Ramore is a quiet community about one minute east of Highway 11 on road 572. It is 15 kilometres south of Matheson and is made up of three streets (Fergus, Timmins, and one other street I forgot to write down.) Ramore, surprisingly, was the home of two air bases, part of the Mid-Canada and Pinetree Lines.
Church at sunset in Ramore
Predominantly francophone, Ramore (and its cousin Holtyre) reminds me a bit of Val Gagné – small, quiet, clean, about 40 houses (probably more) – except with more agriculture. The area is surrounded by farms – some fallow, others still producing – which gives the area a relaxed, summer feel and some pretty fields and old barns. (And for some reason, there’s a house with a Canada flag and a Barbados flag.)
Ramore was a railway town, forestry centre, and agricultural area, but in 1950, the Americans came to town and built a Pinetree Line radar station – not by accident. The mountain the radar site was located is a high-point in the region. The mountain next to it on the west side of the highway is called Kempis Mountain. Both are prehistoric volcanoes that are long dead. Near the Radar Base, is an airstrip – not widely known. Most still think that the military built it, but that is not so. The airfield was built in the 1930’s as a make-work program during the Great Depression. It was part of some sort of larger aerial mapping program. The strip was built, but WWII came along. Not sure how much use it really got, until the Air Base was built, nearby.
Shrine at the church in Ramore
The Air Base played a large role in the area, both socially and economically, from Kirkland Lake to Matheson. In 1962, the Americans turned the base over to the Canadians. It was part of a deal that resulted due to the cancellation of the famed Avro Arrow Program. Canada would “lease” 66 F-101 Voodoos and take over 12 Pinetree Radar Bases – this included Ramore. Supposedly due to budget cuts and changing technology, the Base was closed in 1974. A similar base at Lowther was dismantled in 1984.
Interestingly, up until the mid-60’s, Kempus Mountain had a small “air base detachment” separate from the Ramore base. This is because, Kempus Mountain was part of the Mid-Canada radar system. Kempus was a relay station for the Mid-Canada line (which was a different line of radar stations than the Pinetree line), which operated generally around the 60th parallel. This is one of the few places in Canada where the Mid-Canada Line and Pinetree Lines met. As the site of two former air bases, one can say, that Ramore had a very strong connection to the Cold War. Today, one of the bases lay abandoned and some people still explore it, however it is not recommended due to the physical hazards and the potential of running into harmful contaminants. (Click here for photos of a visit to former base location in 2002.)
South of Ramore on Highway 11 is the Ramore Flea Market. Albeit small, this is a real flea market, not like the North Cobalt Flea Market. I haven’t had a chance to look around, but it’s worth a stop since it’s right on Highway 11.
Raymore also hosts a Country and Western Festival every September, complete with concerts, demonstrations, and competitions. I don’t know if there is a midway.
Drove past at least 20 times. Always wished I had stopped by.
Ramore has a church, a baseball diamond, a small library, a caisse, and Bouchard’s Grocery and LCBO outlet, which is more like a convenience store with food. Just south of the town is Rolly’s Motel and Home Cooked Meals, which has rooms and food but no gas. There are blueberry stands both north and south of Ramore, as well as a family that sells vegetables from a stall.
Thanks to Dwight for the info and for pointing me towards the photos of the radar base.
For an archive of the 40 comments that were posted to Highway11.ca’s profile of Ramore between 2008 and 2012, please click here.
In Ramore, looking for info/comments on Martin Robillard and wife Clarissa
St-Aubin. Both from St-Felix-de-Valois, Québec. He died 20 march 1947 and she on 15 jan 1950 both in Ramore and buried there.
They had 16 children ( 11 born in St-Felix and the other probably in Ramore ). Their names are:: Floribert, Felix, Marie-Rose, Pierre, Isidore, Augustin, Léopold, Angeline, Julien, Appoline and Florentin. one interresting story is that Martin Robillard dismantled his house in St-Felix piece by piece and shipped by freight every thing along with horses, cows and other farm animal. Apparently the house was still there in 1989. The Robillard were associated with the St-Aubin running various type of sawmill in the region.It is said that after 1940, about 80 to 100 people worked at the St-Aubin sawmill.
