Marmora Dam Bulletin

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There are rumors of dead people in cars. Lots of fish, but alot of people has killed themselves in the quarry.
 
Ok..let me enlighten you all....There are NO DEAD PEOPLE IN CARS...although someone did comitt suicide by driving over the edge many years ago...found the engine in the bottom of the pit. Fish...probably, as they tried a fish farm there after the mine closed. Deep..YES...cold...Yes...the bottom is probably about 350' deep at this pint..the pit is 550 altogether. As far as ownership...I believe its Armbro Aggregates who just changed their name to AECON last year. I doubt if anyone would be able to get permission to dive there. Just my .02 worth.
Randy... (3rd gen Marmorite :D )
 
I almost forgot. At the other end of Crowe Lake is the old Blairton Mine site. Rumour has it that there are deep shafts offshore and that one even goes to the middle of Crowe Lake!! We haven't found that opening yet though and even if we did, you wouldn't catch me going in it :wacko:
Randy...
 
Do you guys do the river dive in the summer too?
Thanks for the info on the mine, sounds like a great potential dive site...
:)
 
I did some checking into the local quarries last season. The AECON quarry on highway #14 (old Marmora mine) is allegedly 350' at the centre. It is also strictly off limits. It's posted at every opportunity and the information I received said they would prosecute at the drop of a hat.

The old Blairton mine site, (off Crowe Lake) is allegedly 150' at its deepest. There are vehicles, equipment, etc at the bottom. Information is that there is a tram road running around the outside of the pit. I spoke with some locals last season who advised that they could not get access any more even for swimming because the people that had bought the area around the site have fenced and posted and will not allow anyone access. I think this might just be a litigious issue. I'm going to try and get more information this season.

With respect to Crowe Lake, the writings of history indicate that there is a railway trestle in there that was deposited by the ice in the late 1800's. Depending upon which story you read, there is the railway trestle or there is the railway trestle and rail cars. This rail link was installed to link the Blairton mine to the river in Marmora to transport the ore from the mine.

I've located another quarry in the area, (just south actually) that I shall report upon when I get the info.

As for the book I promised Butch, it's safely stored with the manual for my dive computer. BTW, have you checked on your boat? That's one of the places I haven't looked yet. Fear not, I shall find it and drop it off.
 
Good luck on your quest(s). There's an flooded limestone quarry not far from me. Workers went on strike and took a couple of shots at the managers on site when it dragged on. Those on site turned off the pumps and left allowing it to flood. I'm told it's about 80 feet or more and that at one point you see coffee mugs, etc still sitting on desks in the offices.
The owners no longer allow swimming or diving ( not sure they ever really allowed, but now take action against trespassers. Their worry is a lawsuit if someone gets hurt. I spoke briefly to a lawyer and to a couple of insurance brokers to see if a suitable agreement and insurance that would protect them from litigation might make it accessible. Basically as long as they own the property , no. Even if a person, group or company were to lease the property and buy liability insurance, the actual owner of the land is still open to lawsuits. With a proper waiver, etc, there's little chance you or they'd lose, but the legal fees could still be substantial. So unless you can offer them a significant rental/lease amount and possibly a cash surety to provide for legal costs if they do get sued, access is unlikely. This is what our lawsuit happy society, where people are no longer held responsible for their actions or decisions has brought us.
Maybe they'd sell you the mine
. ;)
 
but nothin on the boat but lifejackets and other sundry boat items.......Last time I saw the book was in my office, about this time last year...:)
 

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