SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Agnes Harris : Port Essington recalled PERIOD COVERED: 1860s-1905 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-02-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In this interview Agnes Harris remembers Port Essington. Her husband, Arthur George came to B.C. in 1890 and met Robert Cunningham at Port Essington in 1892. She talks about Robert Cunningham; and the establishment of Port Essington, his enterprises and the local coinage. Agnes Harris speaks about her own background, meeting her husband, her trip from Vancouver, her arrival in Port Essington (1905), first impressions and a description of the town, port and buildings. She describes Robert Cunningham, his character, his businesses, his store, sawmill, the tug "Chieftain", his engineer --; Alec McLean (hero of Jack London's The Seawolf) and Captain Bonser. TRACK 2: Agnes Harris continues with recollections about Captain Bonser and riverboats. She describes Port Essington's social life; and customs, New Year's celebrations, Christmas, winter activities, the fire of 1899, Cunningham's Hotel, mock elections, railway construction, an anecdote and Wiggs O'Neill.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-11-15 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: A.L. Robinson discusses his experiences railroading: running from Prince Rupert to Prince George and then back to Prince Rupert (22.5 hours on shift alone) -- bad track, sore feet, once was off track for 1000 yards before anyone noticed, very frequent trips between these two towns; describes what he would do on a shift; places on the Grand Trunk; picking up and sorting the mail; never received overtime pay; incident when he was stuck in the woods for three days with no food due to a washout or a slide; the Island line is considered the best run in Canada; employed by the post office department, not the railway; 8 to 10 cars on a train on the Grand Trunk line; working on the Island meant shorter days than working in northern B.C.; postal service was much better in those days; salary of about $50 a month plus mileage; describes routes he traveled; mail service changed when it began to use trucks; letters with cancellations; incident at South Wellington where the track had been washed out. TRACK 2: Mr. Robinson discusses: incident in Chemainus when engineer lost a piston; celebrating the 93rd anniversary of the first train arrival in Nanaimo- only 3 people went; helping a young kid who was 'riding the rails' in the Depression. (End of 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.

SUMMARY: "Between Ourselves" was a weekly series of hour-long radio programs that presented Canada to Canadians. It featured aspects of Canadian life in docudramas, plays, music, and interviews, originating fr;om different regions of Canada. The series ran from 1966 to 1979. This episode, "Kitselas Canyon", is based on a visit to Kitselas Canyon on the Skeena River, and a discussion of its history: the native people and their legends, the arrival of the Europeans, the days of the sternwheelers, and the coming of the railroad. The program is a CBC Vancouver production, compiled, written and produced by Imbert Orchard. The voices heard include Dave Walker, Ben Boulton, Wiggs O'Neill, and John Morrison. The story teller is Michael Irwin.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. David Ross discusses the reasons for the building of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, the story of his coming to Canada from Scotland in 1908, and the series of jobs he held beginning i;n Medicine Hat. He describes early Prince Rupert and his work on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, including construction camps, building the rail line, settlements in Terrace, Kitselas and Skeena Crossing, more on railroad work and tunnels at Kitselas. TRACK 2: Mr. Ross discusses the various nationalities of the workers on the railroad, more on railroad work, Cedarvale, including an area description, and characters such as Barney Mulvaney and Wiggs O'Neill.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Douglas B. Taylor : early life, 1895-1914 PERIOD COVERED: 1895-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1956 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background. Arrived in Vancouver, 1902. Born in Refrew, Ontario, 1895. Family from Scotland. Description of boat trip to Alaska, 1902. Trip from Skagway to Atlin. Taylor became a surveyor. Memories of Victoria from 1904: the causeway, James Bay, Fairfield. Mills in Victoria. Kelowna in 1910. Conditions in survey camps. Working as a surveyor for Green Brothers. Description of trip from Victoria to Hazelton. Town site surveys of South Hazelton, Smithers, Fort George. Comments on the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. TRACK 2: Surveying and cruising Timber Licenses, 1913-14. Frank Green, A.H. Green and Fred Burden, surveyors. Surveying methods. World War I broke out while Taylor surveying in the Interior. Taylor joined armed forces in fall of 1914. Had been enrolled in forestry at the University of Washington. Taylor's reasons for entering forestry. (End of interview)

