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Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada Limited Depressions--1929--British Columbia
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Les Walker interview : [Hodgins, 1972]

CALL NUMBER: T0088:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Leslie Walker : good times and bad - life in B.C. from 1900 PERIOD COVERED: 1905-1912 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-06 SUMMARY: Ernest Leslie (Les) Walker was born in 1899 and came with his family to B.C. in 1905. He discusses life in Nelson and the Kootenays to about 1912. Includes reference to schools and church, transportation, ethnic groups, and popular culture. He includes interesting anecdotes, which demonstrate his sense of humor and memory for detail, bringing the stories to life. CALL NUMBER: T0088:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Leslie Walker : good times and bad - life in B.C. from 1900 PERIOD COVERED: 1905-1917 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-07 SUMMARY: Les Walker describes life in the Kootenays in the 1905-1917 period. Includes popular attitudes to WWI; local, provincial and national politics; a description of Indian fishing methods; comments on the type of people who were living and working in the area of the time; references to warfare among the local newspapers; and descriptions of jobs Les held during this time, and his army enlistment. CALL NUMBER: T0088:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Leslie Walker : good times and bad - life in B.C. from 1900 PERIOD COVERED: 1917-1923 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-08 SUMMARY: Les Walker discusses the period between 1917 and 1923. He describes his duty and time overseas, the return to Canada, and his restless trek from job to job in B.C. and on the prairies. Early union activities of the One Big Union are mentioned, and the popular reception of such activity. Once again anecdotes are numerous and descriptions good. CALL NUMBER: T0088:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Leslie Walker : good times and bad - life in B.C. from 1900 PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1938 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-10 SUMMARY: Les Walker skims the period from 1923-1938 roughly, and not always in chronological order. The type of work done by Mr. Walker is described, including pay, conditions, bosses, etc. There is some activity in the period, including the founding of the C.C.F., and the growth of protest groups. Several names are mentioned including: Arthur Evans, J.S. Woodworth, and E. Winch. CALL NUMBER: T0088:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Leslie Walker : good times and bad - life in B.C. from 1900 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-12 and 13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Les Walker continues story of life during the Depression, efforts at organization, early organization of the C.C.F. at Rossland and Trail and the difficulties involved. TRACK 2: Les Walker performs a reading of a history of the Western Federation of Miners (later the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers) written by Mr. Walker several years before. He also discusses the first years at Cominco in Rossland. CALL NUMBER: T0088:0006 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Leslie Walker : good times and bad - life in B.C. from 1900 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-14 SUMMARY: Les Walker describes the activities, organization, and membership of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers in the post-1940 period. Difficulties of organizing are considered as well as the reasons for the decline of the Union. Political activities and the break with the C.C.F. are dealt with, as well as the eventual break up of the Union. The 1946 strike is mentioned briefly as are relations with the United Mine Workers of America. CALL NUMBER: T0088:0007 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ernest Leslie Walker : good times and bad - life in B.C. from 1900 PERIOD COVERED: 1951-1970? RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1972-07-19 SUMMARY: Les Walker gives details of the period after 1951. He discusses his work for the union on compensation and his work on Royal Commissions in B.C. and the territories. Mentions names of politicians met, union people, and travels taken as a result of union work.

Leo Nimsick interview : [Reimer & Petter, 1978 : part 1]

