Deeply rooted in the origins of Canada, the history of the Pickle Lake area dates back to the early days of the fur trade – in 1786 the Hudson Bay Company established a trading post called Osnaburgh House on the shores of Lake St. Joseph. Freighter canoes still made trips on the Albany River into the early 1970’s.

Harvesting of furs remained the major activity in the area until 1928, when GOLD was discovered along the banks of the Kawinogans River. Technological advances, namely air transport, made the area accessible and mining began in 1929. Pickle Lake, being the closest lake to the two new gold mines at Pickle Crow and Central Patricia, became the transportation center of the area. What was then known as Pickle Landing, is now the town site of PICKLE LAKE.

It wasn’t long until the area became a typical mine boomtown. The new mines opened up a vast range of opportunities. In the 1930’s the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests established a base in Pickle Lake. In order to provide electric power for the mines, Ontario Hydro constructed a generating station at Rat Rapids.

In 1936, the Pickle Lake Hotel was constructed and became a focal point in the community. In 1987 the remodeled and expanded hotel was destroyed by fire. The hotel was rebuilt in 1989 and remains open today.

By 1939, several air companies were operating out of “The Landing” at Pickle Lake. The area was dependent on these companies for all supplies and contact with the outside world. Each year, during spring and fall freeze-up, when the lakes were unsuitable for landing, the area was totally isolated from civilization except by radio. It was not until 1944 that an airstrip was constructed in Central Patricia by the mining companies and the community finally had a permanent connection to the outside world.

Typical of mining communities, the town has experienced a series of booms and busts. The first bust occurred in 1951, when the Central Patricia gold mine was closed. During its life, the mine produced 670,000 ounces of gold and supported a population of 400. After the closure of the mine, the population dwindled to 51 hearty individuals.

The Pickle Crow gold mine stopped production in 1966, bringing to an end the boom which had stared in 1935. Producing 1.5 million ounces of gold over its thirty-one year span, it was one of the richest producing mines in history. The fate of the community after the mine shut down was even more tragic than that of Central Patricia. In the early 1970’s, the Ministry of Natural Resources, under orders to clean up all abandoned mine sites, burned the Pickle Crow town site to the ground, destroying the last remnants of an integral part of Ontario’s history.

Pickle Lake boomed once again in 1974 with the construction of the Umex Thierry Mine. This time copper was mined, but the operation was shut down when changes in the base metals market made it unprofitable. The population, which reached a peak of 1,200 in 1981, dropped once again to around 400.

In 1956, Highway 599 finally made Pickle Lake accessible by road. Prior to this, freight was transported over the difficult terrain for 160 kilometers from the Canadian National Railroad line in Savant Lake and Sioux Lookout. This was achieved by a combination of horse teams on land and scows and barges across the waterways.

Pickle Lake, previously known as an Improvement District was incorporated in December 1980 to become the Township of Pickle Lake. Today, the Township includes both communities of Pickle Lake and Central Patricia.

In 1987, after year of exploration activities, the community once again became a boomtown. Both Placer Dome Inc. and St. Joe Canada (Bond Gold) opened mines in the Pickle Lake area. Placer Dome constructed a mine at Dona Lake, 35 kilometers from the town of Pickle Lake. It closed its doors in 1994. Bond Gold’s mine was 30 miles northwest of Pickle Lake and closed in 1995.

In 1996, Placer Dome Inc. opened Musselwhite Mine approximately 160 kilometers from the town of Pickle Lake. This mine is expected to produce well into the new millennium!

Like all mining towns, Pickle Lake is peppered with stories of its rich history. First Nations and other residents have been in the community for more than 50 years! The stories they tell are real life examples of the courage, determination, and sense of humour necessary to build a life and a future in the great, Canadian north!