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Ontario's First Gold Mine

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2010

Photo from Google Street View ©2010 Google - Posted December, 2010

Plaque Location

The County of Hastings
The Township of Madoc
In Eldorado, on the northwest corner of
Highway 62 and John Street at the northern end of the town

Coordinates: N 44 35.292 W 77 31.202

Plaque Text

In August, 1866, Marcus Herbert Powell, Clerk of the Division Court and part-time prospector, struck gold nearby on the farm of John Richardson. The following year Ontario's first gold mine went into production on that site and the community of Eldorado was founded. The Richardson Mine proved unprofitable and soon ceased operation, but its discovery caused a substantial gold rush to the surrounding region. A number of small gold mines were subsequently established in southeastern Ontario, including the Deloro, Gilmour, Cordova, Feigle, Bannockburn and Golden Fleece. Owing to decreasing ore values, wasteful recovery methods and shortage of capital, most of these mines were abandoned after a few years of operation.

Related Ontario plaques
Gold Mining in Canada
The Geraldton Gold Camp
Kirkland Lake Gold Camp

More
Information

More
Mining

More
Madoc Plaques

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted February 10, 2014
I have heard that the mine may be open for guided tours + mineral collecting in May 2014.

> Posted September 8, 2012
We were on vacation and drove by the area only to see the plaque itself. I find it sad that not much more could have been mentioned. Would it not seem prudent that the locals could have traced to where the actual mine was and started a new tourist area? This could ignite a new local economy (tourism). I think we're losing way too much of our history due to gov cutbacks... just a thought.

> Posted June 16, 2012
Hmm, is someone trying to hide that Historic Plaque? Great information. With today's technology, I wonder if it's worth digging in Eldorado again.

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