Item T1200:0001 - 0002 - Alan Benson interview

CALL NUMBER: T1200:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alan Benson : the Hazelton area, 1923-1961 PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1961 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Alan Benson recalls coming to Hazelton (1923), his first impressions of the area, old-timers including: "Happy Turner", George Birnes, "Dutch" Cline and Dave Wiggins [sp?], changes in Hazelton (1923-61), the physical situation of the three Hazeltons, the railroad and New Hazelton. TRACK 2: Alan Benson talks about methods for getting supplies to the north country; taking the steamer to Hazelton onto Babine, the schooner to the headwaters and across the portage to Stuart Lake. (Tape sound quality is poor, stops and varies). He describes packers and pack trains, repacking at Two Mile, trails, bridges, an Indian bridge over Babine River, Second Cabin and a story about a trip to Second Cabin to apprehend an insane man.

CALL NUMBER: T1200:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Alan Benson : packing, pack trains and the Skeena country, 1923-1961 PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1961 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Alan Benson describes the pack trains and packing methods used by George Birnes, the aparejos Mexican pack rigging, packing a horse or mule, a typical day on the pack train, the horse wrangler, carrigudor [sp?] and stevedore, freight loads, qualities of a pack horse or mule and Poison Mountain. He talks about the photographic work of Howard Innis who studied the Skeena River country, the National Film Board later used his work to make the "Skeena River Trap Line" and "People of the Skeena". The Babine River Slide (1952) is also discussed.