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early years: childhood, the Depression, and political interests PERIOD COVERED: 1908-1933 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses his family background: father, mother, move to B.C. from Ontario, birth and childhood in Rossland, brothers and sisters. Recollections of: WW I; post-war years; Russian Revolution; One Big Union; 1920s; Depression; high school and university (UBC). Service Clubs: Knights of Columbus, Eagles. Anecdote: rounding up steers near Rossland. Early work history: various mines, Cominco (Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co.). TRACK 2: Conditions in Rossland during the Depression. Early political interests and recollections. Joined Liberal Party, 1930. Quit Liberal Party. Formed first C.C.F. club in Canada, 1932. Influence of: Social Credit, Dr. Lyle Telford (visits Rossland, 1933), Harold Winch. 1933 election: Jack Gordon dumped as Rossland C.C.F. candidate in favour of Vancouverite George Weaver. Rossland C.C.F. affiliates with the provincial organization, April 1933.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early political involvement, 1933-1945 PERIOD COVERED: 1933-1945 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Nimsick discusses: influence of unions on Rossland C.C.F. (Western Federation of Miners); affiliation with provincial organization (cont'd); Regina Manifesto; influence of provincial party on Rossland C.C.F. Leo addresses his first meeting in Castlegar, 1933. Nature of the 1933 provincial campaign in Rossland-Trail. Reaction to: outcome of election, Connell, Winches. Discusses the Connell split. Telford prevented from becoming leader. Describes the 1935 federal election (Herridge vs. Esling in the West Kootenays). Leo's involvement in provincial party affairs. More on the Connell split: role of Ernie Winch. Communist influences in the C.C.F. TRACK 2: Communist influences in the C.C.F. (cont'd). Social Credit influence. 1937 provincial election: Leo runs against Burns in Rossland-Trail. Cominco's reaction to Leo's candidacy. Leo's reaction to the campaign. Controversy surrounding A.M. Stephen and other expulsions from the C.C.F. Wife's role in the 1937 election campaign. Living conditions during the Depression. Suspension of Nimsick from the C.C.F. (1938 or 1939). 1940 federal election campaign (Herridge vs. Esling again). Leo reinstated in C.C.F. (1944). 1941 provincial election (Herridge elected in Rossland-Trail). 1945 federal election. Herridge controversy and subsequent expulsion of Herridge and Leo from the C.C.F. Herridge elected as People's C.C.F. candidate. Charges of communism levelled against Herridge and Leo. Leo moves to Kimberly.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Municipal, provincial and federal politics, 1937-1941 PERIOD COVERED: 1937-1941 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: (aside: Leo reinstated 1948). Feud with Harold Winch, ca. 1938. C.C.F. position on WW II. J.S. Woodsworth in Rossland-Trail. Leo's position on World War II. Involvement in municipal politics. Rossland Co-operative Transportation Society. TRACK 2: Origins of Herridge-C.C.F. dispute. 1941 provincial election and splits in the C.C.F. National party vs. provincial C.C.F. Reaction to Pattullo and the Coalition government in B.C.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Union politics and the Herridge controversy, 1937-1941 PERIOD COVERED: 1937-1944 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Coalition (continued). The Japanese issue: Leo visits an internment camp. The organization of Cominco in Rossland-Trail by the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers. History of unionization in Rossland (Western Federation of Miners). TRACK 2: Nature of MMSW's first agreement. Recollection of: Blaylock, Diamond, and Harvey Murphy. Herridge-C.C.F. dispute: Herridge's involvement in provincial politics, the decision to run him federally in Kootenay West over the objections of the provincial caucus.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Herridge controversy and 1949 provincial election, 1944-1949 PERIOD COVERED: 1944-1949 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses: Herridge dispute (cont'd), split with provincial party; Herridge's role in the dispute; accusations of communism levelled against Herridge and Nimsick; the federal party's role in the dispute; Herridge nominated federally; decision to form the People's C.C.F. Leo then transferred to Kimberley. Herridge, Leo and others expelled from C.C.F. Discusses 1945 federal election, 1945 provincial election, and the decision to run People's C.C.F. candidates. Relations between C.C.F. and Labour Progressive Party (LPP). B.C. Federation of Labour involvement in provincial politics (Leo attends first meeting). Coalition government: labour relations and the 1945 provincial election. TRACK 2: Leo Nimsick discusses: life in Kimberley, the effect of Douglas victory in Saskatchewan, Harding and Coldwell's roles in repairing rift between C.C.F. and People's C.C.F. Herridge reinstated. General recollections regarding Herridge's career. Nimsick's new job for company: relations with union. Nimsick runs for C.C.F. nomination in Cranbrook and wins. Problems getting provincial executive to accept nomination. Problems relating to expulsion of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers from CLC. Comments on 1949 campaign and Harold Winch.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0006 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The 1949 provincial election and post-election period PERIOD COVERED: 1949-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses: the 1949 provincial election (cont'd); his win and the subsequent recount; campaign tactics and style; Native voters; 1949 C.C.F. caucus; 1949 federal election; story regarding an appendicitis attack. Relations with Cominco (Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company). Relations between C.C.F. and Nimsick. TRACK 2: Reaction to drift of C.C.F. away from Regina Manifesto. Involvement with and reaction to battle between Steelworkers and Mine, Mill unions in Trail. The 1950 session, the 1950 C.C.F. provincial convention in Penticton, general observations and comments regarding dispute. Nimsick's role in party conflicts and party affairs (as an outsider).

