Early History: European Settlement

The earliest record of Europeans in the area, the ruins of “a very old fort” and an “old French House”, were recorded in 1792, just west of Ear Falls on the English River. The first European settlement in the area was the Hudson’s Bay Company Post at “Pine Ridge”, later renamed, Goldpines.  By 1925 the gold rush in the Red Lake and Woman Lake areas resulted in a large increase in freight being hauled through the area, climaxing in 1938. During the early 40's, Goldpines was the largest air freighting base in the world.  Only Newark, N.J., the second busiest base in the world at that time, came close, and that was 50% behind the tonnage at Goldpines.

Goldpines remained the main settlement in the area until 1928, when a dam was built at Ear Falls to regulate the water flow of Lac Seul. In 1929 a powerhouse was built to provide power to the mines in the Red Lake area.  With the building of the generating station, the community moved from Goldpines to the area around the dam. In 1956, construction of a dam and generating station was completed downstream on the English River at Manitou Falls.

By 1947 the highway had come to Ear Falls and with it came the tourists. Hunting and fishing resorts sprang up in the area which became known for its exceptional fishing and unspoiled waterways.

In 1966 construction began on the Griffith Iron Ore Mine at Bruce Lake, bringing rapid growth and development, and the incorporation of the Township of Ear Falls in 1973. The Griffith Mine remained the area’s major employer until its closure in 1986.

The population is presently 1,200, with most residents living within the town site and in the rural area along the English River. Residents enjoy modern community living surrounded by the beauty of the northern lakes and forests.

The community is well planned and set for future development with plenty of residential and commercial building lots available, as well as large tracts of Crown Land.  Modern water and sewer plants are capable of meeting a demand three times the present usage. The community also boasts beautiful municipal parks, a museum, library, nine hole golf course, and sports complex.  Pakwash Provincial Park, with its comfortable facilities in a secluded and serene natural environment, is only 19 km from town.

A modern community set within the beauty of Northwestern Ontario’s Sunset Country makes Ear Falls a great place to live, work and play.