The Residents Of Ond Greenstone Mourn As The Landmark Of Decades Is About To Give Way To A Gold Mine

But after this week, the milestone that welcomed locals and tourists to Greenstone will be gone. The head of the old Macleod-Cockshutt mine, built in the 1930s at the intersection of Highways 11 and 584, is being dismantled by Greenstone Gold to pave the way for a new open-pit gold mine to open in mid-2024. “It represents home, security, love and it also represents the legacy of the mining town and its history,” said Hilairy O’Brien-Walter, who was born and raised in Geraldton (now merging with Greenstone Township). . O’Brien-Walter grew up on the same street as the head frame, which is the structure above the entrance to a mine. “When you drive on this freeway, you head to Geraldton, it’s the only thing that tells you, ‘Yes, you made it 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 the area to settle in the area. At the height of the gold rush in the mid-1930s, the Little Long Lac area – now known as the Greenstone area – in northwestern Ontario became known for its deposits, said Edgar Lavoie, author and historian in the Greenstone area. It was in 1934 that the original shaft sank at the Macleod-Cockshutt mine, although not much happened for the next two years, Lavoie said. In ’36, tragedy almost struck when a “big fire” threatened to wipe out all mines and towns in the area, he added. The disaster for the growing mining community was averted, but the head for Axis No. 1 at the Macleod-Cockshutt mine burned. It was rebuilt in 1937 and stood high outside Geraldton for decades, guiding people home and helping to extract $ 1.5 million worth of gold from its mines, according to Lavoie. “We now have an 85-year-old building being demolished in the name of progress,” Lavois added. LISTEN Greenstone, Ont. Residents share what it means to miss this milestone: Superior Morning7: 54 The Macleod-Cockshutt Mining Frame in Greenstone, Ont. A major landmark descends into northwestern Ontario, leaving a large hole in the hearts of many in Greenstone. Logan Turner brings this story. 7:54
Greenstone City Council agreed to sell the landmark to Greenstone Gold in 2017 for $ 1.4 million, Lavoie said, paving the way for the company to remove the head – in addition to relocating sections of the provincial highway and demolishing a neighborhood – and the cleaning of the area for the new mine. However, seeing the workers begin to disassemble 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 it as something that must always exist.” The head frame for Axis No. 1 at the old Macleod-Cockshutt mine has stood outside Geraldton, OD, for more than eight decades, marking the way home for the community. (Submitted by Greenstone Gold)
Milne said he brought his family to say goodbye to the landmark before demolition began. His kids already knew most of his framing stories, but Milne wanted to share them one more time. One stood out in particular. The frame caught fire in May 2000, but he and other community firefighters were able to stop the blaze. “We managed to save it at that moment, but we can no longer save it,” Milne said, struggling to hold back tears.

A milestone to be honored

Milne said he and others at Greenstone wanted to see the landmark relocated, but that was not possible, according to Christine Petch, deputy project manager for Greenstone Gold. The company commissioned a study in 2016 to determine if the entire head frame could be moved, but Petch said the engineering report came back saying it was not an option because of the age and condition of the construction. Instead, he said, the company will consult with community members over the next several months to determine how to honor the structure’s history. “We recognize that he is close and dear to many of the locals … and we intend to honor the Macleod head frame,” Petch added. What form it will take remains to be seen. Workers at Greenstone Gold mining company began dismantling the Macleod-Cockshutt head frame in April, but the company says it is rescuing as much material as possible and plans to honor the landmark memory. (Submitted by Greenstone Gold)

title: “The Residents Of Ond Greenstone Mourn As The Landmark Of Decades Is About To Give Way To A Gold Mine Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-08” author: “Rosa Waring”

But after this week, the milestone that welcomed locals and tourists to Greenstone will be gone. The head of the old Macleod-Cockshutt mine, built in the 1930s at the intersection of Highways 11 and 584, is being dismantled by Greenstone Gold to pave the way for a new open-pit gold mine to open in mid-2024. “It represents home, security, love and it also represents the legacy of the mining town and its history,” said Hilairy O’Brien-Walter, who was born and raised in Geraldton (now merging with Greenstone Township). . O’Brien-Walter grew up on the same street as the head frame, which is the structure above the entrance to a mine. “When you drive on this freeway, you head to Geraldton, it’s the only thing that tells you, ‘Yes, you made it 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 the area to settle in the area. At the height of the gold rush in the mid-1930s, the Little Long Lac area – now known as the Greenstone area – in northwestern Ontario became known for its deposits, said Edgar Lavoie, author and historian in the Greenstone area. It was in 1934 that the original shaft sank at the Macleod-Cockshutt mine, although not much happened for the next two years, Lavoie said. In ’36, tragedy almost struck when a “big fire” threatened to wipe out all mines and towns in the area, he added. The disaster for the growing mining community was averted, but the head for Axis No. 1 at the Macleod-Cockshutt mine burned. It was rebuilt in 1937 and stood high outside Geraldton for decades, guiding people home and helping to extract $ 1.5 million worth of gold from its mines, according to Lavoie. “We now have an 85-year-old building being demolished in the name of progress,” Lavois added. LISTEN Greenstone, Ont. Residents share what it means to miss this milestone: Superior Morning7: 54 The Macleod-Cockshutt Mining Frame in Greenstone, Ont. A major landmark descends into northwestern Ontario, leaving a large hole in the hearts of many in Greenstone. Logan Turner brings this story. 7:54
Greenstone City Council agreed to sell the landmark to Greenstone Gold in 2017 for $ 1.4 million, Lavoie said, paving the way for the company to remove the head – in addition to relocating sections of the provincial highway and demolishing a neighborhood – and the cleaning of the area for the new mine. However, seeing the workers begin to disassemble 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 it as something that must always exist.” The head frame for Axis No. 1 at the old Macleod-Cockshutt mine has stood outside Geraldton, OD, for more than eight decades, marking the way home for the community. (Submitted by Greenstone Gold)
Milne said he brought his family to say goodbye to the landmark before demolition began. His kids already knew most of his framing stories, but Milne wanted to share them one more time. One stood out in particular. The frame caught fire in May 2000, but he and other community firefighters were able to stop the blaze. “We managed to save it at that moment, but we can no longer save it,” Milne said, struggling to hold back tears.

A milestone to be honored

Milne said he and others at Greenstone wanted to see the landmark relocated, but that was not possible, according to Christine Petch, deputy project manager for Greenstone Gold. The company commissioned a study in 2016 to determine if the entire head frame could be moved, but Petch said the engineering report came back saying it was not an option because of the age and condition of the construction. Instead, he said, the company will consult with community members over the next several months to determine how to honor the structure’s history. “We recognize that he is close and dear to many of the locals … and we intend to honor the Macleod head frame,” Petch added. What form it will take remains to be seen. Workers at Greenstone Gold mining company began dismantling the Macleod-Cockshutt head frame in April, but the company says it is rescuing as much material as possible and plans to honor the landmark memory. (Submitted by Greenstone Gold)