Tugboats--British Columbia

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Tugboats--British Columbia

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Tugboats--British Columbia

69 Archival description results for Tugboats--British Columbia

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Archie Phelps interview

CALL NUMBER: T0388:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Archie Phelps RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Archie Phelps describes how he was born in Barkerville, his grandparents (grandfather Edward R. Phelps -- died 1885) arrived in Victoria in 1849 after the California gold rush, other grandfather Robert Coultson was friend with Governor Seymour, his father William Henry Phelps was the first teacher at Mayne Island and eventually to Barkerville, a description of the school in 1884, the differences between the schools at Mayne Island and Barkerville, details on Barkerville, the family's move to Pender Island including what life was like there, the wharf at Port Washington, people at Pender Island including the school and teachers there, how he became a steward on the ferry at age 15, and then a ship builder in San Francisco, anecdotes about the ferries including one where Indians attacked a ferry and another where an Islander was lost coming back from Skagway, his work on a tugboat, and details on what tugs were like in those days. TRACK 2: Captain Phelps continues by describing working on a tow boat called the "Pilot" in 1911 when there were not many sailing ships, how he became a cook on a CPR ship called the "Princess Ina", Port Simpson, taking Indians to work at canneries, the influence of the Scots on place names, more on Port Simpson and the Indian village there, navigation and fog, an anecdote about a problem in a lighthouse, details about Porlier Pass and foghorns.

CALL NUMBER: T0388:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Archie Phelps RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Phelps discusses several wrecks and ships, how pioneers were the only ones who traveled and Indians had to travel second class, Indian potlatches, how sheep were transported by boat, a massacre which resulted in two Indians being hanged, rough seas at Jervis Inlet, how the "Princess Irene" ferry was built for the Nanaimo run, how he became a CPR Captain in 1925 including several boats he worked on, and deep sea sailing versus coastal. TRACK 2: Blank.

Barney Johnson interview

CALL NUMBER: T2101:0001 PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-05-28 SUMMARY: Barney Johnson was born in Vancouver. His father was a well known waterfront figure. Grandfather was manager of the Marble Bay Mine at Van Anda and he remembers Chinese workers there and Union Steamships calling in. Talks about Pacific Salvage Company, towboating, the "Lorne" in a mishap at the Second Narrows, Westward Towing Co., Standard Oil of B.C., Royal Canadian Navy, father's career on the Grand Trunk boats and in the pilotage. At age 14, Barney Johnson was lookout man on the "Prince Rupert". Talks about towing Davis rafts across Hecate Strait, the first log barge, Hecate Strait Towing. CALL NUMBER: T2101:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-06-22 SUMMARY: Barney Johnson describes early use of barges for logs, the Canadian Merchant Marine on the west coast, "Canadian Farmer" running down to Los Angeles, "Boronite" trip to Hawaii with Christmas trees and grain during the U.S. west coast waterfront strike, Imperial Oil ships such as the "Vancolite", accident at the Second Narrows bridge, Pacific Salvage Company, passenger liners using Vancouver harbour. Father was master of the "Prince Rupert" and headed a rival pilotage service for Vancouver in the early 1920s. CALL NUMBER: T2101:0003 PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-08 SUMMARY: Barney Johnson describes methods of selling marine fuel in Coal Harbour, father's career with the Union Steamship Company, the Grand Trunk Pacific, Boscowitz Steamship Company and experiences during World War I. Father established B.D. Johnson-Walton Company which was Lloyds Agent in Vancouver and also shipping agent for several deep sea companies including Standard Oil and East Asiatic. Member Vancouver Chamber of Shipping. Describes "Stephen's Folly", first grain elevator. Vancouver harbour: bulk shipment of pot ash and sulphur. Also talks about Hastings Mill, lumber handling, Griffiths Steamship Company, Pacific Salvage Company, "Anyox", the "Lorne" and use of old sailing ship hulls. CALL NUMBER: T2101:0004 PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-08 SUMMARY: Barney Johnson describes use of old Dollar Line hulls for moving logs down the coast, the salvage of the main span of the Second Narrows Bridge by Pacific Salvage. "Salvage King". Describes changes in tug boat technology and design. Conversion of tugs from oil fired steam to diesel, log towing and booms. Conversions of the "G.E. Foster" and "Northshore".

