Nobel

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NOBEL

Database location #186
Created by: ontarioabandonedplaces (CONTACT)


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Nobel is located in McDougall Township off of highway 69. Its first church was built in 1878 and a school the year prior.

It all began as a small farming community named Ambo. In 1912, one F. Lankford began buying up properties in the area. Some locals thought he might be opening a ranch, others thought perhaos it would be a goat farm.

It was later realized when the deal was done, that he was purchasing the land to house Canadian Explosive Limited. He'd purchased approximately 5000 acres of property which took some considerable negotiating given the secrecy he was required to abide by.

Plans were laid out in 1913 to build a dynamite and gelatin plant. By the summer of 1914 the production of dynamite had begun. The town was later named to Nobel at the request of CEL. This would be in honour of Alfred Nobel who invented dynamite.ÿ As for the plant itself, it was known as "Nobel Worls". This plant employed approximately 150 people.

The production of dynamite changed to the production of munitions for the First World War. In 1916 an explosion ripped through the pshrapnel lant, killing some workers.

By 1916 it became apparent that more accomodations for the increasing number of employees were necessary. As a result the "New Village" was built aprox. a mile south of the plant. It contained 26 homes, a bowling alley, rifle range, clubhouse and recreation centre. There were also docks for pleasure boats.

After the war, some of the factories were dismantled (1918).

The second world war brought back life to Nobel, as over 4000 people were now needed to produce explosives. After the war, in 1946, A.V. Roe of Canada Ltd. took occupation of many of the buildings. Then Orenda Engines Ltd. leased the site to test airplane engines for the Avro Arrow. When the Arrow was cancelled, the town returned to a ghost town state.

Status: Some ruins remain in the woods, as well as old plumbing lines and pavement. Once again the cemetary eluded me, frustrating, as I find these the most exciting part of a hunt. Old plumbing lines can still be found sticking up from the ground where the homes once were. The road eventually turns to grass however the grass is well trampled.

Location: Take Parkway Avenue (from Highway 69) in the town of Nobel. The road ends in a loop, with luxurious homes. Between two homes on the right hand side, lay the remains of the old sidewalks and road. The laneway is PRIVATE PROPERTY - do not trespass!

COMMENTS

I spent the first three years of my life in Nobel. As I recall, it was a cosy village with a small park in the middle surrounded by a circular road. The whole community used to gather for fireworks there. At one end of the village was the large Manager's House (of CIL). It was remarkable both for its size and its Koi Pond! There were fire hydrants along the road, behind which I would hide after putting burrs on the road to blow car tires (strangely, it didn't work!). There was a small beach with a professional lifeguard who missing a toe we would constantly search for in the sand. Like many people, we had a powerboat at the docks which, to a young boy, seemed frighteningly long and high. The Rec Centre was a regular venue for parties and dances. In retrospect, the whole place seemed like a wonderful resort. The boating in Georgian Bay, with all those lovely islands, was amazing.

Soon after my family moved to Ottawa in 1959 (I think), our house was moved on rollers to the side of the highway for some reason.

In the late 1990's I drove into the site of the old town and wandered around. The sidewalk was still in front of where our house had been, but the bush had taken over the lot. A developer was building huge homes along the lake--so Nobel finally DID become a resort! I followed a path through the woods towards the beach and suddenly I was amazed as the vista opened: the view was absolutely spectacular!!!

Comment left by : David M - 12/24/2008 7:40:13 AM

I was reading the page about Nobel, north of Parry Sound. I grew up in Parry Sound and both of my parents were from there. Someone mentioned a cemetery and not being able to find any evidence of one. I've been to the cemetery a couple of times, the last time being 1984-85. At that time it was very overgrown and was in among alot of very tall trees. It isn't very large maybe 6-8 graves. My Dad took me out there because 1 of his brothers who had died as a baby was buried there.

Considering the condition it was in the last time I saw it isn't surprising that it can't be found now. No one was looking after it.

My husband was with my Dad and I and he seems to remember that at that time (84-85) there were 2 what looked like "company" houses on the right hand side of the roadway. We walked a little way down the road and my Dad made a bee-line into the bush on the left of the road and there was the cemetery.
It was a long time ago and I don't imagine there is much left.

Hope this helps a little.

wandanicks@shaw.ca

Comment left by : Wanda - 12/27/2008 10:09:14 PM

An email from "Taylor":

As a resident of one of the homes given to the managers of the old munitions plant in Nobel, I can tell you a number of things about the forest where the ruins are/were and locations of points of interest.

First off, I would like to point out another point of entry into the area: if you're heading north on Highway 69/400, go PAST Parkway Avenue. The road on the next left (approx 500-700 m further) is unmarked but is easy to catch; there is a small structure on the side of the road, with a set of railway crossing lights. Continue down this road and you can pretty much drive your vehicle into the ruins of the factory.

I'd like to point some points of interest that might help people who are interested.

1) The munitions factory is on the WEST side of the highway, in its entirety, and the Avro Arrow test sites are on the EAST side in its entirety.

2) My brother and I have spent most of our childhood and early adolescent years walking around in the forest that encompasses the CEL/CIL (I've always known it as CIL) factory and buildings, and we've found many interesting structures, of which include several shipment depots, a chain of ruins resembling the main factory, and several wells. What we've never seen evidence of is the cemetery that your article talks about, but if we ever do, I'll be sure to confirm is for you.

3) My brother and I haven't ventured much across the highway, but I've been to the wind tunnels a few times where they tested the aerodynamics of the engines. I can tell you that there are copious amounts of ruins on that side of the highway (the east side, for clarity's sake), so if you're more interested in the Avro Arrow and its development, I suggest going to that side.

That's about all I have to say right now, except to add that I recognize all of the sites in your photography section, but the photograph that is marked "large cement floor" is a thing of the past now. Seemingly random parts of the ruins in the forest have undergone construction, and few remain. So I suggest to anyone that if you plan of making the trip to beautiful Nobel, make it soon, it might not last, at least not the historical part.

As well, in the 11+ years I've spent in the forest, I've camped out there tonnes of times, and not once has a fire resulted in anything dangerous. Now I know there are signs posted everywhere stating "Danger: Explosives. No Trespassing, No Matches, Fires, etc..." but from my brother and I's personal experience, they are there to drive people away, not protect them.

I saw mention of tox screens and serious chemical problems in the outlying area concerning the munitions plant. In my years of exploring, I've found no evidence of serious chemical harm, not harm that could result in combustion or explosion to say the least. The only I can mention that matches that are that the old depots are still being used for what I believe to be storing core samples of the dirt in various places in the forest. The results of the samples are beyond me; I'm not an environmental chemist, but I do know that it's nothing serious. If there were serious concerns, there would be much more effort to keep people like my brother, myself, and other neighbours out of the area, as well as other enthusiasts. A tox screen before and after going there is definately not neccessary, I've never come down with any sickness worth mentioning, and I've been in those backwoods areas so many times, I've lost count.

Comment left by : Taylor - 12/27/2008 10:10:11 PM

Video footage from Nobel