CALL NUMBER: T1796:0001 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1920 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1975 SUMMARY: John Park was master of the Union Steamship Company vessel "Venture". The Union S.S. Co. was in competition with the Canadian Pacific and the Grand Trunk Pacific. He describes fish canneries, church hospitals and summer clinics at Rivers Inlet and the Skeena River. Story about going into Salmon River with a new skipper who struck the dock while carrying a load of dynamite. Navigation by echo. Sinking of the "Cheslakee". CALL NUMBER: T1796:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1920 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1975 SUMMARY: John Park was born in Scotland. Apprenticed on sailing ships of the Inver Line. Joined the Blue Funnel Line. First came to Vancouver in 1907 on the "Titan". Immigrated to Vancouver in 1910. Became master of the Union Steamship vessel "Venture". Took passengers off the "Princess Beatrice" when she ground near Port Hardy, 1911. Joined Griffiths and Co. of Seattle, which operated the Coastwise Steamship and Barge Company. Went deep sea. Worked as a pilot in Vancouver 1925-1952. CALL NUMBER: T1796:0003 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1975 SUMMARY: [No content summary is available for tape T1796:0003.]; CALL NUMBER: T1796:0004 PERIOD COVERED: 1895-1940 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976 SUMMARY: Captain John Park apprenticed on square rigged sailing ships and came to Vancouver in 1911. Mentions trans-oceanic shipping coming into Vancouver at the time. Joined Union Steamship Company. Became master of the S.S. "Venture". Joined B.C. Coast Pilots. Joined S.S. "Turret Crown", owned by Griffiths Steamship Company of Seattle. Master S.S. "War Cavalry" owned by Couglan's shipyard. Piloted German cruiser into Vancouver harbour in the 1930s. CALL NUMBER: T1796:0005 PERIOD COVERED: 1910-1940 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976 SUMMARY: John Park towed the ex-sailing ship "St. David" up and down the west coast of Canada and the United States. Dollar Line. Talks about sailing ship days on the Inver line, including trips around Cape Horn. Joins the Union Steamship Company, S.S. "Venture". Steamboating on the north coast. Federal inquiry into pilotage on the B.C. coast held in the 1920s. Master of "City of Victoria" chartered by H.R. MacMillan.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): John Turner RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-03-07 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this interview.];

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): John Turner : tallyman and boat rigger RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-03-22 SUMMARY: John Turner came to B.C. from Scotland in 1920. Worked at Fraser Saw Mill, then got a job with the Union Steamship Co. on the "Camosun" in 1922. Went to work at Wadhams Cannery as a fireman for the first year. Then he went to Imperial Cannery to help with the fall fishing. He packed fish from Kitsilano to the Gulf of Georgia Plant. There was a big Indian population which lived in the shacks on the dyke close to the cannery. During the season, White people lived in better and more permanent houses away from the water. The Japanese also lived on the water in company houses. Bunk houses for the Chinese men who were fed only two meals a day. They got mostly rice and dried fish and they were "tickled to death" to be working in these conditions. They worked for the C.P.R. in the winter. The Indians were only there for the summer season. The Japanese were permanent residents. Discrepancy of wages according to race. Retired at age 75 the head rigger at Canadian Fish Co. Describes the machine that cuts the heads off of salmon. During the Depression one year he got only 6 weeks of work. Discusses pulp mill at Swanson Bay.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): John White RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: John White describes his life in Victoria for 52 years, including his first impressions, anecdotes about first experiences aboard ships around 1909, his issues with bronchitis and how going to sea saved his life, more on early Victoria and experiences on ships. TRACK 2: John White continues with more anecdotes about life aboard ships and at sea.

CALL NUMBER: T1223:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Captain Joseph Alphonsus Gardner : recollections of a riverboat man, 1895-1950 : part 1 PERIOD COVERED: 1894-1910 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-05-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Joseph Alphonsus Gardner leaves Dewdney in 1894 to go to Hazelton with his aunt, he describes the trip by steamer to Port Essington and then by Indian canoe on the Skeena to Hazelton,; on the return trip to Port Essington he meets up with his father who was mate for Captain Bonser and he takes a position as a waiter on the "Caledonia" (1895). He recalls the "Old and New Caledonia",; adventures on the "Caledonia", hunting on Finlayson Island, incidents with pack dogs, freight, crew and passengers on the "Caledonia", "Boston Bill" and his deck hand work (1898). TRACK 2: Captain Gardner continues speaking about his work aboard the "Caledonia", "lining", Kitselas Canyon -- hazards and navigation, the Skeena and Stikine Rivers, impressions of Hazelton (1894), Yukon gold and it's; impact: swindlers and mental illness, "drifting" downstream on the Skeena, wreck of the "Mount Royal", the 30 Mile River in the Yukon, river incidents and memories of Captain Bonser.

