The 700-kilometer stretch of Highway 11, which runs through the vast expanse of northern Ontario, is home to many unique roadside attractions, from “the world’s biggest snowman” to polar bears and loggers.
But after this week, the landmark that welcomes residents and tourists to Greenstone will disappear.
The main frame of the old Macleod-Cockshutt mine, which was built in the 1930s at the intersection of Highways 11 and 584, was dismantled by Greenstone Gold to make way for a new open-cast gold mine to start operating in mid-2024.
“It is home, security, love and also the heritage of our mining town and its history,” said Hillary O’Brien-Walter, who was born and raised in Geraldton (now United in Greenstone County).
O’Brien-Walter grew up on the same street as the main frame, which is the structure that sits above the entrance to the mine shaft.
“When you’re driving on this highway on your way to Geraldton, it’s the only thing that tells you, ‘Yeah, you got home, you’re only a few minutes away.’
“Destroyed in the name of progress”
Northern Ontario experienced a major gold rush in the early 1900s, bringing miners and their families from all over to settle in the region. At the height of the golden boom in the mid-1930s, the Little Long Lake area – now known as the Greenstone area – became known for its deposits in northwestern Ontario, said Edgar Lavois, a writer and historian in the Greenstone area. .
In 1934, the original shaft was sunk in the Macleod-Cockshutt mine, although not much happened in the next few years, Lavois said. In ’36, the tragedy almost happened when a “big fire” threatened to destroy all mines and cities in the region, he added.
The disaster for the thriving mining community was avoided, but the main frame of the №1 shaft at the Macleod-Cockshutt mine burned down. It was rebuilt in 1937 and has stood tall outside Geraldton for decades, guiding people home and helping to extract $ 1.5 million worth of gold from mining mines, according to Lavoie.
“We now have an 85-year-old structure that is collapsing in the name of progress,” Lavois added.
LISTEN | Residents of Greenstone, Ont., Share what it means to lose this landmark:
Superior Morning7: 54 Macleod-Cockshutt Mining Frame in Greenstone, Ont., Descends
A major landmark descends in northwestern Ontario and leaves a big hole in the hearts of many in Greenstone. Logan Turner carries this story. 7:54
Greenstone City Council has agreed to sell the Greenstone Gold landmark in 2017 for $ 1.4 million, Lavoie said, paving the way for the company to remove the main frame – in addition to relocating parts of the provincial highway and demolishing the neighborhood – and clearing the space for a new mine.
Yet the sight of workers actually starting to dismantle the head frame surprised many in the community.
“It’s really heartbreaking. It’s a sad, sad day here,” said Tim Milne, who has lived in the community for most of his 48 years. “Many generations see this as something that should always be there.”
The main frame for Mine 1 at the old Macleod-Cockshutt mine has stood outside Geraldton, Ont., For more than eight decades, marking the way home for community residents. (Submitted by Greenstone Gold)
Milne said he brought his family to say goodbye to the landmark before deconstruction began. His children already knew most of his head frame stories, but Milne wanted to share them one more time.
One stood out in particular. The main frame caught fire in May 2000, but he and other firefighters in the community managed to stop the fire from spreading.
“We managed to save him at that time, but we can’t save him anymore,” Milne said, struggling to hold back his tears.
Landmark that should be noted
Milne said he and others in Greenstone wanted to see the landmark relocated, but that was not possible, according to Christine Patch, deputy manager of the Greenstone Gold project.
The company commissioned a study in 2016 to determine if it was possible to move the entire frame, but Patch said the engineering report returned that it was not an option due to the age and condition of the structure.
Instead, she said, the company will consult with community members over the next few months to determine how to mark the structure’s history.
“We acknowledge that he is close and dear to many of its residents, and we really plan to honor McLeod’s head,” Pech added.
What form this will take remains to be seen.
Workers at the Greenstone Gold mining company began dismantling Macleod-Cockshutt’s head in April, but the company says it is saving as much material as possible and plans to mark the landmark. (Submitted by Greenstone Gold)
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