'A very sad moment': Hundreds watch Yellowknife's Robertson headframe fall to the ground
Many show up for blast at 5 p.m. MT Saturday, hundreds more watch from Australia, N.S., Alaska
Hundreds of people surrounded the old Con Mine site — or settled in for the view from the comfort of their homes — to watch the Robertson headframe, what's been an iconic part of Yellowknife's landscape for 39 years, fall to the ground.
The blast happened around 5 p.m. MT, starting with a jolt of light from the explosions, followed by a delayed bang and then the slow topple of the colourful structure.
At 76 metres tall, the headframe was a beacon along the city's horizon, often that landmark for boaters are hikers.
The headframe's days have been numbered since the closure of Con Mine in 2003, but the structure had several reprieves due to public outcry and possible preservation options by the city of Yellowknife and the territorial government.
Ultimately, no one wanted to take on the liability and so the headframe had to come down as part of owner Miramar Northern Mining Ltd.'s reclamation plan.
The reaction to the blast on Saturday was felt all around; from comments on Facebook during CBC's live stream...
...to those watching in different parts of the world...
...to the few people who stuck around the site many minutes after the fall, staring into the distance.
Others had their own take on the demise of the Robertson headframe.
Though the blast wasn't quite as dramatic as seven-year-old Jeddy Kehler imagined...
...perhaps it was the right idea.
Others took the opportunity to pair the Robertson headframe blast with Halloween, like Yellowknife business owner Janet Pacey.