CALL NUMBER: T1223:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Captain Joseph Alphonsus Gardner : recollections of a riverboat man, 1895-1950 : part 2 PERIOD COVERED: 1894-1935 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-05-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Joseph Gardner continues with recollections of his life on a riverboat, an incident between a captain and an engineer, crews on the Skeena and Yukon boats, the Copper River explosion ;-- 1908, wreck of the steamer "Sophia", navigating the Copper River, "reading the water", sounding the water, the Skeena River -- Port Essington to Kitselas vs. Kitselas to Hazelton, "jumping the bars;" and his early memories of Dewdney and Hatzic area farmers. TRACK 2: Captain Joseph Gardner speaks about his father, Captain Gardner who was born in Mission, his grandfather George Clinton Gardner an international surveyor and continues with a summary of his father's career. He ends this interview speaking about incidents in the Yukon.

Receipt book showing cargo received on board ship Josephine.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Kelleher recounts the arrival of her father, Joshua Willard Wells, at Hatzic, 1870; the family farm; schooling at Burton School at Dewdney; other schools; childhood; Wade's Landing; passion plays; trips to the Skeena area; incidents at Francois Lake; the Reverend Cunningham at Port Essington; the Bodington family. TRACK 2: Mrs. Kelleher recalls traveling from Victoria to the Skeena with her brother and sister; the Lacroix family; living at Francois Lake for the winter (break in narration); brother, Jim Wells, at Kitselas; SS "Islander"; her family's move from Port Douglas to Hatzic; Wells' Landing; family history; orchards; farming; Thompson Prairie; other settlers.

The item is an audio recording of an interview with J.W. Smith. In it he discusses his varied careers from 1933 as oiler and fireman on the "Princess Louise", the tug "Norvan", the Vancouver Harbour Board's Switcher 060, and others. His dialogue is interspersed with childhood memories of his father, who was a CN engineer in Saskatchewan. He comments on his brother Frank Smith, who is currently (1977) engineer on the Royal Hudson 2860.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1962?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alexander recalls the journey of his grandfather, Richard Alexander, to Victoria with the Overlanders in 1862; their early life in Vancouver; "Navy Jack"; early Victoria; memories of Dr. Jim Helmcken; anecdote about his father, Judge Harry O. Alexander, "Hally Alexander"; childhood reminiscences; coastal boats and tugs; Deadman's Island; Victoria Harbour; the Gorge; Archie McLean; "Sea Wolf"; and the gold rushes. TRACK 2: Mr. Alexander talks about the tugs stationed in Victoria Harbour; the "Lorne"; his mother's family; and his maternal grandfather and the Riel rebellion.

The item consists of a reel of unedited film footage and associated workprint of water traffic on the south arm of the Fraser River near the site of the Deas Island Tunnel. Two sequences show the operation of the Ladner ferry, a car ferry service crossing the Fraser between Ladner and Woodwards Landing in Richmond. Shows cars, trucks, and buses boarding the ferry; crew at work on the deck and the bridge; views from ferry during the crossing; docking and unloading; etc. Also includes footage of the CNR rail car ferry S.S. "Canora"; a large floating dredge; and the sternwheeler "Essington". The latter usually operated out of Prince Rupert as a snag puller, but at this time she was replacing the "Samson V" on the Fraser; her deckhands are shown servicing a navigational buoy.
These sequences were found among the original footage and out-takes from the film Deas Island Tunnel (1957-1959).

Series contains a log book from the steamer "Venture". It documents a voyage from Vancouver to the Nass River and return in 1922.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-26 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this interview.];

Amateur film. Shows Don and Phylllis Munday family travelling by boat from Vancouver to Bella Coola, then by pack train into Tweedsmuir Park, and visiting various natural sites.

