A view of Golden Avenue, South Porcupine, with a dramatic forest fire approaching the town. The population of about 500 rushed to the lakeshore to escape by boat to Golden City or to simply get away from the flames. The town was burned to the ground and probably about fifty people in the town and vicinity lost their lives.
South Porcupine (before its destruction) and Golden City both strongly resembled early Cobalt, which was hardly surprising, as many of the owners of the small cafes, hotels, and boarding houses had come from Cobalt. However, saloons, which had been illegal in Cobalt because of the proximity of the mines, were a prominent feature of the streetscapes of the gold camps.
Courtesy: Peters Collection, Timmins Mining Museum
