Hedley BC

Description

Made famous by the discovery of gold in 1897, Hedley became one of the great names in Canadian gold mining history. Named after Robert R. Hedley, manager of the Hall Smelter in Nelson, who had grubstaked many of the early prospectors, Hedley grew quickly and by 1900 boasted a population of over 1,000 with 5 hotels and a large stamp mill. The V.V.&E. railroad arrived in Hedley in 1909 to help haul the gold out at the incredible rate of more than 50,000 ounces per year. In 1936 the Mascot Mine started operation, increasing the total production to more than 1.5 million ounces of gold and in excess of four million pounds of copper. By that time Hedley boasted all of the major conveniences of a small city, including a nine-hole gold course. Between 1956 and 1957 there were several disastrous fires in the community and this, coupled with dwindling ore production from the mines led to Hedley's steady decline. Nowadays, Hedley is a quiet community with an approximate population of 350.

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