History

Bryson, Quebec, was founded in the mid-19th century, during a time of rapid development in the region. The village’s growth is deeply connected to the Ottawa River, which served as a key transportation route for the booming lumber industry. In those early years, settlers arrived in large numbers, drawn by the opportunities offered by the timber trade. Bryson quickly became a central hub for this activity, with the river providing a natural highway for transporting logs to larger markets.

The village was named after George Bryson, a Scottish immigrant and influential businessman. He played a crucial role in the area’s economic expansion by establishing sawmills and developing large-scale timber operations. These initiatives provided employment and helped shape the future of Bryson as a regional center for trade and industry. The Ottawa River’s significance to Bryson was not only practical but also symbolic—it represented the village’s lifeblood, facilitating the movement of goods and connecting it to the broader economy of the time.

By the late 1800s, Bryson further solidified its importance with the introduction of a horse-drawn railroad by the Union Forwarding Company. This railroad allowed goods to be transported more safely around the dangerous currents of Chats Falls, making Bryson a vital stop for traders and merchants. As the village continued to grow, its infrastructure expanded, supporting a thriving community of settlers, workers, and their families. Today, while the timber industry has faded, Bryson remains proud of its history and its close relationship with the river that helped shape its identity.