The item is a documentary film. "A man waving beside three stretched halibut skins. Map of B.C. showing coast to Kodiak Island in Alaska. Aboard a fishboat, men clean and gut a halibut, dress it for packing and salt it away for shipment. Fishboats alongside a cannery or processor's wharf at Prince Rupert. Halibut being lifted out onto the wharf. Men in hold loading halibut into net. In more southerly waters, a small halibut boat at sea and description of how to catch the fish. Fisherman chucks a barrel-buoy overboard, followed by a coil of line, and he makes ready to feed out the long-line. The long-line is paid out slowly, with bundles of hooks, or 'skates' being baited before they slip under the sea. [Long shot] and [close-up] of halibut being pulled in over the side. Halibut in the hold. In northern waters, small boats are taken to the fishing ground by larger boats on their decks, then lowered into the sea where they hoist sail and row to their area. A Large boat from Seattle arrives, lowers its boats onto the ocean, and they row away with two men in each. The Line is let out by hand over the stern, then hauled in by hand. The mother ship picks up the small boats, their crews and their catch, and sails away. [Long shot of] Prince Rupert from the sea. Crowded wharfside scene with many fishboats. Halibut being lifted by net onto a wharf. Men on deck unloading the fish. Halibut being received in interior of packing shed, and being placed in fresh ice in crates. The lids are nailed securely and the crates are wheeled away to the Prince Rupert railway station, where the crates are loaded into a refrigerator car. A fifteen-car train, "The Fish Express", leaves Prince Rupert hauled by Grand Trunk Pacific Locomotive #603. In immediate [background] is a sign reading: "Kelly Douglas and Co. Ltd. -- Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes." The train approaches, then cut to caboose moving away." (Colin Browne)

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Henry H. Little describes Prince Rupert 1908 and the Hazelton region, 1910-1920 PERIOD COVERED: 1908-1920s RECORDED: [location unknown], 1962-03-31 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Henry Hyslop Little talks about coming to Prince Rupert (1908) and being sent to open the Union Bank in Hazelton (1910). He describes his trip up the Skeena and arrival in Hazelton, establishing the bank, the Hazelton town site, buildings, Rev. John Field, Charles F. Morison, merchants, Dick Sargent, hotel proprietors, Walter Williscroft, early residents, housing, the climate and natural; beauty, the native population, bank customers -- geographical range, packers: Cataline, Charleson/Barrett and George Birnes, Barney Mulvaney, Maitland Dougal and Rene Degville. TRACK 2: Henry Little; speaks about Rene D'Egville, the Union Bank operations, railway construction and mining, the Hazelton area, Blackjack MacDonald, Hazelton hospital and staff, Bulkley Valley settlement, Kispiox, prospector -- Charlie Eck (1910), Hazelton from 1910-20 and the water system.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Hilda North remembers her father, Peter Herman, and Port Essington before 1907 PERIOD COVERED: 1870-1907 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Hilda Theresa North talks about her father, Peter Herman who came from Germany, his adventures, his work in the Chemainus mill and for Robert Cunningham at the sawmill at Port Essington (1885). Her mother and father trapped at Lakelse Lake, then competed with Cunningham for the Indian fur trade. She speaks about her father's business relations with the Cunningham family, a fight between George Cunningham and Peter Herman, his businesses (sawmill, logging and canning) and his cannery operations. Hilda North recalls childhood memories of Port Essington and schooling. She relates more of her father's background, his advice to the G.T.P. officials on the Kaien Island site, his position as a MLA [?], and his involvement in the Gun-an-noot incident. Hilda North recalls more about her early life in Port Essington and her father's death.

SUMMARY: Second in a series of six programs? Includes comments by Bill Raymond (?), newspaperman, George Casey (?), Harold Whelan (?), mayor, and John Magor (?), newspaper publisher, about: Prince Rupert; effect of World War II growth upon Prince Rupert; development of CN railroad; difficulties of building on northern terrain.

SUMMARY: "Early Days in Hazelton, part 2", #15 in the series, consists of recollections of the birth and early days of Hazelton. Vicky Simms and Bea Williscroft recall early days in Hazelton and region. Continued from program #14; see T3261:0001 (description AAAB3573).

SUMMARY: "Kitselas Canyon", #8 in the series, consists of three stories set at Kitselas Canyon on the Skeena River. Veroca Godfrey remembers a boating excursion at Kitselas. Annie Moberly recalls the wreck of the steamboat "Mount Royal" in 1907. Wiggs O'Neill tells about an Indian woman arrested for selling liquor during the days of railway construction.

