Cairns and Monuments of Our Community 3
Border signs are very much a part of our Community, as Flin Flon is a Community divided by a
Provincial Border - one of the few in Canada. There is a small portion about 10% of the
City of Flin Flon that lies in the Province of Saskatchewan.
As you approach the Town of Creighton which lies on the Saskatchewan side of the Border, you
will see a Cairn which represents the Town of Creighton and the Aurora Borielus
which is part of Northern Saskatchewan.
On Main Street of Creighton, Sask., in the corner of the school
grounds, there is a Cairn erected in the honour of
Tom Creighton
The Plaque on the above Cairn outlines a brief history of a
Prospector by the name of Thomas Creighton who dedicated his life
and efforts, to a Mine which provided a living, and a good life style
to many Prairie boys and individuals who needed employment.
This Cairn is located on the Hanson Lake Road near the turnoff to
Tyrell Lake. Very few people realize that Joseph Burr Tyrrell
played a very vital role in the Mining Industry, the Surveys of
Western Canada, the findings of some of the first remains of
Dinosaurs and some of Alberta's first Oil Fields.
Canadian Geologist Joseph Burr Tyrell (1858 - 1957)
Joseph Burr Tyrrell inadvertently made one of the most important discoveries of
dinosaur bones in North America in 1884. The skull and skeleton he dug up by
accident in a remote part of Alberta proved to be the Abertosaurus sarcophagus, a
slightly smaller cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex and the first of its genus found anywhere
in the world. Tyrrell's findings aroused international interest and brought hordes of
paleontologists to dig in this unpopulated part of western Canada. Tyrrell was one
of Canada's most famed geologists and explorers and mapped out vast stretches
of its northern lands.
Another one of Creighton's outstanding markers which is located outside or
Creighton's Tourist information Centre
At the south end of Creighton's Main Street, this special sign was erected for
Homecoming 2017. This was a nice touch for all visitors. Hats off to Creighton, Sask.
The Maple Leaf of Canada and the Saskatchewan flag flying for the celebration
of 150 years of Canada.
This sign stands outside the village of Denare Beach, Sask., which many people refer to it as
Beaver Lake. This was erected in the 1970's from local limestone and the work was designed
and erected by Harold Lindsay and assisted by Mike Chlan. Harold served as Mayor of
Denare Beach and also was a supporter of the Northern Gateway Museum and assisted
with many archilogical digs that were responsible for the history of the area, which
exist today.
In 1774 Henry and Frobisher brothers began their outflanking tactics and pushed
an expedition to establish territory and strengthen their trade north of Cumberland
House, from Amisk Lake to Isle a La Crosse. An early winter stranded the party, forcing
them to winter over on Amisk Lake. Near starvation circumstances prevailed, but most
importantly, the group had successfully intercepted the supply of pelts which had
otherwise been destined for Cumberland House. This plaque is part of the Cairn
that marks the community of Denare Beach, Sask.
For history buffs, the village is home to one of Saskatchewan's oldest museums - The
Northern Gateway Museum, which was founded in l956. The museum hosts a veritable
treasure of First Nation and European historical artifacts - and closely follows the history
of the Amisk Lake area.
THE NORTHERN GATEWAY MUSEUM FOUNDED IN 1956
THE LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE
This was open for many years in Denare Beach, closing in the early 90's when it only had a
kindergarten class. It was moved over to the Museum in 1996, and a community survey
has shown that there is interest in having it restored.
BEAVER CITY
Saskatchewan's first gold rush started in 1913 when Tom Creighton discovered
gold on Amisk Lake. Eager prospectors quickly established Beaver City near the
Hudson Bay Post and warehouse on the south shore of the lake.
Kate Rice, one of Canada's earlierst female prospectors began her career at Beaver City.
At it's height, Beaver City included Federal Government Ranger Station and fire tower,
Revlon Frere's Trading Post, Hayes Boarding house, Royal Northwest Mounted Police
Post and Colette's Boat Ferrying service.
With the onset of WW1, interest in gold waned as demand for copper increased
significantly. By 1918 most inhabitants had left Beaver City for nearby Flin Flon, where
copper was discovered in 1915.
Beaver City quickly became a ghost town, never to recover.
HARRY MOODY
Proof of these historic activities was borne out some 175 years later by another
group of explorers: locals. In the 1950's, Harry Moody and Tom Welsh journeyed
to the north side of Amisk Lake, where they located artifacts including steel
bladed scissors and copper or bronze utensils. Moody believed this to be
evidence of the Frobishers' overwinter camp of 1774-75. Later Moody, with the
help of George Custer, discovered the actual site of Fort Henry. In 1954, with
the assistance of Rod McDermott, Moody excavated the site where he believed
the old fort was located. He photographed six fireplaces and unearthed a flask,
scissors, homemade rivets, sheet iron and cooking vessels.
Harry Moody definitely made a major contribution to the history of our area.