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0007 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): First legislative experiences, 1950 PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses: disputes and expulsions within C.C.F. (Socialist Fellowship); first session, 1950; recollections of first speeches (call for welfare reform); reaction to legislative traditions; relations with Winch and C.C.F. caucus; relations with Coalition. Description of individual C.C.F. and Coalition members, ca. 1950. TRACK 2: Description of individual C.C.F. and Coalition members (cont'd). Hospital insurance issue.

John Kelly interview

PERIOD COVERED: ;1929;-;1953 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-06-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Where the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Worker's Union came from. Birth date. Work on provincial relief road camp. Worked in federal relief camp. Anecdote about a relief camp strike and march into Nelson. More relief camp strike. Dealing with police; end of strike. Relief camp conditions; clothing; another walk out and arrest of men. Reasons for protests. Communist in relief camps; beginning of 15 and 5 at Cominco. WWII gearing up in 1934 and Cominco hires over 1000 people. Kelly gets elected to Workmen's Cooperative Committee; Kelly's feelings about workmen's Cooperative Committee; why Kelly joined the committee. TRACK 2: Kelly was on Workmen's Committee when CIO started to organize. Cominco was short of workers during war - explaining how Workmen's Committee worked . Workmen's Committee grievance anecdote. Workmen's Committee asks for raise and gets turned down. Explanation of wage structure and Cominco. Blaylock's philosophy of wages. Kelly goes too war. Demobilized in Vancouver in 1946. Reason Kelly joins TUMMSW; soon elected to shop steward. Steelworkers raid IUMMSW; raid lasts for three years; jurisdiction vote in 1953 which Mine/Mill wins.

Pat Romaine interview

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0005 PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1983 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born 27 Aug 1914 in Nelson. Started work at Cominco in 1935 on labour gang. Company had lots of employee programs. No security. Pension plan. Fee milk; free seed potatoes. Work wasn't hard; heat, dust, fumes were bad. Company store; Cominco dairy. No security that benefits would stay. Wages fluctuated monthly. Efficiency bonus fluctuated without regard to anything. Fear of joining union and being fired. Evans faced a lot of difficulties getting union organised. Evans red-baited. Evans tried to break fear and intimidation. Romaine believed in preamble to IYUMMSW constitution. Joined union for health and wages. Men talked about union before. Talked of fear amongst workers. Organizing on the job. Fear was rampant. Whole way of life threatened. Very grassroots. Organising in IUMMSW. Physical description of Slim Evans. Singed into union #12; was scared he would get fired. Man in his department was fired for organising on the job. TRACK 2: Evans had a good sense of humour. Evans tells funny story of S.G. Blaylock. Trail Ad News only place to print union bulletins. Evans car destroyed. Workmen's Committee elections were influenced by company. Funny story about running a plumbers helper in election. Union dues were strictly voluntary in the beginning. Dues were half days wages. First contract provision. Straw bosses could fire without cause before contract. Company cut hours of work during Depression to ¾ time. "Pie Time" [i.e., coffee breaks] not recognized by company. Anecdote about pie time and war bond drive. CALL NUMBER: T4101:0006 PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1983 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Anecdote about pie-time and war bond drive. Belenger was fired for passing out leaflets. CIO was organiser. CIO and its successes help the union organise. Romaine's philosophy of history. [T;RACK 2: blank.]

