Edmond Henry Horne

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E.H. Horne

Edmond Henry Horne, (born February, 1864 in Enfield, Nova Scotia, Canada) was a Canadian businessman and prospector. He was the founder of Noranda (mining company), a mining and metallurgy company originally from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada. Horne worked for several years at the Oldham gold mine near his home in Nova Scotia before his travels took him 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-acre 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 Edmond 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.

Edmond Horne was the grandchild of Jacob Horne who fought at the battle at the Plains of Abraham. Jacob Horne was awarded land in Nova Scotia, which would become known as Horne Settlement and later Enfield, for his service.

Edmond Henry Horne died on March 15, 1953.

[edit] Legacy

E.H. Horne School

In 1943 E.H. Horne returned to his home Enfield, Nova Scotia and donated funds to build a school. In his honour the school was named E.H. Horne. Today the school building serves as a community centre.

E.H. Horne was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 1996.