Draft:Axe Point

• Comment: To show notability, we need to see coverage in sources beyond a couple from the local land and water board. LittlePuppers (talk) 03:45, 7 December 2023 (UTC)

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Axe Point
Northwest Territories, Canada
Coordinates	61.2944561 -118.680565
Type	Former Military Camp
Area	0.61 km2 (0.24 sq mi)
Site information
Owner	Department of Defence
Operator	United States Army Corps of Engineers
Condition	Derelict
Site history
Built	1942
Built for	CANOL Project
Built by	Imperial Oil Ltd United States Army
In use	1942-1944
Airfield information
Elevation	428 m (1,404 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 06/24 1,700 m (5,600 ft) Asphalt concrete

Axe Point is a former military site located on the South side of the Mackenzie River in an isolated portion of the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories. The 61 hectare site lies 60 km west of Fort Providence, and includes an abandoned military camp, emergency airstrip and operations site as well as a former Dene village consisting of cabins and gravesites. The military camp was constructed in 1942 in support of the construction of the Canadian Oil (CANOL) trail pipeline project undertaken by Imperial Oil Ltd and the United States Army.

Axe Point Village

Prior to the military presence, the community of Axe Point consisted of 20 families, including approximately 77 people, living in several cabins and tents. There was little communication between the community of Axe Point and the US military due to the language barrier. However, the military did introduce beef and apples to the peoples of Axe Point, and they remained on relatively good terms during the few years of the camp's existence. The majority of the community had moved from the Axe Point Village by 1947, and only cabins were left standing by 1960. Axe Point Village was classified as a archeological site in 1973, and the site is still used as an overnight destination by local hunters, trappers, and fishermen.

Military Base

Completed in 1942, the Axe Point military camp was built very quickly next to the pre-existing village. There were approximately 60 to 70 United States military personnel and families stationed full time at Axe Point during the camp’s operation. The camp was used as a preferred location for barge and aircraft refueling, as well as a a temporary camp for workers on the pipeline. Supplies were brought into the camp weekly by a large truck. In addition to the port and airstrip, other structures included a radio room, testing facility, an airport garage, dry dock, generator building, residences and a large warehouse. The base was closed in October 1944 with the end of the CANOL project, but a handful of personnel remained onsite until the early 1950s. In 2006 and 2007, a remediation project was conducted on the abandoned site after concerns that toxic substances left behind may have be en contaminating the groundwater.