William Campbell interview

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0014 PERIOD COVERED: 1925-1945 RECORDED: Glenmerry (B.C.), 1983-08-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information. Started work at Cominco in 1925. Elected to Workmen's Cooperative Committee in 1934. General member for six months, then elected to Secretary. Elected from lead burners. List of full time positions. Benefits of WCC for workers on the hill; pension, coal, wood, Christmas turkey and bonus. Anecdote about Christmas bonus. Dealing with men was hard. Company shares. Company financed housing scheme. Rules of WCC. WCC never had any serious complaints. Lead poisoning. Company farm. Dealing with Blaylock. Blaylock and power. Delegate to War Prices and Trade Board. Anecdote about Blaylock's power. WCC lobbies anti-company union bill. Women on hill during the war. CIO comes to Trail. Slim Evans. Harvey Murphy good organiser. Murphy a "red rabble rouser". Dollar a day and got rid of bonus system. Blaylock would have gotten rid of union if he had lived. Campbell talked to CIO in Seattle. Tried to organise for CIO before he was elected to WCC. WCC met on company time to organise against Mine/Mill. WCC formed ISWU. Secretary of ISWU. TRACK 2: WCC bulletins printed by Trail Ad News. The Ad News owned by Elmer Hall. Anecdote about Hall. Campbell saved Hall's life. WCC intervened if men were fired. WCC on wage raises. Blaylock hated unions so paid good wages. WCC sets up ISWU. Jointed Mine Mill after they were certified. How he was elected to WCC. Mine Mill members on WCC. Turnover causes WCC decline. Anecdote about Blaylock and working conditions. Coal committee. Blaylock and WCC. 1917 strike. Profit sharing. WCC beginnings. Wage board. CALL NUMBER: T4101:0015 PERIOD COVERED: 1927-1945 RECORDED: Glenmerry (B.C.), 1983-08-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Workmen's Cooperative Committee on company wage board. Pension calculations. His wages and bonus. Satisfaction of men. Murphy tried to recruit him. Bulletins and Murphy. Elmer Hall and editorial comment. WCC and community chest. Patriotic and welfare society give money for Croatian relief. Blaylock offers company lawyers. Steelworkers organising in 1950. Billingsley remembered well. John ;McPeak took over as organiser. Meetings in Trail with Bert Herridge. Tom Uphill from Fernie. WCC lobbies for liquor law change. Uphill praises WCC. WCC lobbies for Workmen's Compensation changes. Silicosis in mines. Benevolent society payments. WCC medical committee and company medical care. Company helped with hospital maintenance. Work hours before the Depression. single men's hours. Company town. Steady work. Holidays lost during the Depression. Company store and West Kootenay Power's medical plan. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Ralph Hyssop interview

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0022 PERIOD COVERED: 1927-1945 RECORDED: Nelson (B.C.), 1983-10-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information. Coalhurst Altain 1927. United Mineworkers of Canada and Harvey Murphy. Executive jailed. President's name was Sloan. UMWC breakaway from American union. Worker's unity league. A.E. Smith from Nelson was prominent communist. Early union activities. United Mine Workers of America too over UMSC. Lost 3 brothers and father-in-law in mine explosion in 1935. Mines shut down in late 1929. Worked one day a week in 1930. Moved to Kimberly in 1931. Signs up in prairies saying, "Stay Away from Trail". City of Lethbridge paid to move his family to Kimberly to get them off relief. Elected to WCC. Hardrock mining less dangerous that coal mining. Union activity during the Depression. Met secretary and president of 1917 strike. Workmen's cooperative committee. WCC members always got promoted WCC destroyed. Members destroy WCC. Company refused to recognize Silicosis. "No Silicosis in Sullivan Mine" Meeting with Blaylock, Mr. Prince (IUMMSW) had an office in Vancouver in the late 1930's. Arthur Evans in Kimberly. Contacting Mr. Price. United for a complete defeat of fascism. All union members were Progressive. Evans holds open air meetings in Kimberly. No independent unions in Kimberly. Organised in units of five. Sit down strike in Bralorne and Pioneer. Kimberly raised money for them before they were certified. [TRACK 2: blank.] CALL NUMBER: T4101:0023 RECORDED: Nelson (B.C.), 1983-10-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: First bargaining with Blaylock. First contract. Anecdote about Murphy. Negotiating with Blaylock. WCS negotiations. OBU property in Kimberly. 1917 strike with Cominco. CMS officials with guns. Blaylock threatens Fred Henne. Fred Henne as organiser. Henne was a gambler. Henne blamed Drake for everything. John (Noisy) McPeake machinist on the hill. Loud talker. Reminiscences about Murphy. Born in Paris Ontario. Had a heart condition. Hard workers for CP. Anecdote about Murphy speaking. Murphy refused entry to BC. Murphy had to cataract operations. Coal miners to go to Moscow. Murphy fear CMS. Suspicions about Murphy. Bob Kever. Reid Robinson taking bribes. Bob Kever president of Labour Council. Garfield Belenger hard worker. John Osborne, Murphy and him on payroll. LPP members used him. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Pauline Romaine interview