Ben Ployart interview

CALL NUMBER: T0826:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-04-& 06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Ployart recounts his grandparent's settlement in the Courtenay area in the 1870s. He describes his early life; Comox; Courtenay; Cumberland; the Indian settlement; life on his family's farm. Later he became a logger and trapper. TRACK 2: Mr. Ployart continues with a description of his work on a fishing boat; and in a logging camp. He describes his reunion with his father in Alberta; the purchase of farm equipment; and his trek to the family's homestead. He recalls his time as a rancher; his trip to Vancouver; his time as a steam engineer; a successful logging operation.;

CALL NUMBER: T0826:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-04-& 06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Ployart describes some of his logging and trapping experiences in the Courtenay area; operating a pack train for the government survey parties and CPR surveys; anecdotes of some mainland inlet settlers. TRACK 2: Mr. Ployart discusses the weather and storms common to the mainland inlets; a tugboat trip to Prince Rupert; boating incidents.

British Columbia sketches : [reel 7]

Amateur film. B&W: views of Arrow Lakes scenery from a sternwheeler; arrival; the "Minto" at dock. Two men travelling by packhorse in the Lardeau. The steam tug "Beaton". Sequence on gold mining in the Cariboo, with footage of a hydraulic mining operation. COLOUR: Vancouver; Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park approach; city skyline. Trip on the steamship S.S. "Catala": views at sea; approaching settlement; people meeting the boat; log boom and sawmill adjacent to the dock. Alert Bay: views of village, store, homes, etc.; Indian children at play; schoolgirls in red sweaters [from St. Michael's Indian Residential School]; steamboat arriving; many shots of totem poles, graveyard, etc. Fishing fleet in harbour, preparing nets, and heading out to sea. Fishboat crew hauling in net full of thrashing salmon, and brailing them onto boat. Other fishboats setting their nets, hauling in salmon. Fishboat crew unloading salmon onto conveyor; shots of cannery wharf, female cannery workers. Savary Island: family vacation scenes; lodge; children at play; adults playing golf on beach at low tide; departing on a boat trip.

Claude Thicke interview : [Chapman, 1976]

CALL NUMBER: T2198:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Towboating on the B.C. coast PERIOD COVERED: 1895-1930 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-09 SUMMARY: Born in Ottawa in 1883. Moved as a child to Vancouver. Delivery boy for Clark and Stewart. British Canadian Lumber Company. Searching for a log boom on the Fraser River. Sternwheelers on the Fraser River. S.S. "Beaver". Mail boy for CPR. Playing around the old CPR wharf. Hudson Bay Company warehouse. Takes over B.C. Lumber tug boat fleet. Gets Master's ticket. Hog fuel. Blue Band Navigation. Hayes Manufacturing Company. Pacific Truck and Trailer. Building sailing ship. Davis Rafts, Bert Davis.

CALL NUMBER: T2198:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Towboating on the B.C. coast PERIOD COVERED: 1895-1930 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-22 SUMMARY: Claude Thicke describes the building of his tow boat fleet, Blue Band Navigation, talks of buying and troubleshooting tugs no one else wanted. Describes tree nailing. Worked for Hind Bros. -- managers of privately owned tug boats. Steam conversion to diesel. "Commodore", "Lorne", worked at Terra Nova cannery when he was a boy. Tin cans, Chinese workmen, built sailing boat. C. Gardner Johnson.

Cliff Bentley interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Life in the B.C. forest industry, 1917-1968 PERIOD COVERED: 1917-1968 RECORDED: Beaver Cove (B.C.), 1974-07-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Bentley discusses: Wood and English logging company activity in the Nimpkish Valley, 1917-1918; working on a steam tug, 1918; placement of the Wood and English camps, 1,2 and 3. Anecdote on the beginning of the Great Depression, 1929. Pre-emption on logging grants, 1929. Anecdote on meeting with Mr. English. Working for Brown and Kirkland logging, 1923. "Cent-and-a-half" Phillips anecdote. Going to Vancouver on a Christmas break. Comment on Fred Brown and Fred Kirkland. Responsibilities of boom superintendent at Nimpkish camp: booming, sorting and transporting. TRACK 2: Life in Nimpkish camp, 1940s. Transporting loggers during work breaks. Anecdote on losing of tug crew members. (End of interview)

Donald Peck interview

CALL NUMBER: T0398:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Donald Wesley Peck RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Donald Peck discusses changes in Vancouver and its harbour. He begins in 1897 when his family lived at English Bay and his father built a boat for use on the Fraser River during the financial crisis, a description of the over fishing that year, a description of the boat as compared to others at that time, how some streets in Vancouver were made from logging roads, how sawmills helped to develop the demographics of the city, anecdote about a man at the Hastings Mill named Captain Bailey, details on Bailey and his life, a boat called the "Senator", what the harbour was like at that time including various boats and Captains, anecdotes about what life was like in 1897, the filling of False Creek in 1910, the navigational hazard of the Narrows, how his family came to Canada in 1742 to New Brunswick from the USA and how they were ship builders, details on his family lineage including boats they built, details on his father's life and boats he worked on, the first machines which revolutionized the cannery industry were partially developed by his father, how his father sold the first salmon cannery to Japan, internal combustion engines which ended up being a failure, how in 1898 the family moved to Rivers Inlet so his father could help build the machinery at the cannery there, then the family moved back to Vancouver in 1901 so the kids could go to the Mount Pleasant School, more details on his father's work at sawmills, his reminiscences of the Fort Simpson area including the tugboats he used and Captains there, an anecdote about liquor laws involving Indians. and the invention of the Davis raft.

