Marmora, Ontario

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Coordinates: 44°28′57″N, 77°40′57″W
Marmora, Ontario
Nickname: Upper Canada's First Mining Town

Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Hastings
Established	1821
Government
- Mayor	Terry Clemens (Reeve)
- Governing Body	Marmora and Lake Council
Area ^[1]
- Township	533.81 km² (206.1 sq mi)
Population (2001)^[1]
- Township	3,985
- Density	7.5/km² (19.4/sq mi)
Postal Code	K0K
Area code(s)	613
Website: Municipality of Marmora and Lake website

Marmora is the largest community in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Crowe River and along Highway 7 between Havelock to the west and Madoc to the east.

1 History
2 Government
3 Local attractions and events
4 External links

[edit] History

The village was named after Marmora Township, which is itself named for the Latin word for marble. Marble is common in the area and a giant marble rock stood on nearby Crowe Lake.

The rich history of Marmora Township is the story of mining in Eastern Ontario. Since 1820 this Township has played a leading role in the development of iron mining. In addition, copper, lead, silver, gold and lithographic stone have been extracted.

Iron mining was an important industry in the area during the 19th century. The village was originally named Marmora Iron Works. Gold and silver were also mined at nearby Cordova Mines, now a ghost town. A nearby plant processes talc and dolomite.

Marmora was separated from Marmora and Lake Township and incorporated as a village in 1901.

On April 14, 1821, the government passed an act setting up Marmora Township and attaching it to Hastings County as per Charles Hayes’ request to do so in 1820. The new Township took its name from the Latin word for 'marble' because of an ‘immense rock of most delicate white marble’. This giant rock stood on the southeast corner of Crowe Lake. The Lake took its name from the Crowe Indians that lived along the shore.

Marmora Township was opened for sale in 1821, but there was little settlement outside of the newly created mining village. Although mining and lumbering have been vital to the Township, agriculture has probably supported more people in the area since 1850. A remaining legacy of iron mining is the Marmora Open Pit Mine, a man-made wonder-lake, seventy five acres in area, six hundred and thirty five feet deep, filled with four hundred feet deep of clear blue spring water that is steadily rising to the top.

Marmora was re-amalgamated with the surrounding townships of Marmora and Lake in 2001 to form a newly expanded Municipality of Marmora and Lake.

[edit] Government

Marmora and Lake Council as of December 2006:

Terry Clemens, Reeve
Rita Cimprich, Deputy Reeve
Linda Bracken, Councillor
Bonnie Danes, Councillor
Cathie Jones, Councillor

Provincial and federal representation:

M.P.P. Leona Dombrowsky, Ontario Liberal Party for the provincial riding of Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington
M.P. Daryl Kramp, Conservative Party of Canada for the federal riding of Prince Edward-Hastings

[edit] Local attractions and events

The 'Marmora Mine' is an impressive view and a must see. What started as a money driven mining exploration, ended with a mysterious, and ever so intriguing pit. It is a stone collector's heaven, bearing various samples including garnet and pyrite.

Tent-trailer camping at the Marmora KOA campground.

The scenery in Marmora is always getting better, the park has a beautiful landscape with a children's playground and a flowerbed-sided trail. There is a gazebo which has music time and again. It is a must see if you're just going through.

Camping and other outdoor recreational activities such as ATV trail riding, fishing, and hunting are very popular for locals and those on vacation. The Crowe River flows into Crowe Lake, which boasts excellent fishing for bass, muskie, pike, walleye, and other species.

Since 1979 Marmora has held the Marmora Cup annual dog-sled races.

In recent years, Marmora has become the site of a series of alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The annual festivities of Punk Fest led by Warren Hastings, a.k.a Spider, were held here for several years before the township put an end to them because they would not allow medics on site or supply washrooms or fresh water to the party-goers. "Punks" and bands from all over the world traveled to Marmora for the weekend's events.

Marmora is also home of Rockwood Acres, a Christian camp owned and run by Jim and Cathy Clemens.

Currently in its 6th year, Marmora is the home of a country music festival that is held every September, the Marmora Country Jamboree.