CALL NUMBER: T4135:0004 PERIOD COVERED: 1913-1983 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-10-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information. Father wants to leave Doukhobor faith; comes to Brilliant in 1913; anecdote about immigrant train; communal life in Brilliant; privation of settlers; graft in commune; father quits commune and moves to Grand Forks; mother, ostracized because her husband left, leaves commune. Anecdote about Grand Forks brothel. Father moves to Trail; family moves to Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan; life in Blaine Lake; moves back to Trail in 1924; train and boat trip back; anecdote about boat ride; child molester; anecdote, father leaded in 1928; 1927 polio outbreak. TRACK 2: Recovery from polio; high school in Trail; father sick; Normal School in Victoria; Mr. McClarren, (principal) started first Doukhobor schools; teaching certificates; back to Trail in 1931; Doukhobor school trustee, Mr. Sheffield, offers her a job; anecdote about Sheffield coming to her house; teaches at Ootischenia school for 114 dollars a month. School in cobbler's shop; teacherage in commune; trials and tribulations of teaching; Sons of Freedom children returned from foster homes; salary cut to 90 dollars a month; moves to Glade, becomes principal; accident kills several teachers; Major Clarke takes over from Sheffield; Glade school bombed in 1936; rebuilt school burned same year it was rebuilt; was paid to call the roll at burned school to keep it open; anecdote about poor heat in school; guard at Glade School; reminiscences about recreation at Ootischenia; anecdote about Glade ferry. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0005 PERIOD COVERED: 1913-1983 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-10-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Anecdotes about Glade ferry; recreation; relief camp at Shoreacres; ferry operation; relief camp worker anecdote; transients calling for food and clothing during the Depression; anecdote about clothing; KC jam factory; Brilliant Doukhobor library; Depression life and commerce; local economy of the Kootenays; CPR and local economy; first radio in Ootischenia; Pat Romaine on local economy; dances at the Castlegar community hall; anecdote about courting; Swedish immigrants in Castlegar; immigration during the 1920s; Ukrainians in Castlegar; Eremenko's first store; Plotnikoff's store; White Russians arrive in the 1920s; Castlegar boomed with car pools; bought land in 1943. TRACK 2: Kinsman Park donated to city; Pauline meets Pat Romaine; father in hospital; courting Pat Romaine; anecdote about homemade beer in Trail; anecdote about a dance at Deer Park; moving to Castlegar in 1944; brother killed at Cominco; father leaded at Cominco; moved in with parents; lead poisoning and compensation; brother killed on hill; Pat Romaine on unionism; conditions before unions; move to Deer Park; electioneering in Deer Park; party at road opening; Robert Sommers as Social Credit candidate; Pauline hired as teacher; bad feelings against her as a teacher; rewards of working with children. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0006 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-10-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: How the children she taught turned out; discussion of modern school politics; one room school in Deer Park; difference in lifestyles; feuding between neighbours in Deer Park; fruit farm goes down hill; local packing house; [steam?] boats taken off lake in 1954; employment lost with boats; CPR buying policy; gyppo logging on lake; log picking; Renata fruit box factory; local economy dries up; Procter maraschino cherry factory; changing fruit markets; good fruit refused; pig farming; anecdote about pig farming; BC Tree Fruits; anecdote about fruit from Australia; Grand Forks war time seed farms; fruit market during the war; forestry employed people to cut fire trails and to work as fire lookouts. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Nels Bystrom interview