SUMMARY: In "Prince Rupert", #5 in the series, pioneer Walter Wicks talks about the coming of the railroad to the Skeena country, and the early days of Prince Rupert.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Lloyd Bowman : a discussion of Prince Rupert PERIOD COVERED: 1943-1968 RECORDED: Prince Rupert (B.C.), 1968 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Lloyd Bowman speaks about coming to Prince Rupert as part of a Canadian Army regiment (1943) involved in coastal defence. He recalls his impressions of the community, incidents during the war; years in Rupert army camps, roads, coastal defence, rain, U.S. troops, post war buildings, docks and development. He discusses changes in Prince Rupert since the war, the Indian settlement, the pulp industry, "The Pacific Great Eastern", the "Canadian National Railway" and thoughts about Rupert's future. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Loran Kenney recalls his arrival in Prince Rupert from Nova Scotia via Medicine Hat in 1910. Kitselas and Hazelton (circa 1910) are recalled, as are several local pioneers, including Wig;gs O'Neill, Cataline (Jean Caux), and Dave Wiggins. Various jobs on the telegraph and railroad from 1912 to 1959. TRACK 2: Mr. Kenney speaks about his time on the railroad [the Grand Trunk Pacific, later the Canadian National], "riding the engine", and living conditions for the railroad crew. He recalls local incidents and characters from the Kitselas and Hazelton areas, including George Birnes, Barney Mulvaney, and Sperry Cline.

SUMMARY: A program about Kitselas Canyon on the Skeena River; the native people who lived there; and the coming of the sternwheelers and the railroad. Voices heard are: Mrs. Veroca Godfrey, Mrs. Sim Dobie, Mrs. H.F.Glassey, Mrs. Annie Moberly, Arthur Clore, Arthur Fisk, and Wiggs O'Neill.

SUMMARY: This episode tells the story of the construction of Canada's second transcontinental railway, through British Columbia's Bulkley and Skeena regions, prior to the First World War. The voice heard are: David Ross, W.J. McKenna, Walter Wicks, Loran Kenney, and Wiggs O'Neill.

SUMMARY: (1) The first train from Terrace to Kitimat, including an interview in Kitimat. [00:37:50] (2) Rod Falconer interviews Smithers pioneer "James A. Kirby" [possibly James E. Kirby]. [ca. 24 minutes]

CALL NUMBER: T1212:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sperry "Dutch" Cline : pioneer days in B.C. - the people PERIOD COVERED: 1830s-1903 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1959-10-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: "Dutch" Cline became fascinated with B.C. history when he arrived in the Cariboo in 1903, (pause in the tape) he relates the life story of Jim May (James Jasper May) who made many gold discoveries, Simon Gunanoot is mentioned and a story about a Chinese worker in early Hazelton named Sing. TRACK 2: "Dutch" Cline talks about his early life and his recollections of Hazelton, local resident;s, his work as a provincial constable, the influx of new population with the construction of the railroad and his decision to write about B.C. history.

CALL NUMBER: T1212:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sperry "Dutch" Cline : Cataline PERIOD COVERED: 1820s-1922 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1959-10-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sperry Cline recounts the history and stories of Cataline (Jean Caux) the packer, involving Judge Begbie, the Quesnel bank and the Yukon Field Force. TRACK 2: "Dutch" Cline continues with stories of Cataline and his liquor, hardiness, diet, knife, various incidents and his death.

CALL NUMBER: T2554:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The engineering career of Stanley Howard Frame : the Grand Trunk Pacific, 1903-1913 PERIOD COVERED: 1903-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Stanley Howard Frame reads from his memoirs, "The Engineering Career of Stanley Howard Frame." The survey of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. TRACK 2: Survey continued. Engineering on railway construction. Original survey of Prince Rupert townsite, 1906-1907.

CALL NUMBER: T2554:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1906-1914 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Stanley Howard Frame reads from his memoirs, "The Engineering Career of Stanley Howard Frame" (continued). The end of the Prince Rupert survey. Social life on Residency #22, Touchwood Hills, Saskatchewan. Residency #51, Wabamun Lake, Alberta. The Edmonton-Calgary branch of Grand Trunk Pacific construction. TRACK 2: Residency #3 near New Norway and south of Camrose. Outlet from main line to Calgary, 1911-1913.

