HISTORY
The history of the Town of Buchans inNewfoundland is a tale that intertwines the discovery of valuable mineral deposits with a rich hockey heritage, creating a unique and resilient community in the heart of the island.
Mining Discovery and Legacy
Buchans owes its origin to the discovery of substantial mineral deposits in the early 20th century. Under the employ of the Anglo-NewfoundlandDevelopment Company (ANDco), celebrated Mi’kmaq Prospector Mattie Mitchell discovered valuable zinc, copper, lead, and gold deposits at Buchans River in 1905. At the time, no milling process could effectively separate the complex mixture of sulphides, and while ANDco did mine the Buchans River site (now referred to as “Old Buchans”) seasonally from 1906-1911, it wasn't until 1925 that a suitable method for separating the various metals was perfected by the American Smelting and Refining Company (Asarco). This new process was instrumental in the establishment of an exciting new mining operation for Newfoundland, along with a community to support the development.
Asarco leased the mining rights to the Buchans River Mine from ANDco, and in return ANDco would receive a 50 per cent share of the profits from the mine’s development. In the spring of 1926, Asarco began prospecting for additional orebodies on the leased land, led by Asarco engineer J. Ward Williams and Swedish Geophysicist Hans Lundberg. This prospecting led to the discoveries that would ensure a long and prosperous mining operation at Buchans and the construction of a permanent company town. These discoveries included MacLean, Rothermere, Oriental, and Lucky Strike mines, the latter being the most productive and historically significant with the Lucky Strike headframe remaining a prominent and widely recognizable feature of the community.
Buchans thrived on the Asarco mining operation for nearly 60 years, helping to shape the economic landscape of Central Newfoundland for much of the 20th century. Workers and their families flocked to Buchans from all corners of Newfoundland and beyond, creating a very tight-knit community. Asarco provided abundant opportunities and activities for Buchans residents outside of work, with a primary focus on education and recreation. This modern community in the wilderness of Newfoundland was the envy of many, and these prosperous times continue to be thought upon fondly by current and former residents. Indeed, the mining legacy of Buchans is etched in the landscape and collective memory of its people.
Unfortunately, all good things (or mines) must come to an end. In 1977 Asarco began to divest itself of company owned housing and community infrastructure. In the early 1980, mining operations became sporadic across the still operating mines, with all mining production ceasing in September 1984. Throughout the history of the Buchans mining operation, 17.5 million tons were mined and processed over the 55-year history of mining at Buchans.
Facts About the Buchans Mines
The original 1905 Buchans discovery made by Matty Mitchell was only the first in a series of discoveries that would lead to 57 years of continuous mining later during the life of the down. “Old Buchans” as that mine was called, only produced a small percentage of the ore at Buchans – 217,135 tons. It was mined from 1943 to 1956 [Asarco accessed this orebody not through the original 1906-1911 shaft but connected to the mine primarily via 1 level in Oriental] and again in 1977 and 1978 [1977-78 – open pit/surface]. Besides Old Buchans, four major mines operated at different times between 1927 and 1984 – Lucky Strike Mine, Oriental, Rothermere, and MacLeans.
Lucky Strike orebody, named because it was discovered after a chance change of plans in exploration, was discovered on July 14, 1926. This mine, with its iconic 100 ft headframe overlooking the town; would produce ore from 1928 to 1958 and again from 1972 to 1979. In that time, 6,253,660 tons of ore were produced at Lucky Strike. As with all underground mines at Buchans, its normal underground “levels” were approximately 200 ft apart from one another and included elaborate workings for an office, explosives magazine, lunch room, and other functional areas. Lucky strike mine shaft extends 714 ft underground.
Oriental orebody, named due to its location east of Buchans River, was discovered on August 7, 1926. It would go on to produce ore as an underground mine from 1935 to 1969 and again briefly from surface/pit sources from 1980 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1984. 3,372,224 Tons of ore were produced over the life of Oriental mine.
Rothermere was discovered near the end of 1947. It was named after Lord Rothermere, whose family founded the AND company. The Rothermere mine shaft was 2,505 feet deep. The mine operated from 1950 to 1978. It produced a total of 3,508,226 tons of ore.