I could go on with more of the descendants Robillard and St-Aubin if any body interrested.
Can be reach at email china1992@videotron.ca /Phone 819-437-8182
Hope to have reply/ies soon
Yvan Robillard
Je vais mettre une photo de Père Deshaies sur la page Ramore (Cherchez Ramore)
Le curé Desjardins était en fonction en 63/64 à Ramore. Il venait diner chez-moi. Il servait d’aumonier à la station radar. J’ai fait la première fête St-Jean-Baptiste à Ramore un 23/24 juin, avec parade dans Ramore. J’avais une Chev Impala 1959 et puis le premier Mustang (64) décapotable.
I grew up in Ramore 77-81. My grandparents owned the Breton general store (Leo and Albertine) (now closed) would love some photos if anyone has any.
I wish to contact marc ryan If someone could forward me his email it would be appreciated
Peter: je connais Marc Ryan depuis mes jours à Ottawa. Il est sur Facebook.
Marc now lives in Eastern Ontario, and he’s quite active on Facebook.
J’aimerais savoir si l’abbé Marcel Routhier est vivant
MY family on my moms side come from ramore. Grandpa was Henri Coutu he farmed , trapped, and was a painter at the base in ramore. Also my uncle Rene Gadoury lived in ramore he worked at the mine in Holtyre as a carpenter and latter as a school bus driver on the timmins run. Another family the Beausejour lived in ramore uncle Gerald beausejour had a farm and worked as a boiler operator at the base. As kid I would spend weekend and summer vacations on the farm helping out the best I could and on occasions would go to town to Beauleu and Fries for a Pepsi and chips and then visit to grandpa Coutu and on occasion a fishing trip. Many memories and life lessons
Hello John
I think that your grandpa Henri was m’y grandma sister Véronique.
Hi i am the grandaughter of solange lalonde(bouchard) i still live in ramore but i feel lonley some times and unfotunatly my grandma solange lalonde(bouchard) passed away on july 12 2018 but ramore is still a lovley place if she is here or not with us in ramore i miss you grandma
Awww how stupid is that mu ha ha ha
You are all wrong btw. The great fire was to stop Adam Gélinas from claiming all the gold in the lumber claims he held. All Timmins and area gold was claimed by my great grand father. Roger Gélinas still lives in the city his grandfather helped to make.
If you want real photos and truth of Ramore, as those who actually know, instead of these clowns who erase his story. Adam est chasser de le quebec et a amener ca famille proche avec lui au nord Ontario.
le 100 ieme aniversaire, est les Rheaults, descendants de soueur a Josepha, enfants de Adam. tous les mentris sont fait pour cacher la vrai partonie de mon sang. Vous etes les descendants du vieux royaume de la France. Les ceux qui ont marrie cousin et cousine as demolis ton sang pure.
Si tu veux la vrai histoire avant le feus fait pas les celuis du quebec, demande a quelqu’un qui ne comptes pas des follies ou mentris.
Mon père Émile Hurtubise et mon oncle André Hurtubise ont tous les deux enseigné à l’école de Ramore au début des annés 40. André portait la soutane.
Moi je suis à Ramore en 1947 et ma sœur né 1953 aimerions savoir qui était curé et le vicaire dans ses années là
Merci de me répondre
Bonjour j’aimerais savoir le nom du prêtre ,curé ou vicaire dans les années 1940 a1955 paroisse St Laurent
Ramore Ont Mon nom famille Lévesque
Le Curé Leduc a vécu plusieurs années a Ramore .
Le 5 Janvier 1920, Le cure Félix Leduc
Il a quitté Ramore en 1952 remplacer par
le père Jean Proteau jusqu’en 1956.
I worked on the base about 50 years ago. At the time there was joint command and the Canadian CO had just been replaced by a USAF officer. Due to its location, it was a bit of a stir crazy place and the corporal’s club was the place to be. Probably due to local land features, it was a great place to meet mosquitoes even from a north Ontarian’s perspective. This was in the days of force unification so there were a few army guys in the motor pool and one lonely navy guy who was the rec officer (his first and hopefully only posting not on a ship). Many of the civilian workers commuted each day from New Liskeard by bus. I always transferred from train to bus Mondays and Fridays (coming from/going to North Bay) at the Swastika station.
