Sydney Mines Online

At one time, Sydney Mines was called "Lazytown." A map of 1863 actually showed the area as "Lazytown".

This less than flattering name came from local farmers who would arrive in town in the morning to find a few people up and about. This was due to the shift work employed by the local mines. The coal miners and their wives would wake at dawn and get ready for the day shift. After the men went off to the pits, the wives would return to bed for some extra sleep. No one was awake to greet the farmers coming to sell their milk, eggs and produce.

Sydney Mines (pop. 8,501) grew up around the rich coal fields of Sydney Harbor and one pit - Princess Colliery - operated continuously for 100 years, from 1875 to 1975. In that time, Princess produced 30 million tons of coal.

The first mining took place in 1766 along the exposed seams of the harbor cliffs. When the General Mining Association took over Cape Breton coal mining in 1827, the area was simply known as "The Mines." Sydney Mines' first house, owned by R. Brown, dates from this era (1829) and still stands at 32 Brown St.

By the turn of the century, Sydney Mines was one of the top coal producing communities in North America. Workers came from Italy, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Austria, England, Scotland and Wales to work in the mines.

A steel plant opened in 1902 and much of the town's infrastructure - sewer, water, electricity, paved streets - was established at that time.

In 1932, Sydney Mines' population peaked at 10,000.

There are no coal mines operating in the town today, but many of the workers at nearby Prince Mine at Point Aconi live in Sydney Mines.

The town has downtown shopping area with grocery stores, pharmacy, bakery, banks, restaurants, service stations, town police and library.

A sport's complex on Brown St. has ballfields and tennis courts. There is an undeveloped beach at the end of MacLean St. fronting Sydney Harbor.

A miners' monument located on Main St., pays tribute to the men who perished at the local collieries, including 22 miners who were killed by a runaway man-rake (train) in 1938.

The town's most visible artifact is a red, sandstone town hall, built on a downtown corner in 1904 as a federal post office. The building was renovated in 1989 and registered as a provincial heritage property.

Another Sydney Mines landmark is Gowrie House, a two-storey, wooden mansion on Shore Rd. Overlooking the harbor, Gowrie House was built in 1834 by Samuel Archibald whose family and descendants maintained residence there for a century and a half. Marble fireplaces, extensive grounds and outbuildings reflected the prosperity of the family. Gowrie House is now a four-star country inn, offering accommodations and gourmet meals year-round. In 1990, international recording artist and performer Rita MacNeil filmed a television special at Gowrie House.

Historic Images
c/o: Sydney Mines Heritage Society

The Jubilee Hotel Main Street, Sydney Mines

Old British Canadian Co-operative Fraser Avenue, Sydney Mines

Coal Mash Plant Pitt Street, Sydney Mines. Built in 1950, closed in 1983.

Coke Ovens Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Works, Sydney Mines, Cape Breton (1902)

Post Office Square early 20th Century

Showing Angle Parking August 1950 and The Old Co-op Store

The Old King Edward Hotel, Main Street, Sydney Mines The hotel was located where Jessie Stubbert is operating her business today. The building burned down in 1921 and sixteen homes were burned with it.

The Post Office Corner, Sydney Mines Showing the corner of Main Street and Fraser Avenue (1904)

The old loading pier at Greener’s Pit Going up Shore Road you can see the Archibald Estate, now known as The Gowrie House. The house was built in 1834!

Richard Henry Brown Was the First Mayor of Sydney Mines (1889-1899). He died in February 1920.

The Coal Company Store Main Street, Sydney Mines. The store opened in 1903; it was raided during the general strike in 1925 and closed its doors the same year! The building was destroyed by fire in 1936.

W.L. Rice Store Corner of Main St. and Pond Street (known as Legatto St.) This picture was taken from the top of the Old Post Office around 1904 or 1905. In the background is the Steel Plant.

Old Town Hall, Main Street, SydneysMines Electric Street Car Shown in front of Town Hall Service began in 1903!