This Week in History ~ 100 Years Ago (1924) – A sawmill has been installed on the property of the Cynide Gold Mining Company in the Buckhorn district and is expected to be in operation this week. The mill which has a capacity of 15000 feet daily will take the place of the company’s sawmill which burned early in the year. Power will be furnished by the company’s plant at Eileen.
The Cynide Gold Mining Company Ltd claims in the Deer Creek area consisted of the following: Hoosierboy Buckhorn Boston Keystone Lucky-Three Scout Last Chance and Wee Fraction. In 1906 the Buckhorn Mine had a good wagon road to the development of 1600 feet of tunnels – with 5000 tons of ore on the dumps. At that time it was valued at $60000. In 1924 the directors of the Cynide Gold Mining Company constructed a dam and power plant on the Moyie River below Eileen with ten miles of transmission line to carry electricity to both the Scout and the Buckhorn. On May 19 1925 high water broke the dam. The dam was never successful. In 1931 the Deer Creek fire ripped through the area missing the buildings of the Buckhorn. It is uncertain if ‘hot spots’ remained but two weeks after the Deer Creek fire passed the buildings of the Buckhorn caught on fire for a total loss. The mine never regained the strength it had in its early years.
Photo: Sawmill at the Buckhorn Mine.