Northern Ontario Road Trip Part 2: Cobalt and Kirkland Lake

[ShonTron]

Cobalt has a real ghost town feel to it. It had a boom early in the 20th century fuelled by a Silver rush, its population was over 10,000, now a population almost one-tenth that. It's heritage preservation is excellent, many buildings from the rush remain, including a huge railway station for its current size, mine shaftheads and other buildings.

To the north, Haileybury and New Liskeard feel much more like southern Ontario towns. Highway 11B is four lanes through much of it.

At New Liskeard and about 45 minutes to the north is the Great Clay Belt, a break in the Canadian Shield where there is a large agricultural industry. But saw mills and rock hills in the distance serve to remind you where you are.

Entering Kirkland Lake, population 8,248, which many Torontonians know due to the controversial plan to ship garbage to an old surface mine. Kirkland Lake is one of Ontario's fastest-shrinking communities (its 1996 population was 10,000), but has a very interesting main street.

On the way out, spotted a bear. Bear sightings are common due to the dry summer. McDonald's, Tim Horton's and other food places are more appealing with a lack of berries this year.

Gold surface mine.

Next set will be Timmins. Interesting Big Green Sign assembly in the middle of nowhere, I guess to draw attention to the 101/11 split where 101 goes straight.

 

[Observer Walt]

When I was last in Kirkland Lake several years ago, it seemed to be one of the most run-down and desolate towns I had ever been in, at least in Canada. There were a number of empty storefronts in the central business area, and a general air of shabbiness. It seemed clear that the town's best days, literally the "gold rush" days, were behind it.

Thanks again for a good set of pictures.

 

[adma]

But downtown Kirkland Lake makes for one heck of a Deco District. (It also seems tied in to how I'd imagine a lot of mining communities in Michigan's N Peninsula or Minnesota's Mesabi Range might look like.)

Maybe Charlie Angus can set some urban gentrification into play here...

 

[Hipster Duck]

These are fantastic photos, Sean. I never expected Kirkland lake to look like that.

 

[Softee]

Cool stuff, I'm looking froward to the rest of your pics. Too bad you didn't go through North Bay though (my place of residence).

 

[Long Island Mike]

ST: Again good roadtrip pics!

ST; Good Cobalt and Kirkland Lake pics! In Cobalt that RR Station is neat and isn't Kirkland Lake Alan Thicke's home town BTW? I'm enjoying the pics! LI MIKE