Creighton

In 1856, A. P. Salter, a provincial land surveyor, first discovered iron at the site of what is now Creighton. Further analysis also revealed nickel and copper. It wasn(a)t until the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) built a line through the area, in 1883, that prospectors began examining the area.

On January 24, 1887 the claim was turned over to the Canadian Copper Company. Mining operations did not commence until 1900 but the first ore would not be shipped until July 1901. By this time, the site had approximately 900 miners living in the town. Mining captains were paid $145 a month and a miner received $42. Electricity for Creighton came from the High Falls generating plant (also on this webpage).

A post office was built in 1902. A two room public school was established in 1904. It was briefly closed in 1918 when the influenza epedemic broke out. The school burned down in 1921 but was rebuilt in 1924.

To ensure their workers remained healthy, the mine also opened a doctor(a)s office in 1911. This eliminated the need for an outside doctor to make house calls. This grew into a two doctor facility by the 1940(a)s. There was also a dentist(a)s office. Creighton was a town with all of the amenities required.

As Creighton had citizens of religious faith, a Catholic church was built in 1916 named St. Michael(a)s. Beginning in 1936, a priest lived inside the church. It was town down in 1986 as was most of the town.

Creighton(a)s population slowly began to decline in the 1960(a)s. By 1964 the town contained approx. 2000 residents. That number fell to approx. 800 in the 1980(a)s.

INCO, not wanting to spend the money on maintaining a town, gave residents until June 30, 1988 to vacate their homes.

INCO demolished the town in 1986 when the cost of upgrading the water/sewer system was found to be too costly. Creighton mine continues to operate to this day. The mine is 1.2 miles deep, making it one of the world(a)s deepest.

Take Regional Road 55 from Sudbury and drive to Lively. Turn north into Lively (Reg. Road #24) and go through the town. You will see the large black/yellow sign which says CREIGHTON MINE as you go around a bend, leaving Lively. Turn into the mine road and park. The remains will be off to the right, down the blocked off dirt road. If you travel a few metres by foot you will soon find old sidewalks and the bare earth where some of the homes once stood.