J.T. Kearns (for whom the village was named) staked a claim in 1907, which became the Chesterfield Gold Mines (1938-1952).  An 854-metre shaft mining connected 20 levels, and its 500-ton stamp mill produced a total of 458,880 ounces of gold.  Virginiatown and North Virginiatown were built to house the Kerr Addison workers.  Kerr Addison Gold mines started in 1936, and employed 1,456 people by 1959.  Annual production was 500,000 ounces of gold from 1957 to 1961, and in 1960, produced the most gold in the Western Hemisphere.  The 10,000,000th ounce of gold was produced in 1982.  However, production reduced to 47,211 ounces in 1984 from a workforce of 329.  The renamed Kerr Mine produced 15,350 ounces in 1993, and 22,000 ounces in 1994.. Which started first, the Chesterfield Gold Mines or the Kerr Addison Gold mines?