CALL NUMBER: T0398:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Donald Wesley Peck RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Peck discusses and describes the chances he took in his youth, Captain Alf Lewis who towed a boat called "The Progressive", his experiences towing in 1918, buying the "Topaz" and moving back to Vancouver when the mill closed, a story about Haida canoes in Port Simpson and Metlakatla, his impressions of and details about the Haida people. TRACK 2: Captain Peck describes the transport of coal from B.C. to California around the turn of the century by the use of tugboats, what it was like at Hastings Harbour at that time, cargo ships that were lost including one in 1906 and a Russian ship called the "Volentia", more on the Narrows, an explosion on a small boat in 1902 at Port Simpson, Father Hogan who was the minister at Port Simpson at that time who gave his skin to those who were burned, a story about a stone mason named Mr. Rudge who dumped a tombstone overboard where a Haida man had drowned, the activity in salmon fishing on the Skeena River in the days before Prince Rupert was established in 1907, including details on the canneries near Port Essington, and the 186 mile journey along the Skeena from Prince Rupert to Hazelton aboard sternwheelers.

CALL NUMBER: T0398:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Donald Wesley Peck RECORDED: [location unknown], 1961-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Peck discusses how boys in those days had to be self-dependant and had to learn to hunt and take care of the home, his friend Walter Wick's father who was the first foreigner he met while he lived at Inverness, a description of the Wick boys, he then describes his early memories of life at Metlakatla including details about people there. [Note: there is a splice in the tape so track 2 on this CD is a continuation of T0389:0003.] TRACK 2: Captain Peck offers a description of a woman named Miss West whom he met in 1904 in Georgetown, he discusses the history of Georgetown and the sawmill there including its establishment before Confederation, Mr. Morrow of Metlakatla who was a butcher at Metlakatla and was a former Indian agent, a description of the landscape at Metlakatla, the Rudge family, the origins of Port Essington including the type of place it was and people there. TRACK 3: Captain Peck discusses boats constructed for the Stikine and for the Yukon gold rush, the limitations of sternwheelers, experiences on the Nelson River, the people and geography of the Queen Charlotte Islands, the settlement of Sointula, and the elk on Graham Island, QCI.

Ed Johnson interview

CALL NUMBER: T2342:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Ed Johnson recalls his father and uncle, who came to Vancouver in 1895 and worked in the towboating industry on the B.C. coast and the Fraser River. Captain Johnson's first waterfront job was a mess boy on the "Venture"; he joined her in 1923, a few months before his 15th birthday. Then he moved to the "Camosun". He returned to school, then joined the Navy League. He worked on the Empress boats for two years, then switched to tugboats, serving on the "Sea Lion", the "St. Clair", and the "DBM". He worked for various companies, including Pacific Coyle Navigation, Champion and White, Cliff Tugboat Company, Vancouver Tug, and Kingcome Navigation. His experiences on the "Empress of Australia"; the working conditions of the Chinese crew members, and the impact of their strike. Experiences working on the "Venture". TRACK 2: The "Venture", continued. Towboating work. The Vancouver waterfront and False Creek. The Great Northern and CN Railway stations. Towing coal scows from Vancouver Island to False Creek. His progress on the tugboats and first job as skipper. CALL NUMBER: T2342:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Story of how Johnson threw a pie in an officer's face aboard the "Venture". Towboating on the B.C. coast; the lumber camps and the characters. Towing the floating lumber camps. Navigation on the coast, include the difficulty of navigating without lights or radio during World War II. A bad towboating trip on the tug "Northshore". The fate of independent towboat men on the coast. TRACK 2: Seamen's unions and union organizers.

