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& THE STORY OF ZENMAC MINES (By Mrs.C .Todesco of Rossport) It is a happy occasion for the district when industrial expansion appears and progresses into reality. Some expression of pride is felt in the growth and progress along the north shore of Lake Sup- erior. One project is the re-opening of the Zenith Mine Proper- ties under a new company--Zenmac Metal Mines Limited. How much prosperity from the projéct will rub off on us is yet to be seen but it is hoped our community will benefit from this base metal find on the site of Zenith Mine. (Zinc) To get a picture of the present operation one must go back to the earliest workings-a mine known as the Zenith. In the late 1880's a group of U.S. mining engineers and prospectors from Du- luth started operations on the location taken up by the McKellar Bros .of Fort William but no work was actually done on the location which is about 15 miles north of Lake Superior in the Pays Plat Lake area until 1899 to 1902. At this time several hundred tons of high grade zinc ore was shipped to Belgium. The ore was all hand picked and was packed in burlap bags holding 75 Ibs. It was brought by canoe and motor boat or hauled by heavy teams of horses to the rail siding at Selim where it was stock piled. Train crews spent hours loading it into box cars. When the mine closed down tons of bagged ore were piled at the rail siding for years till a Mr.Beamish purchased it and shipped it out. Where Lakeside Lodge is presently located the mining company had large bunkhouses and stables and a young lad by the name of Tommy McCuaig was barn boss. When the buildings were finally demolished early Rossportites raised vegetables in the rich soil of the clearing. The late John Paulmert carried mail for the mine by dog team during winter and by boat and portage in summer. Oscar Anderson often freighted express and supplies from Rossport in his boat to Selim supply depot for the company. Most of the young men of Rossport worked at the mine during off-fishing sea- sons. Jim Roy (later a CPR watchman) was head cook during the Zenith period. Operations ceased for several years when the market price on this heavy, gleaming black ore dropped. A few years later a group of engineers from Duluth tried to re- open the mine but found the shafts flooded and machinery too old and rusty. Jack Spillet and Jim Walsh lost improperly staked claims around the old site to another group of prospectors. The original machinery is still at the mine. The wooden sinks were lined with either heavy floor oilcloth or galvanized zinc. Today quantities of the ore can still be found in the earth at Selim Sid- ing where it fell from broken or rotten bags. In 195I at one minute after midnight of May 3lst, the Zenith mine locations were thrown open for staking and th ere was a mad scramble when several par- ties tried to claim the land. When the disputes were resolved the key claims were held by Lorne Anderson of Pt.Arthur and assoc- iates, including Mr.P.Harrison who is now vice-president. Zenmac Metal Mines Ltd.was incorporated in 1952 and acquired the property. Thousands of diamond drill holes were made during 1953, chiefly on the old Zenith site and they showed a substantial quantity of high grade zinc ore. In 1963 when the prize of zinc started climbing the company re- sumed development on the Zenmac property. Pete Ukrainic was hired as road foreman and started an access road from the Tr ans- Canada at Selim. The road winds 13.5 miles over hilly terrain. The mine is approximately 1,000 feet above the rugged shores of Lake Superior. The day your correspondent visited the site, ac- companied by the road foreman, it was a cold and windy 22 below . zero. It was a steady climb all the way, using second gear to pull up the high grades and round sharp bends. When introduced to head Chef Rawley he said if he had known company was coming he would have prepared a better meal. Your correspondent thought the meal served the mine personnel and herself a banquet. Here is the menu:- Tomato & Noodle Soup - stuffed leg of pork and apple- sauce - cold cuts - baked potatoes - carrots, cabbage, lettuce salad liberally garnished with boiled eggs and tomatoes - pickles and catsup - white and brown bread - buns, cookies, cake