Historical books about Thompson, Manitoba
Much has been written about mineral exploration in the area that led to the establishment of Thompson. Four books—an early publication written in 1960, two written in the 1980s, and the most recent authored in 2023—provide definitive examples of well-researched, authentic accounts of this northern community’s mining history, evolving from main camps in Wabowden, Grass River, Mystery Lake, and Moak Lake to the present site of Thompson—once the Western Hemisphere's first integrated nickel mine, the world's second-largest nickel producer, and, later, Manitoba's third-largest city.
MEET THE AUTHORS
BOOKS & ARTICLES ABOUT THOMPSON
DR. JOHN F. THOMPSON CHECKS PROGRESS AT NEW MANITOBA MINING DEVLOPMENTS
In 1957, Inco Chairman Dr. John Thompson visited Manitoba's newest town as the man in whose honour it was named. The Inco Triangle, the company’s corporate magazine, reported extensively on his visit which took him to Thompson, Moak Lake, Grand Rapids hydro dam, various CNR spur lines, site of a new CNR bridge over Grass River, and then to Winnipeg on his return trip.
• Read the Inco Triangle’s account of Dr. Thompson’s visit North
• Read the Inco Triangle’s account of Dr. Thompson’s visit North
INCO TRIANGLE DIGITAL ARCHIVES
The INCO Triangle Digital Archives is a celebration of Sudbury, Ontario's nickel mining heritage. Here you will also find stories of interest about INCO’s operations in Northern Manitoba. Searches can be refined to names, places, dates, etc.
• INCO Triangle Digital Archives
• INCO Triangle Digital Archives
200 PHONES IN THOMPSON BY JUNE 29, 1960
June 29, 1960 — Thompson residents received some good news when the Manitoba Telephone System announced that the new dial office in Thompson would be operational sooner than expected. This early completion date allowed approximately 200 waiting applicants to enjoy much-anticipated telephone service.
> Read Thompson Citizen article
> Read Thompson Citizen article
MANITOBA’S RESOURCE TOWNS: THE TWENTIETH CENTURY FRONTIER
Read about the various and evolving eras in the development of resource towns throughout Manitoba, including Thompson, which was conceived and designed in the "Government Era, 1945-1970.”
• Read Manitoba’s Resource Towns: The Twentieth Century Frontier by Robert Robson, Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg
• Read Manitoba’s Resource Towns: The Twentieth Century Frontier by Robert Robson, Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg
WAYNE HALL
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Hall’s reasons for writing the book were twofold. First, Thompson was a unique community in Canada. Unlike many communities where people started building wherever they liked and streets were added later, Thompson was planned before construction began.
Second, Hall observed the history of Thompson being lost over time and wanted to record a timeline of significant events and share stories of the pioneers involved to provide insight into life at the beginning.
As stated elsewhere in the book, everyone who arrived in Thompson was from somewhere else, and the first thing people said to each other when meeting was, “Where You From?”'
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR WAYNE HALL, 2023
Thompson Today, CHTM Radio, Thompson, MB
APRIL 2023
GRAHAM BUCKINGHAM
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The Foreword by the author of this entertaining and informative hard cover book states, "It was my intention in this book to let the reader discover the development of Thompson by reading about the events in the life of the community in the words of those people who took part in, or initiated, those events. This policy has led to a text which, on occasion, may be disjointed, but also a text which gives the reader a sense of the excitement, wonder and awe felt by the founders and pioneers as Canada's last frontier town grew from a collection of tents to Manitoba's third largest city.”
HUGH S. FRASER
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In February 1956, after over ten years of exploration, Hugh was part of an INCO crew drilling an anomaly at Cook’s Lake when they discovered rich nickel deposits.
Hugh vividly recounts the events leading up to and following this monumental discovery. His book is rich with facts and anecdotes that detail the discovery of the large nickel vein, known as the “mother lode,” which led to the founding of Thompson. Thompson became the first integrated nickel mining-smelting-refining plant in the Western Hemisphere, the second largest nickel producer in the world, and eventually the third largest city in Manitoba.
Presented in chronological order from the first exploration year of 1946 to 1961, the year regular production began at the new mine site, the book includes maps, drawings, photos, scientific data, and first-hand accounts of the prospecting, geology, discovery, and exploration that culminated in the development of the INCO nickel mine at Thompson.
