Edmond Henry Horne
Encyclopedia
Edmund Henry Horne, (born February, 1864 in Enfield
, Nova Scotia
, Canada
) was a Canadian
businessman and prospector. He was most famous for being the founder of Noranda, a mining
and metallurgy
company originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
, Canada
.
. (Jacob Horne was awarded land in Nova Scotia, which would become known as Horne Settlement and later Enfield
, for his service.)
Horne worked for several years learning the trade in the gold mines of Renfrew, Nova Scotia
and Oldham near his home in Nova Scotia. He then went to Colorado
, and then to the gold camps of British Columbia
and California
. In 1908, Horne caught wind of the silver discoveries in Cobalt, Ontario and travelled back to the area.
He was first attracted by the general rock structure of the Rouyn area in 1911. Results of three subsequent trips to the Quebec township proved disappointing, but had the tenacity and prospector's instinct that refused to be downed. As a consequence in 1920 he succeeded in forming a syndicate to finance the staking and development of the present 600 acres (2.4 km²) area. The series of operations culminating in the incorporation under the Laws of Ontario of Noranda were started in August, 1922, when claims staked by Edmund Horne in Rouyn Township, Quebec, were optioned by a syndicate formed a few months previous for the purpose of exploring promising areas, the acquirement of claims and the general development of mining properties. The Horne claims, together with a number of other properties that had been acquired developed Noranda into an outstanding copper-gold producer. Noranda went on to employ more than 32,000 people, and have assets in excess of $11.8 billion.
Edmund Henry Horne died on March 15, 1953.
E. H.(Edmund Henry) Horne married later in life and returned to his hometown of Enfield, Nova Scotia.
Edmund and his wife Anna lived at Monte Vista, their 1000 acres (4 km²) farm on Grand Lake, on the outskirts of Enfield. There they raised prize cattle. During the Second World War, the childless couple took in British children who were sent to Canada for safety reasons.
The Hornes were very generous to the community of Enfield. They supported St. Bernard's Parish during their lifetime and after their death.
When Rev. J.J. Devine, pastor of St. Bernard's, saw the need for a new school in the community, he approached Edmund Horne for help. As as result of Fr. Devine's visit, the Hornes built a state of the art school for the community. Mr. Horne had the school built, named it the E.H. Horne School and presented the deed to the community at the opening ceremonies early in 1943. The school was to be run by a board of trustees, and the Sisters of Charity were to be the main teachers, with at least one lay teacher. This was quite a gift to the community. The event was covered by the media and published in the provincial newspaper.
The E.H. Horne School is still a vital part of the community of Enfield. Although it is no longer used as a school (since 2000), it is now a community centre which houses the community day care centre, and various businesses such as dance and exercise classes.
Edmund and Anna Horne left their estate of Monte Vista to the Oblates. It has changed hands several times and since has been subdivided. The main house remains although it had a major extension when owned by Charles and Patricia McCulloch.
The Hornes are buried in St. Bernard's Cemetery, directly across the road from the E.H. Horne School.
E.H. Horne was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
in 1996.
Enfield, Nova Scotia
Enfield, , is a Canadian exurban community located in the Shubenacadie Valley on the border of Hants and Halifax counties. Specifically, Enfield exists in both the East Hants Municipal District and the Halifax Regional Municipality and is divided by the Shubenacadie River.The history of European...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman and prospector. He was most famous for being the founder of Noranda, a mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
company originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Life
Edmund Horne was the grandchild of Jacob Horne who is rumoured to have fought at the battle at the Plains of AbrahamPlains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham is a historic area within The Battlefields Park in Quebec City, Quebec, that was originally grazing land, but became famous as the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place on 13 September 1759. Though written into the history books, housing and minor...
. (Jacob Horne was awarded land in Nova Scotia, which would become known as Horne Settlement and later Enfield
Enfield, Nova Scotia
Enfield, , is a Canadian exurban community located in the Shubenacadie Valley on the border of Hants and Halifax counties. Specifically, Enfield exists in both the East Hants Municipal District and the Halifax Regional Municipality and is divided by the Shubenacadie River.The history of European...
, for his service.)
Horne worked for several years learning the trade in the gold mines of Renfrew, Nova Scotia
Renfrew, Nova Scotia
Renfrew is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in The Municipality of the District of East Hants in Hants County...
and Oldham near his home in Nova Scotia. He then went to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and then to the gold camps of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1908, Horne caught wind of the silver discoveries in Cobalt, Ontario and travelled back to the area.
He was first attracted by the general rock structure of the Rouyn area in 1911. Results of three subsequent trips to the Quebec township proved disappointing, but had the tenacity and prospector's instinct that refused to be downed. As a consequence in 1920 he succeeded in forming a syndicate to finance the staking and development of the present 600 acres (2.4 km²) area. The series of operations culminating in the incorporation under the Laws of Ontario of Noranda were started in August, 1922, when claims staked by Edmund Horne in Rouyn Township, Quebec, were optioned by a syndicate formed a few months previous for the purpose of exploring promising areas, the acquirement of claims and the general development of mining properties. The Horne claims, together with a number of other properties that had been acquired developed Noranda into an outstanding copper-gold producer. Noranda went on to employ more than 32,000 people, and have assets in excess of $11.8 billion.
Edmund Henry Horne died on March 15, 1953.
Legacy
Edmund and his wife Anna lived at Monte Vista, their 1000 acres (4 km²) farm on Grand Lake, on the outskirts of Enfield. There they raised prize cattle. During the Second World War, the childless couple took in British children who were sent to Canada for safety reasons.
The Hornes were very generous to the community of Enfield. They supported St. Bernard's Parish during their lifetime and after their death.
When Rev. J.J. Devine, pastor of St. Bernard's, saw the need for a new school in the community, he approached Edmund Horne for help. As as result of Fr. Devine's visit, the Hornes built a state of the art school for the community. Mr. Horne had the school built, named it the E.H. Horne School and presented the deed to the community at the opening ceremonies early in 1943. The school was to be run by a board of trustees, and the Sisters of Charity were to be the main teachers, with at least one lay teacher. This was quite a gift to the community. The event was covered by the media and published in the provincial newspaper.
The E.H. Horne School is still a vital part of the community of Enfield. Although it is no longer used as a school (since 2000), it is now a community centre which houses the community day care centre, and various businesses such as dance and exercise classes.
Edmund and Anna Horne left their estate of Monte Vista to the Oblates. It has changed hands several times and since has been subdivided. The main house remains although it had a major extension when owned by Charles and Patricia McCulloch.
The Hornes are buried in St. Bernard's Cemetery, directly across the road from the E.H. Horne School.
E.H. Horne was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame aims to recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the mining industry.It was conceived by Maurice R. Brown as a way to recognize and honor the legendary mine finders and builders of this Canadian industry. The Hall was established in 1988...
in 1996.