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Welcome!
1874 - 1943 Harry arrived in Northern Ontario with $2.65 in his pocket. When
he left for the Bahamas he had amassed a fortune of over $200 million. On January 18, 1912, in partnership with the four Tough brothers, Harry staked the claims that became the first operating mine in the area, the Tough-Oakes Mine. One of its headframes still stands at the eastern edge of town near Northern College. We know it today as the Toburn. Harry later staked claims along the shores of Kirkland Lake. He sold his shares in the Tough-Oakes mine to partially finance what became known as the Lake Shore Mines, which became one of the richest gold mines in the world.
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In 1935, when the Government of Canada established new and very stringent tax reforms, Harry and his family left Canada for the Bahamas. In 1939, Harry Oakes was granted a baronetcy due in part to his many philanthropic contributions. Sir Harry Oakes was brutally murdered in his home in Nassau on July 8, 1943. His son-in-law, Count Alfred de Marigny, was charged with the murder, but was acquitted. Many rumours persist, however, and to this day the murder remains unsolved. The
Chateau In 1919 the Chateau was built on a solid rock outcrop as a 1˝-storey log structure. From the back porch Harry could see his gold mine. Rebuilt after being partially destroyed by fire in 1929, the Chateau was enlarged to a 19-room, 3-storey residence. Architecturally, the building is a well- designed structure skillfully set into the slope of the land. The long horizontal roof line, the sheet copper roof accented with the dormers and a small balcony, are reminiscent of the prairie style of architecture. Clad originally with cedar shingles, the porch backed and supported by massive logs, the building complements its rustic setting. Numerous small-paned windows add to its charm. In 1934 Harry Oakes gave the Chateau to the Lake Shore Mines Limited which used it as a directors' lodge and visitor's residence. In 1967, it was transformed into a nursing home; by 1978 it was once again vacant. The idea of preserving the original residence as a museum exhibit while at the same time creating a new home for the Museum of Northern History was born.
Prairie
Style Architecture  The Prairie Style, originally developed by Louis Sullivan and Frank
Lloyd Wright, rose in the American mid-west during the early part
of the 20th century. This style of architecture was predominantly
horizontal under heavy sheltering roofs. Wright described his
architecture as "organic". He writes, "Any building
should serve man[kind] and the purpose for which it is built. It
must be true to the nature of its site and environment and to the nature
of the materials of which it is composed. Above all, architecture
must be true to the principle of unity, the timeless element of beauty
that lives in all great works of art."
Nancy’s
Room  A highlight of the Chateau is the decorative plasterwork adorning the
walls of Nancy’s bedroom (Harry's eldest daughter). The unique
plasterwork is detailed in relief and brings to life a variety of
childhood themes and motifs.
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