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Hollinger Mine spearheaded efforts to build housing

Bunkhouses, iconic Hollinger houses and even duplexes were built for to house workers and families

As the City of Timmins marks the 50th anniversary of amalgamation, it’s good to reflect on how it was built on gold. Not only in terms of mining jobs but residential buildings.

Right from the beginning, the creation of housing was spearheaded by the gold mines. Their new hires would have a place to live in the wilds of Northern Ontario.

From the early days of bunk houses to the historic and well-known Hollinger houses and even some duplexes, mining companies needed accommodations for workers — and their families — to get the gold out of the ground.

The Nov. 1, 1912, edition of The Porcupine Advance described plans for one early housing project.

“The Hollinger people at Timmins have plans drawn for 40 cottages to be erected at Timmins, six of which are well underway and be completed this fall in time for occupancy before the severe weather of winter sets in,” the story stated. “The cottages will be of seven rooms and exceedingly well finished with all the modern conveniences possible to give.

“The houses are being built to rent to employees of the mine or others at the lowest figure possible with the actual cost of the building.”

It's a big step forward for The Porcupine Camp.

It was front-page news in the April 13, 1921, Advance when the contract was awarded to build 150 Hollinger houses.

“Hill, Clark-Francis have been awarded the contract for the erection of the 150 new Hollinger houses to be built this summer,” the story read. “The houses will be built on the plains to the west side of the town.

“The erection of these 150 new houses is another evidence of the sincerity of the Hollinger management in the expressed intention of building up increased permanent staffs and providing good accommodation for all the families brought here.”

Accommodations also had to be built to house the construction crew.

“Hill-Clarke-Francis are bringing in a number of skilled workmen to rush through the contract,” the story continued. “To accommodate these men, the contractors are erecting a large bunkhouse. After the contract is completed this bunk house will be taken over by the Hollinger to accommodate its employees further.”

Before the houses were even built, this new subdivision was annexed by the Town of Timmins, so it could grow its property tax base.

“The question of annexing to the town of Timmins the 40 acres used for sites for the 150 new Hollinger houses was presented to council,” The Advance reported on July 13, 1921. “The first step necessary was a resolution by the council referring to the desirability. Then a petition from the ratepayers of the district proposed to be annexed would be required. The matter then would be submitted to the Railway and Municipal board for approval.

“All plans had been approved by the Provincial Board of Health and the idea was to present Timmins with a complete townsite, all in fine shape, as an addition to the Town. The financing of the waterworks and sewers construction would be looked after by the Hollinger taking the debentures for this new work.

“To provide against unnecessary delay, the Town Engineer was instructed to prepare plans and estimates for the waterworks and sewers for the Hollinger townsite and secure tenders for the construction of the same.”

Approval was quickly granted. The move is significant to the city’s history as it was the first major annexation to grow the Town of Timmins. Decades later, municipalities within The Porcupine Camp would undergo several boundary battles, leading to ideas of consolidation, which was finally ordered by the provincial government to create the city in 1972.

The opening of Hollinger’s subdivision was a milestone in the camp.

“Over half of the 150 new Hollinger houses are now ready and work is being rushed on the balance,” reported the Sept. 7, 1921 edition of The Advance. “Hill-Clark-Francis, the contracting firm, expect to have the whole contract filled well within schedule time. Before the bad weather comes it is expected that this new section recently annexed to the town will be all complete with houses, water and sewer connections, roads, etc.”

The story described the modern marvels the Hollinger houses were at the time.

“The new townsite is laid out with streets, sewers, waterworks, electric light, etc., provided for. The houses, while not of pretentious appearance, are built for comfort, convenience and warmth. The new houses are of uniform style, each of four rooms. All are covered with paroid siding and roofing, one house being finished in red outside and the next in green, and so on.

“The room opening from the street is the living room, and has a sink and water tap. The chimney is also in this room, the houses being so warmly constructed that one stove will be sufficient for keeping the house comfortable in cold weather. The chimneys are put on in rather unusual but very effective manner being hung from the rafters of the roof by means of strong steel bands, making a much better and stouter construction than the usual bracket arrangement.

“There are three bedrooms in addition to the living room. All the rooms are of good size and finished in comfortable way.

“Opening off the kitchen there is a pantry. The wall behind each wash basin is protected from water splashing by an attached zinc sheet. Each house is provided with a water closet. All the houses are wired for electric light.”

The story also bragged about how the interior walls were made with Gypsum wallboard, which was made from an asbestos preparation. “It has practically all the good qualities of plaster and has a few special features, being fire-proof and vermin-proof. It is harder and thicker than common wall-board and so is much preferable as a wall covering, as well promising much greater protection from the outside cold.”

The Hollinger houses were so popular another 100 were constructed in 1922.

Plans were announced in the summer of 1936 to have major additions for 199 of the Hollinger houses. The buildings were to receive peaked roofs, which would provide an extra two rooms for each house. J.P. Roy and Alfred Caron were the contractors assigned to do the work.

The Hollinger Mine built a different style of housing a couple of years later. In May 1938, the Advance featured a photo of a dozen double houses — known today as duplexes — were built on Patricia Boulevard. “These are large double houses, fully modern and equipped for all home comforts.”

Work was started on these houses on Sept. 17, 1937, and completed Jan. 20, 1938. The new buildings housed 24 families. J. Van Rassel was the general contractor and D. R. Frankly the architect.

A piece of the Hollinger housing history was saved in the 21st century. When plans were made to revive the old Hollinger gold mine for an open-pit operation in 2013, this included saving a Hollinger house preserved in its original state. The house was on the site of the Shania Twain Centre and underground gold mine tour, which were demolished for the open pit.

The little green house was moved to the site of the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre, where it is proudly displayed today.



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