Faraday

History

The township of Faraday was first settled in 1857, when iron ore deposits were discovered. Prior to the 1922 discovery of uranium, mica, feldspar, and other minerals were mined on a small scale in the area. Inspired by finds of gold in nearby Eldorado (now Madoc) in 1886–7 and onwards, many people moved to the area hoping to find gold. The mine was active from 1957 to 1964 and then reopened as the Madawaksa Mine from 1975 to 1982. The Greyhawk Uranium mine was active from 1955 to 1959 and reopened from 1962 to 1982. The mines attracted workers to the area, and housing for mine executives was built in Faraday and for workers in nearby Bancroft. The closure of the mines after the global supply of uranium diminished created significant hardship for the area.