The Helen Mine

The Helen Mine got its start after Benjamin Boyer, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, discovered minerals on lands he owned further north in Algoma. Francis Hector Clergue, owner of St.Mary's Paper, also in Sault Ste. Marie, was shown a 'supposed' piece of mineralized gold that came from this land. Clergue was intrigued, particularly since he owned a gold prospect not too far south known as the Grace Gold Mine, named after his sister Grace. However upon further investigation, it was soon apparent that this wasn't gold but instead a rich piece of hematite iron. After investigating the site, Clergue bought the entire mountain and renamed it after another sister, Helen. He then set out to build Ontario's first large scale iron mine.