“650 000 acres of paradise” read the signs coming into Black River-Matheson. The towns in Black River-Matheson (Monteith, Val Gagne, Ramore, Holtyre, and Matheson) are quaint, clean, and definitely rural – marking the transition between Ontario’s true north and the farms of the Temiskaming claybelt. Matheson serves as a crossroads between road 101 (which runs from Québec to Timmins) and Highway 11.
Still not sure who Thelma Miles is…
When first founded the town was named MacDougall’s Chute – ‘MacDougall’ being the name of a local First Nations trapper and ‘Chute’ pointing to its mining origins. The government renamed it Matheson in 1906 as they built the railway through the region to transport timber, ore, and wheat back to southern Ontario. Today, a hunk of gold ore sits at Queen’s Park in Toronto as a testament to the riches formerly found in the Matheson area. High upon a hill overlooking Highway 11, the Thelma Miles Museum brings visitors back through Matheson’s history from 1900 onwards.
Matheson was the site of the famous Croesus mine discovery of 1914. The largest concentration of pure gold ever to be found was discovered – a pure gold nugget measuring 2” x 1.25” was removed (a model of it is at the museum in Matheson). Gold was so rich that it was mined at an unbelievable 5,945 ounces per ton. The vein was lost about 2 years later – the time of the Great Fire.
Matheson, Ontario on Highway 11 (Credit: User P199 at Wiki Commons.)
Matheson used to be the agricultural centre of the northern half of notheastern Ontario. Up until 1995, it even had a Ministry of Agriculture office. One had to go back a few decades to understand why agriculture flourished here. Besides Government incentives in the earlier part of the 1900’s for ‘pioneers’ to settle, and fairly fertile land that far north, was another reason – forestry.
Black River boat launch
Dwight emailed to tell me that, up until the early 60’s, before mechanization came to the forestry industry in full force, trees were harvested using hundreds of horses – and these horses had to be fed. To this day forestry plays a large part in the area. The big plant in Iroquois Falls was in the area, but so were plants in Kenogami Lake, and even several small saw mills in the area. One existed for years (and may to this day) in Ramore. Therefore, there was a bit more to the agricultural industry then meets the eye in the area.
Saying that, once the 1960s ended and mechanization of forestry took hold, agriculture began a 25 year decline to near extinction in the area. Two big ‘hits occurred – the 1980-82 recession (that even wiped out nearly all farm manufacturers as they were known then, and only left one intact – John Deere). The final ‘hit’ was the recession of the early 90’s. Before the recession of the early 80’s, there were several larger beef cattle herds, that totaled approx 1000 animals or more, from as far north as Iroquois Falls, south to Ramore. Matheson even had a feedlot and abattoir, with Holtyre having an abattoir. Monteith had a veterinarian for large and small animals up until the mid-80’s. By the mid 90’s there were probably no more than 200 animals, with even fewer today.
The Matheson Fire
Matheson is the epicentre of the Matheson Fire. Also known as the Great Fire of 1916, the fire was the largest forest fire at the time and still stands today as Ontario’s most deadly, killing more than 220 people and burning more than 500 000 acres. The fire formed a whopping 64-kilometre front from Porquis Junction through to Ramore – completely destroying all the communities in its path. (The fire is the main reason that ‘Driftwood City’ was rebuilt as Monteith.) It’s been told that those who didn’t escape by train found safety hovering in lakes and rivers. The Matheson Fire led to creation of Ontario’s fire protections branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The town’s Rotary Park displays a replica of an old mining cart (pictured) as well as a hunk of ore and a large wooden carving in honour of Aboriginal traders that once made their home in the area. Upon further inspection, the old mining cart has been used as a wastebin for the old election signs of a handily-defeated Liberal politician. There’s also a boat launch and pavilion on the Black River.
Ore comes up…
…and junk goes down!
What I didn’t know is that there was a mine near Matheson that used to be a large producer of asbestos. Apparently, the area has a number of asbestos mines that operated until the 1960s. Johns Mansville had a huge operation on the back highway to Quebec, about 15 km east of town. It closed in the 60’s when the demand for asbestos dropped once health issues became known. There are still large deposites of asbestos in the area (along with gold of course). The Hedman asbestos mine was still operating until recently as far as I know, making safer products they have patented: “Hedmanite” and “Lizardite”. There are still asbestos tailings sites in the area, one site being as high as the mountain at the old Ramore Air Base.
I used to be sort of related to someone from Matheson (long story!), so I’ve been ‘regaled’ with tales of the region’s former agricultural prowess, the size of the markets, the vibrancy of the community, and the bars. Today, with most of the farms are abandoned, the town is a shell of its old self – note the old Stanley Hotel with its Da-Lor Lounge, both of which now sit empty and for sale – a relic of better days.
Yeah the sun wasn’t helping my photographic skills on this one
Today Matheson has a population of about a thousand, with the township’s total population just breaking the 2500 mark. Downtown Matheson now has the Cozy Corner, a variety store, Northern Treasures Gifts, a Freshmart, a hardware store, a caisse, an LCBO, and oddly enough, a garden centre. The Northern Delight Restaurant and the Bel Air Motel both provide other options on Highway 11 for food and lodging, respectively. There are numerous gas stations off the highway for snacks, petrol, and pee stations. Despite being in this part of Ontario, there is no Northern Ontario Chinese Food – a testament to Matheson’s Anglophone bent (as compared to its largely francophone neighbours.)
Matheson is the last stop on road 101 to Quebec, about an hour away, and is also about an hour and fifteen minutes from Timmins.
Thanks to Dwight for the info on Matheson.
For an archive of the 40 comments that were posted to Highway11.ca’s profile of Matheson between 2008 and 2012, please click here.
