Historic Sites of Manitoba: McArdle Salt Works (Northern Manitoba)

In 1937, a group of speculators at Swan River, led by Leo James McArdle of Tisdale (Saskatchewan) and Edward Hugh Martin Crawford of Winnipeg, formed the Northern Salt Syndicate to develop a commercial salt works at this site near Lake Winnipegosis, in northern Manitoba. They planned to produce crystalline salt from brine obtained at a nearby salt spring. The operation was soon found to be unprofitable and it closed due to its long distance from markets, high transportation costs, and internal business problems.

Wood from the former salt-making buildings, and the well crib used to obtain salt water, are still visible at this site along Manitoba Highway 10.

Former site of the McArdle Salt Works (August 2005) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Salt water spring at the former site of the McArdle Salt Works (November 2025) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Remains of the McArdle Salt Works (November 2025) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N52.86797, W101.06025 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Red River Salt Makers
Manitoba Pageant, Volume 8, Number 2, January 1963

Salt-Making in Manitoba by Virginia Petch
Manitoba History, Number 51, February 2006

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Neepawa Salt Works (Mountain Avenue, Neepawa)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Abandoned Manitoba

Sources:

Canada voter lists, Ancestry.

“Mafeking salt well optioned locally,” Swan Valley Star and Times, 22 July 1937, page 1.

“An explanation,” Swan Valley Star and Times, 23 September 1937, page 1.

“Northern Salt Syndicate builds plant,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 June 1938, page 18.

“Leave for inspection of northern salt,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 September 1938, page 15.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 11 November 2025

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