Larder Lake, Ontario

Larder Lake
Township (single-tier)
Township of Larder Lake

Larder Lake
Larder Lake
Coordinates: 48°03′55″N 79°41′55″W / 48.06528°N 79.69861°W / 48.06528; -79.69861Coordinates: 48°03′55″N 79°41′55″W / 48.06528°N 79.69861°W / 48.06528; -79.69861[1]
Country  Canada
Province  Ontario
District Timiskaming
Established 1907 (1907)
Government
  Type Township
  Mayor Gary Cunnington
  MP Charlie Angus
  MPP John Vanthof
Area
  Total 229.65 km2 (88.67 sq mi)
Elevation[2] 299 m (981 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
  Total 684
  Density 3.0/km2 (8/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code span P0K
Area code(s) 705, 249
Website www.larderlake.ca

Larder Lake is an incorporated township and community in Timiskaming District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada.[1] It is located along Highway 66 and Highway 624 at the north-western part of the lake bearing the same name. The area of the township is 229.65 km2 (88.67 sq mi).[3]

Located within the "Larder Lake-Cadillac Fault Zone", a geologic region rich in precious metals, the town was the site of the first gold rush in northeastern Ontario.

History

Royal Canadian Air Force planes at Larder Lake, 1926
Larder Lake municipal building
Looking south across Larder Lake from 2nd Avenue
High-grade gold ore from the Chesterville Mine, Larder Lake Mining District

The discovery of silver in Cobalt, Ontario in 1903 led prospectors to search across northern Ontario for new finds.

H.L. Kerr explored the Larder Lake area in 1904, but did not find gold. He returned with his partner Bill Addison in 1906, and discovered traces of gold near the north arm of Larder Lake. Within months, 40 gold mining companies were established, and there was tremendous optimism and financial speculation. A mining investment company published an advertisement in the Ottawa Citizen in 1907 stating: "The Larder Lake district is believed to be the richest gold country ever known, and it is just now being opened up. Soon will commence the most tremendous outpouring of gold known to civilization."[4] Three-thousand men made their way to the area via canoe and portage to look for work, settling in a camp known as "Larder City". Excitement led to disappointment, as no large deposits of gold were found, and most of the town was abandoned by 1911. A mine brought into production between 1907 and 1911 was able to produce just $314 worth of gold, though that small output was used to mint Canada's first $5 gold pieces.[5]

In 1936, a large gold deposit was discovered in Larder Lake, leading to the establishment of several productive mines.[6]

Ontario Highway 66 was built in the 1930s to connect the various mining towns in the region. The highway connected Larder Lake to Kirkland Lake in the west, and to other mining communities to the east. The section between Kirkland Lake and Larder Lake was paved in 1944.[7]

In 1937, a boat traveling across Larder Lake to Miller Island on a fishing expedition capsized, killing all 7 on board. Searchers discovered the boat filled with water, and slowly began to recover bodies.[8] The boat's captain, John C. Skinner, Chief Engineer of the Lake Shore Mining Company, had been warned by a forest ranger that the weather conditions were too dangerous for the journey.

The Lakeshore Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1938. Guests lost all their belongings, though no injuries were reported.[9]

By 1941, labourers at Larder Lake's Omega Gold Mine were earning $4.64 per day, and the mine captain was earning $8.70 per day.[10] Omega was awarded the John T. Ryan Trophy in 1943 by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum for having the lowest accident frequency in Canada during the previous year.

The Catholic church in Larder Lake caught fire in 1947, just moments after Sunday mass. No injuries were reported, though all sacred vessels, organ drapes, vestments and pews were destroyed.[11]

In 1952, the Larder Lake Fire Department took first place in a regional competition of the Timiskaming Firemen's Association, beating 22 other fire brigades.[12]

Larder Lake's train station, located north-east of the town, was the site of a large robbery in 1965. Five gold bars worth $165,000 were awaiting shipment to the mint in Ottawa, when 4 armed men broke in. A float plane in Larder Lake was believed used in the getaway.[13]

A damaging storm moved through northeastern Ontario on July 17, 2006, bringing with it winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) to 150 km/h (93 mph). Approximately 1,904 ha (4,700 acres) of forest southwest of Larder Lake suffered blowdown.[14]

The 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay passed through Larder Lake on January 1, 2010.

Demographics

Larder Lake
YearPop.±%
1991 1,030    
1996 982−4.7%
2001 790−19.6%
2006 735−7.0%
2011 684−6.9%

The township had a population of 684 in the Canada 2011 Census.[3] Private dwellings, excluding seasonal cottages: 328 (total: 519)

First language[15] Percent of population
English 61.1
French 33.6
English and French 1.3
Other 4.0

See also

References

External links

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