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Tough-Oakes Mine

Black and white photograph of the tall headframe of the Tough-Oakes Mine is seen in the foreground with other mine buildings. Small houses line a road winding in a large clearing. Deep forest in the background.

Title: Tough-Oakes Mine, ca. 1913

Photographer: Unknown

Museum of Northern History Collection

The Tough-Oakes Mine, with its headframe in the foreground started in 1912. It was founded by prospectors Harry Oakes and the Tough Brothers. The name of the mine was eventually changed to “Toburn”.

The mines, residential, and commercial areas of town were built along Government Road. Clearing away trees from the outskirts of town prevented forest fires from threatening the new community.

The Tough-Oakes was the first (and smallest) operating gold mine in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp.

Several of the original mine buildings are still standing and are maintained by Toburn Operating Authority volunteers.