Historic prospectors Jack Wilson, Sandy McIntyre and Benny Hollinger will soon have a permanent home in front of the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre.
Three bronze statues of the men will be erected as part of the city's centennial celebrations on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m.
Three years ago, they were inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.
The Porcupine Prospectors and Developers Association (PPDA) has been raising funds to have seven-foot statues of the prospectors made and placed in a permanent spot in the city.
“We received a grant from the Department of Canadian Heritage for $90,000,” said Dean Rogers, president of the PPDA. “We met our total of $215,000 which includes in-kind contributions, and we are still getting funds in.”
Sculptor Tyler Fauvelle, based in Lively, has been commissioned to create the monuments.
“It’s a privilege to create bronze monuments honouring these hardy, resilient mining pioneers. I enjoy creating sculptures about landmark events, and about ordinary people who may have had no idea at the time that their great efforts would take them straight into Canadian history,” he said.
Wilson (1872-1948) was responsible for finding the Dome Mine, McIntyre (1869-1943) staked the McIntyre Mine, and Hollinger (1885-1919) is credited with discovering the Hollinger Mine.
The Porcupine Gold Rush started in 1909 and by 2001, the Porcupine Gold Camp had mined more than 67 million ounces of gold. Unfortunately, the three prospectors did not gain a fortune from their historic finds. Hollinger died at the age of 34, Wilson lost most of his money on wheat speculation and McIntyre traded his shares for $300 and spent the remainder of his years as a prospector.
“The installation of these statues will be the final event of our four-year celebration,” Rogers said. “It will be a significant way to wrap up the centennials.”
The statues will be erected on granite slabs and the bases are expected to be ready two weeks before the statues arrive. They will remain covered until they are unveiled.
“It really is the most lasting and tangible expression to commemorate these renowned prospectors,” Rogers said. “They are an integral part of the city's history.”
Family members of some of the three prospectors are expected to attend the unveiling.
“We had high hopes that we could pull this off and we did. I am pleased with the support of the community and the businesses who supported this cause,” he said.
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