Craigmont, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Craigmont is a ghost town
in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. It straddles the municipal boundary of Carlow/Mayo
in Hastings County
and Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan
in Renfrew County
. It was a former mining town that produced corundum
from deposits in Mount Robillard, directly north of the community.
In 1876, the mountain was discovered as a source for Corundum. In 1900, mining operations began by the Canada Corundum Company. A settlement, consisting of both a company town and a private town, grew to a peak population of 600 persons, making it the world's largest Corundum producer at that time. But in 1913, a fire destroyed the mill, resulting in job loss and a gradual decline. By 1921, Craigmont was a ghost town.
A small community remains along County Road 517, with some of the original buildings and ruins on private property.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. It straddles the municipal boundary of Carlow/Mayo
Carlow/Mayo, Ontario
Carlow/Mayo is a township in northern Hastings County in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 2001 by the amalgamation of the townships of Carlow and Mayo....
in Hastings County
Hastings County, Ontario
Hastings County is located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is The Cheese Capital of Canada. Geographically, it is located on the border of Eastern Ontario and Central Ontario. The population was 125,915 in 2001 and grew to 130,474 in the 2006 Canada Census...
and Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan
Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, Ontario
Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan is a township in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada.-Communities:*Brudenell*Hardwood Lake*Latchford Bridge*Palmer Rapids*Quadeville*Schutt-Demographics:According to the Canada 2001 Census:*Population: 1,565...
in Renfrew County
Renfrew County, Ontario
Renfrew is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario. In 2006, the population was 97,545 and county covered , giving a population density of . There are 17 official municipalities.-Government:...
. It was a former mining town that produced corundum
Corundum
Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide with traces of iron, titanium and chromium. It is a rock-forming mineral. It is one of the naturally clear transparent materials, but can have different colors when impurities are present. Transparent specimens are used as gems, called ruby if red...
from deposits in Mount Robillard, directly north of the community.
In 1876, the mountain was discovered as a source for Corundum. In 1900, mining operations began by the Canada Corundum Company. A settlement, consisting of both a company town and a private town, grew to a peak population of 600 persons, making it the world's largest Corundum producer at that time. But in 1913, a fire destroyed the mill, resulting in job loss and a gradual decline. By 1921, Craigmont was a ghost town.
A small community remains along County Road 517, with some of the original buildings and ruins on private property.
External links
- Michal Adamowicz, "Craigmont Mine, the Mountain of Corundum in Ontario", photo essay (2008)
- Ghosttowns.com - Craigmont ghost town
- Ontario Abandoned Places - Craigmont