CALL NUMBER: T0800:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In this interview, three sisters -- Mrs. Mabel Davis, Miss Bea Hamilton and Miss Ina Hamilton -- recall growing up on Saltspring Island. Mrs. Davis begins by describing the family's move to; Fulford Harbour; Saltspring Island in 1897; the trip and the new landscape. Her memories include the Indians fishing and bird hunting; the forest; rumrunners in the 1920s; the arrival of the CP navigation boat at Fulford Harbour; dockside politics; boats. Her father, William J.L. Hamilton, introduced broom to the island. She tells of his Irish background; his twelve children; his arrival in British Columbia. The Hamilton family settled in Oak Bay, Vancouver Island, during the 1890s. She discusses this community, as well as: incidents concerning the Bowker's bull; the island social life; Fulford Harbour; and an incident with a cougar. TRACK 2: This portion of the interview begins with reminiscences by Miss Ina Hamilton and anecdotes about Fulford Harbour. Miss Bea Hamilton continue;s the interview with recollections of her deaf siblings; growing up and politeness; Kanakas (Hawaiians) including William Norkin; social life and domestic details; cordial relations with the Indians; ;hotels in Fulford Harbour; collecting the mail on Billy, a horse; her childhood; more information on the Kanakas who settled in the area; the Catholic Church in Fulford, built about 1880; St. Mary's Anglican Church; Reverend Austin Wilson.;

CALL NUMBER: T0800:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miss Bea Hamilton continues this tape with an anecdote about Reverend Austin Wilson. Early Saltspring settlers are discussed, including the Shaw family; Henry Wright Bullock; the Fullers; the Wilsons; the Akerman family; and the Maxwell family. Mrs. Davis recalls more on the early settlers; Kanakas; roads on Salt Spring and the dangers of early trave; the Ruckle family; Mr. Bullock; manners; social life and customs; dances and other social events. Miss Bea Hamilton discusses the Kanakas; the naming of the Hamilton house "Dromore"; and a journey to Victoria or Sidney. [TRACK 2: blank.]

The series consists of a photograph album, probably created around 1925, by Major Harold Brown of the Union Steamship Company. The album contains 250 black and white prints of various ships, many of them Union Steamship Company ships. The names of the ships have been written directly on most of the prints, although some remain unidentified.

Masters' journals of M.V. Uchuck III, 1962-1975, concerning daily operations of vessel plying west coast of Vancouver Island, from Gold River to Zeballos. Collection includes newspaper clippings, poems, tariffs, and time-tables pertaining to vessel.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1968 [summer] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Meg Shaw recalls her family's arrival in Vancouver in the 1890s, and the eventual move to Burnside, later known as Whaletown, on Cortes Island. She then discusses her father, David Robertson, and her mother; their reasons for moving to Cortes; transportation on the island; leaving the island and coming back in 1947; living on the island, including what life was like; a description o;f traveling aboard a Union Steamship; and miscellaneous comments concerning everyday life and community spirit. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T2341:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Towboating on the BC coast PERIOD COVERED: 1915-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-14 SUMMARY: TRACKS 1 & 2: Captain Mickey Balatti's family was among Vancouver's early settlers. Born in Ladysmith, he worked in the coal mines there and later joined the crew of a tug boat. Describes early diesel; tug boats, working log booms, Hastings Mill, "Brunette", accidents on the coast, navigation techniques, towing on the west coast of Vancouver Island, attempts to blow up Ripple Rock, towing around the Queen Charlotte Islands, difference between American and Canadian wages for towboat men.;

CALL NUMBER: T2341:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Towboating on the BC coast PERIOD COVERED: 1915-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-07-14 SUMMARY: TRACKS ! & 2: Mickey Balatti describes towing across Hecate Strait; the salvage of a grounded freighter on the Sand Heads; making up log booms at San Juan for Malahat Logging; Nitinat Lake; towing Davis rafts; tricks of towing through tidal currents; loading railcar barges; changes on the tugboats when diesel replaced steam; B.C. Pilotage.;