Lee.bramley@btinternet.com
My descendant Thomas Yarrow lived in Matheson from circa 1925 – 1942. He was a Miner / farmer.
Would be great to hear from anyone who may be connected.
We live on the next farm from the Yarrow family & still refer to it as the Yarrow place. All the buildings have gone & just the barn is left & it is on the ground.
56 Livingstone Crescent
Cambridge, Ont.
N3H 5S7
I guess I screwed that up. oh well.
My connection to Matheson is as a transient. On seven different times I have been to Matheson most times as a hitchhiker going to or coming from some place. On my first trip to B.C. I stopped at the dinne3r of the day and ate grilled cheeses sandwiches. I was broke and hitchhiking and the owner let me eat all the ketsup on my sandwiches that I wanted. It kept me filled until my next meal six hundred miles further on. Since then have visited on my way to Montreal and Winnipeg, Fort Arthur of old, and back to Toronto tree times .
If I didn’t have Matheson to stop in my traveling world could come to an end. Matheson has always reminded me that the northern ontario is the best in our country and (don’t take this wrong) the smell of matches when lighting is less than pleasant.
We would spend holidays every summer in Matheson my grandpa Alex Smith and my great aunt Vina and uncle Harvey Miller lived there, alway a fun time on their farms And visiting my second cousins Including Thelma Miles a very interesting woman , we have not been up there in years , my great aunt Vina would alway take me to the cemetery and tell all about the people that passed either from the great fire or other disasters
Hi Suzie Your Aunt Vi is may grandmother
Moved to Matheson from Kirkland Lake in the summer of 1966 so Dad could start a job at the Monteith Jail. We lived on the highway just up from the Kiss Motel, (I think it’s called the Vi-Mar now). I remember we had to dig a new well that summer and had to use the outhouse (yes it was already on the property).
We were 5 kids at the time and my next younger sibling was just starting Grade 1 and I was going in to Grade 4. We were a ways out of town and had to take the bus in, I was quite surprised when we got to the school it was a 2 room schoolhouse 1 room for English and 1 room for French, we were in the French class. Both my sister and I were in the same classroom. I believe it was grades 1 to 5 in the French side. It was quite an experience. We didn’t stay long in Matheson, as unfortunately my Dad was struck by a vehicle while walking home while returning home from the Kiss Motel one evening with Mom in the spring of 1967. While it was a sad period for us, I do remember having a lot of fun while living in Matheson 🙂
Anyone know Johnnie Aĺarie or anything to do with esso in Matheson, Ontario I found a small pocket knife marked with that name and esso looks old also says phone 80 or 74 not sure what that means
Hi Tj from Lindsay, I Randomly found this site today- looks like your post was over a year ago…. Let me know if you still would like info about Johnnie. Leave a message for Paul at the Esso Gas station.
I attended Queen Elizabeth public school in Kirkland Lake and recall a road trip North to Matheson where we visited a asbestos mine in the area. Do you know if my memory is correct, it would have been in the late 1940 s or 1950. Was just curious due to the current fear of asbestos products. Fortunately no health problems for me. I was a police officer in Vieginiatown and New Liskeard in the 60s. Thanks
Looking for a map of the farms from Matheson area from back in the late 1940’s early 1950’s. My grandparents owned a farm, and we would like to find the location that was their homestead. Any ideas on how to find that please? Steve & Ida Sedlacek was their names.
Nice to read a little bit about my hometown: I was born and raised in Matheson. Noticed your question about Thelma Miles: she set up the museum and worked tirelessly to collect relevant artifacts, to catalogue and display them. While in high school (in Iroquois Falls), my sister was funded through a student-works project and spent a summer helping Thelma set up displays in the original old house that was the Matheson museum.
Also…a correction….there has always been a Chinese restaurant in Matheson. The Shamrock was there when I was young, and my husband and I had Chinese food there last May(2016) . It fits your description of Northern Ontario Chinese food:)
Been married to the grand-daughter of Thelma Miles since ’86. Another interesting fact besides her establishing and setting up the Thelma Miles Museum just because she felt the district needed it’s history preserved, but did you also know before living in town, she actually lived and was the post master for the Vimy Ridge post office…south on the railway about 5 km out of town!!!
And one other question…since I’ve been going there, the Chinese restaurant downtown was known as the Ding-Ho, the absolute BEST chinese food!!!
Don’t know if you will see this Teresa, but we were classmates…Jo-Ann Faas (McQuoid)
joannfaas@gmail.com
Box 28; 11090 Hwy 41 MY MOTHER was drowned in the WATABAG river
in 1937 in MAY it:s hard to believe that water was high and a ragging torrent
today its only creek
was nice to read ,lived in Kirkland lake many years and been there many time ,work in many of the gold mine in northern Ontario ,but didn.t know about asbestos mine in Matherson , now retired and living in the US
Like your article
gerry
Moved to Matheson in ’58 from the states – joining my father who was a Chief Inspector for Trans-Canada Pipe Lines during the initial construction. Everyone stayed and ate at the Stanley Hotel until most found more permanent quarters. Climate change was dramatic, although arriving during the January thaw tempered things a bit. Took the school bus to Iroqouis Falls, in later years relocating to New Liskeard, Englehart, Kap, and Mattice(!)
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I have not heard the name Darren Graham for many years. How are you? Still 2 1/2 feet of snow on the ground. Hope all is well.
WOW I kind of stumbled onto this blog looking for more geological info on Kamaskotia Mtn… and began to read about all different places I knew of when I was growing up… and lo & behold my Brother-In-Law John Draves from Matheson, ON actually knows you…. so of course I had to let you know that the world isn’t as big as we think it is. Love the articles, thanks for reminding me of all the cool places up in Northern Ontario!