Dear Editor,

Over one hundred years ago in 1908, Swastika became the first gold producing mine in northern Ontario. Why did the Lemp Studio Collection from the Tavistock Historical Society have so many early photographs from this town and mine? So began my journey into the past, learning about the connection between St. Marys, Tavistock and a small town in northern Ontario called Swastika.
The St. Marys Museum and Ken Telfer were able to provide me with the following information from an obituary in the St. Marys Journal, Nov 7, 1912.
“Samuel Dusty 1826 - 1912, of whose death announcement was made in last week's Journal, was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario and had been a resident of St. Marys for the past 60 years, having conducted a boot and shoe store next to the Garnett House. He was known as one of the old pioneers of the days of Mr. Sanderson and Ben Tracy who still survives a ripe old age. His wife Janet McIntyre 1830 - 1901 predeceased him by 11 years.
Sons: Edward of Chatham, James of Streetsville, Alexander of Milwaukee Wis., Arthur of Fargo North Dakota, William A. of Vancouver;
Daughter: Mrs. (Dr.) F.R. Eccles of London.”
In 1907, two brothers James and William Dusty jumped off the T&O train into the sand on the side of the grade along with 30 other men in search of silver. James and William Dusty walked back along the track and climbed up a little bluff through which the right of way was cut. James knelt just below a little tent pitched right on the brow of the rise and became exceedingly busy examining the bare rock. He was well dressed and had all the appearance of a prosperous professional or business man.
Financially backed by the Conservative MP for South Perth 1911-1912, Dr. Michael Steele of Tavistock, the Dusty brothers staked nine claims in all over approximately 360 acres. The three claims on the north shore of Otto Lake proved to be the most successful and a mine named Swastika was developed. Swastika being a Sanskrit word meaning good luck. The mine went on to become the first gold-producing mine in northern Ontario with a gold brick being poured in 1908. The companies stock jumped from five cents a share to seventy-five cents a share. Also in 1908, the town sprung up along the rail line and was called Swastika.
Dr. Michael Steel commissioned John Lemp of Tavistock to travel to Swastika and photograph the area. Thanks to the work of the Tavistock Historical Society, many of these photographs have been reproduced. Carolyn O'Neil, local historian from the Swastika has provided insights and stories. Numerous articles from the Globe and Mail, the Tavistock Gazette, the St Marys Argus and the Temiskaming Speaker, have provided the details and dates. All of this information has been collected and printed in a book located at the Tavistock Historical Society.
The John Lemp photos in this book are incredible in every way, depicting the men, women and life of the town and its mine. The glass negatives are 8” by 10” so when viewing the print, the viewer quickly becomes lost in the details within each picture.
 One piece of the puzzle still eludes me. I have no way of identifying James and William Dusty in any of these pictures. Also, Dr. Michael Steele sent his brother, Thomas Steele Jr. as foreman to the mine and I have no photograph of him, although I suspect he too is in many of the photographs.
If any of your readers could help to identify James and William Dusty or Thomas Steele Jr. or provide more information or the whereabouts of the family today, I would greatly appreciate hearing from them.

Blain McCutchen
Tavistock