Kirkland Lake Gold Camp
Text from the plaque
The Larder Lake gold rush of 1906 was accompanied by discoveries of gold at Swastika and, in 1911, the first strike at Kirkland Lake was made by William H. Wright. The Tough-Oakes became the camp's first gold producing gold mine in 1912. During the peak years of the late 1930's the Lake Shore, Wright-Hargreaves, Teck-Hughes, Sylvanite, Kirkland Lake Gold, and Macassa mines along the "Main Break", and other properties in the vicinity, employed about 5,000 men, with a yearly output valued at over 30 million dollars. This structure, the company's vault, is all that remains of the original Tough-Oakes mine buildings.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The District of Timiskaming
The Town of Kirkland Lake
On the right after entering the campus of Northern College
at the eastern end of town on the north side of
Government Road East (Highway 66)
Also recorded for this place: The Town of Kirkland Lake
N 48 09.449 W 80 01.046
Recorded July 2006. Check current access before visiting.
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Visitors' notes
November 24, 2009
And for all the years I lived in K.L., went to the college for 4 years, I never once paid any notice to this plaque, or the remains of the vault. I promise myself to take the time and go visit the plaque and site on my next visit to my parents. Thanks for the education ! Denis Gionet, Hearst, Ontario.
September 20, 2008
My Grand father Herbert Timmins worked the Kirkland mines in his teenage years. I have a log book and a few scraps of ore he cherished as a memento of those years. He had great memories to share with us of those days. Kirk Timmins