There was an antique spider’s web radar antenna no longer used even back then but still somewhat maintained. All of the action was in the domes on the hill (great view from up there). The ‘air field’. was just a field where the weeds were mowed about twice a year and the ‘hangers’ were 3 sided sheds barely large enough for single engine planes; the only aircraft that I saw were either helicopters or small float planes that occasionally landed on the lake. Hitching on the highway at Ramore was about as productive as Wawa :(.
Hi Gerald, I was just reading your Blog about being stationed at the Ramore Radar Base. I am a collector of Ontario fire service histories, and I was wondering if there was a fire station on base and if you know anything about it’s history. Regards Rob, training support@primus.ca
There is one fire station and we also have an army base
I was wondering if anyone could confirm that M. Coutu (I believe it is Maurice) owned/operated some kind of pottery business in Ramore back in the day. I have a red clay piece (a head) with a sticker on the back that reads:
made in Ramore, Ont.
No. R3 (the R3 is hand printed)
M. Coutu & Sons
thanks, if anyone has any info it would be appreciated.
In response to Maurice Coutu owning a pottery business in Ramore… Maurice Coutu was my Uncle and yes he and his family owned a pottery business in Ramore Ontario in the 60’s to the 80’s. Ivan Coutu
I confirm and yes he was owner operated good friend with my father and mom
Né à KL, j’ai habité Ramore de 1948 à 1956 et j’en garde d’excellents souvenirs d’enfance. David Bastien et Catherine Legault avaient migré de l’Ile-du-Grand-Calumet… à Ville-Marie… pour s’établir à Ramore au début des années 20. Le magasin Bastien était situé presqu’en face de la station de chemin de fer gérée par Lionel Vallières, l’un des rares francophones à occuper un poste de chef de gare à ce moment dans les gares de l’Ontario. Magasin général, bureau de poste, maire… David était responsable de la distribution des chèques du secours direct durant la crise de 1929. Il eut l’idée de faire travailler les bénéficiaires à débroussailler la piste d’aviation à proximité du lac à Mud… site qui allait accueillir la base militaire 25 ans plus tard d’abord américaine puis canadienne par la suite. Je suis fils de Hélène Bastien mariée à Joseph Ryan qui fut maire du canton de Playfair de 1950 ;a 1956. Mémére Blanche (Racicot épouse d’Albert Bastien (fils de David) en première noces, de Louis Trudel en deuxième noces) fut secrétaire de trois écoles de rang à la même époque. Un incendie détruit le site du magasin le jour même de notre départ de Ramore le 16 mai 1956. Même année du départ du curé Marcel Routhier et du “principal” d’école René Thibault. Mémére est décédée en 1994 à l’âge de 95 ans.
mes coordonnées: marc_ryan@hotmail.com
j’ai vécu à Ramore de 1953 à 1966.Je connais les Loiselle,Coutu.Bouchard,Carbonneau.Provencher,Breton
mon non est Suzanne Bouchard fille de Lucien Bouchard et Rose-Aime Gelinas je vient de Ramore j ai habiter de 1961 a 1978 un jour j aimerais bien retourner y vivre
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ramore/
Suzanne , il ne reste plus grand chose a Ramore , surtout une fois retirer , la pharmacie et les docteurs sont loin , a part les ainés que t’as connu , ( pis il enreste plus beaucoup) c’est tout du monde nouveau ,
Bonjor suzanne je suis le fille a nicole lalonde et joshua diamond ma grandmaman est solange lalonde et je sait comment tu veut revenir mais ta soeur était mort depuis 2018 et mon oncle michel a du cancer revein pas si tu veut pas de la peine
My grandfather Lionel Valliere was station master at the Ramore train station from 1921 until 1948. Does anyone have any pictures of the station? My family lived 5 miles away in Holtyre from the 1940’s until the 70’s.
On Facebook there is a group called “Where is Ramore / Cherchez Ramore”. You can ask there , somebody will probably find a photo for you .