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1917; moved to the Sayward valley in 1919; blew whistles for his father in the logging camp at Sayward when he was twelve; moved to Helmcken Island around 1920;/21; in 1932 at the age of fifteen, his parents moved to Vancouver, but he went to a logging camp at Palmer Bay working for Parker and Palmer; describes Palmer's camp and the bunkhouse; laundry facilities in the early logging camps; food in the camps; wages and job conditions; entertainment; black man by the name of Mitchell, played the violin; Otto Petersen's family; Cliff Palmer's family; story about the cook winning the BC Electric sweepstake; logging equipment and methods; steam donkeys; topping trees; Gilford Island; accident while rigging a tree; topped trees on Cortes Island for Oscar Neemy; jumping spar trees; using hand fiddles; camp at Neemy's; fallers and their wages; the Depression; worked for Billy DeMills and Curly Miller at Miner's Bay on Thurlow Island; bought a fishing boat in 1936; Billygoat Hansen's daughter; boat sinking at Stuart Island wharf; John Oswald of Herriot Bay; Matt Gerard at the Stuart Bay store; Billy DeMills. TRACK 2: Beaver Cove, father and sons formed company; worked for Sidney Soderman; trapping at Bute, Southgate River; Angus Schnarr homestead at Bute; Merle Hadley; Call Inlet, own logging camp; sold to Bill Campbell; moved to Campbell River in 1958; working as a faller; gypo loggers; in 1957, 95% of the gypos disappeared; poker games and Union boats in the early '40s; Ma Scott ran a logging camp; Angus Schnarr and his daughters all did hand logging in Bute; Jack houses ashore; Jack Shabler; boring boomsticks.

CALL NUMBER: T0389:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain Mim DeCrop discusses how he began sailing in Flanders, Belgium, in 1947; a story about starting work as a cook at Coast Ferries in BC in 1956; getting a job as a deckhand; how he started on tugboats, including the names of many boats from that time; how they serviced the logging camps; how Union Steamships eventually disbanded in 1960 and the reasons why Tidewater's ships eventually lost out; how the government eventually squeezed Coast Ferries out of the Gulf Islands runs; how the "Petrel" was lost in a gale at Cape Mudge; details on the operation of the "Patscoe"; details on the shipping business, including how they did door to door service; how tow boats have to feel their way through bad weather; how the pattern on the coast is changing as small business are giving way to big ones; building the freight business; details on navigation; how information would be gained from loggers; how experience is key; and details about Bute Inlet. TRACK 2: Captain DeCrop describes using echoes for navigation; the inception of Coast Ferries; the boat "Troubadour"; how you find your way in inlets; Owen Bay and the rapids nearby.

CALL NUMBER: T0389:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Captain DeCrop continues by discussing various characters along the coast; anecdotes about experiences along the coast; more on freighting; the kindness of loggers; how freighters helped each other; how freight was charged for; how the radio provided forecasts; communication with other tuggers and locals; Jervis Inlet; and various other inlets. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T1833:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born in London, Ontario; father was working with the Grand Trunk; came to Saskatoon in 1904; travel by train; homesteading in Saskatchewan; parents came to the coast in 1913; met husband on the prairies; Americans coming to Canada; maiden name Flanigan; husband was a commercial traveler; train fares and other prices; show people and minstrels; house in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver; the Depression; sons worked at the ball park; Redonda Island; opening of Mallard's cannery at Redonda; the Olmstead family at Redonda; school; teachers; Mrs. Ballentyne, a teacher at Redonda; resort at Gorge Harbour, Cortes Island; Savary Island was a popular summer place; Pat, Robert and Dunc Robertson; Union Steamships; teacher's pay and conditions of the school at Redonda Island; the Hanson family and the Rongron family; Indians allowed in the school; Christmas concerts and other entertainment; Mr. Jerody bought the sawmill; earthquake at Redonda Island in 1946. TRACK 2: Came to Campbell River in 1918, Mr. Francis worked as a bookkeeper for the Thulin's; logging camps; the Peterson and Fitzgerald families in Campbell River; the other settlement across the river, the Perkins, MacDonalds and Vanstones; Elm School; came from the Peace River area; the Thulin's had the only store; supplies brought in by boat; Thulin's had a boat for towing and bringing supplies in, the boat was cut in half by an American yacht; means of travel, taxi service between Campbell River and Courtenay; Frank Lalond owns cars; Union boats arrived regularly; mail service; wages; entertainment; Thulin dance hall 'Lilelana'; DeBow bought the hotel and then sold it; moved from Campbell River to Vancouver for the boys' schooling; moved from Vancouver to Lake Cowichan; MacDonald-Murphy Logging Co. originated in Campbell River; Mr. Francis went there as a bookkeeper for them; hiring, wages and conditions of teachers; Campbell River and the dam and mill being built; Quadra had its own store and cannery. CALL NUMBER: T1833:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Redonda Bay sawmill owned by Olmstead and description of her home at the camp; the store at Redonda and contents; sternwheeler boat engine used for steam; water wheel to power lights; comparison of their store to modern stores; Olmstead made a trip every month to Vancouver on his sixty foot boat named the "Rowno"; never saw any wild animals in the wilderness; very little hunting or fishing done by the people in the camp; vegetable garden at Redonda and discussion of Union boats coming to Redonda; traveling on steam ships, conditions and crowding on the boats; had a window fall on her; aboard a Union boat; many fake accidents were claimed aboard the boats; comparisons of Christmas then and now; philosophy of life; entertainment now pretty much the same as before; feelings on getting older; her childhood, her mother's discipline and chores; thoughts on youth today and the youth of her day. [TRACK 2: blank?]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Boom work and foreman, General foreman, Plumper Bay RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1974-12-10 SUMMARY: Coming to Port Renfrew in 1932; father ran a shingle mill; joining Malahat Logging Co. in 1940 as a boom man; building Davis rafts; community life at Port Renfrew; supplies and people transported by the SS "Maquinna"; changes when BCFP took over in 1946; log supply problems; dry land sorting.

