ODDS ‘N SODS — How Geraldton became a boom town

In the early 1930s, the mining community of Geraldton, Ont., became an exciting beneficiary when the U.S. increased the price of gold by 75%. Gold became an important motivator. In Timmins, Ont., the Hollinger, McIntyre and Dome mines were pleasantly surprised with their increased cash flows.

Harvard geologists reported that the plunging massive quartz-porphyry bodies were the structural keys to future success. In order to cash in on the new bonanza, Hollinger increased its daily tonnage from 3,000 tons to 5,000 tons. New smaller producers appeared in Moneta, de Santis, Delmite, Aunor, Buffalo-Ankerite, Preston East Dome and Hallnor. Pamour expanded substantially.

At Geraldton, shafts were put down and mill buildings were completed in record time. Little Long Lac Mines was the first producer, followed by MacLeod-Cockshutt, Hardrock, Magnet Lake-Bankfield, Tombill and Jellicoe. Stores, hotels, commercial buildings formed the foundation of the fast growing town. The Royal Bank started off in a tent. Property values increased with growth.

As in all booms, the system fed on itself. The many mining stocks contributed their share to the excitement. For several years there had been a continuous flow of good mining development news, which was being acted upon by an ever expanding public. The area was under the watchful eyes of Canadian and American investment groups. In five years’ time, Geraldton became a neat and tidy town of neat and tidy homes, stores, public buildings and recreational facilities. The development was a splendid example of pure, free enterprise. Industrious Canadians of different ethnic backgrounds worked together to establish a thriving community of 3,000 people from a place where jobs had previously been difficult to find. The residents seized the opportunities with vigor to establish a foothold of security without the assistance of any government agency. There were no social services or welfare services of any kind.

In a few years’ time, they had duplicated the long-term tradition that had built this marvelous country.

— Don Campbell, a retired consulting mining engineer, lives in Orillia, Ont.