"THE HISTORY OF SWASTIKA GOLD MINE
Swastika was originally a railway siding for the Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway in 1906-07. The town blossomed in 1911 with the discovery of gold in and around Swastika and in a far off place known as Kirkland Lake. Unfortunately for Swastika the Kirkland Lake goldfields grew while the gold mines in Swastika stagnated and closed after only a few short years. Swastika remained a transportation centre serving the Kirkland Lake until a branch line was laid through Kirkland Lake to Rouyn-Noranda in the mid twenties. Today it is a bedroom community within the Town of Kirkland Lake.
Swastika Mining Company was formed 1908 by James and William Dusty and survived in one form or another until 1940 when the property was consolidated with other properties around Swastika into a company named Golden Gate Mining Company. Golden Gate struggled until 1947 at which time the property became idle. It has remained so through the rest of the century.
Robin Ormerod, Director/Curator
Museum of Northern History
Kirkland Lake Ontario Canada
MINING OPERATION 1911
from The Tavistock Gazette - Thursday, October 12, 1911
No Wildcatting: Swastika Camp to be built on a firm foundation
SWASTIKA, Ont. Oct. 9 Feline monstrosities of the mining stripe have not entered the Swastika camp, and consequently every move in the mine development line is more with a view of honest work in proving up ore bodies. The Swastika mining basis will remain at the present high standard, too, if the local mine men's association's efforts are not thwarted. They are determined to have a producing camp, and, while the work is being accomplished, the truly speculative element will not be catered to. The mine owners are bound to build the camp on working lines with all inflation consigned to an innocuous disentude, whenever "get rich quick" means are employed. The camp is growing; prospectors are the life of the two at present, while a dozen prospective mines are developing.
The Traders Bank opened a branch here to-day, a very much needed business institution.
Pike Lake mines started a core drill to cut their big lead at the 100 foot depth.
from The Tavistock Gazette - Thursday, October 19, 1911"