The deepest orebody mined at Buchans was MacLeans. It was named after Dr. Hugh J. MacLean, Asarco’s chief geologist in Buchans from 1941 until his tragic death in a bush plane crash at South Pond in 1951. MacLeans was discovered in 1950. MacLeans mine shaft was completed at a depth of 3,526 feet below surface [though the mine is actually deeper than this due to the mining of MacLean’s extension in 1983 and 1984 through a “winze” (diagonal decline) tunnel leading to “21 level.”] The mine produced ore from 1959 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1984. MacLeans produced a total of 3,514,989 tons of ore.
Community History
Most of the employees working on the development of the mine, construction of the town, and construction of the railway were housed in temporary camps. The first worker’s home in Buchans was completed on March 13, 1927; twenty-six homes were completed by the end of that year.
By the time of first concentrate production in September 1928, there were 56 housing units, an apartment house, a staff house, hospital, a town hall, and several bunkhouses in the town. Several businesses including a retail store, a laundromat and a barber shop had also been established. Both the company and the Roman Catholic Church opened schools in the town.
In 1929, the company constructed tennis courts, a ski run, an athletic field, and, in winter months, converted one of its concentrate sheds into a skating rink. Buchans had running water, sewage, electricity, and other services in place by 1928. The town would grow in size and prosper throughout the next few decades. From 1927 until the late 1970s, most town services and infrastructure were administered directly by the company. Company support, subsidization, and direction also continued during that time for most of the town’s major recreational services.
After the Buchans highway was opened in 1956, several families who wished to own houses independent of the company-administered town settled on the banks of the Buchans River at the point where the highway crossed it, in a settlement known as “Pigeon Inlet.” This settlement was named after the fictional community of “Pigeon Inlet” created by Newfoundland writer Ted Russell.
In 1963 these houses were re-located to a subdivision on the southeast corner of town. The subdivision, which became known as “Townsite” became the Local Improvement District of Buchans. Residents of “Townsite” owned their own homes and managed municipal affairs independently of Asarco. On October 1, 1978, the company town became a separate local improvement district. The two municipal governments merged to form the first democratically elected municipal government for the entire town on June 18, 1979.
Hockey Heritage and Herder Championships
In addition to its mining legacy, Buchans is renowned for its deep-rooted passion for hockey. The Buchans Miners senior hockey team emerged as a source of immense pride for the community. The town's love for the sport grew into a cultural phenomenon, with hockey games serving as focal points for social gatherings and community bonding.
Hockey, including school hockey and town and plant internal leagues had been a major recreational activity in Buchans going back to the 1930s. Games were played on nearby ponds, and eventually of the two large Asarco ore sheds on the north side of the town was converted each season into a skating/hockey rink.
One of the highlights of Buchans' hockey heritage is its success in the Herder Memorial Trophy competitions, a prestigious senior amateur hockey championship in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Buchans Miners were a dominant force in Herder competitions in the 1950s and 60s, taking home the trophy in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, and 1963. The championships not only brought glory to the team but also served as a source of immense community spirit and pride for Buchans.
A Buchans team of one name or another also was runner-up for the trophy in 1937, 1940, 1948, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1968 and 1969. In addition to exceptional local talent, the Buchans Miners hockey dynasty attracted marquis “import” players from various parts of Newfoundland as well as from as far away as Kirkland Lake Ontario and parts of industrial Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The Herder Memorial Trophy victories were more than just sporting achievements; they became part of Buchans' identity. The excitement of the games, the thrill of victory, and the unwavering support from the community created a legacy that resonates even today.
Buchans Today
As the mining industry evolved, Buchans was forced to adapt. The town's resilience is demonstrated in its continuing efforts to diversify the local economy. While mining remains a significant part of Buchans' history and future, the community has demonstrated a forward-thinking mindset, embracing new opportunities and meeting challenges head on.
Today, Buchans stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its people - a spirit shaped by the discovery of minerals in the earth and victories on the hockey rink. The mining legacy and hockey heritage are threads woven into the fabric of Buchans' history, creating a community that cherishes its past while looking towards a future shaped by innovation and adaptability.
