Archie’s Rock, the improbable eight-storey high rock formation located west of Timmins, was officially dedicated on Saturday in the name of Archie Chenier who discovered it while hiking near his cottage one fall day in 1955.
“From this day forward, this rock will be known officially as Archie’s Rock,” announced Mark Joron, a director with the Timmins Wintergreen Fund for Conservation. “We will be putting up signs this summer along Star Lake Rd. so that people can locate and enjoy hiking to Archie’s Rock."
The dedication and hike to Archie’s Rock was organized by the Mattagami River Conservation Authority which is responsible for the administration of public lands, waterways and valleys in the Timmins area and the Wintergreen Fund.
The Wintergreen Fund for Conservation was created in the late 1990s to serve as the fundraising agency for regional conservation areas after cuts were made by the provincial government to the funding of conservation areas.
The signage for Archie’s Rock will be funded by the Wintergreen Fund.
When asked how he felt about having the site named after him Chenier replied: “Archie’s Rock… that’s a nice name, but what is more important is to have the signs put up so people can come here to explore this site.”
“If the signs are good,” Archie added, “You can’t get lost.”
Background to Archie’s Rock
As to the year he discovered the rock that now bears his name, Archie said he thought it was 1955 though he didn’t record the date that he first say the haphazard assembly of rocks that stood straight up from the ground forming an impressive natural sculpture.
“It had to be 1955,” Chenier mused, “because I recall driving a 1955 Pontiac the first time I came to this area.”
He recalls being awed and puzzled by the structure he had literally stumbled on.
“I was able to postulate and think about what is here and when I had found,” continued Chenier, “and I had plenty to think about.”
Chenier is quick to point out that he is a self-taught geologist.
He believes that the rocks that form Archie’s Rock were formed by either the advancing glaciers that carried rocks from the Moosonee area, or the retreating glaciers that carried within it rocks from the New Liskeard area.
He based his theory on the fact that those areas have similar rock characteristics to Archie’s Rock.
The glaciers advanced and retreated about 90,000 to 100,000 years ago and were a mile thick.
Within the mile-thick ice were an amalgam of rocks tossed and turned in every which way.
“Kind of like the peanuts when you make peanut butter,” explained Chenier.
When the glaciers melted they formed an esker lake which held the jumbled rock structure.
When the glaciers melted they formed an esker lake which gradually dried out revealing the unusual rock construct now known as Archie’s Rock.
“Back then, I wanted the Ministry to make it a 'go-to-see' place,” added Chenier. “But I was also afraid to take people here because some groups of strong guys would try to push the rocks apart.”
Chenier recalls cautioning them to leave the rocks as they were and study them.
“It’s not unusual to have rocks up here, that’s normal, but to have them piled the way they are that’s unusual,” Chenier marvelled.
Chenier, a retired Timmins high school teacher, also said that it is important to teach students about the geology, geography and the land around the Timmins area.
He recalled fondly the field trips he organized for his students and how much they learned about the geography and the geology of the surrounding area.
“People also ask about encountering bears,” Chenier said, explaining some people’s concern about hiking in the area.
“All my life, I have seen bears around here,” Chenier recalled, “and the worst they ever did was to look at me.”