I posted a picture .https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ramore/
We have very few pictures of Ramore that we an say are from 1910 to 1970 , I am sure there are thousands , but people are not posting them and little by little these photos deteriorate , I’ve asked that they send them to me for scanning , but that project has not been successful. I remember going to play and run on the long platform at the station, I wish I could find a picture also.
Hello Dianne. I remember you well. And your late parents Cy and May who used to play cribbage with my parents the late Jos and Helen. Dad was reeve of Playfair Twp from 1950 to 1956 when our family moved to Kirkland Lake. Great-grandpa David Bastien was the first “mayor” in the mid 20s when the village became a municipality. Some history written above is not quite exact and we need a person like Raymond Fortin (Vénérand’s son) to set the records straight… as I believe he is writing a history of Ramore.
Why I’m looking here. It occurred to me to wonder after all this time to wonder why I always used the Swastika station when going to Ramore in the late 60s since the rail line goes right through.
Just wanted to point some errors in your great article. Ramore has 2 avenues Timmins avenue and McIntyre Avenue , 1 Road ( in the town business section) Ferguson Rd ( or Hwy) , there is no Fergus street , Bastien Street, Knox , Denning , Ennis and St-Joseph. There are maps that I have seen, that show names of streets that were planned but never built. Rollys Restaurant and Motel which started as Rolly’s Restaurant named after the original owner Roland Fortier , they did serve gas , but that ended in the 1990’s .
Where would I send new pics of this place to share..??
searching for any Desrochers or Coutu in Ramore if anyone know??
sounds more like peoples names from Holtyre, you can check on the holtyre site on facebook
maurice coutu live in Ramore in the mid 1960 as far as I could remember I was living in Ramore at that time.
Maurice Coutu died years ago.Wife now in Timmins,ont Marcel Turgeon. Widow of Rita Coutu daugther of Maurice Coutu and Therese Lapolice .
Noé Coutu also lived in Ramore. He and his family operated a Dairy in the 30’s and 40’s. Dates approximate.
My grandmother was Pamela Godfrey and was married to Henri coutu
Henri Coutu was m’y grandma brother Véronique
On Facebook : Where is Ramore / Cherchez Ramore
I was stationed at CFB Raymore 1970- 1973 We lived in Holtyre and had a son born in Matheson. I sold a 1964 Pontiac 327 4 speed to a young man from Raymore but cant remember his name. Would like to hear from him if possible. Sorry I cant supply more info. By the way loved it in your area and have many fond memories of the area.
There is a Raymore out west , but the Ramore you are referring to doesn’t have a ‘Y’ in it . Did you know that Holtyre use to be farming land that was part of Ramore, but when gold was found and the Ross Mine opened, the 2 companies in the project Hollinger and McIntyre , merge part of their names to create the new town of Holtyre
I had a friend who had a 1967 327 , but auto , red car, Maybe if you went to the facebook page called Where is Ramore , I’m sure Monique Coughlin’s husband would know , I’m sure he knows everycar of those years going back to 1960 on. He was a body man and loved and still dabbles in vintage cars.
Jim. Just read your post. Just found it. Don Marriott. I was in Ramore the same time and remember you well. We used to hang with the Montgomery and Korponays and McGinns we are in Rivers Man
J’ai vecu a Ramore durant les annee 1960 -64
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My name is Lynne. I lived in Ramore until I was 8 years old. Moved to Hamilton in 1995. Lived in a house on MacIntyre with my parents Marcel and Celine. I miss Ramore very much!
On Facebook : Where is Ramore / Cherchez Ramore
Lynne, your father was in my class from grade 1 through High school , I remember the house you lived in , the house is still up.
The vibrancy of the town has changed, losing the top minds year after year for those who go to university and college , few return. My parents still live there , my mother was the librarian, I’m sure you know her, Lucille Robillard , she was the organist in church , still is when there is a mass.