Published by INCO Ltd., the book provides a comprehensive overview of the INCO nickel mine’s journey from discovery to development.
INTERVIEWS WITH AUTHOR HUGH S. FRASER, 1985
The Way We Were, CBC Radio, Thompson, MB
Interview with John Harvard on CKY-TV, Winnipeg, MB
In Depth, CHTM Radio, Thompson, MB
JOHN F. THOMPSON & NORMAN BEASLEY
MEET THE AUTHORS
WAYNE HALL
Click on A+ to increase font size
Hall’s reasons for writing the book were twofold. First, Thompson was a unique community in Canada. Unlike many communities where people started building wherever they liked and streets were added later, Thompson was planned before construction began.
Second, Hall observed the history of Thompson being lost over time and wanted to record a timeline of significant events and share stories of the pioneers involved to provide insight into life at the beginning.
As stated elsewhere in the book, everyone who arrived in Thompson was from somewhere else, and the first thing people said to each other when meeting was, “Where You From?”'
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR WAYNE HALL, 2023
In Depth, CHTM Radio, Thompson, MB
GRAHAM BUCKINGHAM
Click on A+ to increase font size
The Foreword by the author of this entertaining and informative hard cover book states, "It was my intention in this book to let the reader discover the development of Thompson by reading about the events in the life of the community in the words of those people who took part in, or initiated, those events. This policy has led to a text which, on occasion, may be disjointed, but also a text which gives the reader a sense of the excitement, wonder and awe felt by the founders and pioneers as Canada's last frontier town grew from a collection of tents to Manitoba's third largest city.”
HUGH S. FRASER
Click on A+ to increase font size
In February 1956, after over ten years of exploration, Hugh was part of an INCO crew drilling an anomaly at Cook’s Lake when they discovered rich nickel deposits.
Hugh vividly recounts the events leading up to and following this monumental discovery. His book is rich with facts and anecdotes that detail the discovery of the large nickel vein, known as the “mother lode,” which led to the founding of Thompson. Thompson became the first integrated nickel mining-smelting-refining plant in the Western Hemisphere, the second largest nickel producer in the world, and eventually the third largest city in Manitoba.
Presented in chronological order from the first exploration year of 1946 to 1961, the year regular production began at the new mine site, the book includes maps, drawings, photos, scientific data, and first-hand accounts of the prospecting, geology, discovery, and exploration that culminated in the development of the INCO nickel mine at Thompson.
Published by INCO Ltd., the book provides a comprehensive overview of the INCO nickel mine’s journey from discovery to development.
INTERVIEWS WITH AUTHOR HUGH S. FRASER, 1985
The Way We Were, CBC Radio, Thompson, MB
Interview with John Harvard on CKY-TV, Winnipeg, MB
In Depth, CHTM Radio, Thompson, MB
JOHN F. THOMPSON & NORMAN BEASLEY
BOOKS & ARTICLES ABOUT THOMPSON
DR. JOHN F. THOMPSON CHECKS PROGRESS AT NEW MANITOBA MINING DEVLOPMENTS
In 1957, Inco Chairman Dr. John Thompson visited Manitoba's newest town as the man in whose honour it was named. The Inco Triangle, the company’s corporate magazine, reported extensively on his visit which took him to Thompson, Moak Lake, Grand Rapids hydro dam, various CNR spur lines, site of a new CNR bridge over Grass River, and then to Winnipeg on his return trip.
• Read the Inco Triangle’s account of Dr. Thompson’s visit North
• Read the Inco Triangle’s account of Dr. Thompson’s visit North
INCO TRIANGLE DIGITAL ARCHIVES
The INCO Triangle Digital Archives is a celebration of Sudbury, Ontario's nickel mining heritage. Here you will also find stories of interest about INCO’s operations in Northern Manitoba. Searches can be refined to names, places, dates, etc.
• INCO Triangle Digital Archives
• INCO Triangle Digital Archives
MANITOBA’S RESOURCE TOWNS: THE TWENTIETH CENTURY FRONTIER
Read about the various and evolving eras in the development of resource towns throughout Manitoba, including Thompson, which was conceived and designed in the "Government Era, 1945-1970.”
• Read Manitoba’s Resource Towns: The Twentieth Century Frontier by Robert Robson, Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg
• Read Manitoba’s Resource Towns: The Twentieth Century Frontier by Robert Robson, Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg