Two uptown landmarks will soon be coming under the auspices of the City of Flin Flon for at least the next year.
At their Sept. 19 meeting, Flin Flon city councillors approved entering into a one-year agreement with Hudbay which will see the City of Flin Flon leasing both the Whitney House and the nearby Hudbay staffhouse on a one-year term.
The deal won’t break the bank - the cost of the lease is one dollar. For that dollar, the City will get control over both the buildings, which were typically used as temporary accommodations or meeting spaces for high-ranking company officials, for one year.
City officials said the buildings would be looked at both as historical sites and as potential profit centres, but at first, the plan was to oversee the buildings and see what renovations or repairs they may need.
“This pertains to the historic significance of the Whitney House and the staff house in Flin Flon. The City also believes that those residences are going to be of great use in the future, given the economic development that we already know of and other endeavors that have been underway,” said councillor Judy Eagle, who read the resolution leading to council’s approval.
City chief adminstrative officer Lyn Brown said the staff house specifically could be used as a place workers coming to Flin Flon to work on projects like the recently announced redevelopment of the nearby Flin Flon Hotel, working in conjunction with hotel chain Wyndham Ramada.
“I think from a historical viewpoint, it’s very important to this community. It goes back to the day when Hudbay came, from the Whitney family. We have the [Flin Flon Station] museum, that’s a great place for history - now we have the Whitney House and the staff house,” said Brown.
“The staff house has 17 rooms, because it was a boarding house in a way. Those could be available then. Perhaps we could utilize it when the [Wyndham Ramada] hotel folks are working on the hotel - then they might have a place that’s close to the hotel as well. There’s a possibility of a revenue stream.”
Exact plans though have not yet been figured out, along with whatever renovation work either building may need - the nature of that work hasn’t yet been determined by the City.
“At this point, all we’re looking at is having it transferred to us for a temporary 12-month lease at the cost of one dollar,” Brown said.
“Then, we’re going to take a closer look, in terms of the facility itself, to see if there’s any work needing done - I don’t think there’s any major work there.”
The Whitney House is named after Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, the New York City-born heir whose finances helped get Flin Flon going almost a century ago. Back in 1925, on the urging of prospector Roscoe Channing, Whitney optioned the original Flin Flon mine claim, then founded HBM&S two years later along with the Mining Corporation of Canada and Newmont Mining Corp. from New York.
Along with Channing, Whitney, more often known as "Sonny", was instrumental in Flin Flon’s creation and growth. For decades, Channing would serve as HBM&S’s president, while Whitney would be the company’s chairman.
Whitney served in both World Wars and had forays into thoroughbred horse racing, polo and politics, at one point serving in senior American government and ambassador posts. Whitney was also a noted motion picture producer - he was partially responsible, along with his cousin John Hay Whitney, for funding the 1939 production of Gone with the Wind, winner of ten Academy Awards including Best Picture. Years later, Whitney funded other films in the late 1950s, including the John Ford classic The Searchers, considered by film critics to be either the greatest or one of the greatest Westerns ever made.
“Sonny” stayed at Whitney House whenever he came north. Camp Whitney, the Whitney Forum and a street in east Flin Flon all bear his last name.
Today, the Whitney House and staff house are both blocked off with red caution tape. While the idea of opening up the staff house for visiting workers was floated by City officials during the meeting, the goal for the Whitney House seems to be more about straight-up historical preservation or as a spot to show visitors the region's history.
“I don’t know if you’ve been in the Whitney House recently, but it’s beautiful - there’s all the pictures of Mr. Whitney, Tom Creighton… it’s a fabulous historical piece. I think there’s real value in that,” said Brown.
