North American Lumber Company Building
(Binscarth Museum)
152 – 2nd Avenue,
Binscarth

Designation Date: October 9, 1991
Designation Authority: The Village of Binscarth
Present Owner: The Village of Binscarth

Binscarth’s first and only lumberyard was established in 1889, only three years after the community was established. The present building was constructed in 1893 and was operated by the North American Lumber Company for more than half a century before closing in 1974.

The town lumberyard played a major role in the development of Manitoba’s rural communities. With the introduction of readily available milled lumber, the appearance of most pioneer communities was transformed. The rough log structures of the early years were quickly replaced with neat buildings of wood frame. The primary structure in most lumberyards was of specialized design, featuring a central drive-through alley flanked on either side by several tiers of storage bins. In 1977 this building was purchased by Gorden Orr, a retired farmer, who utilized it to store and exhibit his extensive personal collection of heritage artifacts. The facility is now known as the Binscarth Museum.