Fonds consists of masters' journals of the the ship M.V. Uchuck III. The journals document daily operations of the vessel plying the west coast of Vancouver Island, from Gold River to Zeballos. The fonds also includes newspaper clippings, poems, tariffs, and time-tables pertaining to vessel.

News item. Interior and exterior shots of the S.S. "Prince George". Before a refit can even be considered, the debt on the ship -- now over $600,000 -- must be greatly reduced. This is not possible when no revenue is coming in. Neither Nanaimo nor Ladysmith now seem to want to buy the ship. NDP MLA Dave Stupich says the vessel could be developed into an excellent facility and tourist attraction for Nanaimo.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [ca. 1965]
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miscellaneous short interviews and sound effects recorded by Imbert Orchard while on a northern freightboat trip on the B.C. coast, ca. 1965. Conversation about cruising the waters around Vancouver Island, Princess Louisa Inlet, early days of yachting around the San Juan Islands, etc. Continued conversations on west coast boating with other boaters and their children, including Dr. Martin Nelson (of Redding, California). More conversations. Descriptive narration of the cruise, including trip to Stuart Island through Yuculta Rapids, and into Big Bay. Description of cargo being dropped off on dock at night, and sounds of same. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1975?] SUMMARY: [No content summary or documentation available for this tape.];

Amateur film. Trip up the BC coast from Vancouver to Ocean Falls on the "Princess Norah". Shots of Ocean Falls, boating, crab fishing. Lion's Gate Bridge. Trip on the "Princess of Nanaimo." Elk Falls.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-08-08 SUMMARY: [No content summaries available for these tapes.];

CALL NUMBER: T0811:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. "Sparky" New, involved in coastal shipping since he arrived in the 1920s, discusses the development of the Coast Ferries company from early freighting and passenger travel in the Gulf of Georgia, including the supplanting of the Union Steamship Company by scow, tug and airplane. Included in this discussion is the role of logging and mining in the coast economy and navigation problems in the Gulf. TRACK 2: Mr. New comments on fruit production and lumber mills in the Gulf. He describes his early experience working on ships, and eventually getting into the towing business in 1937. He praises the CP Steamship Company's coastal service when roads were non-existent. He compares CPR with the Union Steamship Company, and compares transportation in early decades with the present [the 1960s]. He tells the history of his first boat, "Brentwood".

CALL NUMBER: T0811:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. New tells the story of the loss of the "Petrel" and other ships and mentions hazards at places such as Cape Mudge, Fraser River mouth, and Bute Inlet. He describes the kind of work that coastal boating was in early years, and some major changes in the towing industry since then. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUMMARY: Program on the controversy over oil tanker traffic along the Pacific Coast. Intended audience: senior high school social studies classes.;