ODDS’N’SODS — The discovery of the Aunor

In the mid-1930s, there were only three residents on MacDonald Hill, situated halfway between Timmins and South Porcupine, Ont.

Hermann Peltomaki had a nice home, which included a detached lake-front sauna atop a sandhill at the western end of MacDonald Lake.

Being an industrious fellow, Hermann, using only a pick and shovel, started to build a sandy beach by shoveling sand into the lake. The beach required two years of hard labor, but he managed to build a sturdy jetty, as well as a 25-ft. diving tower.

After his project was finished, he spent time with friends and family, enjoying the fruits of his labor. He and his guests would steam in the sauna, run out on the jetty and dive into that cold spring-fed lake. If one’s heart didn’t stop, the procedure was repeated.

Hermann was employed, by exploration manager Stanley Saxton, as a core grabber for the diamond drill at the Augite prospect across MacDonald Lake.

One time, an important telegram arrived for Hermann, who was running things by himself, while Stan was on vacation, but the Finn could not be located.

The telegram’s message, however, was urgent — it advised that the drill operation was to be halted upon receipt of the document.

The driller, who was being paid by the foot and oblivious to the message, continued his work. He and his helper were amazed at the color in the core they had accumulated.

A few days later, Hermann appeared. He was hung over, but he read the telegram and wired the head office requesting that a consulting geologist be rushed to the property at once.

Another rig was added to deepen holes that were already drilled. The result was the famous “jewelry shop” orebody. A fast decision was made to sink a 1,000-ft. shaft so that underground drilling could be carried out. The Augite prospect soon became the Aunor gold mine, and Hermann remained the core grabber.

The Peltomakis continued to allow visitors to use their beach and diving tower. Hermann’s wife even ran a small concession booth there, handling candy bars, soft drinks and the like.

Stan mentioned to me later that Hermann’s absence probably resulted, indirectly, in the Aunor’s being discovered earlier than it would otherwise have been.

— The author, a frequent contributor to this column, resides in Boyertown, Pa.