CALL NUMBER: T0311:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Vicky Simms : Growing up in the Skeena country, 1890-1914 : part 1 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Vicky Simms (nee Morison) born at Metlakatla (c.1890) recalls early memories, schools and the hospital. She speaks about her mother (niece of Robert Cunningham), her father (a lay preacher), ;the Collison family, her father's move to Hazelton to manage Cunningham's store and to assist Rev. Field (1897), a canoe trip up the Skeena (1906), Indian canoe skills and songs, a mutiny at Kitseguecla, impressions of Hazelton, the Hazelton church organ, the spring exodus of the miners, Indian packers, social life and winter activities, the Hazelton town site, the Indian rancherie, Hazelton compa;red to Metlakatla, the Gun-an-noot affair and Bulkley Valley settlers. TRACK 2: Vicky Simms recalls Port Essington (1911) including: incidents, entertainment, Cunningham's Hall, the Skeena riverboats;, the Indian crew. Captain Bonser, the wreck of the "Monte Cristo" and the "Mount Royal". She speaks about Hazelton including: Cataline, packers, miners, Joe Lyons, Ezra Evans, the currency, Jack Graham (Cayuse Jack), Barney Mulvaney, Sperry Cline, Rev. Stephenson, Rene D'Egville, the effects of the war, life in Hazelton and the flood.

CALL NUMBER: T0311:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Vicky Simms : Growing up in the Skeena country, 1890-1914 : part 2 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: This tape begins with a comparison of Metlakatla and Hazelton by Vicky Simms, and continues with recollections of Hazelton, first impressions, local residents, the family house, the murder of; Mr. Yeomans (the storekeeper), her father's position as manager of Cunningham's store, the Indians, the overwintering miners, Joe Lyons, the Chinese residents, childhood, the Klondike Goldrush of 189;8, prostitutes at Two Mile, Dr. Wrinch, the railway surveyors and engineers, the railway workers and camps, the miners, Ezra Evans, the Condit brothers, winter and summer sports, local vegetation, the; Indian reserve (rancherie), Indian dogs, housing and stories, the death of her brother Charlie and the Hazelton cemetery. TRACK 2: Vicky Simms continues with Hazelton recollections, the cemetery, Indian grave houses, the Gunanoot affair, local incidents, Rene D'Egville, Barney Mulvaney, currency, trade tokens, gold miners -- "pokes", Chinese miners, settler hardships, mail, anecdotes, fires, weather and clothing. She recalls Metlakatla missionaries, the Ridleys, the Ridley home and Dr. Ardagh (sp?).

CALL NUMBER: T0311:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Vicky Simms and John Morison : travel on the Skeena River by canoe and paddlewheeler PERIOD COVERED: 1894-1917? SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Vicky Simms recounts the trip of 1894 from Kincolith to Hazelton by boat and canoe with her mother and brother, travel and impressions of the Skeena River, early Hazelton, Rev. John Field and; the Hazelton church. She talks about the Indian crews on the canoes, Indian paddling and singing, the trip by canoe from Port Essington to Hazelton (1905), incidents along the journey and the crews r;efusal to continue past Kitseguecla. John Morison (Vicky Simms' brother) continues this interview and recalls the canoes, journey and conditions along the Skeena during the trip of 1905 with his mothe;r and sister, Kitselas Canyon, the Indian crew, downriver travel, Indian singing, a description of the Haida canoe, Indian navigation techniques and Port Essington. John Morison reminisces about his t;ravel along the Skeena River (he worked on the paddlewheeler "The Islander") including references to: "hole in the wall", legends and stories of points along the river, the lower Skeena River, vegetat;ion along the riverbanks, the river above Terrace and Cedarvale. [TRACK 2: blank?];

