As the mining industry in Red Lake blossomed, a thriving business and entrepreneurial culture also arose. Hundreds of people came to Red Lake to start businesses, capitalizing on the mining boom. Transportation and mining contract companies like the Northern Transportation Company and Paulson Diamond Drilling Co, worked for the area’s mines. Supply and general stores, restaurants and hotels opened to provide goods and services to the region’s prospectors, mining companies and residents. Other industries like forestry and fishing camps also gained traction.
Below are profiles of a few of the businesses that were created because of or influenced by the mining industry in Red Lake.
Below are profiles of a few of the businesses that were created because of or influenced by the mining industry in Red Lake.
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Northern Transportation Company & Starratt Airways & Transportation
In 1928, George and Colin Campbell with Robert Starratt formed the Northern Transportation Company. The company found work transporting equipment, mail and goods for the mining companies in Red Lake. Unfortunately, by late 1929, both of the Campbell’s pulled out of the company, leaving Starratt as the sole owner. Before 1932, the Northern Transportation Company used tractor trains or boats to haul their freight. In 1932, the company bought its first airplane to monitor the progression of their tractor trains in the winter and eventually haul goods. In 1935, Starratt purchased more airplanes and formed Starratt Airways and Transportation. The company quickly garnered additional business and was one of the district’s primary transportation companies. In 1939, Starratt Airways and Transportation transported over 13,000 passengers and 40,000,000 pounds of freight with its fleet of airplanes, tractors and boats. Starratt sold his company to Canadian Pacific Railways in 1941. In 1942, Starratt Airways was combined with ten other companies to form Canadian Pacific Air Lines. Red Lake Lumber Company Formed by John Gustafson and Lucien Dansereau in 1947, the Red Lake Lumber Company was one of the Red Lake sawmills that supplied timber to the mines. While the mines were good customers, the company fulfilled commercial, industrial and residential needs as well. Over its 35 year tenure in Red Lake, lumber from the mill was used in construction projects all over the district including Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines, Cochenour Arena, schools and churches. The Red Lake Lumber Company closed in 1975. |
Loading freight in Hudson, 1925-1941
Starratt Airways office in Red Lake, 1940
The Red Lake Lumber Company sawmill, 1966 - Donated by Janet Duncan
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R. Lundström Contracting shaft at H.G. Young Mines, 1958
Source: The District News, January 8, 1959
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R. Lundström Contracting
In 1941, experienced miner Rickard Lundström arrived in Red Lake and worked at several different mines before he created a shaft sinking and contracting business. While working for Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines, Ken Whatmough, the manager of Starratt-Olsen Gold Mines, wanted to hire Lundström. To ensure that Lundström was adequately compensated, Whatmough helped create the contract that started R. Lundström Contracting. Specializing in shaft sinking (the company did other mine work as well), R. Lundström Contracting was responsible for sinking many of the mine shafts in the Red Lake area. Between mining contracts, Lundström and his employees built houseboats. A.O.T. Bartlett Stocks and Bonds Arnold Bartlett purchased Murray Fromson’s Red Lake insurance agency in 1949. From 1949 to 1961, Bartlett specialized in stocks and bonds, deriving a large portion of his business from selling stock in the area’s mines. During this time, Tom Sorely, another Red Lake insurance agent, brought Bartlett on as a partner in his insurance agency. In 1961, Bartlett partnered with his wife, Louise, and James Lovie to form the Bartlett-Lovie Insurance Agency. Bartlett retired in 1979. |
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Pipestone Store In the early 1930's Samuel Yee, moved from Red Lake to the west end of Red Lake, to open the Pipestone Store. The store operated as a general store for the mining projects in the area such as Cole Gold Mines and Frontier Red Lake Gold Mines. Yee, an experienced launderer, also provided laundry services out of the Pipestone Store. The store was a success, and Yee soon opened a satellite location in Gold Arm. The Pipestone Store, unfortunately, closed in 1937 after Yee perished in a dog sledding accident. McDougall's Trading Post Kenneth McDougall came to Red Lake in 1931, with the intention of opening a general store. However, upon arriving, he was told that he could not open a store in downtown Red Lake. Howey Gold Mines had given Joseph Kert (pictured above) a monopoly on general stores in Red Lake and the mine would not sell McDougall a building. Not to be discouraged, McDougall sold his goods from a scow until he was able to buy a small log cabin from the police. McDougall's Trading Post operated out of this building until 1949, when McDougall was able to build a new building. McDougall's Trading Post sold a variety of goods and bought furs from the local trappers. McDougall's Trading Post closed in the 1970’s. |
Receipt from Yee's Pipestone Store, 1939
Receipt from McDougall's Trading Post, 1942
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Some of the other early Red Lake business include: the Buffalo Bakery, Red Lake Supply, the Sugar Bowl Cafe, Patricia Transportation, Edna's Beauty Parlour, Faulkenham's Restaurant, the Red Lake Inn, the Gold Eagle Hotel, Keetch Lumber & Supply, Clarke's Drug Store, the Hudson's Bay Company Store and the Cabin Theatre.