High Falls

High Falls is a ghost town located near the junction of the Spanish River with Agnew Lake, at the westernmost boundary of the city.

The town was created in 1904, when a hydroelectric dam and power plant were built on the Spanish River. This power plant, owned and operated by Vale Limited, supplied electric power to many of the area’s mining towns, and is still operational today.

 

The town was closely connected to the nearby community of Turbine. However, in the 1960s, many families began to move away from the community for economic reasons, and by 1975 the community was virtually abandoned. Homes were demolished or relocated, and by the mid-1980s the power plant was the only remaining vestige of the community. ^[14]

   Train car to  HF

Early HIgh Falls 1905

  Early Town Site

  Log Chute 1905

 

   Power House and Employees 1925

 

  HF east west dams

First Campsite High Falls

 Under construction

Aerial view of Big Eddy High Falls

 

  Big Eddy Under consturction 1918

 

Victoria Mines and Mond

Main article: Victoria Mines, Ontario

Victoria Mines, along with Mond, were located west of the community of Whitefish. Both were settled in 1899 as company towns for the Victoria Mine and smelter operated by the Mond Nickel Company.^[15] In 1913 the smelter closed, and the mine followed in 1923. None of the buildings remain at either settlement. Victoria Mines was the birthplace of Hockey Hall of Famer Hector “Toe” Blake.^[13]

VM Roast Yard

    VM Town

Victoria Mine

   VM Beginnings

Worthington

Main article: Worthington, Ontario

Worthington was located near the community of Beaver Lake.^[16] Worthington was settled in 1892 by employees of the Worthington Mine, and reached a population of around 400.^[17] In 1927, the mine collapsed, partially damaging the town. The mine permanently closed shortly after, and the original townsite was abandoned. Worthington continues to exist as a postal designation. None of the original buildings remain.

   

Worthington Mine and Cave in

  Crean Hill and North Star Mine