Manitoba Heritage Council Commemorative Plaques

Asessippi Townsite

Asessippi Townsite
(David McDowell Collection)
Installed 1974
PTH 83
23 kilometres north of Russell

In 1882, with the hope of an early railway connection and with a federal land grant, the Shell River Colonization Co. founded the village of Asessippi. A dam, a roller process grist mill, a saw mill, a shingle factory, a brick works and a cheese factory were all built at this site.

Some 50 Ontario Settlers had homesteaded here by 1883 but the railway did not arrive. Lacking access to a larger market, the local industries failed and in 1888 the Government of Canada revoked the Company's charter.