and two kinds of pie - tea, coffee and fresh milk. The hugs polished metal milk container could hold its own in any modern hotel or restaurant. The tables were white as well as the benches - there were curtains at the windows and a huge propane cook stove. It was all a far cry from the wood burning cook stoves of early mining and lumber- ing camps when men slept on cedar or spruce boughs and sewed themselves into their blankets. Three huge white trailers were skidded round bends and hauled by diesel up to the mines--put together under a.cottage roof and now house twenty men. Modern furnishings, showers and laundry facilities (electric washing machines) , toilet facilities, drapes and brightly tiled floors provide a homey atmosphere. Timber wolves, brush wolves and fox can be heard calling at night and an occa- sional lynx is heard. Marten are numerous and tame and will come close for tidbits of food. Continued - Page 10 Anglican Women Hosts For Tea: Mrs. A. C. Rigelsford, presi- dent of the women's auxiliary of St. John's. Anglican Church, received guests at the Shrove Tuesday tea. Mrs. Robert Gray was eashier. Serving were Mesdames Fred Harness, George Birch, Ralph Morrill, W. E. Collinson, W. J. Duncan, and P. R. Bailey. Kit- chen committee were Mesdames Cyril Sparkes, Bruce Lidkea, J. D. Bryson, Alfred Bull, and Miss Sandy Dennison. The bazaar table was attend- ed by Mrs. Ted Wilson and Mrs. Alvin Slater, Girls auxiliary wares were sold by Christine Bottomley and Jane Bailey, while Mrs. Jack Bryson sold home baking. Fair Brings $66 Profit Grades seven and eight pupils of Holy' Angel's sepatate schoo} raised the surprising sum of $66 through a winter fair planned and carried out by the pupils, Home baking, games of -varle. ous sorts, and clowns to amuse the smaller ones in the schoet were highlights. Most amusing was the enormous success: of the pop corn stand. Corn wae popped on the scene, and; as cash was realized a courier ims mediately despatched to nearby store for more supplies. A bonus feature offered ag courtesy to the school staff, free and well-patronized, was the for« tuffe-teller, Speakers Compete The public speaking contest sponsored by Ontario School Trustees and Ratepayers Asso- ciation and Ontario Hydro, was held in Schreiber High School, Feb. 23. Of six district high schools in- vited only three competed. Man- .itouwadge, Marathon and Schreiber. Rebekahs Convene Ruby Rebekah Lodge 279, Schreiber held its regular. meet- ing with Mrs. Mary Husband, and Mrs. Bernice Whent presid- ing. The following were appointed to the committee making ar- rangements for the annual Youth Pilgrimage: Mesdames Agnes Bryson, Beth Macadam, Jessie McCanna, Bern Whent, Ruth! Hiller, Earline Johnson, Winnie Clemens and Christine Morris. Mrs. Husband thanked Mrs. Dora Weaver, for the gift of a picture of the queen. Mrs. Anna Laine, degree captain, announc- ed degree practice will follow the next regular meeting. Anniversary Celebrated Mr. and Mrs. Leonard O'Brien celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with family dinner after which other relations and friends called during the eve- ning. Serving during the evening! were daughters Lenore and Sharon O'Brien, Brenda Bynean, and Mary McGrath. Mt. and' Mrs. O'Brien 'were married in Schreiber by Father Halpin, with Miss Mima Mc- Bride and Harry Duggan as at- tendants. Mr. and Mrs. Hobden Spikula leave on Monday for Toronto where Mr. Spikula will attend aj. convention of credit unions. | Winner in the prepared speech category was John Helliwell of Marathon and in the impromptu speech group,- Erl Gary of Man- itouwadge. ; Other entrants were Rose- Aimee Gionet, Manitouwadge; and Gordon Moorey, Schreiber, for prepared speeches and Gail K. Conrad, Marathon, in the im- promptu class. Judges were | Mrs. J. D. Bromley, Schreiber; | W. Kirkpatrick, Schreiber-Ter- race Bay, and C. Savage, Mara- thon. T.B. SURVEY (Continued ....) Rossport will be covered, also other places east and west of here. Everyone from the age of six month will be urged to attend. The meeting was held in the home of L.R.McCuaig We add our congratulations and hearty best wishes - to Mrs.Alex McGregor, long-time Schreiber resident who now lives at Central Park Lodge in Port Arthur and who reached the century mark last Saturday.