand for this purpose.
The following time line shows the development of the settlement:
| Date | Event |
| 1882 | CPR builds spur line between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie Spanish River Lumber Company and American Lumber Company already logging in area. |
| 1883 | CPR sets up work camp. |
| 1884 | Andrew Webb decides to settle. "The Spanish River Lumber Company have made some improvements and erected several buildings in connection with their lumbering operation on lot 6 in the 6th concession on the north side of the Spanish River, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company have built quite a village on lots number 2 and 3 in the fifth concession on the same side of the stream." E. Stewart, Provincial Land Surveyor. |
| 1885 | John McLandress family arrives. |
| 1886 | Webbwood now railway headquarters. The train crew layover point has been moved from Algoma Mills to Webbwood. |
| 1889 | First post office opened. |
| 1891 | First time area is included in a census. |
| 1892 | Cutler & Savige Lumber Co. McFadden & Mallory Lumber Co. operating in area. |
| 1894 | First school house opened. |
| March 3, 1894 | Mrs. Andrew Webb, the wife of the founder of Webbwood, passed away on Saturday night, aged 58. p.7 of the The Democrat, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. |
| 1897 | Jail or lockup built by Dominion of Canada. |
| May 6, 1899 | Andrew Webb passes away. |
| 1900 | Two-storey four room brick school built. |
| 1901 | Work begins at Webbwood Falls, now Espanola, to build pulp mill-mill started by Spanish River Pulp & Paper Co. |
| 1902 | Council approaches Toronto to build bridge across the Spanish River-tug 'Espinola' plying on the Spanish River between Webbwood and the Falls, is now making two trips daily. |
| 1904 | June 23 Constable Irving killed. |
| 1904 | Stamp Mill at the Shakespeare Gold Mine ready for use. First dance in Webbwood took place at the opening. |
| 1906 | Webbwood now legally a town-elects first mayor and councillors on June 2. |
| 1907 | Owners of the Shakespeare gold mine construct 12 houses, two and one-half storey boarding house that is steam-heated and an office building. |
| May 1908 | Road Contract. Tenders being called to chop, clear, stump and grub section 6 from mile post 44 to mile post 55 between Espanola and Webbwood 6 miles. |
| Sept 1908 | Fire destroyed the CPR roundhouse. Also engines No.1572 and 859. |
| Apr 1910 | Frank Van Norman appointed Provincial Constable in place of Mr. Storey. |
| Nov 1910 | Webbwood has phone connection with Sault Ste. Marie. |