Page 83-86 from "The story of Framboise". Written by Peter Cumming, Heather MacLeod, and Linda Strachan
Mining
Over the years, the Stirling Mine has come and gone a number of times, each time changing life for people in the Framboise-Stirling area. lt may run yet again.
There are conflicting stories about how the mine got'its start. One says that John G. MacLeod, whose farm was once located on the site, made the discovery. Another says a MacDonald from Loch Lomond came through from Silver Mines looking for gold and discovered the Stirling ore. At the time of the discovery, copper was the only mineral found. Copper was valuable at the time but the quantity in the ore was small so interest in the site died.
In 1912, Neil R. MacArthur, James Nolan, and Jack Madore (joined later by the Harper Machinery Company of New Jersey) began prospecting, then did expensive drilling and took samples. ln 1917, they formed the Stirling Mining and Smelting Company. Ore samples contained zinc, lead, copper, and small amounts of go, but the ore was complex and difficult to refine with existing processing techniques. lt was hoped that new developments would make it possible to refine the ore economically, but this group ended its work in 1924.
n 1925, the Stirling Zinc Company was formed as a subsidiary of the American Cynamid Company which had purchased the properties. The company sank a two hundred foot shaft, built a milling plant, and employed about forty men, but it closed down within two years because its milling process was not efficient enough to develop the complex ore.
In 1927, British Metals Corporation of Canada, a larger scale operation with considerable financial backing, took over. British Metals pumped out the old shaft, made extensions to the ore body, and conducted underground repairs. Above ground, housing facilities, shaft houses, machinery garages, a water tower (water was pumped from Five lsland Lake, a half mile away and one dry summer from Middle 'River Framboise to Five lsland Lake), two one thousand horsepower generators for electricity, and various stores and businesses were started. The new concentration mill was capable of producing 250 tons of ore a day and reached a capacity of 300 tons a day in 1930- Many area people worked for the mine at this time, getting paid about 45¢ per hour, and working six days a week.
Working conditions in the mine weren't the best. The men wore two layers of oil clothing but by the time the shift was over they were usually soaking wet from the water running down the walls. No special qualifications or training were needed for any job, people learned on their own or by watching others.
Jack MacAskill says:
It was difficult at first because we didn't know too much about mining. And the ones
that were running it-I think they knew less!
British Metals employed 250 men in various capacities, in addition to those contracted by the mine in outside jobs such as trucking, loading ships, and shipping. About half the workers were from the surrounding area--Framboise, Gabarus, St. Peters, Mira, and so on. The rest came from faraway--Montreal, New Brunswick, Germany, and other parts of Europe. ln 1930 or 1931, the mine closed down. Why? The I'big shots weren't making enough money? Additional equipment was needed to increase output? The low price of base metals? Too much money being spent above ground, causing them to use up the valuable ore too quickly? Using the highest quality ores first to attract investors, then after making money letting the mine go under? Political reasons?
A few men were kept on site to maintain the grounds and equipment, and to keep the shafts dry. ln 1935 or 1936, the mine reopened, hiring back almost the same number of workers that had been let go. But it was doomed once more. The international Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers was set up in Stirling. A contract was negotiated with the management, but several terms of the agreement were broken by the company and trouble began between the management and the workers, A meeting between the union and the mine manager about the grievances didn't yield any positive results. One thing led to another, the miners went on strike, then took a vote which most of the men didn't bother with. With lack of support, the men returned to work. A list of grievances was sent to the Mines Minister who replied that the grievances would not be recognized, The men threatened to strike but were given no chance--the company moved out and the mine closed.
This time nobody was kept on to maintain the property or the shafts. The people of the Framboise Stirling area were caught in the same situation they were in when the mine stopped in the early thirties. British Metals had represented new-found hope for the area and had attracted people here. Workers left farms and fishing for mining, selling their farming and fishing equipment or letting it deteriorate. When the mine closed, some were left with nothing. When the mine opened in 1935, many saw the possibilities of another closure and made sure they had something.to fall back on.
In 1949, Mindamar Metals, a subsidiary of Dome Explorations Canada, obtained the mineral rights to the Stirling Mine site from British Metals. Mindamar de-watered the mine shafts, repaired the slopes and mine walls, began underground development, and took ore samples. By 1952, the mine began operations with 240 men employed. Working conditions were better, wages higher, new mine regulations had been passed, There was no union. The new mill was capable of producing 600 tons of ore a day.An ambitious plan was drawn up for the town of Stirling. Several small businesses opened up... tom's Tea Room, Morrison's Store, Charlie Hooper's store, Soutter Strachan's Garage. In 1955 , 25 more men were hired and production was at a peak.
electricity came to the area -hastened no doubt by the mine-- in 1954.
But in 1957, Stirling Mine closed once again. the company's explanation was that the low price of base metals and the fact that the ore bodies were running out meant it could no longer turn a profit. Some former employees question this. They say the mining was done improperly and too much valuable ore was lost because the company only wanted a fast profit. When the going got touch, the company pulled out. Once again, people were jobless and had to move elsewhere for work. The site was abandoned.
Most of the houses and buildngs were sold and moved to other places--some to as far away as Judique--by Dan Alex MacLeod and Jack LeDrew. Today, all that is left are concrete foundations and pillars, the tailings of the "mine muck", and the "Glory Hole", a burial ground for dead animals. The site is sometimes used as a "battle field" practice site for the militia.
But under the ground, the ore may be waiting. Some hear the rumblings of another mine. ln the summer of 1984, Loydex Resources will be doing extensive drilling, beginning with two 2500 foot holes, on land they have leased in Stirling, and another company is analyzing samples of the tailings for gold.