Hello Pierre. My name is Rob Simpson and I collect Ontario fire station histories. You appear to know quite a bit about Ramore. If you know of anyone in the community who has knowledge of the evolution of the Ramore Fire Department I would enjoy hearing from them. I did swing into the Ramore a few years ago and took a picture of the fire station. My webpage is http://www.robbysroost.ca Anything will be appreciated, thanks Rob
Bonjour à tous. J’ai été baptisé en 1934, première communion et confirmation à l’église de Ramore car nous n’avions pas de curé à Holtyre. Le curé du temps était le Père Félix Leduc. J’aimerais si quelqu’un pouvait me dire ou il a fini ses jours car lors de mon dernier voyage au Nord, j’ai visité le cimetière et il n’est pas enterré avec les autres prêtres qui ont oeuvré à Ramore. Il était complètement aveugle la dernière fois que je l’ai rencontré, en 1953 ou 54.
le pere Leduc est enterre a Sorel QC. Je crois qu’il est mort vers 1958
Exact. J’ai servi la messe du père Leduc, diabétique et aveugle à ce moment. J’avais appris les réponses en latin de Ti-Paul (Napoléon) Cloutier qui nous donnait un John Collins en récompense. Ont suivi l’abbé Marcel Routhier et le vicaire Alexandre Roberge jusqu’au moment de mon départ de Ramore en 56.
Mon grand-pere Edgard Vincent prenait des petites excursion en forest a la peche ou la chasse avec le cure Felix Leduc originaire de la region Trois Rivieres.
Lorraine Robillard laurierobillard61@gmail.com
Ma mere Jacqueline Vincent/Robillad est nee a Ramore. Elle etait maitresse d’ecole.
tpn grand-pere est oncle pierrot frere de felix mon grand-pere,…ton pere Adalbert est le parrain de mon frere claude st-aubin
Bonjour j’aimerais bien voir une photo de l’abbé Marcel Routhier car je n’ai que de vagues souvenirs de lui c’était lui a ma première communion
Ramore | Ontario Highway 11 Homepage
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Bonjour a tous les residents de Ramore!
Je connais votre petit village parce que j’allais visiter le Cure Perron qui etait pretre a votre eglise catholique! Monsieur le Cure Perron etait pretre dans notre paroisse a North Cobalt avant qu’il soit transfere a Ramore. Il etait un ami tres cher de mes parents et de notre famille. Est-ce que le Cure Perron a ete longtemps pretre a Ramore? Est-ce qu’il est decede lorsqu’il etait cure chez vous? Quel etait son prenom? J’aimerais bien recevoir les reponses a ces questions.
En terminant, j’aimerais vous dire que les gens qui habitaient dans votre village etaient des personnes tres sympathiques et chaleureuses… ceci m’a marque pour la vie! Merci beaucoup!
Edna (adresse courriel: eddy57@sympaticoca)
Allo mon nom est /my name is Jean -Marie Robillard (I was a alter boy from 1960-64) j’etait enfant de coeur dans les annees 1960-1964/ in Ramore
si ma memoire est bonne je pense que le Cure Perron est mort dans l’anne 1962 ou 64
mon addresse jeanrobillard713@yahoo.ca
my email addess jeanrobillard713@yahoo.ca
il a ete replace ma le cure de holtyre pendant qu’il lui trouvait un replacement pour le cure Perron / he was replace by the priest from Holtyre until they found a replecement priest Perron
si il a des ,persone qui se sounvient de c’est anne informations;il voul plait
Merci pour votre reponse, Monsieur Robillard.
Le curé Desjardins était en fonction en 63/64 à Ramore. Il venait diner chez-moi. Il servait d’aumonier à la station radar. J’ai fait la première fête St-Jean-Baptiste à Ramore un 23/24 juin, avec parade dans Ramore. J’avais une Chev Impala 1959 et puis le premier Mustang (64) décapotable.
corecction Père Deshais
Picture of Father Deshaies on the Ramore FB page.
le cure clement perron
Merci F. Guertin!!!
Le curé perron s’appelait Clement , il y avait le Pere Desahies a Ramore dans ces annees la aussi, C’est le pere Perron qui ma baptisee en 1959 et je me souviens vaguement de ces funeraille en l’église St-Laurent de Ramore ( qui en 2017 celebrera sont centennaire)
Il fut remplacer par le curé Matte
( correction) Pere Deshaies
Just found this site From Marie Lafreniere who came from Ramore. Would like to hear from other people I went to school with. Thanks Marie.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ramore/