Spruce Point Mine

SPRUCE POINT MINE

Spruce Point Mine is located on the south shore of Reed Lake, 73 kms., from Snow Lake, Mb. The 2100 foot (640 meter) shaft went into operation in 1981 with the mine developed for VCR method of mining. Ore from Spruce Point is trucked to Flin Flon for processing.

Over the years of my employment with Hudbay my job took me to just about every mine and plant which Hudbay owned and operated. My memories of Spruce Point Mine were going there to conduct First Aid classes for Aurora Quarry which today is known as Cementation. I can recall the good meals that we received at the Cafeteria on site and also remember that all hydro which operated this project was generated on site. Large generators were moved from the Wellgreen property in the Yukon to supply Spruce Point with their hydro needs which was quite remarkable to see a mining operation of this size operating totally independent from outside services. People which I recall working on the project in the earlier stages was Ron Javorsky and later on when it went into production, I remember Cliff Harris being mine foreman. I also can recall two individuals who were in charge of the Powerhouse and Mechanical needs was Gordon Smith who was a long time mechanic of Surface & Transportation and in his twilight years, he spent them at Spruce Point. Another mechanic who I knew well was Rosco Haggarty who was a Smelter mechanical foreman for a good number of years. When you went to Spruce Point you knew that Hudbay had a great number of individuals there who were very capable of running a remote operation such as Spruce Point was. Probably one of the most colourful and outstanding individuals was Leo Lamontagne. In researching old Northern Lights and any other reference materials that I have been able to get my hands on, I found a very interesting story on Leo and his contribution to Hudbay and the mining industry.

LEO STARTS ANOTHER ONE

Over the past 39 years Leo Lamontagne of the Mine Department has started the sinking of over 38 underground shafts in HBM&S mines in Flin Flon, Snow Lake and the Yukon.

Described by one supervisor as “the most willing worker that you can find,” Leo's expertise in the mining field is invaluable and over the past 39 years, many an up and coming mine engineer has depended on this man's knowledge from time to time to keep them on the straight and narrow. My first opportunity to meet and work with Leo was on work bees, shingling, cement work and putting on siding. You didn't have to work with Leo too long until you gained a great degree of respect for his knowledge and his skills, the pencil, the square, the shovel – he knew how to use them all. He is just one of many men who helped Hudbay become what it is today. Leo hired with HBM&S Jan. 19, 1942 and he retired May 30, 1982 and passed away July 30, 1998.

This photo shows the beginning of the shaft at Spruce Point Mine which operated from 1981 – 1992.

The finished head frame at Spruce Point Mine. Shaft sinking has reached the 400 foot level. The shaft will be sunk to a depth of 2300 feet before the development of the 550,000 tons of predominantly copper ore will start.

Copyright 2014 G.B.Reid