In 1951, union demands led to the first major strike at the mill. Strikes closed the mill for most of 1953, a short wildcat strike (1955) and prolonged union negotiations (1958–59). Fires in a kiln and the planer mill in 1957 caused a million dollars of damage to what was the largest mill on the East line. In 1962, a pulva-mix base greatly improved the road from Willow River, but it was not paved until the 1970s. Northwood purchased the mill in 1966 and closed it in Nov 1974. As the company also owned the houses in the mill town, the residents were required to leave by the end of June 1975. Auctioned off in 1975, the town and mill buildings were hauled away, with the remainder demolished in 1976 and the site reclaimed. After reducing opening hours, the general store/post office closed. The only facility remaining in operation was the school. Classes were held in portables from the 2009/10 year, because the 53-year-old structure was unsafe and beyond repair. The combined elementary school/activity centre opened for the 2014/15 year.