CALL NUMBER: T4135:0010 PERIOD COVERED: 1911-1929 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information; father's first trip to Canada; father returns to Sweden during First World War; borrowed money to return to Canada in 1925; logging in Nelson; mother and brothers come to Canada; four days on immigrant train; father borrows money from the CPR to bring him over; route to Canada; immigrant trains; anecdote about trip; life in Sweden; logging in Sweden; anecdote about work; pay in Sweden; unions; workers; paper; union raiding; working for father on Silver King Mountain; driving horses; cut cedar poles and white pine for Mathes; prices and wages in 1928; anecdote; about supplying mine; anecdote about operation of mine; anecdote about supplying mine; anecdote about Eagan's eyeglasses; crew at mine; location and name; camp at Cahill Lake; anecdote about working log deck; anecdote about brutal foreman; camp conditions; wages and costs; flume to Slocan Lake; flume construction; ice chute for log; anecdote about brother's logging accident and hospitalization; compensation; brother loses leg; brother's life after accident; brother's life and family; father and Bystrom, piling lumber at Six Mile Lake, quit over pay dispute; Cotton Logging Company job above Boswell; tools for fallers; piecework cutting cedar poles; peeling poles; camp at Boswell, hot water, sinks. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0011 PERIOD COVERED: 1928-1935 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Camp at Boswell; hot water tanks; camp quality; anecdote about cork boots; work hours; anecdote about hard worker; recreation in camps; stock crash of 1929; logging camps close; anecdote about trying for job outside of Castlegar; room and board; logging in Princeton; riding freight train to Vancouver; unemployment in Vancouver; hobos on train; freight train to Castlegar; CPR police; walking from Castlegar to Nelson; working in mine; packing equipment in; miners' candlestick; anecdote about packing steel out; father on relief; mother cutting wood; farm produce; homemade pipe boring machine; making pipes. TRACK 2: Wrapping pipe with wire; economics of pipe sales; homemade sawmill; Kootenay Landing; Proctor railroad; anecdote about poor wages; hand drilling for blasting; anecdote about diarrhea in camp; anecdote about driving to Hidden Creek; lived in trapper's cabin; anecdote about boss tricking them into working; work at China creek relief camp; work conditions at camp; anecdote about man being kicked out of camp and him leaving; people in camp; Willow Point relief work; prospectors classes and grubsteak relief program; groceries for a month; three weeks prospecting in Slocan area; came back for groceries; CMS called him to go to work --started June 27, 1934 in lead refinery; work hours; lead explosion; conditions in refinery; open transfer (fired) from refinery; labour gang; anecdote about Joe Fillapelli. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0012 PERIOD COVERED: 1934-1972 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Anecdote about Joe Fillapelli; "barring down" the lead furnaces; anecdote about "safety first man"; construction with molten slag; lead contract; leaded work conditions; scrap yard; cutting shears; operation; meets wife; sick and crippled people in scrap yard; anecdote about quitting scrap yard; worked storage plant in Warfield until his retirement in 1972; 1942 work on Brilliant dam; work conditions on dam; anecdote about unloading cement; bicycling to work; contract system in storage plant; became shop steward; Castlegar board member; union split; reasons for not joining steel; Al King president; elected to convention in Olympia, Washington, barred from crossing into the U.S.; steelworkers and barring. TRACK 2: Stopped at border; Bert Herridge; anecdote about Herridge getting his border crossing privileges back; member of CCF; quit CCF because it was the political arm of the United Steelworkers Union; Murphy in Communist Party; met lots of Communist Party members; good men; approached to join the CP by Art Erins and Garfield Belenger; reminiscences about Belenger; anecdote about Harvey Murphy; benevolent society and six weeks of Murphy tries for better sick pay; vesting rights to pensions; 1940, moves to Castlegar; fresh air; terms and prices for lots; credit for lumber; built 14 x 20 shack; West owned water system; old lumber for new house; anecdote about pouring foundation; constructs an apartment building; layout of apartment building; sold apartments after he retired; present house bought as a kit from Vancouver; construction of house; contents of kit; agent helped assemble house; framed by nightfall; cost of kit. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0013 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Food co-op; Sam Muirhead's idea; war rationed items were kept for storekeeper's friends; sold shares at 50 dollars each; bought three lots in Castlegar; lots cleared and building put up on volunteer basis; Cominco employees had two transportation societies; had garage by theatre; food co-op hired Walter Markin as first manager; later co-op in Vancouver recommended Jack Kirby for Manager; Kirby anti-union; first president was Muirhead; second was Bystrom; last president was Dalziel; co-op folded, Kirby fired, co-op liquidated; co-op expansion plans rejected; first co-op operated from his back porch; operations from porch; Transportation Society builds new building; operation of Transportation Society; NDP membership; anecdote about rejoining CCF-NDP; rejoined after merger with Steel; Columbo Lodge Hall meeting of Mine/Mill members where Murphy explained merger.