Joyce Mine, Cassidy

[GR74]

I've heard plenty of stories about the old Joyce Gold Mine in Cassidy. I didn't believe it at first because of all the coal mining around the area. Gold in Nanaimo? I think you're mistaken.
One of my co-workers told me that her father recently took her on an hour-long hike to the site. It sounds like a beautiful spot. She also mentioned the site of an old plane crash in the same area. Exactly where do you go to start this hike? I think it's down at the end of Spruston Road somewhere.

Can you steer me in the right direction? An up to date map or aerial photo perhaps.

[kickidee]

I remember that plane crash I believe! I was iving in Cassidy and heard it crash. Remember that funiture recovering buisness? It started breaking trees about there.
This was in the late seventies though perhaps you mean older.

[GR74]

I don't know what year, but I would imagine that was the crash. I only ever heard a couple of people talk about it. Sounds like there are a few sites out that way to explore.

[GR74]

I took the liberty of reading through some of the previous postings and the one that caught my eye was #109 from Harewoodian. I do believe that the Joyce Mine and the Elkhorn Creek Goldmine are the same mine, although I don't know when or why the name changed.
Location set aside, can anyone tell me about the origin and history of this mine?

[stanley strazza]

I don't know what year, but I would imagine that was the crash. I only ever heard a couple of people talk about it. Sounds like there are a few sites out that way to explore.

.....any idea what year we are talking of for the plane crash, was it possibly a civilian or military aircraft?......stan the man

[GR74]

.....any idea what year we are talking of for the plane crash, was it possibly a civilian or military aircraft?......stan the man

Not sure what year. Kickidee remembers a plane crash out that way in the late 1970's. I'm thinking that was the one. I know it was a civilian aircraft and there were casualties. From what I've been told, you can still see some of the wreckage although I don't know where the exact location is.

[seaman]

finding this Joyce mine on Elkhorn creek would be a great mission, I know where you can access this creek close to the nanaimo river where it washes through an old road, above it crosses spruston by the gate and there's old logging roads to the headwaters looks like two different lakes or ponds drain into it up off the McKay lake rd, maybe try to ask your co worker where they started their hike, up to a lake? close to a lake? did they start at a gate? also if they saw anything recognizable around the site old equipment etc. I know that creeks flowing pretty good right now but could probably get up to the headwaters fairly easily if that's where the mine was, other wise I'm thinking of following it up this spring summer when the water dries up a bit, I also want to find this thing.