2007 MINE TOURS
During the last half of the 19th Century a village at the head of Opinicon
Lake grew to almost 200 residents as a result of the labour required to work
the Phosphate and Mica Mines. Stream boats and barges left the long dock at
the head of the lake loaded with ore for the sulfuric acid plant in Smith
Falls or for as far away as the General Electric Plant in Newark, N.J..
The
rocky hills around the head of the lake had large outcroppings of both ores
near the surface and were mined with the power of steam engines that in some
cases are still rusting away at the site. The tour will visit 5 mines and
small groups will be conducted by Frank Phelan, Bruce Teeple (whose
ancestors opened the first phosphate mine at Opinicon) and Neil Patterson.
Two tours will be held:
Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.
The tours will leave from the Lockmaster's House Museum, and transportation will
be by car pooling. The walk to the Phosphate Mine will be about 30 minutes
walking in and 30 minutes walking out over a beaten trail. The walk to the mica
mines will be about 5 minutes and 5 minutes out.
It is suggested that everyone
wear comfortable walking shoes and bring their own water. There will be plenty
of samples of two kinds of mica that anyone may pick up, so it is suggested that
they bring a plastic grocery bag with them.
For more information, please contact Neil Patterson at: NeilPatt@sympatico.ca
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