Mining
Over the years, the Stirling Mine has come and gone a number of times, each time changing life for people in the Framboise-Stirling area. lt may run yet again.
There are conflicting stories about how the mine got'its start. One says that John G. MacLeod, whose farm was once located on the site, made the discovery. Another says a MacDonald from Loch Lomond came through from Silver Mines looking for gold and discovered the Stirling ore. At the time of the discovery, copper was the only mineral found. Copper was valuable at the time but the quantity in the ore was small so interest in the site died.
In 1912, Neil R. MacArthur, James Nolan, and Jack Madore (joined later by the Harper Machinery Company of New Jersey) began prospecting, then did expensive drilling and took samples. ln 1917, they formed the Stirling Mining and Smelting Company. Ore samples contained zinc, lead, copper, and small amounts of go, but the ore was complex and difficult to refine with existing processing techniques. lt was hoped that new developments would make it possible to refine the ore economically, but this group ended its work in 1924.
n 1925, the Stirling Zinc Company was formed as a subsidiary of the American Cynamid Company which had purchased the properties. The company sank a two hundred foot shaft, built a milling plant, and employed about forty men, but it closed down within two years because its milling process was not efficient enough to develop the complex ore.
In 1927, British Metals Corporation of Canada, a larger scale operation with considerable financial backing, took over. British Metals pumped out the old shaft, made extensions to the ore body, and conducted underground repairs. Above ground, housing facilities, shaft houses, machinery garages, a water tower (water was pumped from Five lsland Lake, a half mile away and one dry summer from Middle 'River Framboise to Five lsland Lake), two one thousand horsepower generators for electricity, and various stores and businesses were started. The new concentration mill was capable of producing 250 tons of ore a day and reached a capacity of 300 tons a day in 1930- Many area people worked for the mine at this time, getting paid about 45¢ per hour, and working six days a week.
Working conditions in the mine weren't the best. The men wore two layers of oil clothing but by the time the shift was over they were usually soaking wet from the water running down the walls. No special qualifications or training were needed for any job, people learned on their own or by watching others.
Jack MacAskill says:
It was difficult at first because we didn't know too much about mining. And the ones
that were running it-I think they knew less!
British Metals employed 250 men in various capacities, in addition to those contracted by the mine in outside jobs such as trucking, loading ships, and shipping. About half the workers were from the surrounding area--Framboise, Gabarus, St. Peters, Mira, and so on. The rest came from faraway--Montreal, New Brunswick, Germany, and other parts of Europe. ln 1930 or 1931, the mine closed down. Why? The I'big shots weren't making enough money? Additional equipment was needed to increase output? The low price of base metals? Too much money being spent above ground, causing them to use up the valuable ore too quickly? Using the highest quality ores first to attract investors, then after making money letting the mine go under? Political reasons?
A few men were kept on site to maintain the grounds and equipment, and to keep the shafts dry. ln 1935 or 1936, the mine reopened, hiring back almost the same number of workers that had been let go. But it was doomed once more. The international Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers was set up in Stirling. A contract was negotiated with the management, but several terms of the agreement were broken by the company and trouble began between the management and the workers, A meeting between the union and the mine manager about the grievances didn't yield any positive results. One thing led to another, the miners went on strike, then took a vote which most of the men didn't bother with. With lack of support, the men returned to work. A list of grievances was sent to the Mines Minister who replied that the grievances would not be recognized, The men threatened to strike but were given no chance--the company moved out and the mine closed.
This time nobody was kept on to maintain the property or the shafts. The people of the Framboise Stirling area were caught in the same situation they were in when the mine stopped in the early thirties. British Metals had represented new-found hope for the area and had attracted people here. Workers left farms and fishing for mining, selling their farming and fishing equipment or letting it deteriorate. When the mine closed, some were left with nothing. When the mine opened in 1935, many saw the possibilities of another closure and made sure they had something.to fall back on.
In 1949, Mindamar Metals, a subsidiary of Dome Explorations Canada, obtained the mineral rights to the Stirling Mine site from British Metals. Mindamar de-watered the mine shafts, repaired the slopes and mine walls, began underground development, and took ore samples. By 1952, the mine began operations with 240 men employed. Working conditions were better, wages higher, new mine regulations had been passed, There was no union. The new mill was capable of producing 600 tons of ore a day.An ambitious plan was drawn up for the town of Stirling. Several small businesses opened up... tom's Tea Room, Morrison's Store, Charlie Hooper's store, Soutter Strachan's Garage. In 1955 , 25 more men were hired and production was at a peak.
electricity came to the area -hastened no doubt by the mine-- in 1954.
But in 1957, Stirling Mine closed once again. the company's explanation was that the low price of base metals and the fact that the ore bodies were running out meant it could no longer turn a profit. Some former employees question this. They say the mining was done improperly and too much valuable ore was lost because the company only wanted a fast profit. When the going got touch, the company pulled out. Once again, people were jobless and had to move elsewhere for work. The site was abandoned.
Most of the houses and buildngs were sold and moved to other places--some to as far away as Judique--by Dan Alex MacLeod and Jack LeDrew. Today, all that is left are concrete foundations and pillars, the tailings of the "mine muck", and the "Glory Hole", a burial ground for dead animals. The site is sometimes used as a "battle field" practice site for the militia.
But under the ground, the ore may be waiting. Some hear the rumblings of another mine. ln the summer of 1984, Loydex Resources will be doing extensive drilling, beginning with two 2500 foot holes, on land they have leased in Stirling, and another company is analyzing samples of the tailings for gold.