Historical chronology of Fort-Coulonge

Nicholas d'Ailleboust, Sir of Coulonge, spent the winter of 1694-95 near the mouth of the Coulonge River. He settled the first colony on the Ottawa River. This first trading post was called Fort-Coulonge. In 1760, the North-West Company managed this trading post and in 1821, the Fort became the property of the Hudson Bay Company. The farm, belonging to the trading post had 655 acres was sold in 1844 and the buildings in 1855. The trading post was transformed and became the village of Fort-Coulonge, just several kilometres from the river. The first sawmill of the region was built in 1843 by George Bryson. The first wood chapel was built in 1873, but it was replaced by a brick-Church in 1884 after a fire. In 1886, the railroad was finished at Fort-Coulonge. On December 10, 1888, Fort-Coulonge became a municipality and John Bryson was the mayor.