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
Gold in the area was originally reported in the late 1800’s by Chief Ignace Tonené of the Temagami First Nation.[9] He staked a claim near the north arm of Larder Lake but claimed it was stolen. He reported it, but Indian Affairs was unable to help.[10] Chief Tonenè Lake was named in his honour.[11]
The discovery of silver in Cobalt, Ontario in 1903 led prospectors to search across northern Ontario for new finds. The discovery of gold led to 4,000 claims by the winter of 1906 and the eventual development of the Omega (1936-1947), Chesterville gold mine (1938-1952), and Kerr Addison gold mines (started in 1936).[12][13]
Kerr-Addison gold mine, 1947
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, next to Robert Reddick's claims.[14] 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."[15] 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. The Kerr-Addison Gold Mine, 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.[16][13][14]
In 1936, a large gold deposit was discovered in Larder Lake, leading to the establishment of several productive mines.[17] In total 13 million ounces of gold were produced in the area.[18]
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.[19]
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.[20] 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.[21]
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.[22] 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.[23]
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.[24]
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.[25]
Abandoned mine in Larder Lake
A damaging storm moved through northeastern Ontario on July 17, 2006, bringing with it winds of 120km/h (75mph) to 150km/h (93mph). Approximately 1,904ha (4,700 acres) of forest southwest of Larder Lake suffered blowdown.[26]
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Larder Lake had a population of 745 living in 352 of its 440 total private dwellings, a change of 2.1% from its 2016 population of 730. With a land area of 227.62km2 (87.88sqmi), it had a population density of 3.3/km2 (8.5/sqmi) in 2021.[27]
Kirkland Lake is a town and municipality in Timiskaming District of Northeastern Ontario. The 2016 population, according to Statistics Canada, was 7,981.
Timiskaming is a district and census division in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. The district was created in 1912 from parts of Algoma, Nipissing, and Sudbury districts. In 1921, Cochrane District was created from parts of this district and parts of Thunder Bay District.
Cobalt is a town in Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada. It had a population of 1,118 at the 2016 Census. The population is now closer to 943.
McGarry is an incorporated township in Timiskaming District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It includes the communities of Virginiatown, North Virginiatown, and Kearns. The township borders with Quebec to the east, along Highway 66 between Kirkland Lake and Rouyn-Noranda. The northern border of the township forms part of the border between Timiskaming District and Cochrane District. Highway 66 was rerouted in 2017 because of concerns that aging mine shafts under the road could cause it to collapse.
Marmora and Lake is a municipality along the banks of Crowe River and Beaver Creek, about midway between Toronto and Ottawa on provincial Highway 7 in Hastings County in Central Ontario, Canada. It is home to over 4,000 full time and seasonal residents, many of whom enjoy outdoor recreation and relaxation on Crowe Lake.
Red Lake is a municipality with town status in the Canadian province of Ontario, located 535 km (332 mi) northwest of Thunder Bay and less than 100 km (62 mi) from the Manitoba border. The municipality consists of six small communities—Balmertown, Cochenour, Madsen, McKenzie Island, Red Lake and Starratt-Olsen—and had a population of 4,107 people in the Canada 2016 Census.
King's Highway 66, commonly referred to as Highway 66, is a provincially-maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located in the Timiskaming District, the highway begins at Matachewan near a junction with Highway 65. It extends eastward for 107.0 kilometres (66.5 mi) to the Quebec boundary just east of Kearns. At the provincial boundary, the highway continues eastward as Route 117. From Highway 11 at Kenogami Lake eastwards to the Quebec boundary, Highway66 is designated as part of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Matachewan is a township in Timiskaming, Northeastern Ontario, Canada, located at the end of Ontario Highway 66 along the Montreal River. The name is derived from the Cree word for "meeting of the currents".
Gauthier is a township municipality in Timiskaming District the Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The township had a population of 138 in the Canada 2016 Census. Its main population centre is Dobie, located just north of Ontario Highway 66, 18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi) east of Kirkland Lake.
James is an incorporated township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Timiskaming District. The primary community within the township is Elk Lake, which is located at the junction of Ontario Highway 65 and Ontario Highway 560.
Unorganized East Timiskaming District is an unorganized area in the Canadian province of Ontario, comprising the unincorporated portions of the Timiskaming District lying east of the municipal boundaries of Kirkland Lake and north of the municipal boundaries of Gauthier, Larder Lake and McGarry.
Larder Lake is a freshwater lake in Timiskaming District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The lake straddles the incorporated (municipal) townships of Larder Lake and McGarry and geographic McFadden Township. It is part of the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin and is the source of the Larder River.
The Blanche River is a river in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin in Timiskaming District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. The river is a tributary of Lake Timiskaming and its name is from the French for the colour "white".
Kerr Addison Mines Ltd was a Toronto-based mining and gas company that owned various mines throughout Canada, including the Agnew Lake Mine, the Kerr-Addison Mine and Chesterville gold mine.
Ignace Tonené, also known as Nias or by his Ojibwe name Maiagizis, was a Teme-Augama Anishnabai chief, fur trader, and gold prospector in Upper Canada. He was a prominent employee of the Hudson's Bay Company.
The Kerr–Addison Mine is an abandoned Canadian gold mine in the Kearns area of McGarry, Ontario. In 1960, the mine was the largest producer of gold in North America. The mine produced the second most gold overall in North America, with the Homestake Mine being the leader.
Chief Tonene Lake is a lake in the Timiskaming District of Ontario, Canada.
Deak Resources Corporation was a Canadian mining company that was formed by a merger in 1989. It became AJ Perron Gold in 1994 and operated the Kerr-Addison Mine.
Chesterville Gold Mine was a gold mine located in McGarry, Ontario.
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