While prospectors have been in the Red Lake area almost continuously since 1922, two periods are often referred to as gold rushes. These rushes followed the announcement or publication of a significant gold find. After the initial discoveries, thousands of gold seekers made the journey to Red Lake in search of their fortune. Unlike the placer gold of the Klondike or California gold rushes, Red Lake has what is known as lode gold. Lode gold – a deposit within a solid rock – meant that prospectors were looking for geological features like quartz veins rather than gold nuggets.
The Rush to Red Lake: 1926-1927 In the summer of 1925, two groups of prospectors arrived in Red Lake after reading Dr. Bruce's 1924 mineralization report. The prospectors consisted of independently funded Lorne Howey and George McNeely and Ray Howey and W.F. Morgan who were working for McIntyre Porcupine Mines. The men settled on Burnt Bay (later renamed Howey Bay) and prospected without success throughout the summer. On July 25, 1925, as the groups were preparing to relocate to the Woman Lake area, a discovery was made. Lorne Howey and George McNeely found a large quartz stringer with visible gold under the roots of an upturned tree. Shortly afterwards Ray Howey and W.F. Morgan discovered part of the same vein. Lorne Howey and George McNeely staked thirteen claims, while Ray Howey and W.F. Morgan staked nine. The Ottawa Journal published news of the Howey discovery on October 10, 1925. While a few prospectors made the journey to Red Lake in 1925, it was not until January 1926 that the gold rush began. Red Lake's first mining recorder Bert Holland quickly found himself overwhelmed when he arrived in March 1926. Before his arrival, prospectors had to travel to Rat Portage (Kenora) to make their claims. Between 1926 and 1927 over 18,000 claims were registered with the mining recorder's office. At one point in time, Holland ran out of forms and had to implore a news reporter to type out more forms. Although most of the prospectors would leave empty-handed, some of them staked what would become producing mines. Mines like Howey Gold Mines, McKenzie Red Lake Gold Mines, Gold Eagle Mines and Cochenour-Willans Gold Mines had their origins in the gold rush period. Many of Red Lake's prominent mining personalities such as Jack Hammell, the Cochenour brothers, Marius Madsen, George Campbell and H.G. Young also came to Red Lake during this period. |
The Interim Period
The majority of the mines founded in the gold rush period did not find their footing until the 1930's. Some companies were able to garner the interest of mine promoters like Jack Hammell and had an easier time finding investors. Others had to find their investors independently and therefore took longer to get exploration funds in place.
People were hesitant to invest in an unestablished project. This changed in 1934 when the United States passed the Gold Reserve Act in 1934. The Act raised the sale price of gold and started to move away from the gold standard. Due to the linked North American markets, Canadian mines benefited from the increased price, but were not restricted by the rest of the Act. This surge in price was likely a large contributing factor for renewed interest in the gold mining industry. In 1936 alone there were over 10,000 new claims were staked in Red Lake. More significantly mines like McMarmac Red Lake Gold Mines, Cochenour-Willans Gold Mines and Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines were able to go into production.
The majority of the mines founded in the gold rush period did not find their footing until the 1930's. Some companies were able to garner the interest of mine promoters like Jack Hammell and had an easier time finding investors. Others had to find their investors independently and therefore took longer to get exploration funds in place.
People were hesitant to invest in an unestablished project. This changed in 1934 when the United States passed the Gold Reserve Act in 1934. The Act raised the sale price of gold and started to move away from the gold standard. Due to the linked North American markets, Canadian mines benefited from the increased price, but were not restricted by the rest of the Act. This surge in price was likely a large contributing factor for renewed interest in the gold mining industry. In 1936 alone there were over 10,000 new claims were staked in Red Lake. More significantly mines like McMarmac Red Lake Gold Mines, Cochenour-Willans Gold Mines and Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines were able to go into production.
The Second Red Lake Gold Rush Similar to how the Howey discovery sparked the first gold rush, the Campbell discovery triggereed the second. George Campbell first arrived in Red Lake as part of the 1926 gold rush. While Campbell prospected himself, for the most part, he worked for other prospectors and mining companies. Campbell even delivered mail before he started the Northern Transportation Company with his cousin Colin Campbell. Campbell never gave up on his hunt for gold and continued to prospect around the Red Lake area in his spare time. In early 1944 with financial assistance from his cousin Colin, Campbell staked 12 claims near Balmer Lake. The claims had previously been staked, but because of the problematic geology, the claims lapsed. Campbell approached Arthur W. White's mining investment firm Brewis & White to fund exploration. Brewis & White saw potential in the claims, and Campbell Red Lake Mines incorporated on July 18, 1944. After several months of exploration, Campbell struck gold. On October 4, 1944, Campbell was developing a new trench when he found samples with fine visible gold. Campbell reportedly told prospector Bill Skene that he finally found his gold mine. The assay results from the samples ranged from nine to five ounces of gold per tonne. News of the discovery quickly spread throughout the mining community in Red Lake, but it was not until after the conclusion of World War II that thousands of prospectors flooded to the area. The second gold rush only lasted a single year, but greatly impacted the mining industry in Red Lake. Over the course of 1946, over 5,000 men and women came to Red Lake in search of gold. Prospectors made an estimated 20,000 claims, and 150 new companies were created. The results of the 1946 gold rush brought numerous new producing mines to the Red Lake mining camp. The most notable of these being mining heavyweights Campbell Red Lake Mines and Dickenson Mines. |
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Historic Red Lake Mining
Red Lake Geology
The Red Lake Gold Rushes
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