CALL NUMBER: T0311:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): John Morison : travel on the Skeena River by paddlewheeler, ca. 1905-1917? SUMMARY: TRACK 1: John Morison continues speaking of his impressions of the trip along the Skeena including: "Devil's Elbow", Kitselas Canyon, scenery along the river and Hazelton. He relates a story about Hazelton -- a frontier town and the "Stonehouse". He describes in detail crew life aboard a riverboat including: sounds on the boat, the operation, decks and accommodation, sounds of the paddles, Captain; Bonser, uniforms, more about the operation, an incident at Ringbolt Island, Indian deckhands, Indians singing and accompaniment on the riverboats and problems with mosquitoes. TRACK 2: John Morison ;continues speaking about riverboats including information about: the crew -- wages, ages and duties, anecdotes, Bill Alexander -- the engineer, Joe Herrling, wood for the riverboats, bootlegging and t;he Indian pilot -- Walter Wright. He recalls the passengers, the special trips to Kispiox-Hazelton and the return trip Hazelton-Kispiox, more about passengers, the "drummers" (commercial travellers), ;women, amusements, impressions when approaching Hazelton, boat whistles, the first boat in the spring to Hazelton, store supplies, the Hazelton landing, boat whistles, the rivalry between Capt. Bonser; and Capt. Johnson, flags, an anecdote about Captain Bonser's dog, a practical joke, recreation -- horseshoes, fishing and soccer, more about the commercial travellers, the construction men -- "bohunks" and Blackjack MacDonald.

CALL NUMBER: T1194:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Walter Wicks : early years on the lower Skeena River : part 1 PERIOD COVERED: 1901-1922 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Walter Wicks recounts his arrival at the North Pacific Cannery from Germany (c.1900), his first impressions of the area and recollections of some of the residents of Port Essington. He talks about his life at the cannery, his education, fishing on the Skeena, his family background, living conditions, learning fishing and hunting, fishing spots along the Skeena River, Japanese-Indian-white; relations, fishing incidents, the naming of Hicks Point, fishing methods and grades of salmon. TRACK 2: Mr. Wicks continues speaking about fishing methods, types of salmon, the wastage of salmon, ch;anges in fishing methods, names of the area canneries and steps in the canning process. TRACK 3: [Note: due to a break in a splice on the original tape during dubbing, the remainder of T1194:0001 Track 2 has been continued on Track 3 of the CD copy.]

CALL NUMBER: T1194:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Walter Wicks : early years on the lower Skeena River : part 2 PERIOD COVERED: 1901-1922 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Walter Wicks recalls his time as a student at the Metlakatla Mission School, incidents at the school, Mrs. Margaret West, training and schooling, the mission at Metlakatla, children's activit;ies and a trip to Victoria. He recounts childhood activities and incidents. TRACK 2: Walter Wicks continues with his recollections about childhood incidents, hunting stories, Indian deer hunting meth;ods, a prank at the North Pacific Cannery, childhood adventures and a landslide at the cannery. He recalls the beginnings of the town site of Prince Rupert, survey parties, early construction progress; at Tucks Inlet, land title problems, the town construction, land clearing (1908-09) and early buildings.

CALL NUMBER: T1194:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Walter Wicks : early years on the lower Skeena River : part 3 PERIOD COVERED: 1901-1922 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Walter Wicks continues speaking about his experiences working in a land clearing camp on the Prince Rupert town site, living conditions, land conditions, development, workers and the real est;ate auction. He recalls jobs in railroad construction, as a lineman for the Dominion Telegraph line, an anecdote about shaving with an adze, more about railroad construction work and an incident with ;a horse team. He speaks about his family's move to Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert's first water system and utilities. He discusses changes to fishing methods following the introduction of power boats an;d Dr. Curgin -- owner of the first gas engine propelled boat on the Skeena River. TRACK 2: Walter Wicks describes Port Essington, the local canneries, life in the town, Robert Cunningham's business interests, sawmills, social life, George Frizzell and a silent movie presentation. He speaks about law enforcement including: Constable "Keyhole Johnny" (John Herring), the Indian rancherie, the "skook;um house", liquor problems, hotels and saloons, Essington during railway construction and provincial constables -- Harry Berrimen and Jack Collins. Mr. Wicks speaks about the decline of Cunningham's businesses, Bob and George Cunningham, Captain Bonser and a story about a snag scow and "Hunchback Mary".

CALL NUMBER: T1194:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Walter Wicks : early years on the lower Skeena River : part 4 PERIOD COVERED: 1901-1922 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-07-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Walter Wicks continues with his story about a snag scow and "Hunchback Mary". He goes on to talk about Port Essington as an administrative centre, seat of government and Billy Lord, the Anglo; British Columbia Cannery manager. [TRACK 2: blank?]