Fred Smith interview

CALL NUMBER: T2103:0001 PERIOD COVERED: 1915-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-05-26 SUMMARY: Fred Smith was born in England in 1888 and moved to Vancouver after training as an engineer. Started working on towboats in 1911, took one trip on the Dollar Line, did road work on Kingsway in Burnaby, worked for Cates Towing. Describes Dollar Line, Union Steamship Company, waterfront in Vancouver, and Tommy Roberts, proprietor of the Grand Hotel in Vancouver. CALL NUMBER: T2103:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1956 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-06-29 SUMMARY: Fred Smith was an engineer with the Union Steamship Company from 1913-1959. Describes homesteading on Calvert Island, at Kitimaat, and the Queen Charlottes, a visit with Chief Harry Edenshaw, mines at Anyox, Surf Inlet. Remembers mates stealing boom chains, pursers stealing food and selling meal tickets twice. Was aboard "Coquitlam I" when it burst a plate in Drumlummon Inlet. Describes changes in the company after World War II. CALL NUMBER: T2103:0003 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1956 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-14 SUMMARY: Fred Smith joined the Union Steamship Company in 1913. He worked on the "Venture" and the "Coquitlam". Describes Chinese men making cans in the spring at salmon canneries, Chinese workers, Grand Trunk Railway into Prince Rupert, Japanese firemen in the engine room, navigation by the whistle, southern runs of the Union Steamship Company, grounding of the "Coquitlam II" and time the "Coquitlam I" burst a plate in Drumlummon Inlet. Also Tommy Roberts and the Grand Hotel and rum-running.

Gordon Sutherland interview

CALL NUMBER: T4135:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1890-1975 RECORDED: Robson (B.C.), 1983-10-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information; came to the Kootenays in 1906; money scare in Nova Scotia; harvest excursion from Pictou County and price; landed in Nelson; Parker Williams hiring hall; Paulsen logging camp; paid $1.00 for job; left Paulsen camp with filer; wages; Winlaw's camp; hand logging; gyppo logging explained; tie and pole camps; camp hours; hours on boats; room and board; food in Paulsen camp; mining and hazards; New Denver mine and conditions; anecdote about quitting New Denver mine; Silicosis; railroad work; Leary's pole yard; Sandon in 1915 and unemployment; labourer's work conditions; prospecting for molibdonite; working boats at Pingston Creek; forced enlistment into the army; lobster fishing off Nova Scotia; Molson Bank, Revelstoke, owned Pingston Creek; working for Leary's on boats; Waldie Lumber Co. in 1931; anecdote about writing exam for skippers ticket; anecdote about colour blindness test. TRACK 2: Colour blindness test; relief in Nakusp; anecdote about being hired by Waldie's; Waldie's mill shut down in winter; part time fork in winter; relief in Nakusp, conditions and pay; [tugboat] "Elco I" in 1916; marriage. [During last 20 minutes of this tape, Mr. Sutherland is referring to photo album.] Building the M.V. "G.O. Sutherland"; Arrow Lakes poles; Beaton; "Elco II"; fuel and drive train; 1914 trip back to Nova Scotia; in charge the "Irene" in 1914; skating on lakes; demise of the "Elco II"; One Big Union membership at Pingston Creek. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0003 RECORDED: Robson (B.C.), 1983-10-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Bunks in logging camps; furnished own blankets; One Big Union dues turned in to Trout Lake secretary; anecdote about Trout Lake OBU dues scandal; Seaman's Guild; white sheets in lumber camps; WWII effects on unions; joined union at Waldie's in 1931; Sammy Stewart returning officer; anecdote about Depression years; Waldie's "reasonably honest"; free lumber for community halls; Waldie's camp operations; gyppo logging; Imperial Bank buys Molson's Bank; houseboat on S.S. "Kootenay"; anecdote about selling home during Depression; more discussion of pictures in photo album; stable employment on the CPR; lumber and logging operations that went broke; pay in lumber and shingles one year. [TRACK 2: blank.]

[Island Tug and Barge] : [footage and out-takes]

Footage. Island Tug & Barge vessels and operations on the BC coast and the open Pacific. The first roll, which relates specifically to the operation of the tugs "Sudbury" and "Sudbury II", comprises outs from the film SAGA OF THE SUDBURYS (shot by tug skipper W.H. Blagborne and produced by Parry Films for IT&B). The second roll (which does not relate to the SUDBURY film) shows a barge removing the span of the old Point Ellice Bridge in Victoria; the opening of the new bridge in 1957; a tug towing a scow to Nitinat Bar; the tug "Lloyd B. Gore" towing the old sternwheeler "Delta King" to San Francisco; the "Island Sovereign" towing a dredge platform at sea; vessels at dock in Victoria.

Jack Williams interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Steamboating on BC interior lakes PERIOD COVERED: 1918-1930 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1979-07-26 SUMMARY: John Allan (Jack) Williams discusses his experiences as a fireman and engineer on CPR steamboats, sternwheelers and tugs on the Kootenay,Arrow and Okanagan Lakes, 1918-1930. His work as a fireman and second engineer on the tug "Hosmer". Duties of the fireman and engineer. Sternwheeler engine and paddlewheel. Living conditions on the boats. Summer fruit freightage in the Okanagan. Sternwheeler crew; positions. Role of steamboats in the settlement of the major lake valleys of the BC interior. Decline of the service; layup of four ships on January 31, 1930.

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